Our Story
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Turn back the clock
MacNamara coat of arms
This 1860s Victorian white, gingerbread, board and batten character home on the Madawaska River is an Arnprior landmark. Situated in the heart of beautiful historic downtown Arnprior, a short walk brings you to terrific restaurants and shops, a vintage movie theatre, and arts and cultural events. A wonderful park and beaches are a 5 to 7 minute walk away either along a riverside path or on tree-lined streets featuring many beautiful old homes. Three golf courses and two ski hills are a short drive away.
Arnprior is a painless 45-minute drive to central Ottawa (Parliament Hill), the nation's capital, on an uncongested 4-lane highway. (20 minutes to Kanata.) An ideal location for:
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History of the MacNamara House
The MacNamara House was built in 1863 by lumber baron Daniel McLachlin as his personal home on the banks of the Madawaska River, near his mill. In 1881, the MacNamara family moved in and the house stayed in the family until 2016, when it was sold to your hosts, Andy & Mary Anne, who have lovingly restored it to its original charm. The long unusable coal fireplaces in the living room and library were upgraded to gas inserts with an era-appropriate grill. The living room and formal dining room have been preserved to maintain their original grandeur (dish sets were found that match the original dining room décor.) The second-floor bedrooms are all renovated and tastefully furnished and decorated. The art hanging throughout the house is by your host Mary Anne. The MacNamaras: In 1881, Richard MacNamara received this home as part of his compensation for his CFO position with the McLachlin lumber mills. He bought the property outright in 1913. It was the family home for successive generations of MacNamaras who created the idyllic setting with lovely heritage perennial gardens. The family were active community builders and their home became known locally as "the MacNamara house". Charles (1870-1944) is the most famous of the MacNamaras. He was a well known and highly respected naturalist and photographer. There is an informative and well-maintained nature trail named after him. The Arnprior Archives hosts a virtual exhibit about him on its Web site (link below). |
