Robert Neil Stewart (who goes by the name of Neil Stewart) was an active volunteer at the Arnprior McNab/Braeside Archives for many years. He is a retired school teacher and was mayor of McNab/Braeside December 2003 to 2006. Neil was a member of council for six years prior to that.
Acquisition Source
Donated by R. Neil Stewart in April 2008. Scrapbook was compiled by several Stewart family members starting in 1913. Katie M. Stewart's accounting ledger was used to paste scraps of news clippings that family members had accumulated over the years. Accrual in 2014 and 2015 of mounted photographs of Renfrew County Council and other material related. Files 18-21 were accrued in 2020.
Scope and Content
1) Scrapbook contains many articles, wedding announcements and obituaries (as well as one small black and white photograph) pertaining to McNab Township and the Stewart family. Some of the people referred to in the articles are Mrs. Robert McGregor, Robert A. Stewart, Alex Stewart, William Lindsay of Lochwinnoch, Reeve Milton Lindsay Stewart, Charles Stewart. Scrapbook also contains a newspaper clipping of the members of the Glasgow Girls Softball Team circa 1930. Fanny Cherry Stewart is seen in this photograph (mother of donor R. Neil Stewart). The Glasgow Girl's Softball team won a trophy for the championship of United Farmers Association South Renfrew League. They had played all season without losing a game. Fanny Cherry was pitcher and Marion Eady, catcher.
2) The last will and testament (copy) of Archibald Stewart dated 1851 signed by Agnes (Nancy) Stewart. Archibald's signature did not copy from the original as it was imprinted into the wax seal. At the time of his death this Archibald Stewart was located on Lot 22 Con A. This man was R. Neil Stewart's Great - Great grandfather.
3) Miscellaneous photos (and a few negatives) of Duhn family members and possibly friends and other relatives. The Duhn's were from the Mansfield area of McNab Township. These photos were given to Neil Stewart by a women from Kitchener who's mother was Amanda Duhn Cherry. The Duhn's were of German heritage. Very few of the photographs are identified. One photo is labelled Lillian Duhn.
4) Renfrew County Council photograph taken October 13 1949 with some people identified such as Mort Sullivan (Reeve of Arnprior), Milton Stewart (Reeve of McNab), Alex Jamieson (Reeve of Horton) and Gordon Stoughton, (Reeve of Bagot/Blythfield). Milton Stewart was R. Neil Stewart's grandfather.
5) Clipping of a pilot Officer William Lawrence Fraser of White Lake who was killed during World War II.
6) 1922 Renfrew County Directory and Postal Guide - published by the Renfrew Mercury.This directory contains descriptions of Towns located in the county as well as postal route information and other items of interest regarding the various municipalities in Renfrew County including business and telephone listings. Note attached to directory explains that: Glasgow Station R.R.1 does not include the village residents & others who kept boxes at the Post Office.
7) File of handwritten notes compiled by R. Neil Stewart about various items of personal interest regarding the history of the Township of McNab and Sand Point. Some items were abstracts of news from the Renfrew Mercury and other newspapers. Topics include Dougal C. McNab, Colin C. McNab, Sir Allan Napier McNab, Dominion Explosives Company, Train Wreck in Sand Point, The Sand Point Cooperage Company, The Family of Dougal C. McNab, Archibald McNab's Decendant, Dr. Allan Carswell Family
8) Oversized folder containing research materials: Newspaper Copies from microfilm and copies from microfilm of early documents relating to the Laird of McNab including a photocopy of the petition of the settlers of McNab Township in 1840 and research on the Laird's descendants in Canada and Britain.
9) Mounted, sepia-toned photograph circa 1905 depicting McLachlin Bros. Water Mills and Slide, Arnprior, Canada. This photograph appears as a postcard with that title (as seen in The Arnprior Story pg 29). Written in ink along the bottom edge of the photograph is "Arnprior - Madawaska River looking South". Photographer unknown although it is highly likely that it was Charles Macnamara, an employee of McLachlin's. Water Mills 1 & 2, slides, Planing Mill and Pump House located half-way across the bridge, as well as the office of McLachlin Bros. appear in this photograph. Accession number 67.75.1 and Mrs. H. Osborne are written on the back of this item which was given to Neil Stewart.
10) Artona Studio photograph of County Council members (undated, circa 1930) Various members are identified on back including Jim Jack of Arnprior and Milton Stewart of McNab.
11) Photograph of 1928 Renfrew County Council members by Artona Studio. Some members are identified on the back including Milton Stewart for McNab Township. All members of the new Renfrew County Council are identified with photograph in clipping found in scrapbook described in item 1.
12) Photograph of 1968 Renfrew County Council by Montagne of Pembroke inside council chambers.
Members are not identified however some are seated behind signs which identify their respective township or village.
13) Photograph of 1969 Renfrew County Council by Montagne of Pembroke inside council chambers.
Members are not identified, however some are seated behind signs which identify their respective township or village.
14) Two 2006 issues of Branchline, Canada's Rail News Magazine which contain articles by Duncan Du Fresne about the Train Wreck at Sand Point in 1904 and Grand Trunk Railway Wreck at Renfrew.
15) Folder containing two documents: 1. photocopy of a handwritten list of Postmasters for Burnstown from 1853 - 1964. List includes dates of appointment and dates of vacancy. 2. Typed list of business owners in White Lake C. W. (Canada West) from Canada Directory for 1857 - 1858.
16) Folder containing clippings, minutes and other material related to the Disaster Relief Committee of McNab/Braeside in 2010. Neil Stewart was Chairman of this committee.
17) Photograph of the McNab Township Administration Building, built in 1965 and officially opened in 1967.
18) Photograph of McNab Township Council standing next to the Administration building. In the back, from left to right are Councillor R. A.Stewart, Clerk Stewart Anderson, Deputy Reeve Frank Russett, Road Superintendant Neil McKay. In front, from left to right, are Councillor Arthur Stewart, Unidentified, Reeve George McLean and Councillor James Geddes.
19) Photograph of the McNab Township Council inside the Council Chamber. Standing, from left to right, are Road Superintendent Neil McKay, Unidentified, Clerk Stuart Anderson. Seated, from left to right, are Councillor Arthur Stewart, Deputy Reeve Frank Russett, Reeve George McLean, Councillor R. A. Stewart and Councillor James Geddes.
20) File containing material related to McNab Township council and the Municipality of Arnprior, 1856 - 1899, including a letter from Eric Harrington, Reeve of Arnprior and John Pars, Reeve of McNab, written after the Town of Arnprior's incorporation to request to be paid back for shop and tavern license fees, statute labour return for work on roads, by-law 237 to apportion funds to certain roads in McNab Township, a treasurers statement and a petition for more funds to be given to School Section no. 7 in Mcnab Township.
21) Mounted, colour photograph circa 1980 of McNab Township Council. From left to right,standing: Clerk-Treasurer Murray Yantha, Road Superintendent Murray Langford, Reeve Norman Kinkade, Fire Chief Ray Cook. Seated: Councillor Bill Koops, Deputy Reeve Frank Russett, Councillor R. A. Stewart and Councillor Bob McGregor.