A century-old farm house comes with quite a legacy.

The Watt family farmhouse in Armour Township was built in 1902 by John R. Watt and his wife Mary Marshal.

John was born to Scottish parents on March 14, 1856 in Lanark Country. In 1874 he came to Armour Township and settled on lots 10 and 11, concession 7 near the Magnetawan River at what is now known as Watt’s dam. The property was obtained through the free land grants, which promised free property to settlers willing to move from England to Ontario. John married Mary Marshal on Feb. 23, 1881. Three children were born to the family, James, Dick, and Annie. While living in Armour, the family also boarded men working on the railway who went through the area in 1885.

In 1889, the family moved to lot 13 on the sixth and seventh concessions — the current location of the Watt century farmhouse. There three more children were born. The barn located on that property was built in 1892 and the house in 1902.

In 1931 his wife Mary died and he followed in 1946. John's son Jack and wife Pearl Jordan carried on the farm. Jack, like his father, was also the secretary of School Section Number Three and served as an Armour Township councillor for many years. Three children were born to the marriage: Dick, Bill, and Karen. Dick settled across the road from the Watt farmhouse with his wife Diane and his family, where he continues to look after the Watt farm.

The Watt farmhouse is the new location for the Burk's Falls and District Historical Society. The property was purchased two years ago by Northland Power as the site for the company's Solar East farm. When they saw the house though, Northland knew it was too valuable to demolish and eventually worked out the deal with the Historical Society, announced Friday.

Members of the Historical Society paid a site visit to the house on Jan. 15. On Saturday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 7 they returned to begin cleaning the premises, tearing up carpets and scraping off wallpaper.

Renovations and repairs will begin soon with the intent of opening the building to museum visitors this summer.

Source: Almaguin News Article: February 20, 2015 

http://www.northbaynipissing.com/community-story/5346325-watt-family-farm-perfect-place-for-finding-history