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McArthur Foundry Walking Plough
1900

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McArthur Foundry
Kenmore, Osgoode Township, Ontario

The McArthur Plough in collection of the OTHS&M was previously owned by Alex Dow, Former Reeve (26 years) of Historic Osgoode Township.

The story of an agricultural industry located in Kenmore, Ontario has left its mark on the history of Osgoode Township. The production of the well-known "McArthur Plow" manufactured by the McArthur's in their foundry is written from information available to the writer and provides sketches of the early founders and a knowledge of methods employed to construct various agricultural implements. The best record of information available tells us the foundry operated during the period 1860-1917. The famous "McArthur Plow" was first known as the "No. 1" with total construction of cast iron. In later years, the "No. 2" was manufactured using wooden handles, making the plow lighter in weight and easier to manage.

Historical records indicate that Donald McArthur, along with his wife, eldest son Donald and his brother John arrived in Kenmore from Perthshire, Scotland about 1857. They had a close relationship with another of the early Kenmore families, the McLaren's, who had emigrated from Perthshire as well. It was Peter McLaren who named the small village, "Kenmore" after his native Kenmore, Scotland.

The McArthur brothers, both who had mastered the blacksmith trade and had worked in a foundry back in their homeland, soon after arriving in Kenmore, established their business on a small plot of land and a short time thereafter, constructed the foundry that operated for more than 50 years from about 1860 - 1917.

Belden's Historical Atlas of Carleton County, published in 1879, illustrates the McArthur property located in the main road running through the village of Kenmore situated on Lot 30, Conc.10. About 1870, additional land was acquired on the easterly and southerly limits of the village and the original property was eventually sold.

In the early years of operation, it was evident that the farms being carved out of the forest were rich in soil and as a result, the farming community grew and the demand for farm machinery and other equipment increased rapidly as well. Donald McArthur's keen interest in every aspect of farming and community development and his spirit of working together with the area farmers for the betterment of agriculture, would become highly beneficial for all parties concerned for many years.

The creation of sand moulds, the construction of wooden patterns, the foundering of iron and the fabrication of farm equipment and other hardware required by the community were requisites of the foundry. A steam engine utilizing a line-drive assembly was installed to run a drill press, a bed lathe and other associated tools of the trade. The second storey of the building was used to store line items and certain finished products. A track and lift mechanism allowed items to be raised and lowered through a trap door that opened over what may be described as a balcony extending out over the front entrance of the foundry.

The property had an artesian well, the overflow of which drained into the Castor some five hundred feet to the east. This well was an asset for the steam boiler and was used to temper the iron castings to the correct hardness (the "chilled iron" mould board was a feature of the McArthur Plow). This lasted long after the demise of the foundry.

In the early years when roads and communications were limited, obtaining raw materials such as iron, foundry necessities and tools presented a hardship and often resulted in production delays. The original methods of transportation were by making use of the waterways leading to Cornwall and later to Bytown and by using cross-country wagons and sleighs pulled by teams of oxen or horses. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, a railroad, the New York Central, running between Messina, New York and Ottawa resulted in a great improvement in the transportation of goods and people and provided easier access to materials and markets.

The marketing of the finished foundry products was initially done from the foundry premises where farmers came in person to purchase their requirements. Later, the building of several general stores in neighbouring towns provided more outlets for foundry products that could be sold along with mill feed and other farm items. The last known products produced at the McArthur Foundry were located in the former R. M. Warner Feed Store, Russell, Ontario about 1965 - 1970, and there were two brand new McArthur Plows!

In the years 1860 to 1900, as the surrounding land was transformed from forest to agricultural use, there became an increased demand for farm equipment such as walking plows, drag harrows, cast iron kettles, sheep and swine feed troughs, and other items such as end of school desks, parts for church pews and small household utensils.

The draught horse was quickly replacing oxen and with the advancements in farming, there became a need to improve upon the walking plow. This challenge presented to the McArthur Foundry was accepted by Donald who at periods of production had a staff of six to eight craftsmen. His keen interest and skills acquired working with farmers gave him an understanding that the plow must be improved, even with the obstacles at a time when a widespread drought plunged farming economy to low levels, and this coupled with the decision by his brother John to leave the business and pursue other ventures in the west. Even though it would be tough going, Donald, joined by his son Duncan, decided to continue the foundry operations. Perhaps, the incentive to carry on resulted from the opening of a second mill in Kenmore by Carkner and McMaster in 1876 and the opening of a general store by Hugh and C. F. McArthur in 1884.

In 1874 when Carkner and McMaster decided to go into the sawmill business in Kenmore which was some six miles from their home, the venture was difficult for various reasons. Some area residents questioned the wisdom of the plan. At the time, because Duncan Carkner was too young to legally sign the necessary ownership papers, his father had to do so on his behalf. The property on which they desired to locate was then owned by Donald McArthur. At first Donald refused to take their advances seriously and only when Carkner-McMaster bought property in another area did he change his mind and offer them a site of their choice. The remains of the old wood mill are now privately owned and stand partly along the present day McRuer's Lane Road.

McArthur's development of the "high coulter" plow was a great success during this period. The high coulter and the improved shape of the chilled iron mouldboard was tempered with a hardness that could withstand abuse by stones and gravel. This was very effective during a period when the breaking of the land was till rough after carving out the bush and clearing the land of stumps and stones. The more the chilled iron mouldboard was used, the smoother it became and resulted in turned soil departing freely allowing the triangular cut sod to fall into a tighter position over the previously overturned furrow.

From the early days of the foundry operations, Donald McArthur worked with farmers to create an interest in plowing that eventually became quite competitive. These events larger and larger and soon were known as a "Plowing Match Competition" at agricultural meets such as the present day "International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show".

The history of plowing in Carleton County provides an account of a particular plowing match in the year 1900 at the J. R. Booth farm located beside the Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario. The Gold Medal Event was a special class in which Donald McArthur & son of Kenmore, Ontario offered a gold medal to the best plowman in the field using a "McArthur Plow". John Johnson of Winchester, Ontario collected the gold.

By 1900, improvements in cultivation using drag harrows and cultivators during the spring planting broke the soil and destroyed the existing growth of weeds and other live plants thus clearing the soil for new seed. This method of cultivation gave less reason for plowing a high quality turned furrow having high ridge accuracy. As a result, the iron plow was replaced by a plow constructed with a lighter steel mouldboard and wooden handles. This type of plow was much cheaper to manufacture and it was much easier to use. The McArthur plow became less and less popular among area farmers.

The exact date of the demise of the McArthur Foundry has not been recorded. Donald McArthur died July 5, 1907 at the age of 79 years. It is not known for certain how long after his father's death that his son Duncan continued the business; however, several area residents living today cannot recall the foundry operating after 1920. One are resident is in possession of an invoice dated 1917 for goods purchased at the McArthur Foundry.

The McArthur name continued in business communities in Russell, Ontario and eastern Ontario for several years. C. F. McArthur moved to Russell and set up shop there after his store in Kenmore was destroyed by fire.

About 1930, the Kenmore Rink Company was formed and they purchased the McArthur property on which to build an outdoor skating rink for community use. The building housing the foundry had been torn down and the lumber used to build several farm structures in the area. The property is now the location of a private residence.

Toady, McArthur plows have become quite collectible by those enthusiasts who collect antique agricultural implements. An early manufactured McArthur Plow and a McArthur cast iron swine trough are on display at the Osgoode Township Historical Society's Museum in Vernon, Ontario. Another McArthur plow is reported to be in the agricultural collection of the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa.

It is the wish of this writer that any additional information pertaining to the McArthur's and their foundry operations in Kenmore be provided by interested persons. Any actual photographs would be most appreciated.

Cecil Reaney
September 2003