Top 3 Abandoned Places In Ayr

There are so many abandoned places in Ayr! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Ayr. Browse through all abandoned places in Ayr

1. Mudge's Mill (Ayr)

While Ayr now claims 3,500 residents and 350 businesses (I might debate this), it was once a quiet little area comprised of three different locations.

In 1824, Abel Mudge constructed a sawmill and flour mill at the junction where Cedar Creek entered the Nith River (The Watson factory building at 14 Northumberland St.).

John Hall, a young immigrant from Jedburgh, Scotland built a small flour mill and distillery named Jedburgh in the east (now Main St.) on a 75 acre parcel of land which includes the area flooded by the Jedburgh Dam. By 1850 Hall had developed several industries, including a flour mill, saw mill and distillery with water power provided by the damming of Cedar Creek.

At the same time a smaller settlement, Nithvale (Piper St.) was founded to the west of Mudge's Mill where a small saw mill opened along the Nith River, it's claim on history being that in 1837 it was a meeting and drilling place for MacKenzie's followers just prior to the Upper Canada Rebellion.

Mudge's Mill was in the centre (Stanley/Northumberland Streets) in what is today the Village of Ayr.

In 1840, following keen rivalry among the three settlements, the name "Ayr" appeared for the first time when Robert Wyllie established a post office. The name was likely due to the large number of former Ayrshire, Scotland immigrants who were drawn to Canada by promises of inexpensive, fertile land, made by the major landholder of the district, William Dickson.

In 1846-47 Daniel Manley's mill was built, William Baker's store was established and John Watson's foundry constructed with Watson's Dam its power reservoir. These three key businesses played large roles in Ayr's early success as did the coming of the Credit Valley Railway in 1879. In 1850 Ayr's first library was established and James Somerville began the first Ayr newspaper in 1854.

Ayr is an active little community with a variety of older homes and new urban sprawl. Much of it's history can be found within walking distance of the downtown district.

Ayr is located South of Kitchener. From the 401 take the Northumberland exit south (50) and follow the road.

2. Black Horse Corner Ghost Town

My search has uncovered some facts about this vanishing town, as it once was called and by talking to the property owner. There is still , a well preserved cheese factory, barn, smokehouse and an unofficial house that remain the last of the town of Black Horse Corner. The cheese factory, barn, and smokehouse[ yet to ask about] is on the farm of Jeff Stager[ family owned 105yrs] and is very busy[ on an active farm] thus FM[plus 180yrs.old]. E. Stager bought the farm in 1910 from Ben Snyder. The cheese factory is said to have been built in 1835 with partial proof carved in the walls, May 1835!! The one and a half storey former cheese factory represents an important example of early nineteenth century industrial non-mill structure used by the early settlers in the area. The hotel foundation were found on his property a few years ago. He drew up some maps [in the gallery].

The cheese factory has many artifacts inside as shown. He is using the building to work on his solar panel project. It is just amazing it is not a 1 bedroom apartment now. Very good light but really cold. The unofficial only house [in the 2nd to last picture] will not allow anyone in to document it. Before the Inn burnt down in 1875, it kept black horses, and one night some vanished, the article said , not stolen. The old Black Horse Corner sign has been replaced and now sits inside.

3. Nithvale Bridge (Nith Rd Bridge)

Nithvale had 2 sawmills and not much else and eventually got amalgamated into Ayr. This is the oldest Truss bridge in the region apparently, being built in 1873. It cost a whopping $1426 to build back then. Most of the metal for bridges started shifting to steel from wrought iron. The GRCA states that few wrought iron bridges remain at all. You can notice also that this bridge is pin-jointed rather than riveted, so perhaps this bridge was made before the rivets came to the area and became a standard. It was closed in 1967 to cars but pedestrians (and cyclists) still use it. DESPITE SIGNS. I mean............. ^All of this is (except cyclists and remarks on signs. Hehe.) paraphrased from GRCA. No credit to me except for rearranging the wording but credit where credit is due.

Now for my experience. The first time I had the brilliant idea to go to Ayr and hit this was in the fall and it was a chilly down pouring day and it was alright but Pikaswed420 and I couldnt even find cover under the far side of the bridge because of the advanced deterioration. Pikaswed420 clung to the side and looked out. I was pretty sketched out at the time too cause this was early on in the exploration. The timber the floor(?) of the bridge is made of is ROTTED. Some spots BEYOND ROTTED. There are a few boards missing. A few half missing. A few are just missing a few inches, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, they are all quite bad. Take the time and tap your foot good to have a listen. Some spots I would have stepped, the sound made me think twice. Because of the downpour and my TOTAL lack of umbrella, a gallery (or just a nice set of a new place at the time before an account) was unattainable. We laughed at the ''PLEASE KEEP OUT" sign. "NO TRESPASSING" equivalent it be. So politely worded. Only in Ayr yo.

The second time we went wasnt too exciting and Im not even sure if I crossed all the way. It was again a day a "gallery" wouldnt have been great, because this time, Pikaswed420 and I went in the winter. I may have some pics from these trips but they were nothing special, because the third time is the charm apparently.

The third time, my Mom and I were running around in Ayr. I take her to the odd thing but she is SUPER CONCERNED about conditions. Once again, luck be on my side and it was raining (s'cuse this but FFS). But it was off and on and not down pour. Also fast forwarding to the day we went, Ive attained an umbrella. As long as there is no wind or not too much, it can GREATLY aid the keeping of water off the lens. So we go down and I chuckled at the sign one again with its such polite demanding. Like usual, my Mom had no idea what she was in for and because I had only been at night and couldnt get a good look and had been in the day but it was covered in snow (minus rotted out bits) and again couldnt get a good look so I had no idea really either. The bridge was beautiful but highly rotted. Its somthing else to watch the Nith thru something you know should be solid. Once again tapping for sound as I weave my way across. Just as Im about to pop out the overgrown far side, my Mom, 3/4s of the way yells she is turing around cause its REAL BAD. And she wasnt wrong. There is moss and fun-guy growing on the wood on the far side where she turned and you can exactly hear the condition so to say for a lack of a better description. I ran under and shot it and ran back and shot it. My Mom is in there somewhere. When shooting the bridge the way I came from I didnt feel the need to yell at her to move. Nith is a NASTY river. Beautiful, and my favorite river in the Grand watershed, but VIOLENT. (HAZARD FLOODING FOR THE RIVER. Ive got no idea the depth as I havent really been down there, and falling thru this beaut wasnt the way I wanted to find out.) Now, next time I just need to finger a way down the closest end. Didnt wanna leave my mom there as I canvassed the embankment. Next time......