

Manotick Village: A Storied History
Everyone loves a good story. We can’t help but share them with friends and family. Whether it’s an entertaining legend, an educational anecdote or a tragic tale, stories enchant our hearts and stimulate our imaginations. And many of the homeowners in our Mahogany community will agree, with Manotick Village being a storybook town of its own.
Let’s travel back in time and learn all about the storied history of this charming district in Ottawa.
A trip along the Rideau River
The story of Manotick began over 160-years ago during the development of the Rideau Canal. As lockstations were established, the heads of water created became popular locations for mills. The locks also provided the ideal docking areas for boats, with bridges spanning across the river to facilitate travel and movement of goods from one side to the other. And where mills and bridges were built, people soon followed.
Such is the case after the completion of the lockstation at Long Island in 1850. This site in particular captured the attention of two prominent businessmen at the time, Moss Kent Dickinson and Joseph Currier. The pair formed a partnership to acquire the water rights at the lock and began cultivating the region for their ventures.
First, the pair bought approximately 30 acres of land from several farmers in the area, knowing new businesses would need land to build on, and their employees would need homes to live in. Dickinson and Currier also purchased an idle gristmill nearby with the intent of putting it back into service.
The region expanded, and by 1858, it was time to give the settlement a name. As the story goes, Dickinson chose a name inspired by the Ojibwe term for “island in the river.” However, some argue the name most likely stems from the Algonquin word “minitig,” meaning “island,” with the assumption its pronunciation was altered to Manotick.
Along with founding Manotick, Moss Kent Dickinson also served as the Mayor of Ottawa between 1864–1866. His former home is now a museum where his history is on display.
As planned, the two founders had the gristmill up and running in 1860, which was (and still is) the centrepiece of Manotick Village. A sawmill and card mill followed shortly after – both of which were later destroyed in a fire and never rebuilt.
20-years later, Manotick had become a bustling little village with a population of 400 people and nearly 100 residences. It was home to one school, three churches and several businesses, including five general stores, five blacksmith shops, four wagon shops, a drug store and a variety of other shops.
Flashforward to the 1980s, Manotick Village boomed with residential development, and later on in 2000, it was amalgamated into the City of Ottawa. Today, this quaint little village is a sought-after place to call home, offering the best of rural and urban life complemented by historic buildings, small-town charm and friendly residents.
Although some claim there’s a ghost living in Manotick, too…
The haunted history of Waton’s Mill
Become part of Manotick’s story
- Parks, multi-use pathways and green space, including a large preserved woodlot
- A community pond, Mahogany Harbour, Mahogany Creek and the Rideau River close by
- Schools nearby and future schools being built within the neighbourhood
- And more...
Multi-Generational Homes in Mahogany, Manotick
A unique community with floorplans that can accommodate families of all sizes. Mahogany, Manotick, has plenty of space for both large and multi-generational families.
Connect to the nature of Mahogany
Mahogany has plenty of natural outdoor spaces to enjoy, plus, there’s plenty more to discover and learn just minutes from the community.