The 'Mad' Lookout Virtual Cache

The 'Mad' Lookout

This virtual geocache will bring you to a little known lookout along the Madawaska River overlooking Burnstown in the township of McNab.

The Township of McNab lies in eastern Renfrew County, Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa and Madawaska Rivers and was named by the colourful, charismatic and controversial 'Laird of McNab', who ruled his Highland settlers in the fashion of a feudal lord.

Burnstown was first settled around 1825. Situated on the rugged north shore of the Madawaska River, about half-way between Calabogie and Arnprior, it lies at a corner of McNab Township in Renfrew County. Bagot Township starts about one mile west and Horton Township about four miles north. At that time, the village was also about half-way along 16 miles of treacherous rapids on the Madawaska, known as the Long Rapids. It was originally named Johnston's Rock after a huge boulder in the Madawaska where a Mr. Johnston was supposedly drowned.

The posted coordinates (N45 22.998 W76 34.437) will bring you to a plaque overlooking the Madawaska River and Burnstown, Ontario. On the plaque you will find 4 sets of numbers.

WARNING: The plaque is now missing. Please stroll down from the plaque location to the end of the road where you will find a telephone pole with a large orange dot on it. Just above the dot you will find 2 numbers, email me these two numbers (XXXX, YYY).

In order to log a valid find for this virtual geocache please email us these 2 numbers. ( email Tripper & fam. ). We will then email you back with confirmation (normally within 24-48 hrs).

Finally, please be careful NOT to post the requested information when logging your find (and be careful with the photos too). Any logs found to contain such spoilers will be deleted immediately.

Enjoy the view,

NOTES:

1. Winter friendly. If you come in the summer be sure to stop by the Burnstown beach for a swim.
2. A Brief History...
   THE LAST LAIRD McNAB Archibald McNab was the last chieftain of the McNab clan from the Loch Tay region in Scotland. In order to escape heavy debts, he fled to Upper Canada where he negotiated for land along the Ottawa River so that he might bring his clansmen from Scotland as settlers. He was empowered by the government to assign up to 100 acres per family and was granted personally 1200 acres which could be increased upon completion of the development of the settlement. In 1825 eighty-four settlers were met on their arrival by McNab and his piper. From there, they travelled by boat or walked through the bush for three weeks until they reached their new settlement at Chats Lake. Under McNab, they endured many hardships. Provisions were scarce, and had to be carried long distances for the first three years. The already impoverished Scots were hounded for interest payments required on any money spent on their behalf and then forbidden the right to work outside McNab's "serfdom". Young children in the settlement came close to starvation; meanwhile, the Laird gave lavish parties financed by the money flowing in as income from his large timber interests. Petitions were drawn up by the settlers and sent to public bodies but McNab's strong support of the Family Compact, the ruling oligarchy of the time in Upper Canada, caused their pleas to fall upon deaf ears. At the time of the Rebellion of 1837, McNab was appointed "Laird Colonel of the 20th Battalion of Carleton Light Infantry". But his own clansmen, fearing that McNab would gain even more power over them in a time of military service, refused to serve under his command. Finally, the Crown Lands Agent at Perth was appointed to investigate, and, after surveying the settlers, concluded that all charges against McNab were valid. McNab, sensing trouble ahead, quickly offered to sell his lands to government for 9000 pounds but in the end he settled for 2,500. The government began issuing Crown grants to the settlers, removing the Laird's feudal powers. His fortunes continued to dwindle, and though he tried suing his clansmen for his losses, he was unsuccessful, and returned to Europe. He died in 1860 in a small village in France. The township retains his name.
3. The Waba Cottage Museum - The Waba Cottage Museum (White Lake, Ontario) tells the tale of one of the Ottawa Valley's most notorious characters, Archibald McNab, the thirteenth Laird of McNab who created the first and only feudal system ever to exist in Canada. In 1843 he was sent packing by disgruntled landowners; fortunately, many of his possessions were left behind and have been faithfully preserved in this reconstructed stone cottage. An 1878 school and 1868 log church complete this picture-postcard setting along the Madawaska River.