Roseneath

By Guy Scott

Alnwick Township is part of Northumberland County. It was surveyed in the 1790s, but did not receive settlers until 1836 when a settlement grew up around the Four Corners. One of the early settlers, James Campbell, emigrated from the village of Roseneath in Dunbartonshire, Scotland, hence the name of the new settlement. The crossroads hamlet serviced the surrounding farms over the years. While not actually on Rice Lake, Roseneath became a centre for tourism along the eastern shore of the famous tourist destination. A steamboat service linked the community with places along the lake and excursions were a favourite summer past time.

In 1856, the Alnwick Township Agricultural Society was formed with the annual fairs to be held at Roseneath. In 1932, some members of the society purchased a carousel or merry-go-round, and moved the riding device to the Roseneath Fair Grounds. This vintage carousel was built at the C.W. Parker factory in Kansas City in 1906. It then became a touring one-piece midway that travelled a fair circuit in central Ontario. Early photos of the Kinmount Fair before 1920 clearly show a carousel of this vintage at the yearly fair, the only riding device for several decades.

The Roseneath carousel was recused from the trash heap and restored. Its travelling days were over, the carousel became a permanent feature at the Roseneath Fair since 1932. An octagonal building was constructed to protect the riding device from the elements. The Roseneath directors mounted a determined restoration project valued at $400,000. The restoration included mechanical repairs and refinishing of the 40 wooden horses and 16 painted panels. The restored carousel was finished by 1993 and was turned into a tourist attraction, opening every Sunday during the tourist season (Victoria Day – Thanksgiving). History can come in many forms, including carousels!