Balaclava – Ontario’s Best Kept Ghost Town

Eastern Ontario is beautiful but also home to some backwood places, forgotten by time. Balaclava is one of those places, where few are left to remember what once was. Today only a few houses, an abandoned general store, blacksmith shop, a dam and a 19th century sawmill are all that remain of Balaclava!

Balaclava was named in 1859, in commemoration of the key victory of the British during the Crimean War. Of the few structures remains, the most prominent is the Balaclava sawmill, it has been named one of the Ontario’s creepiest buildings and for good reason. Although well preserved for its level of neglect the creaky wood building looks like it could collapse into the steam at any time.

Originally constructed in the mid 19th century, the mill was rebuilt 1939 after a fire and operated until 1959 but its decommission brought the town into a tailspin. The mill was once the intrigue of one of Ontario’s first environmental lawsuits when the owner Mr. Richards was sued for his mill disposing of saw dust in the river. This resulted in the installation the first sawdust burner in the Province of Ontario.

The owner of the facility once owned a general store, the result of which is a great example of the early economy of Ontario! There is not much to do here but pull over to the side of the road and take a peak. Do be cognizant that it is private property however.