The area that is now Murphys Point was surveyed in 1812 and European settlement followed on the site of the restored McParlan House and Burgess Mill ruins. The saw mill (circa 1820 to 1870) was one of the earliest on Big Rideau Lake. One trail leads to McParlan House, a fully restored log cabin and shed originally built by Reuben Sherwood in 1812.
Sherwood recognized three things when he claimed lot 12, concession 4 of Burgess Township: the forests of white pine would provide plenty of wood, the rambling creek (now called Black Creek) could supply energy for a waterwheel, and Hogg Bay and Big Rideau Lake would make a perfect transportation path for logs heading to and from the mill. To see things much the way Sherwood did, try hiking the Point and Sylvan trails. The Sylvan Trail features a mature hardwood forest, similar to—although younger than—the forests Sherwood would have seen, and the Point Trail provides stunning views over Big Rideau Lake. The Burgess sawmill Sherwood created produced 50,000 cords of lumber a year for many years, but eventually business slowed and damage from a fire led to closure in 1870. The building then fell into ruins. The next profitable businesses in the area were mica, feldspar and apatite mines. The Silver Queen Mine Trail—which begins at the Lally Homestead and leads to an abandoned mica mine—showcases both the mine and a farmer who sold food to miners Location ID #BR0076
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