(There are three ghost towns in Ontario named Balaclava. This is the Balaclava in Renfrew County.)

Balaclava is an old mill town established in 1855 when a mill was erected on Constant Creek by Duncan Ferguson and Donald Cameron. By 1860, the town had several houses as well as a hotel and a blacksmith shop. The mill was acquired by the Richards family in 1868 who operated the mill for the next 91 years. The mill was rebuilt in 1936 after a good deal of the original edifice was destroyed by fire. By the 1950's, the area was exhausted of timber, and the mill was only producing a few thousand board feet a year (compare this with one million board feet a week at the mill's peak). In 1959, the mill was shut down and the store closed.

Currently, there are a few residents in Balaclava. Many of the original homes are still standing. All of the buildings are private property, so you should ask permission before exploring.

Balaclava is easily reached by taking Hwy. 513 north from Dacre.

Old foundations