Gatineau Park hike: O'Brien House to Carbide Willson Ruins - 3.6km out-and-back
Located in a deciduous forest near Meech Lake, the ruins are the last remaining traces of a fertilizer plant constructed by little-known inventor Thomas Leopold Willson, with over 70 patents in his name.
In 1892, he discovered an economically efficient process for creating calcium carbide, which is used in the production of acetylene gas. In 1895, he sold his patent to Union Carbide.
He was also the first person to own an automobile in Ottawa.
Gatineau Park hike: O'Brien House to Carbide Willson Ruins - 3.6km out-and-back
Located in a deciduous forest near Meech Lake, the ruins are the last remaining traces of a fertilizer plant constructed by little-known inventor Thomas Leopold Willson, with over 70 patents in his name.
In 1892, he discovered an economically efficient process for creating calcium carbide, which is used in the production of acetylene gas. In 1895, he sold his patent to Union Carbide.
He was also the first person to own an automobile in Ottawa.
