Kelso is a distinctive part of the Niagara Escarpment. A trail along the escarpment offers great views of the landscape. The park covers 3.97 square kilometres.
This is a very popular area. For pedestrians, the trail can be dangerous in places because of reckless, inconsiderate bikers.
In winter, a well-known ski resort offers a small slope (for children), and in summer, a lake and a crowded swimming pool draw visitors.
History of Kelso
The Christie-Henderson lime kilns in Kelso are among the best-preserved in Ontario.
In the 19th century, the lime mortar industry was crucial to the growth of new towns. Lime was used in construction, glass making and as a disinfectant.
The Christie family settled in Kelso, Nassagawea Township around 1835. Charles Christie emigrated from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, in the early 1830s, stopping briefly in Pictou, Nova Scotia, before settling in Upper Canada. He and his son David were interested in lime quarrying.
The development of mining and trade was aided by the Credit Valley Railway of 1879. The ruins of the kilns seen in the area were built in the 1880s and operated until 1929.
Alexander Family Farm
The Kelso Conservation Area is located on the former Alexander family farm. A prominent member of the family was Adam Alexander (third), who was the first in the area to use the water of the creek flowing over the Niagara Escarpment to generate electricity for his house and farm machinery.
The Alexander family home, barn and other 19th-century structures have been incorporated into the Kelso Conservation Area and are located adjacent to a public parking lot.
Original photo (c): Genuweb
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