This year will mark the 150th birthday of one of Almonte’s most famous sons, basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith.
Born November 6, 1861, Naismith was the son of Scottish immigrants who settled in Lanark County in the early 1800s in hopes of better harvests and prosperity. The young James went to elementary school in the village of Bennie’s Corners near Almonte and moved in with his uncle after the death of his parents and grandmother from illness. Naismith later attended Almonte High School before leaving for Montreal. There, he graduated with a BA in Physical Education from McGill University along with a diploma from the Presbyterian College of Theology.
In 1890, Naismith left Canada to attend Springfield College in Massachusetts where he became a professor. It was here that in 1891, he was asked to create a sport that would occupy young men in the months between football and baseball season. And so, in a small YMCA gymnasium, the young instructor from Almonte, Ontario introduced to the world the game of basketball.
More than 150 years since his birth, the community still honours its native son. With a brand new location at the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area north of Almonte, the Naismith Museum provides tourists with a look at the inventor’s life and legacy, while encouraging Canadians to continue their love affair with his sport.
Neilcorp Homes also seek to honour Dr. Naismith in our own unique way. Our Naismith model homes offer a breathtaking design that is sure to please. The formal dining room, the stunning great room, and the elegant cathedral ceilings make the Naismith model the perfect home for entertaining. The layout features a large, open sense of space offering an expansive kitchen that leads to a beautiful porch or covered patio. If you’re looking to relax and enjoy your natural surroundings, a new Naismith model home is for you.
Like Dr. Naismith, we’re proud to call Almonte home. And you should be too. Only a short drive from Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Stittsville or Carp, this pleasant community is a great place to come and raise a family. After all, we’re always looking for someone new to make our town famous.
At Neilcorp Homes, we’ll build you the new home you’ve always dreamed of. In the beautiful riverside community of Almonte, just 17 minutes from Kanata, we offer award-winning, high-quality, and affordable new homes for sale with more customization options than you’d ever expect when looking for a new home in Ottawa. We offer more standard features – up to $100,000 in added value and upgrades – on 50′ and 60′ oversized lots.