The Riverside Garage was once listed at 11 Mill Street- but if you look at the numbers now — it was obvious they have changed them– as 11 Mill Street is a side door to the Blossom Shop. Farther down was Taylor’s Garage. In 1935 Oldsmobile sedan was $450 and a 1931 Fordor was $170. Terms were arranged and always available at the garage.
The car lift is still in there that went up to the second floor, but a wall hides it. In 1938 someone stole some tools at the Riverside Garage and broken open the safe at Taylor’s garage and stole 37 dollars. That particular robbery made the front page of the Ottawa Journal news.
Taylor’s son Gordon spoke fluent Chinese and practiced the language with the owners of the local Chinese laundry on Bridge Street. It was said Gordon was a spy for the British Secret Service and later became a missionary.
He became Reverand Gordon Taylor. His body is buried here at Carleton Place (passed away in the late 70’s) and it is he that is best remembered. But not only that, this man was a spy who could speak Chinese, Russian and several other languages. He worked intelligence for the British Secret Service during WW2 and went on to work for the CIA. (Central Intelligence Agency) He used to give speeches on the topics of; China, the former Soviet Union and on world affairs throughout the country. Articles in 1950 editions of the Carleton Place CANADIAN describe him speaking on such matters locally.
In the end Mr. Taylor wanted either his adopted daughter Nora or son to take over the business but they refused. In fact Nora moved away to Toronto. Mr. Taylor wasn’t that successful at running a dealership, so he ended up closing. He sold the Taylor building in the 30’s and completely disappeared. Later Dulmage took over the premises.
1929. By then they had gotten into the automobile industry and had extended credit to many of their customers and members of both communities. As the depression dragged on these dedts were never paid and by the late 1930’s the brothers could hang on no longer. The Taylor Block in Carleton Place was eventually sold in 1945. read- Sir Malcolm Campbell Bluebird for Sale at Taylor’s Garage?
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