In 1970 my Father was furious that I was hanging out with hippies and always carrying a tambourine. During one of our arguments (at a neighbourhood party no less) I told him that all people over the age of 30 should be sent to farms. When I turned 30, my father handed me a birthday card and asked me when I was leaving for the farm. Touche Arthur Knight-touche!
The town of Carleton Place either had a band of hippies ride through town and park themselves at Riverside Park, or their youth were changing, and the townsfolk wanted nothing to do with it.
Tonight- THREE edited letters from 1970 The Carleton Place Canadian from the files of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum for your enjoyment. Then a story dedicated to my hippie youth.
Edited for length-1970
Dear Editor,
Now that the hippies are being refused water in local restaurants, perhaps we might offer water, freely, from that well that never runs dry. Perhaps a sing song along with various instruments accompanied by tambourines and drums could be arranged with your local young corp officer, IF the local teenagers are open minded enough to try a new adventure. Teenagers as a rule are very broad minded where as the powers that be are much more likely to be narrow minded and Pharisaic in their thinking. So Carleton Place, may your minds not be like that of your Main Street-narrow!
Speaking of the hippies on the Main Street; the church of my choice is situated to the left of the Biggest Pile of Junk I think in Carleton Place. It baffles me that the Town Council who has the authority to pass by laws and enforce them cannot make the owner relinquish his treasures.
I can only assume that the owner is waiting for the price of scrap metal to go up or wait 100 years, thereby enabling his descendant to sell it all as Antique Junk. Is this not to be considered more blight than the hippies you condemned earlier this summer?
Mrs. M E Mulley
Photos from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Buy Linda Secaspina’s Books— Flashbacks of Little Miss Flash Cadilac– Tilting the Kilt-Vintage Whispers of Carleton Place and 4 others on Amazon or Amazon Canada or Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street in Carleton Place
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