wendyaa

The McCarten House on Bridge Street now owned by Barbara Couch–Google Image

If you read my story about The Witch of Plum Hollow you know that one of the most unusual homes in Carleton Place sits on Bridge Street near the corner of William Street and faces High Street. The Chinese Ginkgo tree still sits in the front yard on the right but the home built in the 1830s is a strange mixture of French and Scottish architecture.

The deed of the property first went to William Morphy and then to Robert Bell who began the general store on the north shore of the Mississippi River. The property remained in the Bell family until 1870 when Mary Bell sold it to William Pattie. Pattie in grand fashion way before his time flipped the house a year later to A. S. Newman. What is strange is that on an old Wallings map from 1863 the house is marked as belonging to James Bell.

A succession of owners are registered from 1884-1919 until the Bank of Commerce bought it. A host of Bank of Commerce managers resided in that house until George Buchanan formerly of Maberly, Ontario bought it. Buchanan was in the insurance business and his daughter Mrs. Vernon McCarten eventually owned the property. Not only was Buchanan somewhat of a historical man recording events and items, but so was she.

plumh

McCarten House 1960s

Mrs. McCarten said the house originally had three stories and similar to the Cameron Ellis building a fire destroyed the upper floor and the mansard roof is probably not the first one. She also thought the doors on either side of the porch led onto a verandah across the front of the house.

Now each time I look at that house I remember that Mrs. McCarten was the great granddaughter of Mother Barnes- the Witch of Plum Hollow. What history we have in our town.

historicalnotes

Did you know there once a truck accident at the McCarten house? Before the bridge over the Mississippi river was built on Highway 7 that lessened traffic through the centre of town a truck ran into the Ginkgo tree in front of the McCarten house. That tree saved the house.

Doug McCarten commented: I remember the accident, we were all asleep, it sounded like a gunshot!!!! I only know of the one ginkgo tree on the property which is shown on the right in the picture. About halfway across the yard (to the left) was a HUGE silver maple which had to be cut down while we lived there! It would probably have taken 4 people to stretch their arms around the circumference! The remaining stump was still there for many years after and it may have been the present owner who removed it, I’m not sure.

The ginkgo tree we always knew was a rare tree in the area which makes me glad it’s still there!! We all loved that tree most of the year except when it dropped it’s fruit!! If stepped on or run over with a car tire it gave off an overpowering fragrance very close to intense dog poop ! When shedding it’s leaves in fall, they all came down within 24 hours together.

If you look closely at the ginkgo tree you will be able to see the remains of the scar left by the transport truck. I would look up given the time span but it’s on the right centre of the trunk!

Did you know that a Gingko or a Maiden Hair Tree also grew on the lawn of J. R.McDiarmid on Bridge Street. This was a very rare tree in Eastern Ontario.

RELATED READING