This is how The Tales of Carleton Place on Facebook goes. I write, people comment on my posts, and I document them on the story. Then some send me stories which I love. Today, we have a guest author today– Carleton Place’s very own Lynne Johnson– Thank you Lynne!
Glory Days in Carleton Place– Lynne Johnson
People lived and worked in the town of Carleton Place. We walked and biked. Our dads drove to work. Harry Appleton, a beloved teacher at CPHS always walked, no matter the weather. Almost everyone worked at Findlay’s Foundry, so it seemed to me.
Photo kindly shared by the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
We moved to Carleton Place because my father got a job at Leigh Instruments. He came home for lunch at noon and returned to work at 12:45. My mother had a few jobs, some work at Digital before it moved, and at the Review, the “other” local newspaper, a job she loved. When the Review discontinued, Robbie Probert opened up a candle shop. A
lot of the local ladies got jobs there rolling the beeswax candles. All the stores and business in town hired local people.
Photo kindly shared by the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
We all had various part-time jobs at students. Moving on from babysitting led to the Balderson Cheese outlet on Hwy. 7, Young’s Variety Store, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Embassy Restaurant and Rolark Cheque Co. during summer breaks from university.
Little stores were throughout the neighbourhood. When we lived on Prince Street, there was a variety/candy store at the corner of Queen and Munro. The store was the front of the house, slightly larger than a porch, and a woman and her little girl lived in the house. A local teen would work part-time in the store. You could get a bag of candy for 25 cents.
There was a great deal of thought put intoselecting the perfect bag!
Linda Ready, a lover of science, obtained an Opportunities for Youth grants for two summers (maybe more) to do a pollution study on the Mississippi River. We actually had one of the Swerdfergger cottages as our “base camp”. We rode our bikes south on Napoleon to the original connection to Lake Park Road.I don’t remember any issues crossing the highway. Times were sleepy then.
Photo kindly shared by the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Friends worked at Canadian Tire, William’s drugstore, dress shops. It was always a good job if you could work for the Town. There certainly were jobs to be had, but there were not as many hospitality opportunities like today, and NO box store employment.It seemed strange that anyone would “commute” to the city for work. In fact, employees at Digital were offered employment, but some declined due to having to take a bus to get there. The Queensway extension was not built. The way to Ottawa was through Stittsville, just a village in those days. There is no doubt that the Queensway extension and Bayshore Shopping Centre made a distinct mark in downtown shopping in Carleton Place.
Debbie Crain-Dulmage– Great memories from your guest author Lynne Johnson. I remember the little girl at the corner store. Her first name was Bonnie. She played with my sister and I when we first moved here in 1964.
RELATED READING
Before and After in Carleton Place — Mac Williams and The Good Food Co
CPHS Students Declare War on Mississippi Lake – 1973
The Day the Cheque Company Bounced in Carleton Place
Findlay’s 101 and a Personal Confession
Remembering Industry in Carleton Place- Digital and Leigh Instruments
The Cottages of Mississippi Lake — Carleton Place Ontario
I Found My Thrills on the Main Street in Carleton Place
lindaseccaspina 