The Appleton Chinchilla House

By the early 1990s all of Appleton’s mills had closed. The sawmill and gristmill had disappeared by the early 20th century while the woolen mill was last to close in 1992. Originally the mills were a driving force in the development of the village. The gristmill and sawmill provided food, building materials, and employment for the local residents. The population grew around the mills adding a blacksmiths shop, a general store, a cobbler and many more small businesses.

With the woolen mill the economy grew even stronger. Two churches, a school, a community hall and several more businesses were built to support the local residents.

Although the mills have faded away, their legacy and heritage are still alive in Appleton. A tour through the streets of Appleton shows the amazing houses, buildings, and ruins all interconnected and all stemming from the original Mills of Appleton.– North Lanark Museum

Best seen from across the river is a wonderful stone home is built of ornamental verge board gables porches and shutters. John Clarke who lived here was a breeder of chinchillas for over 25 years in the 70s and they bought the house from Alvin McKay in 1951 to house the chinchilla tranquility.

The Buchanan McCann families occupied it after Robert Baird and prior to the McKays. However, it impossible to follow the complete lineage of the home as the Ramsay Township records were eaten by hungry and quite possible literary mice.

Former Chinchilla farm operated by John Clarke–North Lanark Regional Museum

Read more about the Buchanan family here..:

The Letters of John Buchanan and Mary Ilan–Appleton– from Doug McCarten

Mary Ann Gagnon–Edith Clark was in my mother’s (Mildred Dawson) bridge group….they would go to each other’s houses to play. My mother is now a resident of Granite Ridge in Stittsville. Edith’s niece brought Edith to visit my mum about two years ago and at that time she was still living in her house in Appleton

 

 

 

A Reader’s comment.. Our family bought the house in CP in 1925 (I think) from the Bank of Commerce for $2,400 and thought they would never be out of debt Therefore your story is more accurate that John and Edith Clark bought it in 1951… I guess as a child I just assumed they had bought it from my grandfather when they moved to town….my grandfather died in the spring of 1949 so I never got to know him I wonder if someone knows when Edith passed or moved and sold to ?. I always loved that house….

 

 

 

Edith Clarke is alive and well as my neighbour living still smart and well with her nephew in the Appleton stone home and still playing bridge when she finds smart enough partners to play ( not a Bridge player myself) She is 98 and looks and acts like a women less than 80! A kindred spirit who loves animals and our dear countryside. Linda Dryer

 

 

 

 

 

RELATED READING ABOUT OTHER HOMES IN THE AREA:

The Mysterious Riddell— H B Montgomery House

The Wall Mysteries of Lake Ave East -Residential Artists

The Manse on the 7th Line of Beckwith

Rescuing the Money Pits —The Other Dunlop Home with the Coffin Door

The Carleton Place House with the Coffin Door

Before and After in Carleton Place –The Doctor is in!

Heh Miss Wilsonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! Carleton Place Heroe

Was This the Architect of the Findlay Homes on High Street?

The Carleton Place House That Disappeared

The McCarten House of Carleton Place

Old McRostie Had a Farm in Carleton Place

Time Capsule in the ‘Hi Diddle Day’ House?

The Louis on Sarah Street for $43,500 — Before and After– Architecture in Carleton Place

Architecture Stories: The Hotel that Stompin’ Tom Connors Saved

Dim All The Lights — The Troubled Times of the Abner Nichols Home on Bridge Street

The Brick Houses of Carleton Place

So What Happened to The Findlay House Stone?

Edith Clarke
Edith Clarke Interviewed September 10, 2012 by Eleanor Wright
Catalogue No.: 2012.65.1
Duration: 35 minutes
Photo: L-R: Eleanor, Edith
Edith Clarke, once a city girl and now long time resident of Appleton, Ontario offers her story of how Appleton became her home.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Edith moved to Appleton with her husband John after WWII. The couple took up residence in a beautiful stone farmhouse and began Appleton’s very own Chinchilla Farm. Known nationally and internationally as an expert on Chinchilla Farming, John Clarke even published a book on how to raise the small creatures. Edith recounts stories of life in Appleton and reminisces about local residents.
This is a charming interview, offering a glimpse into life in Appleton and the fur industry.
The North Lanark Historical Society has been hard at work conducting oral interviews with local community members. The interviews help document the history of Mississippi Mills and cover range of topics including schools, farms, business, the Almonte Train Accident and much more.
This page provides a summary of each of the interviews. To listen to the full interview, please contact staff at the North Lanark Regional Museum. The interviews are available for on-site viewing.

-Edith Clark who is 102 years old with her niece.. Lee Gunnis LeLiever—2022