Photo from Gypsies Preachers and Big White Bears
The Hopetown Cheese Factory was built 1884 and served the community until 1933. Between 1933- and 1948 it became a cheese box factory, as everyone needed boxes for their cheese. The buildings no longer exist.
Perth Courier, Nov. 30, 1888
The Hopetown Cheese Factory closed 20th November having been in operation 5 months. The last shipment of cheese was made 13th Nov. but the patrons were settled with on the 20th notwithstanding the trouble with gassy milk in the fore part of the season which reflects great credit on the cheese maker Mr. McVeigh that not one number of cull cheese was made the goals having always brought the highest prices at the time of sale. The committee for engaging a cheesemaker for the ensuing year have taken no action yet in the matter not knowing whether to hire a cheesemaker on salary or commission.
James Lorne Prentice, cheesemaker
By Kathleen Anne Palmer-O’Neil
James Lorne Prentice, was a cheesemaker in Lanark County for over 44 years. He travelled about the county working in and setting up small cheese factories — at Boyd’s Settlement (where my mother Jessie Marion Prentice was born), in Drummond Centre, Hopetown, Watson’s Corners and Balderson. Many of the smaller cheese factories scattered
James Lorne Prentice and Kate Molyneaux wedding
1905 in Hopetown, Ontario.throughout the county had homes on the property for the cheesemaker and his family to live in, so Grandpa Prentice’s address would change often as he went from small factory to factory for a couple of years at a time in his younger days. In 1922 he bought a home at 25 Mary Street, Perth, and stayed put while running the Balderson Cheese Factory.
Lanark Era, 4 May 1898: Mr. Lorne Prentice is engaged as assistant cheesemaker in the Hopetown cheese factory.
Lanark Era, 3 May 1899: Lorne Prentice assumed his duties as assistant cheesemaker at Hopetown.
Malcolm H. Leininger, Lanark Village, has purchased the property and business of John White, merchant, Hopetown and moved up there on Saturday. Mr. Leininger until lately, carried on the sash, door and planning factory business with Archibald Affleck, having bought the same from Mr. W.W. Campbell.
Honey and the Andersons of Hopetown
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News
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