If you see anything I miss, or would like to add something to the series I am doing on Bridge Street called “Then and Now”— please email me at sav_77@yahoo.com. I would love to add your memories. Petra Graber from The Good Food Co. has added these memories about our Main Street and, I have added a few more on the bottom. I am going to share this with you separately and add them into the ‘Then and Now’ blog. Any updates please send me.
Linda,
I had noticed some evidence of fire damage in the attic space of my apartment and wondered if that is why a couple of rooms had lowered ceilings – to cover something up! It’s cool that there was originally a restaurant/confectionery in here, too. I had heard rumours that it was a rooming house. In the plans of the street from the turn of the century, it shows a carriage house at the back of the property, and you can see some of the old foundation from that in our parking area.
By the way, the As Good As New building was obviously built some time after this one – there are window wells in my side of the basement that are now blocked by that building.
My storefront was empty for about a year before I moved in. Before that, it was a lovely, lovely gift shop called ‘Country Lanes’. I can’t remember the owner’s name, but she had dried flowers, baskets, vintage-style cards, and she was one of the first people I knew to sell vintage-style Christmas ornaments before they became all the rage again. It was a beautiful and memorable store in Carleton Place for the 1990’s.
There was a tea room in here before that. When I moved in, I discovered a rudimentary kitchen with two double sinks behind the pharmacy shelving and the men’s and women’s bathrooms were already here – a bonus for me! There was blue-flowered wallpaper behind the shelving and pale blue rolled linoleum in the bathrooms and kitchen.
With regards to Milano’s, there was a music store selling new CD’s when I opened the restaurant. It was owned by a guy named Bruce who used to come in for lunch. Great store and he employed several high school students. As a teenager, I spent all of my allowance on music from Sam the Record Man and others, so I thought Bruce’s store was great. He was in business for 5 years, but he told me he wasn’t making enough profit to stay open – that was his time limit to become viable.
After that, it was a sheet music store. It was also a coffee shop called ‘Sounds Like Coffee’ which was run by Roger Weldon and his girlfriend. They marketed to high school students and allowed smoking in their establishment to attract that segment. Then it was Simon Gold.
Hope this helps fill in some gaps!
Petra Graber
The Good Food Co.
Other additions to the story–Memories of Mac Williams
Sandra Rattray– He was the absolutely nicest, sweetest man. Handed out rollos (ice cream cones) to the kids. We all slid down the hill on cardboard on his front lawn (next to the old Arena) and had tons of fun.
Linda Gallipeau-Johnston –Wonderful man – I have a tincture bottle from his store that we found in the attic.
Ann Stearns Rawson— I remember going there with my sister and Mom to buy cod liver oil that Mom decided we needed during the winter months.
Donna Mcfarlane– His own cough syrup sure was great…
Catherine Marvin– I used to sit and read a comic book when Mom or Dad stopped in there.
It always had a smell that I still remember.
Allison Kirkpatrick– Worked there through High School and the summer after Gr. 13 Mac Williams was a gem of a man!
Anthony Tyler Tony Henderson-– I remember helping clean out the basement when The Good Food Co. place opened, lots of old brown jugs and bottles of pills from when it was a pharmacy years ago
Sean Redmond (Town Councillor)– I remember as a kid 10 or 12 years old having some warts on my fingers. I would stop into mac’s on my way home from school and he would put some acid on them for no cost. To this day I have never had another wart. Those were the good old days members of our community looking after members of our community.
UPDATES– that have now been added to the original stories.
Author’s Note: This has just been added to 21 Bridge Street
Additions to Bowland and Sutherland–now Brown & MacFarlane Glass Co Inc — Mr. Sutherland had dark hair and his partner Rube Bowland was the one that carried on most of the business. He was well liked and was most noted for wearing a wig which he seemed to wear in all directions. They ran a small China shop on the right side of the grocery shop and the late Marjorie Whyte remembers buying a whole brand new Royal Doulton tea service for $12.00.
Lloyd Hughes was the delivery boy and helper, and later on Duncan Hobbs was the clerk and Hazel Cleland put in a few years too. Bowlands eventually gave up the china shop and rented it out Harold Warren from Perth who was a watch repairman and later Mel Covell ran it. Rube Bowland had three daughters and one son. Daughter Kaye Bowland was killed in a car accident in Granby, Quebec along with Hilda Morphy. (files from Marjorie Whyte)
Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum 1924
Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 11 Aug 1941, Mon, Page 22
As Good As New–33 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Harold Schwerdtfeger was also known to many as Dutchy and his clerk was Steven Jones who lived on Queen Street. Most have mentioned that his store was always tidy and neat and the walls were decorated with photos and calendars of Old Chum Tobacco.
The back room held a large round table and several chairs. Here gossip takes over, and it is often mentioned that card games took place there regularly, and many an argument could be heard out on the streets coming from the old cronies that congregated there.
The building was later occupied by Tim Rogers who operated a stationary store there by the name of Quill and Fulton and of course Charles Jay before he moved up Bridge Street operated his boot and shoe repair shop there. (Marjorie Whyte)
Shwerdtfeger sold tobacco products and paraphernalia at his store up until 1989 when the store was sold to the Lanark County Interval House. As Good as New is now located in the building.
By the way, the As Good As New building was obviously built some time after the Mac Williams building that I am located in – there are window wells in my side of the basement that are now blocked by that building.-Petra Graber–The Good Food Co.
Photo-1924
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)
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