Photo from The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
85 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Photos from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
85 Bridge Street Carleton Place
The original Bank of Nova Scotia building was torn down in the 1970s and the current structure replaced it. The longest living branch in Carleton Place; it was first the Bank of Ottawa established in 1883. When the bank opened February 1, 1883, it was one of the earliest branches to be open outside the city of Ottawa.
Bank of Nova Scotia“The Moffatt Brothers have secured tender for the new bank at Carleton Place. Associated with them for the masonry is Levi Brian. The price is about $7,000. Central Canadian“–Putting a Face to Levi Brian, Stonemason, of Carleton Place
After World War I the present Bank of Nova Scotia in 1919 absorbed the Bank of Ottawa and its branches. John Adams Bangs was the first bank manager in Carleton Place of the Bank of Ottawa. He maintained his post for thirty-five years and for its first six years in Carleton Place banking business was conducted out of a building owned by James. L. Murphy across from the Mississippi Hotel. The photo below dating to the 1920’s, shows the original building; constructed in 1889, specifically for the Bank of Ottawa. Another fire in 1910 caused considerable damage to the building, requiring the removal of the second and third stories. The Bank of Ottawa moved to 81 Bridge Street in 1915. (see Cameron Ellis Building — What Happened to the Rest of it?)
Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
The Bank of Nova Scotia on Bridge Street had five steps leading up to each of its two entrances. The right side led to the bank itself and Mr. James G. Craig was the manager prior to 1929 until sometime in the 1950s. Other bank managers were: Glaze, Frazer, and Latourelle. The other set of stairs led up to the two upper floors and at one time it was the office of the town assessor Tommy Traynor. Later this office became the dental office of Forbes Baird and his assistant was Dorcas Bennett. It was also the office of Findlay and Findlay and John Clarke from Appleton who also bred chinchilla rabbits had an office in the building at one time.
There was also an apartment on the 3rd floor and it was occupied by Roy and Jane Munshaw and family. Later it was rented to the caretaker of the building Mr. and Mrs Bowland and then Mr. and Mrs. Munro.
Some of the bank employees were: Walter (Moon) McMullen, Wes Bradley, Harold Virtue, Jim McCormick, William Laramour, Del Anderson, Albert Bang, Chris Langford, Carmen Warren, Leonard Warren, Audrey Armour, Betty Iveson, and Isabel Wilson. of course it is also the setting fro one of the most iconic Carleton Place photos.
1959-in Front of the Bank of Nova Scotia— Left to right: Blaine Cornell, Gary McLellan, Weldon Armour seated, Dave Gordon, Dale Costello, Bob Bigras, Gerald Griffith, Ray Paquette and Gordon Bassett. Looks like a scene from West Side Story or GLEE 1959 version. Love it!–Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Related reading:
Train Station and Bank of Nova Scotia-Old and New
Money Talks – The Staff of the Bank of Nova Scotia Bank in Carleton Place -1971
Cameron Ellis Building — What Happened to the Rest of it?
93 Bridge Street Carleton Place
93 Bridge Street Carleton Place Circa 1911
A new branch of the Union Bank of Canada was in operation in Carleton Place in 1900–in addition to the longer established branch of the Bank of Ottawa. The current Royal Bank of Canada, originally called the Union Bank of Canada, is constructed of concrete blocks fabricated to resemble stone. Traces of two styles of former lettering remain about the columns– so one day just look up and see what used to be.
Jean Hughes recalled some of her fond memories of the Royal Bank for the Carleton Place Canadian. Jean was married to Lloyd Hughes, a local historian. (see-Carleton Place Business–Lloyd Hughes List
Jean informed the Carleton Place Canadian that the bank managers used to live above the bank and that it was a very prestigious address. When Jean first moved to Carleton Place, she remembered that the Royal Bank manager was Dudley Oliver and Marj Whyte remembers Mr. Scroggie and Mr. W.S.McCauley as managers also. Marj also remembers that as a child in the 1920s the inside of the bank resembled more of a jail than a bank, as the tellers worked behind upright narrow bars. Some of the employees were:
Clarence Edwards, Ed Hudson, Winston Moire, Bob Hughes, John Sinclair and Bob McIntosh, Isabel (Warren) Robertson and Audrey McRae.
Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 07 Oct 1899, Sat, Page 6
Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 22 Jan 1900, Mon,
Related reading:
What Happened the Day the Circus Left Carleton Place
100-102 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Before
Before
Photo Shane William Edwards
now
100-102 Bridge Street Carleton Place Circa 1870
The frame building was Mrs. Roger’s boarding house before she moved to Victoria Street and there was a small addition at the rear of this building. the building was brick and clapboard as that were used to construct many of the Bridge Street buildings.
Asa Roe and his family occupied the house for a few year and then Richard Dowdall bought the property. Early in 1936 George Doucett moved his insurance office into one side and Dr. J.A. McEwen had his medical office on the other.
It was thus occupied until the early 1950s when Mr. Dowdall purchased the brick building at Bridge and Emily and moved his business. Walter Stanzel later lived here and operated his taxi business and when Dr. McEwen moved a couple blocks down Bridge Street both sides became dwellings. Penny Trafford mentioned that Mr. Stanzel had a pet skunk and I think a pet raccoon as well.
I remember taking clothing to the tailor that was on the right hand side of this building in the 80s? Last year I heard a story about a local woman who made teddy bears– and is this the same spot she was making them in? Still trying to find out the source of that information. Searching for Information– Teddy Bears Made in Carleton Place?
Ray Paquette added: My parents lived in the right side of the house before moving to an apartment in the Senior Citizen’s site at 126 Sussex Street. The Watty Stanzel ran a taxi service out of the left side for many years and I seem to recall Mrs. Cecil McCann and Ms Eileen Costello living in that side in later years.
A few tears ago this house was torn down and as Joni Mitchell once sang:
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Robert Keith Duffett Coleman
I knew I had this somewhere .. From the Canadian files from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.
95 Bridge Street, Carleton Place
Photo-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum- see Royal Bank building on right.
95 Bridge Street
The original building at 95 Bridge Street was destroyed in a fire in the early 1960s and as you can see from the picture it took up much of the space in the empty grassed area now located at the Royal Bank. The House of Fashion once owned by Oscar Okilman was located at in a two storey clapboard building at 95 Bridge Street and managed by Leita Ardiff who later married George Chartrand.
Now there is one building at this site different businesses in it, but previously there were two buildings at this site. After The House of Fashion went out of business the New York Café was operated by Harry Sing and his family (Allan, Mary,Bill and Kathie) who lived above the cafe during their stay of twenty-two years in Carleton Place. Connie (Pye) Bennett was a waitress at the New York Cafe for some time during this era. In 1926, Lee Wah rented the building from Okilman and operated the New York Café and in 1951, Jung See Lum became the manager of the New York Café. Now, McDougall Insurance & Financial – Carleton Place is in that half of the building.
Next to the New York Café was the Olympia Restaurant that was operated by James and Louis Laskaris and in 1960, the New York Cafe was destroyed in a fire as was the Olympia Restaurant, in the next building. That is tomorrow night.
Related reading
Women Who Made a Difference in Carleton Place — Mrs. Lim of the New York Cafe
New York New York in Carleton Place
In Memory of Former Carleton Place Resident Bill Lim
Stories from a Photograph–The Class of 1944-1945
Read in the series
Carleton Place Business–Lloyd Hughes List
Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 1– Canadian Tire to The Moose
Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 2- Milano Pizza to Milady Dress Shop
Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 3- St. Andrew’s to Central School
Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 5-The Little White House to the Roxy
Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 6-The Eating Place to the Post Office
What Didn’t You Know? The New Town Hall August 1897
Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 15oth-part 1
Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 2
Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 3
Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 4
Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 5
Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 6– Fire and Ice
Community Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 7– It was 1957!
Community Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 8– It was 1963
Community Facts You Might Not Know About Carleton Place for our 150th Birthday – Part 9– It was 1903!
A Lyle Dillabough Flashback– 150th Birthday
Carleton Place Community Memories 1967–150th
December 28, 2017 ·
Another dandy with the women from the Royal Bank.
lindaseccaspina 
Construction of the new Bank of Nova Scotia began in the summer of 1973. I trucked in sand and gravel from Kilmartin’s pit near Ashton. It was opened about a year later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will add this..:)
LikeLike
Quite a lot transformation over the years, what ever happened to the bowling alley on High St. Th old buildings are very historical I hope they don’t take to many Dow as I feel that gives a lot of character and warmed to the town, but it is growing leaps and bound not like it was when I was a child.
LikeLike
Kathleen there was one at one of the Findlay Homes which I am writing about tomorrow.. its still there.
LikeLike