The Story of Caroline La Rose– Charleston Lake

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 19 Feb 1909, Fri, Page 1

View southwest from Blue Mountain to Long Mountain and Charleston Lake

When you hike the Blue Mountain Trail it is intended for more experienced or at least more motivated hikers. This isolated trail can only be accessed by water via Huckleberry Hollow, and it is extremely rugged. It is no wonder that young 7 year-old Caroline La Rose got lost when her family was camping at Charleston Lake. She wasn’t alone, and was carrying a small infant that she was entrusted with his care as the family was berry picking. Baby Bertha was the daughter of Leona Brown, her mother’s oldest daughter. She was brought into the home when she married Isaac La Rose. Confused? Have you checked out family history from way back then? Everyone is related to everyone. Let’s carry on…

With bare feet young Caroline walked into the woods and became lost and began to yell for help. When no one answered her call she walked over terrible terrain for miles until she found a shanty. Caroline found a tick mattress for bedding and mixed berries with water to feed young Bertha putting the baby first instead of herself. The children’s disappearance was quickly noticed and the search began with the first Reeve of Athens Watson G. Parrish set out in his steam yacht with his son Arthur hoping to find the two children quickly. Caroline had been missing for 4 days at that point Parrish got involved, but through some miracle she saw the steamer from the shore of Crawford’s Point.

Frantically trying to get the steamer’s attention Parrish saw her and quickly rescued her and the wee bairn and brought them to his cottage for food and warmth. There she met the daughter of Benedict Arnold, Jessie Arnold who was Parish’s niece. So enthralled with her new friend she named a new doll Jessie in honour of her. In a sad note, Bertha died at age 2 years. So what happened to young Caroline La Rose? Check out the wonderful story by Sally Smid.—THE HEROINE OF CHARLESTON LAKE