There are about 6 huge pages about Innisville written by Thomas Alfred Code so I will do this in parts. This is 4b— the 1860s and 1870s.
Reverting to the 1860s and 1870s was the prosperity in the village of Innisville. We had two woolen mills (I will refer to that later) and a tannery in addition to the Innis Mills already referred to. The latter was operated by James Jackson. It was a primitive institution, but it served the wants of the people at the time. The people sent the hides, which they might get back six months later. We had our local shoemakers: boots and shoes were made up in the homes by itinerant shoemakers: likewise tailoring. This form of service was called:”Whipping the Cat”.
The carding mill was on the south side of the river and was operated by A& G Code making carded rolls for spinning. In many cases a woman went from house to house at 2 S. 6 d a day, sometimes spending weeks at one home. The hand loom-weaver who wove the yarn into drugget– which consisted of a No. 10 cotton warp, wool filling– was to be found in every section of the locality. Coarse flannels were made into fancy striped patterns, and proud were the wives when the piece came home. All the friends came to see it and pass their opinion, or express their appreciation. This was worn next to the skin, which would be somewhat ticklish for the people of today, but we never saw knitted underwear or rubber footwear in those days.
We had our cooper– William Churchill— who with an assistant turned out pork barrels. I may here mention that the hog product in the shape of pork was packed in barrels and branded by the district inspector as mess, or prime mess etc. for shipment to the lumber shanties. The old dash churn was another product, and there are many who can remember churning was quite a task, especially for the small boys who wanted to join their chums at play, or go fishing. Another product of the cooper was a firkin for butter, a small barrel which would contain as I remember, one hundred pounds, and was marketed in the autumn in Carleton Place, or in Perth at Meighen’s, Shaw’s, Henderson’s, Hicks’ and other stores.
The locality was what might be called self contained– that is, the people produced most of their requirements with the exceptions of groceries. Those were obtained during the year at the places named, and paid for in the autumn with produce: butter, wheat, oats and pork, etc. Potash was another product of the early days.
Wash-tubs and wooden buckets completed the cooper’s list of manufactured articles. But, with the trend of time, and the coming of more modern utensils, the village cooper became extinct. The same applies to Perth: when the writer came to Perth to attend school in 1874, Perth had five cooperages and 81 shoemakers on the bench.
In the village was to be found a foundry where plows and plow points were turned out. In addition there was a thriving blacksmith shop, established by the Hughes family and continued by Robert Jr. Blacksmithing is still something carried on in the same building (1929) which must date back about 90 years. Horse-shoeing, and the ironing of vehicles for a brother who works next door, was the principal work carried on. Two men were employed.
Two shoemakers, two stores, the village tailor and two hotels made up the list. Meals were to be had at 25 cents, and lodging for the night free to the wayfarer who partook of the good fare of the stopping-house.
Tomorrow- The Innisville’s doctor, Henry York, and the country school
History
The first industrial process on the site was operated by the Kilpatrick family beginning in 1842 and established as a tannery shortly thereafter. In 1882 a new owner, Thomas Alfred Code, established Codes Custom Wool Mill with a range of processes, including: carding, spinning, fulling, shearing, pressing, and coloring of yarns. In 1896, its name was changed to the Tay Knitting Mill, and it produced yarn, hosiery, socks, gloves, sporting-goods, sweaters, and mitts. Another change came in 1899, when a felt-making process was introduced and the mill was renamed Code Felt. The company continued to operate until the closing of the factory in 1998.
51 Herriott – The Code Mill is actually a collage of five different buildings dating from 1842. T.A. Code moved to Perth in 1876, and bought this property by 1883. Code spent 60 years in business in Perth. The business started with a contract to supply the North West Mounted Police with socks, and continued for many years manufacturing felt for both industrial and commercial uses.
Code Felt Co today– Click here..
In the 1883, Mr. T. A. Code established Codes Custom Wool Mill with a range of processes, including: carding, spinning, fulling, shearing, pressing, and coloring of yarns. In 1896, its name was changed to the Tay Knitting Mill, and it produced yarn, hosiery, socks, gloves, sporting-goods, sweaters, and mitts. Another change came in 1899, when a felt-making process was introduced and the mill was renamed Code Felt. The company continued to operate until the closing of the factory in 1998. The following year, John Stewart began a major restoration and introduced new uses for this landmark. This impressive limestone complex with its central atrium now has an interesting mix of commercial tenants.-Perth Remembered
How did I get this?
I purchased this journal online from a dealer in California. I made every attempt to make sure the journal came back to its rightful location. Every day I will be putting up a new page so its contents are available to anyone. It is a well worn journal full of glued letters and newspaper clippings which I think belonged to Code’s son Allan at one point. Yes there is lots of genealogy in this journal. I am going to document it page by page. This journal was all handwritten and hand typed.
How did it get into the United States? The book definitely belonged to Allan Code and he died in Ohio in 1969.
Allan Leslie Code
1896–1969 — BIRTH 27 MAR 1896 • Ontario—DEATH JUN 1969 • Mentor, Lake, Ohio, USA
Andrew Haydon- see bio below–He was the author of Pioneer Sketches of The District of Bathurst (Lanark and Renfrew Counties, Ontario) (The Ryerson Press, 1925) and Mackenzie King and the Liberal Party (Allen, 1930).
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 andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)
lindaseccaspina 