My Fondest Memories of Almonte –Marty Taylor

All Photos from Marty Taylor

Hi Linda,

Thanks for allowing me to be part of the group. We lived in Almonte somewhere around 1959. We first lived above a gas station on the highway that runs to Carleton Place and I forget the side street, but it was across the road from a big park. We then moved to Union St, just down the road from the HS and public schools, probably about 1960. Went to school grades 1 to 9 before we moved away to Ottawa. So many great memories of Almonte. Thanks for creating the site! Marty Taylor

We moved there around 1959, I believe, and lived in a place that was attached to a gas station, on the highway to Carleton Place, across from a huge park. We were there probably for a year and then moved to Union St, right across from Walker’s house, just at the end of the road the high school was on.

I had 3 really close friends in the time we lived there. Peter Kells, Jimmy Christy and Donald Cameron. I practicly lived at Peter’s. His mom owned the sewing shop at the other end of the bridge from City Hall, which was in the front of their house. I still keep in touch with Peter. I also used to sleep over, on the big front veranda, of Jimmy Christie’s house. We used to wait until his mom and dad were asleep and we would sneak off to the railway tracks to jump into the flume.

His mom also made amazing deep fried donuts, that we would eat while they were still hot. Jimmy unfortunately had a heart attack in his early 30’s, after I had moved away and lost touch. Donald Cameron lived in a big house, almost on the outskirts of town. I remember getting in trouble from his dad for running up and down the endless stairways in the house. They had a huge lot with driveway access at two ends of the property. I’ve tried to track Donald down with no luck.

I remember a junk yard, somewhere down the end of Union St., where we used to spend hours and hours going through all the junk. I remember big piles of paper, sort of like the original computer paper, where the pages were all attached together.

Thanks Marty Taylor– send all photos and memories to me Linda

sav_77@yahoo.com

I remember the chip wagon across from the town movie theater (O’Brien), where I watched “The Thirteen Ghosts” (1960) twice. Once without the 3D glasses where the ghosts were invisible and once with the 3D glasses where you could see them. I think we had to talk someone into letting us go in with them because there was an age limit, where under a certain age had to be accompanied by an adult.

I have fond memories of playing hockey at the ice arena and also sledding down the hills behing the arena in the winter. Peterson’s ice cream of course. Wasn’t it just the best?!
I remember the pool hall, but I don’t think I was really old enough to hang out there. The Superior Restaurant across and just down the street. The fairgrounds, of course, where I also had swimming lessons, and of course the Almonte Fair every year, which was so exciting for us kids.

There was another really big property, over the tracks and down the hill from our house on Union St. I forget the name of the owner, but Peter Kells and I used to cut his grass, and he always paid us well. He had a daughter, who was older than us, who used to ride a horse on the property, in full rider gear, who we both had a crush on! Good times. 🙂

My fondest memory, however, is just remembering, that we, as young kids, could safely wander around town, nearly anywhere, and feel safe. Things have changes so much now.

I have so many amazing memories of Almonte. Was very lucky to have grown up there. Looking forward to hearing some of your stories. My apologies for not remembering street names, but those names have long left my memories.” Looking at a map, it appears we lived at the gas station at Hwy 29 and Almonte St across from Gemmill Park where I used to play.

Anyone else remember buying a Beatles cap in Almonte? I had one that I bought somewhere on Main St, but forget the clothing store name.

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 and The Tales of Almonte