October 1934

There is a man who lives north of the Perth on a farm and wants to get married. He has” battled’ the cold, cruel world single handed long enough and wants someone who will share his happiness and disappointments with him.

In the classified column of Perth Courier he placed an advertisement for a wife and the advertiser is patiently awaiting the replies. He promises some girl a good home but has certain requirements which he demands.

He came here from Lanark Village several months ago and says he is a hard worker and farmer. He declares that marriage is a business proposition and that every man should have a helpmate. “Down in the village” he said, “there were lots of girls but most of them don’t want to get married and those that do are not the right, kind.” The advertiser said that he did not expect to remain here long as a man could make more money travelling around than by staying in one place too long.

In 1900 people rarely left their hometown, let alone travelled around their country, so I wonder if our farmer ever found a helpmate.

Perth Courier 1910

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 27 Oct 1979–McNeely Tannery-Address: 12 Bell Street Carleton Place, Ontario

Joe Scott took a poor calf skin to Brice McNeely who had a tannery on the banks of the Mississippi on Bell Street and asked what he was paying for hides. Brice told him 60 cents each with ten cents off for every hole in the hide.

“You’d better take it, Mr. McNeely, and I think I owe you something for it,” was the startled reply from J. Scott as Brice looked at the hide with more holes than Swiss Cheese.

Carleton Place Herald 1900

A well known Carleton Place gent from just outside of town was noted for being careful with his pennies entered McDiarmid’s store one morning to get a winter cap. He was shown 6 or 7 and selected one that seemed suitable. He retorted of course that it was too expensive, that he could get it much cheaper elsewhere and left.

An hour later he was back but the store clerk saw him first and whisked the 7 caps under the counter. The customer said,

“I’ve come back for the cap!”

Without batting an eyelash the owner told him that others knew a bargain when they saw it and that all those caps had sold within the hour after he had left the store.

Carleton Place Herald

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