110 Bridge Street Carleton Place Circa 1870
The façade of 110 Bridge Street has probably been renovated since it was initially built, and the original structure was probably was made of clapboard and later on stucco was put on to replace the clapboard. Originally, the building was the office of John (Johnny) J. McGregor, who was the county sheriff, commonly called doctor, but certainly was not a doctor of any kind. Carleton Place was ‘dry’ in his days but there still was a good number of bootleggers. Johnny was short in stature and wore a long fur coat in the winter that dragged through the snow like a western rustler.
Whenever a raid was to be carried out Johnny had to present and he would be transported to the scene of the crime by Kidd Bryce Taxi and word on the street was there were never too many successful raids.
In 1907 he became a license Inspector tor for the north riding of Lanark, and nine years later was placed in charge of the entire county. For a number of years he was a member of the provincial police, a position he retained until , until he became mayor in 1934. He was a warm friend of Dr. R. F. Preston, first mayor of Carleton Place.
March 17 1928
Constable Frank Rose callled to Carleton Place to assist Prov officer JJ McGregor to raid on premises of X reported reported to be selling moonshine. No evidence. ( read about Johnny McGregor here-Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 8–Olympia Restaurant to McNeely’s)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
29 Dec 1934, Sat • Page 25
Related reading…
Canned Heat — On the Road Again– to Poison Booze 1920s
Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 8–Olympia Restaurant to McNeely’s
lindaseccaspina 