In the books that were donated I have come across some interesting information about a home that was once in Ashton that was called, “The Castle”. It was believed to be build by Mr. Archie Blair and was an imposing 3 storey, 14 room frame bulding painted white.
It had a high roof with four gables and the surrounding verandahs were supported by broad pillars. Over the large hospitable French doors was a very ornate fanlight. Mr. Blair operated a shoemaking business over at the Forester’s Hall and had two sons: Dr. Blair and Jack Blair.
The imposing home was destroyed by fire. Living there at the time of the fire was Mrs. Archie Blair, her sisters Tina and Jessie McEwen and a brother Sandy McEwen. Sandy was in bed with a broken hip when the fire broke out at noon hour. Hilton Fleming was at his home nearby for his midday meal, noticed the smoke and realized that Sandy was upstairs and helpless scaled two fences and enetered the burning building. He was able to snatch Sandy in his arms and head for safety. Sandy kept shouting for his pants, but Mr. Fleming just screamed back ” to hell with your pants’ as he carried him to the safety of the Forrester’s Hall. The hall later was a residence owned by Mr. Slade.
with files from the book donations “Country Tales” Donated by- Ed and Shirley (Catherine) Simpson
CLIPPED FROM
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada10 Jul 1942, Fri • Page 12
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada30 Dec 1925, Wed • Page 2
CLIPPED FROM
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada27 May 1929, Mon • Page 2
| Name: | Archibald Blair |
|---|---|
| Marriage Date: | 4 Jan 1870 |
| Marriage Place: | Lanark County, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouse: | Mary McEwen |
1871 census
| Name: | Archibald Blair |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Widowed: | M |
| Origin: | Irish |
| Age: | 24 |
| Birth Date: | 1847 |
| Birth Place: | Ontario |
| Residence Place: | Goulburn, Carleton, Ontario |
| District Number: | 78 |
| Subdistrict: | d |
| Division: | 02 |
| Religion: | Weslyan Methodist |
| Occupation: | Shoe Maker |
| Family Number: | 177 |
| Neighbours: | View others on page |
| Household MembersAgeArchibald Blair24Mary Blair20 |
CLIPPED FROM
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada30 Mar 1935, Sat • Page 46
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada19 Feb 1897, Fri • Page 5
Memories of Ashton Station Road –Ashton Feed Mill –Jennifer Fenwick Irwin Photos
- Wind Storm in Ashton- Heath Ridge Farms 1976
- Dust on the Wind –Ashton Social Notes 1887-1897 Names Names Names
- Another Lanark County “Murdoch Mystery” –Elfreda Drummond of Ashton
- When Trains Crash —Ashton Train Accident 1950
- Mrs Crigger’s House in Ashton?
- The Ashton Hotel– Questions Questions Flemmings and McFarlanes
- McFarlanes –Stewart’s Fire– and Other Things in Ashton
- Somewhere in Ashton-The Ashton Curmudgeon
- The Ashton Funeral to end all Funerals
- Did Anyone Ever Have Fun in Ashton?
- Ashton 101
- Did Anyone Have Fun in Ashton? Part 2- The Fleming House
- How to Catch a Pigeon in Ashton
- The Ashton Carleton Place Car Theft Ring
- Did Samuel Pittard of Ashton Murder His Wife?
- Good Old Lanark County Music–From the 70s to now
- The John Shore House
- Jenkins: Ashton’s log and mortar-chinked history meets modern times
lindaseccaspina 