The Sadler farm, where we rented the front half of the farmhouse, was on what was then Highway 44. It was the first farm outside of Almonte, on the north side of town, on the west side of the highway. We first moved there in the summer of either 1962 or 1961, lived there for four years, then returned in the winter of 1969/70 and stayed until the summer of 1974.
Howard Sadler was, as I understand it, Fred Sadler’s son. The photo attached is, I am certain, the same house (although there had been minor changes when we first moved in). It was labelled “Joe Sadler’s House,” who, maybe, was Fred’s father? I knew from Howard that the farm had originally been 100 acres; he had carved off and sold the northeast corner for Thurston’s garage.
We spend a lot of time exploring the property. There was, I remember, the remnants of a sugarbush and maple-syrup harvesting area in the NW area of the farm, near the road that bordered the north side. There were still taps in the maple trees, although it was not used during my time there, and there was a large metal open-topped box that had something to do with processing the syrup.
The barn was huge, with several areas. There were only cows while we were there (although I do remember the last workhorse being taken away after being injured). But the barn had areas for pigs and horses, and there was a disused chicken coop set apart from the barn. The barn had two upper hay lofts, and a large area down at ground level for unloading and extra storage. It included a two-bay garage, a granary, another entrance to an area where Howard kept his fertilizers (which I can still smell) and some of his equipment — a corn-seed planter for example.
There were three or four greenhouses where we transplanted in the spring. There was a workshop where we gleefully played with power tools and a table saw on our own. The workshop looked strangely like it might’ve been used as a small house at one time, and I remember some charring at the back, as if it had been saved from a fire. There was a small garage by the greenhouses, where Howard kept and sold some of his gladiolas. He used the garage as a sort of store, where he kept change in a small box at the rear. I’m afraid I did take some of the change from time to time. It was a huge temptation for a small child.
The main house was at some time divided into two apartments (front and back), although I was convinced that at one time it was a single residence. There was a window added near the top of the staircase on the south side. The entrance was moved to the left and they added a porch to the front. Later, in the mid 60’s, they added an extension for a ground-floor bedroom for Beatrice, on the south side.
I am applying to the national repository of aerial photography …. If I can find anything with the building footprints, I can say for sure what each is, and where the indigenous-rampart feature was. Of course, the subdivision has erased that feature, but I remember exactly where it was and what it was like.
Nancy Anderson
Thank you Nancy– this is amazing!!!!!
When I closed my eyes and thought very carefully about the farm, I realized I know exactly what this “long, low rampart” is, as mentioned in this item. Looking for Information on the Native Fort Farm of Fred Sadler of Almonte
I’m working on a diagram for you.
Nancy
Where the hardware store now is was Howard Sadler‘s farm property. Howard had a fight with the original grocery store which used to be located at the bottom of Mill Street. The competition was for the sale of strawberries which Howard raised on his farm. When the grocery store began reducing prices incrementally by $.50, Howard apparently tore up his entire field of new strawberries in testimony to his unwillingness to submit to crass commercialism. L. G. William Chapman, B.A., LL.B. click here–http://lgwilliamchapman.ca/almonte-45-years-ago/
Highway 44-
History of King’s Highway 44:
King’s Highway 44 was a short collector highway which connected Highway 15 at Almonte to Highway 17 near Carp. The history of Highway 44 dates back to the late 1930s, when a new King’s Highway was assumed in Carleton and Lanark Counties. The highway existed up until the late 1990s, when it was downloaded to the County of Lanark and the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, which was later amalgamated into the new City of Ottawa.
The proposed route of Highway 44 was first shown on a series of Preliminary Route Plans dated October, 1937. The proposed highway extended from the Highway 17 Junction near Carp westerly to Almonte, where the route connected to Highway 29 (later known as Highway 15). The route was first assumed by the Department of Highways of Ontario (DHO) on April 13, 1938, although the section of the road passing through Almonte was not assumed by the DHO. That section of the route remained under municipal jurisdiction. Highway 44 was originally 23 km in length, including the non-assumed section of the highway through Almonte. Highway 44 was primarily a gravel road when it was first designated as a King’s Highway in 1938. Only the section of the highway running from Highway 29 into Almonte was paved. The balance of the highway was paved during various highway reconstruction projects which took place between 1944 and 1951. In 1965, a major realignment of Highway 17 took place west of Carp. This relocation of Highway 17 had a considerable impact on the route of Highway 44. The Carp Bypass opened to traffic on November 9, 1965. As a result, approximately 7 km of Highway 44 was absorbed into the route of Highway 17 in 1965. From 1965 until 1997, Highway 44 ended at the Highway 17 Junction west of Carp.
On March 31, 1997, the entire route of Highway 44 was downloaded. The road is now officially known as Lanark County Road 49 and Ottawa Road 49, although the road is still occasionally referred to as “Highway 44” by motorists
Nancy also sent me this
Feral Canadian
3 years ago
This was the old Sadler farm across the Rd from Francis fuels. My family lived there about 30 yrs ago. Carl Sadler used the honour system to sell potatoes
Nancy Anderson
2 years agoI lived there too … from 1961 to 1965 … then 1970 to 1974. The second time was after the tenancy of Mr. and Mrs. Bent (high-school teachers). And after we left for the second time, one of my best friends Nancy Tuffin (don’t know her married name) moved in after her wedding. The owner was Howard Sadler. His boys were Carl, Bruce (Carleton Place) and Ray (Chinese missionary). It was nice to see the old place, but I wish they would’ve treated the house with a little more respect. It wasn’t a haunted house; it was our home.
“We acknowledge that this sacred land on which Mississippi Mills is now located has been a site of human activity for over 10,000 years and is rich in Indigenous history. This land is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. We are grateful to the Algonquin ancestors who cared for the land and water in order that we might meet here today.
Before settlers arrived, this territory was subject to the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee nations to peaceably share and care for resources. After settlers arrived, it became subject to the Three Figure Wampum Belt, last carried by Algonquin Elder William Commanda, which commemorates the sharing of this land with English, French and Indigenous Nations under the governance of Natural Law.
We recognize with gratitude the knowledge and contributions that the Algonquin Peoples bring to the Municipality of Mississippi Mills. Today, Mississippi Mills is also home to other Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island. We extend our respect to all First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for their valuable past and present contributions.
We are mindful of broken covenants and the need to reconcile with all our relations. Together, may we care for this land and each other, drawing on the strength of our mutual history of nation building through peace and friendship being mindful of generations to come.”
Mayor Lowry – Mississippi Mills
Did We Find Henry Lang’s Barn?
lindaseccaspina 