Unknown History from the Past– Molasses Tank Explosion

Thanks to Tammy Marion for sending this story..

The Great Molasses Flood, also known as the Boston Molasses Disaster or the Great Boston Molasses Flood, occurred on January 15, 1919, in the North End neighbourhood of Boston,

What a sweet story and quite true. They say on warm summer days you can still smell a scent of molasses in the air around the fire station!

Results were devastating.

“First you kind of laugh at it, then you read about it, and it was just horrible

A molasses wave 40 foot high poured out of the container killing 21 people. Imagine living in a basement apt and having this sweet sticky liquid pour it. It was like fly paper.

The Boston Globe
Boston, Massachusetts
16 Jan 1919, Thu  •  Page 1

A sea of more than 1,500,000 gallons of molasses, freed by the sudden explosion and col-lapse of a giant iron tank, sent a tidal wave of death and destruction-stalking through North End Park and Commercial st shortly after noon yesterday. Casualty lists furnished by the various hospitals total 11 dead and 50 Injured. Six wooden buildings were demolished, one heavy steel support of the elevated structure was knocked down and others were so weakened that they will have to be replaced. A score of Public Works Department horses were either smothered In their stalls by the flood of molasses or so severely Injured as their stable collapsed that they were shot by policemen to end their suffering. The giant molasses tank, having a capacity of 2,360,000 gallons, was located at 529 Commercial st, west of North End Park. It was the property of the Purity Distilling Company, a subsidiary of United States Industrial Alcohol Company. The tank and contents were valued in round figures at $250,000. It Is estimated the total property loss will not exceed $500,000

The molasses was distilled into industrial alcohol used to produce military explosives and the anarchy movement. The tank owners stated that anarchists blew up the tank. Then there was the fact that molasses was used in booze and prohibition was knocking at the door. Most of the residents of the North End were Italian, they were immigrants, and they were not citizens, so they had very little to say.

So this monstrous 2.3 million-gallon tank placed 3 feet from Commercial Street was erected without a whimper of protest, and no city official complained even after it started to leak from day one. The molasses flood did for building standards what the Coconut Grove fire did for fire codes as there were no regulations at the time. The molasses tank, which was 50 feet tall and 90 feet in diameter, didn’t even require a permit. After the judge ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, construction standards began to get stringent, first in Boston, then in Massachusetts, and finally across the country.

https://news.northeastern.edu/2019/01/15/heres-what-boston-looked-like-after-a-deadly-wave-of-molasses-swallowed-the-north-end/

Buildings swept away West of the tank, were buildings occupied by the Bay State Railway Company. Between the giant tank and the water front is the house of . Engine 31, a fireboat of the Boston Fire Department, and next beyond that, on North End Park, is a recreation, or headhouse, on a small pier. East of the tank, and adjoining North End park, near Commercial St, were the buildings of the North End Paving Division of the Public Works Department of the city of Boston. These included a small office building, a stable and some sheds. All these buildings,, as well as the frame dwelling of Mrs Bridget Clougherty at 6 Copps Hill terrace, which is across Commercial st, were quickly destroyed.

There was no escape from the wave. Caught, human being and animal alike could not flee. Running in it was impossible. Snared in its flood was to be stifled. Once it smeared a head–human or animal–there was no coughing off the sticky mass. To attempt to wipe it with hands was to make it worse. Most of those who died, died from suffocation. It plugged nostrils almost air-tight.

During the four years it was in operation, workers reported hearing groaning noises every time the tank was filled with syrup, and it was well known that the structure was leaky, particularly to neighbourhood kids. Kids would collect and eat the molasses that oozed out of the tanks. The tank leaked constantly, worrying employees and neighbours. But in their rush to keep up with demand, company officials just repainted the tank in the same colour as the leaking molasses.

They said when metre readers went into the basements of those buildings across the street from the molasses company years later they could still smell molasses. Which makes perfect sense to me, because those basements were filled up to the first floor with molasses.

Almonte Explosion 1977

Mr. Code’s Mill Explosion in Carleton Place

The Ice Pick Cometh — Ottawa Artificial Ice Co.

photo Adin Daigle

I saw this photo on Adin Wesley Daigle’s Facebook page and I could not tackle this item quick enough. The ice pick somehow holds great prominence in my mind. I watched my Grandmother attack her 20 by 10 freezer in the 60s that was more ice than food. Sometimes I would come downstairs early in the morning and watch her use that ice pick like her life depended on it trying to retrieve what the ice had eaten up. She would open boxes, and anything else that needed to be opened with it — always in Barbara Stanwyck style. Ice picks were sometimes used in forms of murder, and I wondered what the history was behind this item. Were any murders committed with an Ottawa Artificial Ice Co. ice pick similar to the film Eyes of Laura Mars?

January 13 at 2:51 PM  · A neat ice pick I’ve had for some time…Ottawa Artificial Ice co. Limited….haven’t found much on the company

Found by Diane Edwards–The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
27 Dec 1912, Fri  •  Page 2

Jaan Kolk posted on Adin’s timeline that The Ottawa Artificial Ice Co. plant was on the east side of Nicholas, midway between Somerset and Mann. It remained in business until the property was expropriated for the expansion of the U of O campus in 1959; however, the Rideau exchange phone number dates the ice pick to before the introduction of automated “dialing” with 5-digit numbers in 1938. Here’s an aerial photo showing the plant in 1933 (cropped from NAPL A4571_26):

Here’s an aerial photo showing the plant in 1933 (cropped from NAPL A4571_26): Jaan Kolk

When my Grandmother got an icebox in the late 30s she told me she could keep milk for a day and meat fresh for 36 hours. I remember the ice man coming in the 50s delivering ice to our home with long tongs in each hand carrying two 25-pound blocks at a time. The deliverymen began their day before dawn to ensure local shops had ice before business hours and then go to the private residences that were waiting for him.

One day I remember that there were no more drip pans to be emptied, and no more ice to be purchased. The electrical refrigerator spelled the end of the iceman and the blocks of ice that were stored in sawdust in dark places.

So why buy artificial ice than purchase regular ice? Jaan Kolk said: “Coincident with the typhoid outbreaks of 1911 and 1912, the Ottawa Artificial Ice Co. was formed to exploit the mistrust of river ice. It produced ice by artificial refrigeration of distilled water, originally, and later water from it’s own deep well. The technical expertise came from Phillip D. Lyons, who had previously run an artificial ice plant in the Caribbean; the investors were the usual suspects, with names like Ahearn, Bate, Booth.”

“Ice cutting on the Clyde River”

Adin Daigle photo

In 1913 the Ottawa Artificial Ice Co. advertised they would supply water from eight taps placed at front of their building on Nicholas St. It was advertised as ‘DOUBLE DISTILLED WATER’ piped direct from their distilling tanks. By running the Distilling plant at full capacity, nearly 5000 gallons over and above what was needed for ice could be made each day. They boasted that the water was pleasant to taste, as the air was put back into the water after it is distilled. It was advertised as a patented process and germ proof made fresh each day

The charges at the water taps were: 25c For ten gallons. 3c Per odd gallon. You were to bring your water bottles to the ICE PLANT and have them filled with the only absolutely pure water that money can buy. They insisted that if you bought spring water it could not be ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED and you paid 40c to 50c for five gallons of it, so their water and ice was supreme.

Was ice really spreading Typhoid Fever? In reality, the total number of instances of typhoid fever which had been directly traced to ice infection were remarkably few. One was in France, where a group of officers placed ice made from water polluted by a sewer in their wine and afterwards developed typhoid fever, while those of the same company not using ice escaped. A second case was in a small epidemic which occurred in those who used ice from a pond. It was found that water directly infected with typhoid feces and had flowed over. So yes, the advertising was formed to exploit mistrust of regular ice as Jaan said. But today, some articles say to avoid ice because it may have been made from unclean water. So who knows?

So how about those ice pick murders I was looking for? I am disappointed to tell you that the ice pick was only used as a threatening weapon except in the case of the Mafia’s gangsters of Murder Inc. in October of 1940.

“The bum ain’t dead yet.” To make sure, they used a meat cleaver and an Ice pick. The car with its gruesome cargo was left on a, quiet residential street. The gangsters did not know it but. Whitey Rudnick’s corpse was to contribute more to their undoing than anything the little loan shark had done when he was alive.

Okay there was another case in Montreal in 1936….

Five men and a woman will be tried for murder at the Autumn term of the Court of King’s Bench. The murder charges, being heard by Mr. Justice Philemon Cousineau. arose from the deaths of seven persons, three from illegal operations. The others were found, to have been slain with ice pick, axe and club

So I guess it’s back to Lizzie Borden for me. Except, I found this wonderful ad from Oglivy’s that used to be on Rideau Street in Ottawa.  For absolutely free- no strings or obligations whatsoever, you got a free quality ice pick, with a tempered steel blade, and smart, enamelled handle and exceptional construction throughout All you had to do was ask their floorman for one. After he showed to show you the beautiful the 1935 Hostess refrigerator. Now that was a murder of a deal!

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
01 May 1935, Wed  •  Page 10

Found by Diane Edwards–The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
27 Dec 1912, Fri  •  Page 2

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
07 Jan 1913, Tue  •  Page 10

The Ottawa Distributors of Kelvinator Electric Refrigerators Commencing in September 1929 the Ottawa Artificial Ice Company, according to an announcement by the officials of the company.

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
24 Jan 1913, Fri  •  Page 4

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
15 Mar 1894, Thu  •  Page 7

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
27 Apr 1923, Fri  •  Page 18

photo-Curtis Webster

Related reading—

Would You Like Some Ice With that Drink?

Skating on Fraser’s Pond and Hobo Haven — Larry Clark

Photo Mike Jeays– the reason i picked this photo is because Ted Hurdis told me it reminded him of playing in that area as a child.

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Fraser’s Pond by Larry Clark

Hearing of “Stompin Tom” and his affection for Skinners Pond reminded me that I was especially enamoured with such a swampy location in our neighbourhood; known to us (or named by us) as Fraser’s Pond. It could easily have been properly called Buffam’s or Bamford’s as we had no knowledge as to whom owned the land. We never really cared who owned a particular property as we would “possess” it for our adventures until such time as we were chased away (but that’s another story). 

Mother was not particularly in favour of our pastimes and would remonstrate us with the words as we left, “stay away from the pond!”. Those words would ring in our ears as we set out (previously with no idea of what we would do that day) for the swamp. Mother would be distracted by the activities of my four younger (boisterous) sisters who vied with each other in determining whose turn it was to do the dishes. (This was an activity beneath me and seldom was I called upon, since on one occasion that I was forced to perform this despicable chore, my performance was so sub par that I was never asked again (seems that monitoring my activities for more than 3 hours was too much to ask for my mother’s patience).

Buffam’s Farm on Napoleon Street- December 2020-A Meteorite or a Fuse Box? A Carleton Place Legend Part 2

After donning our thick wool socks, rubber boots, hammers and nails (the raft/s always required some repair) we left for Frasers’, a distance of approx. 1/2 mile.It was located between the tracks and Napoleon St. at the base of a small hill which was covered with cedar bush, aka Hobo Haven. This was always a Springtime activity because the pond did not always have sufficient depth of water during summer months (Dibblee’s not far away). The pond was laced with cedars and small bushes (can’t remember the type) which created a series of channels and backwaters that were ripe for exploration and if we had 2 or more serviceable rafts were great for “hide and seek” (and/or ramming). The rafts were generally just a combination of two old water soaked logs with a myriad of short, equally wet planking connecting them. Just a minor shifting of weight could cause the water level to rise sufficiently  to start coming into your boots. Of course that could be a bit of a challenge to see how high you could get the water to go without it breaching the top of your boot-particularly if you were two on a raft, each trying soak the other.

The strategy may have been to see how wet we could get before the soaking became intolerable and we had to retreat to our homes where, invariably we be praised (ha) for, after having found ourselves surrounded by swamp, we had managed to extricate ourselves, ourselves.

Tired of the chase, we would take to the cedars; climb to the tops; start to swing back and forth until we judged that the distance between trees was such that we could jump/leap to the next (a la Tarzan), voicing Tarzan -like whooping as we flew! Needless to say these stunts did not always go smoothly, as follows: a. couldn’t swing close enough to the next tree: b. loss of grip and falling to the base of the tree: or worst of all, the top breaking off and me, tumbling to the pond below. Our parents could put up with the soaking of our clothing but the ripping and tearing of our clothing was a bit problematic.

For more of a problem, fast forward 4 or 5 years-the location a large barn on the 8th line (near Ashton) which contained a meagre amount of straw left over from the over-wintering of a pair of horses (Pat and Dolly). For some reason, there was a couple of ropes (one would be for the hay rake)  hanging from the loft of this cavernous area and on sighting them, almost simultaneously we said,  “Tarzan!” In order to make this coming scene more authentic we divested of our clothes, climbed and swung about, living our dreams of the forests of Africa. With a yell, becoming a bit of a scream as I lost my grip and slipped down the rope (problematically), as the rope was between my legs. It was a moment I am not likely to forget. Seeking sustenance (pity) from the farmer (there was some swelling, pain, heat, etc). Upon further examination, we didn’t think it worthy of medical involvement but being cautious of such an injury, we decided to consult with a neighbour and son.  A man of few words, upon examining the affliction, he looked rather grave and said one word; “SILVERBALLS”.

Larry Clark

The editor will leave the word Silverballs with you to use your imagination. Linda

Photo- Mike Jeays

Remembering Evelyn Clark — Larry Clark

Larry Clark Memories : Billings Bridge, Willow Trees and the Orange Lodge

Glory Days in Carleton Place– Larry Clark

Larry Clark — Your Veribest Agent

A Personal Story — Caught in the Ice– Rocky Point- Larry Clark

So I was talking about the location of some of these places with Ted Hurdis and this is what he said.

Where was Fraser’s pond??

Ted- Unless they mean the quarry out past where John Francis Fraser lived. I didn’t trust the ice at the quarry-it was pretty deep and unpredictable. It was supposed to be spring fed so you never new how the ice was. The water in the summer was ice cold. We had a pond right across the road where Stuart Neilson kept his horse.

Where was Hobo’s Haven?

Ted-Hobo Haven would have been the cattle loading yard right behind us at the tracks. They could get under where it was secluded and dry . That structure was built to load cows right on to the train. Many a hobo would be at our back door for water and sandwiches. They were never turned away.

Memories of Augusta Park

MYRTLE CRAWFORD

Myrtle Crawford tells you about what once was before Augusta Park in Mississippi Mills. What a great story about looking after potatoes and the creek that ran through that property. Great video!

Alan Brown

Augusta Street Park is in the community of Almonte ON in the municipality of Mississippi Mills. Built in the 1970s, under a federal NIP neighbourhood improvement initiative, this much-loved park features a flowing creek and massive maples for shade. Now, after decades of decline, the community has come forward once again to rehabilitate the space. As a result of a fundraising event in early February 2012, volunteers have offered in-kind support for this park. A concept plan has been created. It calls for a BMX bike course, hard surfacing, a community garden, accessible walkways and an aesthetically pleasing and highly interactive splashpad. A phased-in rehabilitation plan will be carried out. The Augusta Street Park Community Committee membership consists of Town staff, a council member, Mills Community Support staff and community volunteers. —Friends of Augusta Street Park–friendsofaugustapark@gmail.com

2015

Resuscitation of Augusta Street Park in downtown Almonte was undertaken at the impetus of a young woman named Sarah Spinks, who in 2011 began urging the community to restore the park’s rundown 40-year-old court. In Ocotber of 2015-hat, along with 25 free tickets, which Andrew Wiggins provided to youngsters from Almonte (part of the amalgamated town of Mississippi Mills) to attend the third game of the 2015 NBA Canada Series on Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Centre between the Toronto Raptors and Timberwolves. Toronto Raptors point guard Cory Joseph, though, topped that by providing tickets to 25 YMCA youths “and their families,” during a news conference to unveil the refurbishment of an outdoor community basketball court in Almonte. NBA Cares and Bell Canada combined to cough up “just over (US)$ 19,000,” wh ile Almon te used-clothing outlet The Hub and the non-profit citizenship organization Civitan raised the remainder (roughly $9,000) of the $28,000 needed to pave the outdoor court and put up new basketball standards, backboards and nets, says Mississippi Mills Mayor Shaun McLaughlin.

If you have never seen this video with Sarah Spinks, get out the Kleenex

Photos-Friends of Augusta Street Park

Friends of Augusta Street Park

Photo-Friends of Augusta Street Park

Unexpected Almonte
May 28, 2019  · 
These kids are all mid-twenties now! And the Augusta Park Rocket is still fueling trips to space
The painted rocket is 2019 and still popular. The photographer had to visit twice to get an empty rocket. Friends of Augusta Street Park #CommunityPark #Almonte #InfinityAndBeyo

Jan 6, 2020 3:35 PM-Arnprior, ON, Canada / Oldies 107.7

Augusta Street Park, in the Almonte Ward of Mississippi Mills, is an example of a citizen-driven initiative that may have new impact in an era of fiscal restraint by municipal governments.

Jeff Mills, a Community Developer with Carebridge in Mississippi Mills, appeared at the Town’s December Council meeting to update council on the project.

Mills says Augusta Street Park has a basketball court that was developed with funding from NBA Canada, there is a functioning community garden on the property, and every July, there is a series of Wednesday evening concerts and Civitan BBQ events.

The community developer says Augusta Street Park preserves the memory of a dark day in Almonte history when, in May of 1965, four kids perished in a fire as the neighbourhood was, until that time, without water and sewer services, and no fire hydrants to help save the children’s home.

The Carebridge spokesperson says the final amenity planned for the park may be achieved in 2020 – a splash pad that will speak to the children’s memory.

Stories-

No one likes sad or controversial times of the past but they did occur and we should not forget them ever. These two blogs a reminder of things we should not allow to happen again. As Jeff said: “Augusta Street Park preserves the memory of a dark day in Almonte history when, in May of 1965, four kids perished in a fire as the neighbourhood was, until that time, without water and sewer services, and no fire hydrants to help save the children’s home”.

Read

Tragedy of the 60s — Cole Family Fire

When Low Income was Really Low Income– Tragedy in Lanark County– the 60s

Augusta, the little park that could! CLICK here

Friends of Augusta Street Park–Allan BrownFriends of Mississippi Mills

January 28, 2019  · After last week’s meltdown, Augusta Park skating rink has been reflooded and ready to go. Big thank you to the Augusta Park Rink Rats.

Friends of Augusta Street Park Faceboo

What we’ve learned!

• Its citizens who care that count, not money or politics.
• People need to break up their work week with outdoor social time with their neighbours.
• These events are welcoming and inclusive and attract a wide range of ages and abilities. We are encouraged that our town is strong. In attendance were older adults, persons with disabilities, newcomer neighbours with young children, and old friends.
• We have amazingly talented musicians in our town. Their music sounds best when played outside in the summer.
• We are good cooks! Our community pot lucks are famous for their tasty and healthy offerings. “When you eat outside, bread and butter taste like cake!”
• Invest in sidewalk chalk.
• People step up to volunteer when asked.

And more than anything, we learned that love is very much alive in Mississippi Mills.

Friends of Augusta Street Park-friendsofaugustapark@gmail.com

 Augusta Street Park – 81 Mercier Street, Almonte

Over the years Augusta Street Park has undergone some changes largely because of the volunteers “Friends of Augusta Street Park”.

• Play structure
• Community gardens
• BMX track
• Pedestrian foot bridge
• NBA sponsored basketball court
• Small playing field
• Outdoor rink in winter

Memories

Nathan Rudyk • 3 years ago The Millstone
When our kids were little, Augusta was known as “Pusher Park” and when they’d go there to play we’d say “Make sure you wear running shoes so you don’t step on the needles.” There frequently were used ones lying on the ground. And look at it today!

With leadership by Jeff Mills and a growing team of dedicated volunteers (I bet they easily cross a hundred people if you count the gardeners and musicians), it’s a community oasis and getting better every year.
My best memory of the park’s transformation was a little kid with his shovel and pail, digging away to create a dirt pile – for the BMX track he explained. A little while later, after yet another group of volunteers brought in truckloads more dirt and shaped a track, I saw that kid flying over the course with a huge smile on his face. Why not? He helped build it. Right now I’ve gotta get down there to help my wife harvest some vegetables from the community garden plot, so bye!

Laurie LadouceurMy aunt use to babysit me and as kids we loved to go when they had the sprinkler open on a summer day, catch frogs, play on the rocket, tether ball and the swings that went around

Julie TaylorZip line with no stopping mechanism other than a pole lol, wobbly bridge that eventually was removed which left no way across the creek except to jump and my favourite the swings mounted on the big rotating circle.

Christine AnnJulie Taylor haha the zip line was the best part. I am sure I got brain damage from hitting that pole so many tunes. Augusta was always my fave park!

Julia WaiteEvery Wednesday in July there’d usually be bands playing and bbqs! Lovely to hear the music in my backyard 

Keven SonnenburgI used to spend my whole summer there as a kid. There was always a summer program run by the town. I lived on Augusta Street.

Lisa Stanley SheehanI had my first cigarette Lol…..thanks to Becky Ford

Dave LaforceLaurie Ladouceur back in the 60s. Spring runoff would flood all lower steets as the creek couldnot handle the water shed from burtlands.One day my cousin fell in and my uncle john went after him in a canoe catching him before spring st.and the missippi river.

Dave LaforceWe damd that creek off in summer and would swim there. And explore the under ground dug out caves next to mr gilbueas.He was a war vet.who thought he need a protection plan

Donna Lee MattI remember Augusta Park when it was just a well kept path. We used to take the forbidden short cut from Harold St. to GL Comba Public School. It was the fastest route. Most times of the year the creek was manageable but in the spring it was really dangerous. We would often risk crossing so we could get to the school earlier to meet up with our friends.

Pat LotanWe lived on Ottawa Street and my sons played there as well as attended the summer program provided by the town. It was run by Wendy Powell. She was fantastic! Wonderful memories. 

Personal Memories of Downtown Local Business etc.

Ray PaquetteI’m having a senior moment. Will somebody reminding me who ran Moore’s Taxi please?

Linda Gallipeau-Johnston Ernie Moore – I think.

Ray PaquetteWas that the same Ernie Moore who ran the store on Moore Street?

Nancy HudsonLinda I think the taxi driver’s name was John Moore, Ernie had the store on Moore St.

Ray PaquetteNancy Hudson I remember Watty Stanzel, Arnie McNeely, Ronnie Wing and Wib Giles but John Moore, I have no recollection of. Where did he live?

Nancy HudsonRay Paquette John Moore lived at the corner of Town Line west and Moffatt St. My Aunt and Uncle, Les and Olive Nield lived next door to him on Moffatt St

Ray PaquetteLinda Gallipeau-Johnston Ted has taken on the affectation of 2 “d’s” in his name. He is now known as Tedd. Go figure?!?!?

Ray PaquetteLinda Gallipeau-Johnston You were asking about Tedd. Here is a picture of him and Brian McDonald taken last September. Ted is on the right….

Doug B. McCartenRay Paquette great to see Brian and Tedd are well and enjoying life as retirees! Ask Brian if he remembers the two young ladies who were traveling through town selling magazine subscriptions? We all went back to Brian’s house to discuss our choices….. lol! I actually got a subscription for Car & Driver….. I think Brian took one of the ladies to his room to get money or something BAHAHAHA what a nice visit we had with them…….

Ray PaquetteDoug B. McCarten I sent your comment regarding the magazine sales staff to Brian who commented “…You can tell Doug that , although that little experience had slipped my mind, yes I do remember now that he mentioned it. I thought that there might have been a third guy involved but I might be wrong. I ended up getting a subscription for a year to a magazine I cared little for.Those girls were VERY good at their job.”

Ray PaquetteThere are a lot of commercial locations of earlier times that are not included on this “place mat”. Bellamy’s Restaurant, Sinclair Bros. Men’s Wear and Patterson’s Furniture to mention a few others not already noted above. I could go on but would bore most readers…

Joan StoddartRemember the rest rooms beside the Queen’s

Ray PaquetteBeginning at the bottom of Bridge Street, on the west side: the Texaco station, the Salvation Army Citadel, Levines, Hick’s Grocery, Charlie Jay Shoe Repair, Mae Mulvey’s Candy Shop. Central Grill, Galvin’s Men’s Wear, Carleton Grill ( and the Colonial Bus Lines stop), the Roxy Theatre, Harold Dowdall’s Barbersop, Denny Coyles Esso, Ned Root’s Shoe Repair, Stanzel’s Taxi, Dr. McDowell, Darou’s Bakery. Doucette Insurance, McAllister’s Bike Repair, Oona’s Applicances/Bob Flint TV, Hastie Bros Plumbing, Bruce McDonald Optometrist, Foote Photography, the public restrooms, the Queens Hotel, Woodcock’s Bakery, Lewis Reg’d Ladies Wear, Okilman’s, and Patterson’s Furniture. I probably forgot a business but I’m sure other readers can “fill in the blanks” or take exception to some of the names on the list. More to come when I crossover to the East side of bridge…

Joann VoyceRay/ Not Lewis but Moskivitch Dress shop. Lewis was beside Comba I believe as my mother sent me there for clothes

Ray PaquetteTwo days ago I listed the businesses of my boyhood that operated on the west side of Bridge, a.k.a., Main Street. Today I’ll bore you with reminisces of the east side, with the caveat that I may omit or misidentify a business or two, but cut me some slack, this was 70 years ago! Beginning at the Mississippi Hotel, there was Joie Bond’s store, her brother’s barber shop, Bowland’s Grocery, Carleton Cleaners, William’s Drugstore, Fulton’s Furniture, predecessor to Allan Barker, Kiddy Town, Playfair Bowling Lanes, The Canadian, the Liquor Store. Then Dr Ferrill’s office, the Orange Lodge, the Canadian Tire, the Post Office, the Bank of Nova Scotia, Dr. McCarron the dentist, Royal Bank, New York Cafe, the Olympia, Howard Little’s Barber shop, Argue’s Grocery, Robertson’s Men’s Wear, Wilson’s Drugstore, Dack’s Jewellers, McCann’s Poolroom, the Dominion Store. Across Franklin Street there was Asseltine’s Drugstore, Stedman’s 5 & 10, Walkers Dry Goods, Allan’s Shoe Store, Dr Walroth’s Office and Mr. Tighe, the Piano Teacher, McLaren’s Drugstore, Lewis Reg’d, and Comba’s Furniture. On the north side of the bridge, was Dr. Johnston’s office and Branch #192, Royal Canadian Legion. Bennett’s Meat Market on the corner of Bell Street, McArten’s Insurance, Brewers Retail, the Maple Leaf Dairy, and finally, the (Cameron’s?) Blacksmith Shop across from Miller’s Farm Equipment. Anyway, that’s what I remember: perhaps some of the readers would like to fill in the blanks that I have left, not intentionally.

Ray PaquetteDan Williams Read my follow on note in reply to Doug’s question about me taking notes. It easy when you are in and out of those businesses 6 days a week delivering a paper…

I loved what Susan Mary Risk posted in December 2019 so I added it.

Susan Mary Risk–We had milk and fruit juice delivered to the front door daily. It’s because no one had refrigerators. We kept everything in the larder, the weeks rationed roast under a fly net.It turned green iridescent and we still ate it. We had beef drippings on bread for a treat, not Cheesies or fruit loops. In winter we had to break ice off the toilet water and ruffle the frost off the toilet seat. What we had for heating two stories was a coal or coke burning fireplace and one tiny gas space heater in the nursery that Mom payed for by sticking a shilling into the meter placed in the hall. This was post war England.

Ah the good old days, when I was allowed to spray the flowers with a hand pump, full of good old DDT. No one admonished us with threats of lymphoma back then. No one told me I could get skin or lung cancer by fetching the coal from a small shed with a galvanized steel bucket. Though heavy, this was a less noxious material than today’s plastics. Stuffies, now. I kept my bear, David, until I was 13. I had one bear. My sister still had her stuffie, Ellie a few years before she died at age 60. Our stuffie were filled with sawdust. She found that out eventually.

We never had freezing on our teeth at the dentist. Instead, the dentist would promise us we could hold and look at a gold painted wooden angel if we didn’t scream from the drilling. The good old days when responsibility meant staying on the sidewalk all night in winter to protest apartheid outside the US Embassy in Toronto. Ages 12 and 14. Those days of witness, the violent deaths of blacks or protesters in the South. Police brutality. The deaths of Martin Luther King, of Robert Kennedy, the incarceration of Nelson Mandela.Life was more carefree before TV and perhaps we older folk dream of our youth as blessed at times, but somehow I feel our children have so much more than we ever knew.

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 1– Canadian Tire to The Moose

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 2- Milano Pizza to Milady Dress Shop

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 3- St. Andrew’s to Central School

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 4- Leslie’s China Shop to Rubino’s/Giant Tiger

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 5-The Little White House to the Roxy

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 6-The Eating Place to the Post Office

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 7 –Scotia Bank to the New York Cafe

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 8–Olympia Restaurant to McNeely’s–

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 9–Flint’s to the Blue Spot

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 10–

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 11

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 12Dr. Johnson Downing and Ferril I Presume? Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series– Volume 12 a

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series –Volume 13

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign–Dr. Winters 154-160 Bridge Street Carleton Place –Jaan Kolk Files

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series –Volume 14

Mitchell & Cram — History of The Summit Store 1898-1902 –Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series –Volume 15

Carleton Place Then and Now–Bridge Street Series–Volume 16– Newman’s Hall

Remembering Evelyn Clark — Larry Clark

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
01 Feb 1969, Sat  •  Page 1

There was an attempt at some point to have my mother being given credit for her heroics for the house fire in 1969, but nothing came of it. ( read-The Heroine of Lake Ave East — 1969) Personally I just wanted to forget about it. All my efforts were directed to getting Dad back on his feet. The community helped considerably. As long as I can remember she looked after the children of others; in some part to supplement her income, but mostly because of her love of children in distress. It seemed to run in the family as her father Alfred was a “Home Boy” (Barnardos). (Read Canadians Just Wanted to Use me as a Scullery-Maid)

Afred- The first photo is of my grandfather taken on his entry into Barnardos care–photo Larry Clark courtesy Lost and Found by BY JESSICA ROSE | NOVEMBER 27, 2017

My mother’s mother died of typhoid in 1917 (Smiths Falls Hospital but they lived on Moffat St) and a year later my mother and an older brother were put up for adoption. An older daughter was kept another 4 years, I believe the Spanish flu may have been a factor as my grandfather became ill and had trouble keeping the family together. Long story being chronicled somewhat by my granddaughter, currently living in Lisbon engaged in writing a book about her adoption and includes the Mallindine family history.  We were not told of this granddaughter until she was 38. She was adopted by a Jewish family and her name is Jessica Rose.. ( Lost and Found by BY JESSICA ROSE | NOVEMBER 27, 2017)

Larry Clark and his wife Beth 1958-photo Larry Clark courtesy Lost and Found by BY JESSICA ROSE | NOVEMBER 27, 2017 The other is of Beth and I taken in an upstair’s neighbours apt (above us)-first hame in France Aug 1959.

Related stories-The Heroine of Lake Ave East — 1969

Lost and Found by BY JESSICA ROSE | NOVEMBER 27, 2017

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
01 Feb 1969, Sat  •  Page 1

A woman and her 21-month-old granddaughter were killed and two other children thrown to safety near here Friday when fire tore through their frame farmhouse. Dead are Mrs. Evelyn Clark, 53, and Darlene Warren, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Warren who live in a farmhouse adjacent to the Clark home about one-half mile east of here.

Two foster children who had been living with the Clarks, Gilbert Warwick, 4, and David . Forget, 2, were flung from a second-storey bedroom window by Mrs. Clark before flames reached them. The children both were permanent wards of the Perth District Children’s Aid Society were not seriously injured. Gilbert is staying with friends of the family and David is under observation in Carleton Place and District Hospital.

Mrs. Clark was not seen at the bedroom window again and it is presumed she was engulfed in the flames as they spread through to the second floor as she was trying to rescue her granddaughter. The wood-frame house was an inferno in a matter of minutes, firemen from Beckwith volunteer fire department reported. Two hours after the 1.30 p.m. blaze was reported, the building was razed. . Mrs. Clark’s husband, Norman, 54, two of their own children and two other foster children were away from home at the time of the fire. Relatives said the granddaughter was staying with Mrs. Clark because her mother was undergoing surgery in hospital here. Fire Chief Bob Brooks said that by the time firefighters arrived at 1.40 p.m. there was little they could do. Cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ontario. Fire Marshal’s Office. Lanark County Coroner Dr. W. J. Hanham has ordered an inquest into the deaths.

Larry Clark Memories : Billings Bridge, Willow Trees and the Orange Lodge

Glory Days in Carleton Place– Larry Clark

Larry Clark — Your Veribest Agent

A Personal Story — Caught in the Ice– Rocky Point- Larry Clark

The First Date ADHS- 1969 –Unknown

No name was attached to this but it came from someone in 12A in 1969 at Almonte High School

Dating Single Beds and Jimmy Legs

Dating A Farmer — It’s Not All Hearts And Cow Tails

Just Like Internet Dating?— Circa 1913

Because You Loved Me — A Vintage Lanark Romance

Would You Duel Anything For Love?

The McArthur Love Story

Groovy Hints on How to Catch and Keep a Boy – 60’s style

The Skating Rink Maureen Dunn 1969

Found in the Almonte high School Annual 1969

Walton’s Taxi and Did a Plane Really Land on Bridge Street? College and Bridge Street

Ray PaquetteIt would appear to be farther south of Woodcock’s. The bridge is not visible, the Baptist Church’s spire is in the distance and the cafe sign to the right might is the New York Cafe was ( currently empty lot next to RBC.)

Lori Devlin –Janice Tennant Campbell it definitely says Walton’s Taxi

Rick Redmond–I believe this is the corner of Bridge and College street. The first building on the left would be the Central apartments. In in the early 60’s there would have been a restaurant in the downstairs, and Central Garage at the rear. It may have been called Peden’s garage at one time but I’m not sure but next down is where Howard Johnsons Menswear was later built.

The brick building next just past the alley was where Dot’s Cafe was, if you look closely you can still see the framed entrance. Next built later would be the Roxy Theater, torn down in the mid 50’s This was the 2nd movie theater in town the first one being where the Canadian office was. The street lights were there until the late 50’s or very early 60’s and were replaced by very bright fluorescent lights .There is an urban myth that a lost airplane headed into Ottawa mistook the new lights for the landing lights at Uplands and tried to land on Bridge St. only when seeing car lights did it pull up.

Joann Voyce From the autos and street lights, I would suggest 1930 early 1940

Clippings of the McEwens and the Beckwith Quarry

Lorne McNeely crushing rock in the Beckwith quarry
One of the largest crushers was a model produced by Taylor Engineering in 1919. It had a 60-inch (152-cm) receiving opening and remained in first place until Taylor produced the 72-inch (183-cm) gyratory crusher in 1969. It served as the world’s biggest and only machine at that size until 2001,

april 1873

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
07 Oct 1899, Sat • Page 6

Findlay C McEwen
3 March 1844–19 June 1922

 
 
 
 

Different location but same idea for the Beckwith and Almonte Quarries-Joel Barter

Admin
  · February 10, 2020  · 
Scotstown Quarry

Finley Kearney McEwen

1965

Finley Kearney McEwen was 95 in September. He owned the farm that borders the Beckwith airport. He had a brother Keith and another Fraser. Finlay has one son Paul, Fraser had no children, but Keith did have. Finlay was one of the original Beckwith firemen..

The farm has been sold I think for housing development and Finley and Mary have moved to bungalow off the tenth line.

The Findlay McEwen mentioned in the ad above would be Finleys grandfather who was married to Elexey Duff.. Finley’s father was William.

Name:	Finlay McEwen
Age:	20
Birth Place:	Beckwith Township
Residence:	Beckwith Township
Spouse Name:	Elexi Duff
Spouse Age:	23
Spouse Birth Place:	Scotland
Spouse Residence:	Beckwith Township
Marriage Date:	21 Mar 1862
Father Name:	Hugh Cott Mc Ewen
Spouse Father Name:	William Duff
Spouse Mother Name:	May Duff
County:	Lanark
Microfilm Roll:	1030059

Samantha Rye–That’s my uncle Findlay  the farm is called Glen Athol and if you’d like a detailed history of it/the CP McEwens let me know

Scott HendersonSuch a nice man. Findlay and my dad we’re partners in a hobby steam engine. Spent many a Saturday at the his farm with my dad working on the steam engine

Phyllis ByrneWe bought a lot of lumber from this lovely man. You could talk to him all day long. So informative.

Roy CokerGreat friend. We determined through comparing notes that I had worked with his brother on helicopters in the Canadian Navy