Mr. Alex. Morrow of Almonte came into the Gazette office a few days ago and showed us the first hamster we had ever seen except in pictures. The little animal is about as big as a gopher and is generally used for experimental work in clinical laboratories. It is a prolific breeder and can have five or six young ones every six weeks. Hamsters have become a scourge to farmers in some European and Asiatic countries. Mr. Morrow had the little animal in a cage, having bought it from a Toronto firm.
Between the first and second showings of Our Town is the World,” two films were shown. The boys and girls who formed the cast were: Nancy Needham, Coleen More, Donna Honeybome, Joan Illingworth, Jerry Sinnett, Geo. Thomson, Lenis Davey, Jack Warren, Freddie Ford, Gary Gale, Don Peterson, Alexander Brown, M argaret Tosh, Donald Baird, Pat Spinks, Wayne McKay, Clarence Craig and three boys from Ottawa.
Almonte children who formed the cast of the moving picture, “Our Town Is the World,” which was cast in Almonte last year, their parents, some of the teachers of the public school and the press, saw the picture for the first time in the Public School on Wednesday evening. Before the picture was shown, Mr. Robert Taylor, a representative of the National Film Board, gave a short talk. He said that the picture was made at the request of the United Nations and it was Intended to show that the problem of getting along with one another was the same in the small town as it was anywhere else in the world.
The film was shown twice and it took about ten minutes to run. It was agreed that the boys and girls took their parts very well and from the applause it was evident that they thought so themselves. Most of the picture, as everyone here knows, centred around a hut in the little park at the foot of Mill Street. The scene of the last part of the picture was in the Gazette office.
Almonte’s famous scenery showed up to good advantage and many buildings, homes and views of the river were shown. Only one adult from the town appeared in the picture. That was Mrs. Herbert Warren who was shown coming from a grocery store. Another lady who took the part of Nancy Needham’s mother, was Mrs. Sharpe of Ottawa, and the editor of the Gazette, obviously was not the editor. The linotype operator “Jim ” did not resemble Eric Smith who held down the linotype chair for many years nor did he resemble his predecessors or successors!
The homely old chair that the linotype operators use, was the same though. This picture is coming to the O’Brien Theatre sometime in June and Almonte people will at long last have an opportunity to see ourselves as others see us. The representative of the Film Board mentioned that the understanding given by the National Film Board was that it would be shown first in Almonte.
For some unexplained reason this was not done and the picture has been in circulation for some time. Mr. E. H. Farnham, principal of the school, said that he understood that a copy of the film could be purchased for something less than $20 and he wondered if a copy should be bought for the town.
Hi Almonte. recently I found the film that was made in Almonte back in 1950. called “Our Town is The World. it sude brought back some memories.. being that i was one of the young people in the movie.i manage to purchase it thru the NFB. and have watched it many times..For those who are interested you can find it at the NFB. website.. Submitted by Des Julian From sudbury ontario on Sunday, June 28, 2009
Catalogue Number: NFB521980 Producer:National Film Board Of Canada Producers: Don Mulholland Directors: Stanley Jackson Producing Agencies: National Film Board of Canada (Ottawa) Subject:Fiction, Politics, Social Issues Language: English Country Of Origin: Canada Copyright Year: 1950 Running Time: 11
The following front page editorial from the Lanark Era tells about a gang war that took place on the main corner of the village between teenagers of both sexes. As Southey said in his poem about the Battle of Blenheim. “But what they fought each other for I cannot well make out.”
Readers of the Era will feel a little bit like Casper in that respect, as he tries to explain the war to his grandchild. If these young punks came from Perth and Smiths Falls why did they select Lanark as the scene for a gang fight? And if they were armed as the Era says they were it is a pretty dirty business.
What we can’t understand is why the fire brigade didn’t- turn the hose on the milling brats. There is nothing that cools them off like a good dousing with cold water under high pressure. Below is what the Era had to say about the incident under the caption, “Disgraceful Conduct”:
Last Friday and Saturday evenings witnessed two of the most disgraceful exhibitions of youth conduct ever seen in Lanark Village. Friday evening over 75 persons from Perth and Lanark congregated on the corner of George and South Streets in front of this office in a scene which could have become a mob riot. The language was filthy and obscene. Girls were present in large numbers.
Fortunately the police were able to disperse the mob in about an hour without any damage being done. Saturday evening the evidence shows that some carloads of youths arrived from Smiths Falls, to, as they put it “Slow down the Lanark Gang”.
Equipped with knives, rubber hose, etc., they were finally brought under control but not before ten had been arrested for their action on these two evenings. It is evident that only fines or jail interment will stop these youth gang wars. The editor exhorts the forces of law and order to continue arresting all these parties guilty of infractions of traffic and municipal laws.
With the intense heat and the dirty hot water in the river it is probably a good thing that supervision at the bathing beach ceased some time ago, and that attendance at school will discourage children from swimming in that part of the river. An item in last week’s Carleton Place Canadian stated that there was a scum on the water there which made parents forbid their children to bathe in it. If the water is that way there it will be the same here. While the cause of polio is obscure there is a general belief “which may or may not have any foundation that it dan be induced by dirty water.
There may be nothing in this but certainly it is not healthy to swim in water that is lukewarm and smells of weeds and other vegetable matter. When the river level is high the fact that it is not too deep, at the bathing beach is an advantage but when it drops and there is a heat wave it makes swimming there less desirable. The river above the main bridge looks very dirty at presentwith weeds showing up and little “islands “which are submerged at high water level to be seen.
Most people would not care to eat fish out of the river now that the heat wave has lasted so long. It would be strange if they did not have worms and any who do go for them should skin them and cook them well. Even water in the lakes has become warm and the weeds are showing up everywhere. One thing this has done is make it less difficult for people who like summer resorts to break away from them and return to their homes.
Seems to me that closing beaches on the Mississippi at times has been a thing as long as I can remember. Especially after a heavy rain. I’m 73 now and I spent every sunny summer day at the beach in CP when I was a kid. Still go for a dip now and again.
I was a child who missed the saddle shoes of the 40s and the 50s by a few years, but my High School friend and neighbour Verna May Wilson Hadlock made up for me. I really don’t wander around beginning conversations about saddle shoes these days, but when the subject comes up I once again express my opinions. It seems the more I age, my bag of opinions overflows solely supported by personal observations of course.
I do remember hearing Verna telling me how her Mother became hysterical at the sight of the new saddle shoes when she returned home after her first day at school. They were scuffed and gave the appearance of having gone through a small war, but that was the “in” way to wear saddle shoes.
Some of you will remember the old days of saddle shoes when you bought them sparkling white and clean, and then you tried your very hardest to get them dirty before the kids at school got the chance to do the job for you. Seems nice white saddle shoes just weren’t the thing in those days, and it was very painful to have your friends trying to take every inch of “bark“ off the uppers of your saddle shoes.
Day after day a bit more wear and tear became noticeable. Just about the time you really got the uppers of your saddle shoes to the point where they were socially acceptable with the “In” crowd the main part of the shoe began to deteriorate– and it was time to get a new pair.
There were all sorts of things Verna Wilson did with saddle shoes. She would change her laces to match an outfit and I swear some neighbours peeked out of their Albert Street Venetian blinds on a daily basis to see what she had done. But, this was a girl that came home at lunchtime to change into another fresh white blouse that she wore with her navy blue school tunic, and she was just so perfect in my eyes.
Verna mentioned there was a professional scuffer at Cowansville High School that would scuff your saddle shoes for a nominal price. I heard that his scuffing business was so popular that you had to wait as long as three or four days to get his attention.
In 1972 the style of saddle shoes came back.There were those of my friends who thought the return of saddle shoes was the best thing since Lucky Charms and Lava Lamps. Then, there were two or three, and myself, who said they didn’t care for the entire situation. As would be expected, there were a few old timers that had to throw in their two cents and tell “us kids” about the “olden days” of shoewear.
My style, once older, never followed Verna, but it did involve my Grandmother’s borrowed pearls, lace up brown orthopaedic shoes with a scent of Evening in Paris. I was also so mesmerised with tap dancing that sometimes I taped nickels on the bottom of my shoes. The coins also came in handy for a call on an emergency payphone. Can you even imagine– a nickel? But, after months of wearing them my father began calling them “clodhoppers”– as that’s what they used to call big shoes that just didn’t fit well anymore.
In Grade 7 I wandered into Hashim’s Clothing store on South Street and fondled the most god awful shoes you can imagine. They were vinyl lime green elf shoes trimmed with fringe. What I saw in those shoes I have no idea, but I had to have them. My father relented and came to Hashims and spoke with the salesclerk about the possibilities of getting deformed toes from being squeezed into those pointy shoes. She assured him of course with the words of a podiatrist that I should be fine. As I glance at my large claw toes today that look like they grew like wayward tree roots I am reminded that yes, those shoes had something to do with my toes after wearing them in the rain sleet and snow.
Shoes have always been part of everyone’s lives and they can either afford you the adoration of your peers, or jeers from the cool kids table in the lunchroom. Should we get back into the Hush Puppies era, or can we just stop now at Saddle Shoes and Loafers? Did you know that the shoes we wore actually changed the shape of our feet over the course of our lives? As Leonardo DaVinci once said, “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” Maybe so, but after a lifetime of fashionable shoes, my feet are no masterpieces– they in fact looked like very scuffed Saddle shoes that no one would want– and that my friends is going easy on them.
Saturday, Aug. 16th. was to have been “ Peanut Day” in Almonte when the young folks and the old folks expected to see the famous Planters Peanut floats and hear lively music as the parade traversed the streets.
Instead it turned out to be Jupiter Pluvius’ day and the finale of the contest was completely rained out. The members of the Lions Club who were in charge o f this year’s Peanut contest have expressed no disappointment in the results. Given favourable weather on Saturday, the returns would have been much larger but open air events are always a gamble and this time the club lost.
It is the intention of the club to sponsor the contest again next year. The young lady who won the highest number of votes was Miss; Connie Stanley and she was accorded the title of “ Peanut Queen.” ‘ The runner-up was Miss Audrey Southwell and Miss Audrey Baird was third. The “taggers’ ‘ , who assisted selling peanuts on the streets, were headed by: Karen Paupst who won the 1 prize for selling the most. The others were (2) Carol Horton; (3) Marion Bolger and Betty Smithson, tied.
August 1952
Trivia- Karen Paupst who sold the most peanuts became Peanut Queen in 1953..
Water coming from taps in the New England section of Almonte has an unpleasant taste and wears a yellow tinge, Town Council was told at its regular meeting Tuesday night by Councillor Walter Morton. He said he had heard complaints from several friends who lived in that part of the town and one of them had gone So far as to say the aquapura had an evil smell. He asked Reeve George Gomme, Chairman of the Waterworks Committee, if he could throw any light on the subject.
Mr. Gomme said he had heard some talk of the kind but as the water was tested – periodically in the Provincial health laboratories, and as every sample came back marked A l, which is the purest classification, he could not see what more there was to do in the matter. Mr. Gomme said that he understood the local medical health officer secured samples from various sections of the town including New England.
One thing sure the water was pure for drinking purposes no matter what color it was or how it tasted. It developed that other members of the Council had heard talk of the water being brackish in New England. One man suggested that it might be iron. Another said he understood the water was at its worst when the well in Gemmill Park, which is practically a failure, was turned on. This shaft led down into dolomite rock formation and vnas practically abandoned so far as a good producer is concerned. The driller said that when dolomite is encountered it means the well will be a failure.
However, as the water supply at that time was most precarious and as some water could be obtained from the dud, a small pump was installed and is used from time to time. No one in the Council was in a position to say whether the well in the park was the culprit or not. Mr. Gomme said it would be an easy matter to have the medical officer, Dr. Fred Snedden, take his next sample from some tap in New England.
But again, the Reeve pointed out that while the sample would likely come back from Toronto rating the purest classification possible that would not take a nasty taste out of it nor affect its color. It was finally decided to send a sample of the water away for mineral analysis. A small quantity of water was taken from a tap in Mr. Harvey Scott’s residence and is now on its way for this test.
The laboratory experts will no doubt be able to te ll what is in the water and what makes it taste and look the way it does but whether they will be able to suggest a remedy rem ains to be seen. Meanwhile, Mr. Gomme reported, the well at the corner of Hope and Euphem ia Streets was practically ready fo r operation. There were still a couple of valves to be installed and a pump house to be built. It is believed this is a very fine well with lots df water.
If present hopes are justified it may be the answer to the complaints of New England people about the quality of the water that passes through the taps. When it is turned on it will probably be quite sweet and if the quantity is what most people think it will be no longer necessary to use the well in Gemmill Park. Need of new doors in the local lock-up was discussed by the Council. Opinion is a child could get out of the cells as they are.
The Horrors of Wool, Bread Bags, and Red Dye Number 7 Linda Knight Seccaspina
During the 50s because of the baby boom, there was suddenly a high demand for more stylish clothing for children. Many boys began to wear jeans to elementary school– but girls of all ages were still expected–if not required-to wear dresses and skirts for school, church, parties, and even for shopping.
Out of all the outfits I wore as a child I remember my 3-piece red wool winter snowsuit. It was a short red wool swing jacket with matching jodhpurs and a hat. That particular red outfit and enduring Toni Perms would have been enough to drive me to a psychologist for years.
There was nothing like playing out in the snow with this 3 piece red wool outfit on. I have to wonder what manufacturers and mothers were thinking. It wasn’t warm, and when it got wet it weighed triple its weight. The scratchy wool fabric rubbed my thighs so much that chafing couldn’t even be called a word.
Red dye number 7 has never been safe for the world, but in the 50s when you removed coloured wet wool your skin matched the shade you had been wearing. It took a lot of scrubbing to get the colour residue off, but nothing was redder than my raw inner thighs. I had matching red rubber boots and sometimes I had to wear bread bags on my feet in those boots to stay dry.
My friends next door hated the snow boots they had to wear. They were black boots with buckles on the front that every male in any generation seemed to wear. They were tough to put on and were even more difficult to remove. Worn over shoes, the heels of your shoe would tend to become wedged in the narrow neck of those boots.
To remove the boots at school, the boys would have to sit down on the hallway floor and try to unbuckle the now soaking wet buckles, which was difficult to do with cold hands. The boys could never seem to get their feet out of them without a fight. One boot or the other was always stuck halfway off, with one foot seemingly wedged in at some strange angle. Parents thought the solution to this was once again to place empty bread bags over their shoes before the boots, but it never helped. That idea only caused them to have to deal with wet, empty bread bags along with the boots. At least their parents were there to help in the fight to get the boots on at home, but at school the kids were on their own. By the time those feet got into the still damp boots, the school was nearly empty.
I hated wearing navy blue school tunics and white blouses and Monday seemed to be the only day I could wear the same white blouse as Friday without anyone knowing. In those days we wore uniforms so everyone would be dressed the same and no one would feel slighted.
Then there were the tights– yes, the tights. They were so uncomfortable and scratchy that I couldn’t help but complain. I even snuck into one of the church’s closets one Sunday before the service and took the tights off. Unfortunately my Grandmother caught me without my tights under my Choir robe and told me sternly, ”you have to put them on now!” I told her that they were uncomfortable but she told me I had to wear them for the rest of the church service at least. There just seemed to be something unfeminine about not being able to sit down comfortably with the crotch sagging down to your knees.
Now, most fashion for kids is just as trendy as adult fashion– even more for school. Every style comes back, even if you don’t want it too. Today, you need a small loan to buy a school uniform and as for the bread bags, well, I hear Reynolds Oven Bags, size Large, do a better job than Wonder Bread bags! As for the chafing– at my age my thighs don’t chafe anymore. They just applaud my efforts as I move around.
Stay safe!!
Dressed for winter. Note the storm door and the wooden bucket. No names to protect the innocent.
Almonte lost a popular resident Friday night in the sudden death of Daniel Ensley Larocque at the early age of 44. He was. an enthusiastic athlete, a former member of the Almonte hockey team which reached its peak in the early 1930’s. An hour before the heart seizure which proved fatal, he had been on skates again playing a pick-up game in the local arena. It is thought that this exertion was too much for him and brought on his-untimely end. Danny, as he was better known to his friends, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Larocque, Almonte, and was bom in Darling Twp. 44 years ago. 20 years ago he married the former Jean Clarke of Ottawa and Almonte, who survives with one daughter and two sons, Diane, 14, Danny, 12, at home and Clarke, 18, of Toronto. Besides his parents he is also survived by three sisters and two brothers, Carmel (Mrs. John Kennedy) of Kinburn; Florence (Mrs. George Hourigan) and Alma (Mrs. Joseph Coady) both of Almonte, and George of Almonte and William of Lanark.
Mr. Larocque joined the Almonte volunteer fire brigade 18 years ago and worked his way up to be captain of the brigade, a position he still held at the time of his death. He was also a member of the local Legion, having served overseas during World War II with the Canadian armed forces. He started his hockey career 25 years ago when he played with the Almonte team when it was at the peak of its winning streak and he had been active in that sport ever since in one capacity or another.
When he was not refereeing a hockey game played by the younger generation, he was acting as time-keeper in the penalty box for the intermediate games. Following the town league game he played on Friday night, a short time before his death, he had made arrangements with the rink manager, Harry Nontell to give up playing and referee the town league games for the remainder of the season. During the Summer months Dan could always be seen playing softball, another of his favorite sports. In later years he took up curling in his spare time.
As a young man he was employed by Taylor Brothers hardware store for a number of years. In 1941 he joined the Army and went overseas where he served in England, Italy and other parts of Europe. Following his discharge he took over the delivery service of the Canadian Pacific Express office and he also transported the mail between the trains and the post office. After seven leirs in the employ of the CPE, he built a service station and lunch bar which he operated for a short time before selling out in the Fall of 1954.
On Sunday night the local firemen paraded in a body to the Comba funeral home and paid their final respects to th^jr captain. During the afternoon members of the local legion attended the largely attended funeral was held Monday morning to St. Mary’s Catholic Church for requiem mass at nine a.m., and thence to St. Mary’s Cemetery. Rev. Maurice Egan, P.P., conducted the service.
The pallbearers were: Messrs Geo. Hourigan, Joe Coady, John Kennedy, Don Houston, Douglas Houston and Geo. Villeneuve. Among many old friends who attended the funeral from a distance were Messrs Wllmot Little and Jack Washburn of Temiskaming, Quebec.
Fire thought to have resulted from electric wiring or a v-belt on a motor, did damage estimated at $1,000s of dollars early Monday morning at Ed’s Body Shop, which is located in the former LeMaistre garage building.
The blaze was discovered at 4.30 in the morning by Thomas Dean, night man at Hotel Almonte which is located next to the structure where the fire broke out. Mr. Dean said he noticed smoke, heard something like an explosion and then saw the ruddy glow. He turned in the alarm. It was a tough assignment for the fire- brigade as the thermometer was hovering around six below zero .
There were hydrants close to the building and the hose was hooked onto the one of High Street next to the hotel. The fire started In a narrow wing of the building that comes out to the sidewalk. Materials such as paint used by auto body workers are very inflammable and apt to explode. The smoke and fumes were dense and the firemen fought the blaze for a considerable time in the bitter, frosty air.
An examination of the premise in daylight showed considerable damage but the blaze had not broken through the walls or the roof and seemed to have been confined to the upper part of the section affected. The only explanation was defective wiring or a motor which came on automatically from time to time to keep up air pressure for spraying machinery.
The fire chief, Durward Washburn on looking things over, thought a v-belt might have done the damage through friction due to slipping when worn. At any rate an examination of the area around the stove showed the fire did start there, so electricity seemed to be the logical answer.
Mr. Gosset, who rents the building from Mr. John LeMaistre had some insurance on part of his equipment, it will be several days before he is operating’ again. A Cadillac car and a newly painted truck will require new paint jobs as a result of the heat, otherwise they were not damaged. Damage to the equipment was not too serious, according to the owner. It is a good thing Mr. Dean happened to see the fire because at 4.30 in the morning there is little or no traffic on that part of Bridge Street and the garage is flanked on either side by the O’Brien Theatre and the Hotel Almonte. Harry Gunn.s Clover Farm groceteria Is located across the street.
January 1957
Lots of queries this morning. Pete Brunelle asks- Hi Linda would like to know if you found any pics of my grandfather garage , LeMaistre and son , and also my great Grandfather blacksmiths shop , which he ended up bring in an automobile at the time to tera down and rebuild ,, Would love to have something of that nature ,, My grandfather garage is now HB Auto– Anyone have anything?
Steve Nelson Though I am not from Almonte…I really enjoy and appreciate your efforts on this Facebook page. I have great memories of summer holidays spent there as a child visiting my grandparents (Jack and Flo LeMaistre on Water St). Our family goes back to the late 1800’s in Almonte. Thanks again for all your efforts in helping to recall those happy times
A piece of LeMaistre history on Pete Brunelles page.. Love this photo-Steve Nelson Love this picture. That was my great grandfather Edward LeMaistre. Although I didn’t get to meet him as he died 10 years before I was born, my mother always speaks of what a nice man he was.A piece of LeMaistre history on Pete Brunelles page.. Love this photo–John Armour —The picture was taken at my grandparents (George and Mae LeMaistre) in the dining room at 93 George Street, C.P. The dining room table (extended in original photo with a card table or two) was in the house when my great grandfather bought five house for back taxes, for each of his children. This dining room table (in original picture), now resides in my dining room here in Kingston, Ontario and is still used today by Annie and me for dinners.
From Pete Brunelle— Linda Seccaspina I believe it is on water street in Almonte–the boy is my grandfather , with his 2 sisters and mother and father ,
lindaseccaspina 