Everyone will be happy to know the doors are sold, and although I can’t tell you who bought them until after Christmas, as they are a gift, you will be pleased to know they went to the perfect home and family. I could not have picked better folks and they will be loved.–Riddell— H B Montgomery House History For Sale
Join us and learn about the history under your feet! This year’s St. James Cemetery Walk will take place Thursday October 19th and october 21– Museum Curator Jennfer Irwin will lead you through the gravestones and introduce you to some of our most memorable lost souls!
Be ready for a few surprises along the way….
This walk takes place in the dark on uneven ground. Please wear proper footwear and bring a small flashlight if you like.
Tickets available at the Museum, 267 Edmund Street. Two dates!!! https://www.facebook.com/events/1211329495678960/
October 28th The Occomores Valley Grante and Tile Event–730pm-1am Carleton Place arena-Stop by and pick up your tickets for our fundraiser dance for LAWS. They also have tickets for Hometown Hearts event at the Grand Hotel fundraiser
John Armour–This is a picture of Abner Nichols, (very early 1900’s) from my late Grandfather Walter Armour’s collection. Abner Nichols married Eliza McNeely (daughter of 2nd generation James McNeely). My Great Grandfather, Robert Armour married Jessie McNeely (daughter of 2nd generation McNeely, Thomas Moore)
Hi Linda,
I was on line and reading some of your stories about early life in Carleton Place.. really enjoyed them and found them very interesting. I have connections to Carleton Place as follows:
My Great Great Grandfather was Abner Nichols – 1836-1905
My Great Grandfather William Abner 1870-1933
My Grandmother Eliza May Nichols 1895-1932 who was my fathers mother ( she married George Albert Clark 1878-1949)
My father son of Eliza and George – George Clark is 91 now he has a lot of stories about Carleton Place and a great memory. I took him to the Carleton Place Museum and he was very pleased to see the exhibit about the Nichols Lumber Mill. He spent a lot of time in Carleton Place as a young boy and would take the train from Ottawa.
My Name is Mandy Clark.
The reason for this email is that I am working on the Nichols family history but have run into trouble going back any farther than Anber Nichols. I do not seem to be able to find any record of his (Abner’s) parents and was wondering if you knew the information or have ideas about where I can find it.
I am on ancestry.ca but have found nothing.
Thanks for any information you may have,
Sincerely,
Mandy Clark
I told Mandy to contact the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum to see if Jennifer had anything– but do any of you out there in cyber land have any info?
I found a few things below with the first newspaper article and it contains quite a bit of information. Abner was actually born in Kemptville to American parents and lived for 10 years of his early life in the United States.
One of the most reliable place to find the names of the parents of an individual is in the marriage record. Insofar as Abner’s marriage was prior to civil registration of marriages in Ontario (1869-present), the place to look is in the church records of the faith in which the marriage was performed.
To determine the likely faith of Abner, I checked his son William’s marriage (in civil registration records) to see what faith he was at the time of his marriage. The result is Church of England which is the Anglican Church… that leaves the potential that Abner was also Anglican.
If that is the case, Abner’s church marriage record will be at the archives of the Anglican Diocese in Ottawa. The archive is at Christ Church Cathedral. They do church register look ups for a small fee that is used to keep the archives public.
It s very likely that, if the marriage was Anglican, that the record will contain the names of Abner’s and his bride’s parents.
Join us and learn about the history under your feet! This year’s St. James Cemetery Walk will take place Thursday October 19th and october 21– Museum Curator Jennfer Irwin will lead you through the gravestones and introduce you to some of our most memorable lost souls!
Be ready for a few surprises along the way….
This walk takes place in the dark on uneven ground. Please wear proper footwear and bring a small flashlight if you like.
Tickets available at the Museum, 267 Edmund Street. Two dates!!! https://www.facebook.com/events/1211329495678960/
October 28th The Occomores Valley Grante and Tile Event–730pm-1am Carleton Place arena-Stop by and pick up your tickets for our fundraiser dance for LAWS. They also have tickets for Hometown Hearts event at the Grand Hotel fundraiser
If you drive down near the end of Lake Avenue East you might spot an anchor stuck in the ground in front of Bill and Carole Flint’s home. Not everyone has an anchor in their front yard so I had to get the story and Mike Flint was kind enough to share it with me.
I was returning from a dive during the summer of 1987 under the Highway 7 Bridge. On my way back to the boat launch at the west end of Lake Avenue, I came across one of the ends that was sticking out of the mud. Only 6 inches of the anchor was showing, but I recognized what it was.
Out of excitement, I shot to the surface of the water and yelled for my father to come and see. We marked the spot, and came back with a tractor to retrieve it from the lake.
We partially floated it underneath the boat and dragged it in until the tractor could reach it. There were markings on the anchor, but not legible to put together any kind of story of where the anchor was made.
Thanks Mike Flint for telling us this story!!!
Steven Flint–I remember scuba diving. I was in the boat when we found it on the Mississippi. We filled 45 gallon drums with water, sunk them then used the scuba tanks underwater to fill them with air. Then pried and the air drums lifted the anchor to the surface. Hauled it into the boat and it’s been at home there ever since.
So was it from the tugboat that used to frequent the Nichols lumberyard where Centennial Park now is– or the steamers that went up and down the Mississippi River?
Jennifer Fenwick Irwin from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum thinks it could be from one of the steam ships or from a lumber raft.
Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Sept 6 1968— Almonte Gazette
A relic of the Mississippi river’s interesting past was reclaimed from the waters recently by Kathy and Keith Dack. The two were diving in the river opposite the former Hawthorne Woollen Mills, now Leigh Instruments, when this discovered a ship’s anchor, well over three feet in length and of tremendous weight.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Is this the one Jennifer Fenwick Irwin has at the Carleton Place and Beckwith Museum? If you know– please let Jennifer Fenwick Irwin know
Okay, so maybe I lied a tad.. did William Nichols have an amazing world? Maybe not today’s standards, but in those days William was definitely the king of his castle. Have a look at what Jennifer Fenwick Irwin wrote– not too many local history books have this information. How tragic was this? The Nichols family were one of the iconic Carleton Place families and need to be recorded.
William Abner Nichols was the son of local lumber baron Abner Nichols. Both served terms as Mayor of Carleton Place. William married Catherine Hands and they began to raise a family at their home on Rosamond Street. Little Anna was born in 1896 but was weak from birth and only lived two months. Son William Abner was born in 1899 and named after his father. Little William died in an accident at the age of 2, on Rosamond Street. His mother gave birth shortly after this accident to another boy, and in a strange memorial to her lost son, named the new baby William as well. This is why genealogists get confused!
The family moved to Lake Avenue, just down the street from Grandfather Abner Senior, perhaps to avoid the scene of the accident. Another son was born in 1905 and again named Abner, after his father and grandfather. When this baby was three weeks old his namesake, Grandfather Abner Nichols, died at his home on Lake Avenue of Bright’s disease at the age of 69. Already mourning his father, William must have been completely overwhelmed when his new baby died just two weeks later of whooping cough. Poor Catherine only lived another 11 years before joining her children up in heaven. Jennifer Fenwick Irwin– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
William A. Nichols – 1870/1933
Mayor of Carleton Place – 1902 – Planning & Sawmill Owner.
Second Line Drummond: Beneath the dome of nature’s vast cathedral when the level rays of the setting sun were beautifying with gentler touch the surrounding landscape, clad in all its vernal freshness and grandeur when all was hushed in the stillness of the departing day, a fair bride, leaning on her father’s arm, advanced to the altar to be given away. When the ever changing tapestry of sunset was hung around the horizon wall then in the early twilight were uttered the solemn and impressive words which made William A. Nichols and Katie A. Hands man and wife.
The groom is the only son of Mayor Nichols of the firm A. Nichols and Son of Carleton Place and the bride is the youngest daughter of Thomas Hands, ex-warden of the county. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. J. Mucklestone, M.A., of Perth assisted by Rev. Mr. Elliott of Carleton Place. The bride, carrying a beautiful bouquet of lily of the valley, was attired in a white silk and crepon with tulle veil and orange blossom. The bridesmaids were Miss Minnie Hicks, cousin of the bride, and Miss Florence Nichols, sister of the groom.
The groom was assisted by F. Robinson of Morrisburg and William T. Hands, brother of the bride. The guests who numbered about sixty couples were from Perth, Smith’s Falls, Franktown, Carleton Place, Galbraith, Lanark, McDonald’s Corners and Dunbar, Dakota as well as those from the surrounding country. The wedding repast over, the sounds of merriment and happiness arose from every area in the spacious and elegant mansion of Mr. Hands. On swift wings, the night hours passed away and the mists of morning had risen and were scattered before the guests had all departed.
Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, amidst the congratulations of many friends, left on the 1:00 train on an extensive tour. They will visit Kingston, Peterboro, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and other points of interest after which they will take up their residence in Carleton Place. The bride was the recipient of many beautiful and costly presents, all beautiful in design and workmanship. Conspicuous among them were a gold watch and chain from the groom, a piano from the bride’s father, a silver tea service from Mayor Nichols and a marble clock from the employees of A. Nichols and Son while a wicker rocker, a set of China dishes and a handsome easy chair were among other presents that showed the esteem in which the young couple are held.
Nichols, William Abner Birth : 1870 Death : 1933 St. James Cemetery Gender: Male
Hands, Catherine Alice Birth : 1875 Death : 1916 St. James Cemetery Gender: Female
SUDDEN DEATH OF FORMER WARDEN W. A. Nichols of Carleton Place Passes Suddenly Following Stroke –1933 Almonte Gazette– The many Almonte friends of William A. Nichols of Carleton Place, were deeply, shocked to learn Tuesday of his sudden following a stroke. An outstanding career in the lumber industry and municipal political life of Lanark County was closed early Tuesday with the – death of William A. Nichols, well known and popular-resident of Carleton Place. He was born in Carleton Place on Feb. 4, 1870, and he filled his life with a variety of services, entering municipal life at an early age and at different positions. He had not been in robust health for some time but there was never a thought that his condition was serious and the news of his death was a great shock.
Years later when both sisters were seniors. Hazel had a stroke. Everyday Gladys took Hazel out for a walk holding her hand and initially almost pulling her. In the beginning Hazel could only walk a block. But Gladys never stopped her care or Rehabilitation of her sister. Eventually Hazel was able to walk 2 blocks which put them at my house at 6 Lake Ave West. But Hazel was not able to walk back that first day, so they stopped on my front steps. I had been watching the two sisters with admiration and realized Hazel was feeling quite stressed so we all had a cup of tea and a cookie on my front steps. Oh I forgot to say both Sisters would spread out their skirts to look nice ( almost Southern) and enjoy their tea like real Ladies. They were very sweet! Gladys continued her loving care of Hazel who eventually could walk on her own. But they were both so sweet they often stopped for tea on a tired day. 6 Lake Ave. W was originally the home of JG Craigs. Mr Craig was the 1st RBC Bank Manager and very well esteemed. He also was the proud owner of one of the 1st cars in Carleton Place and initially there was a 2 car garage behind the house. I purchased the house from the Craig Estate and they had loved their house so much that my husband and I had to be interviewed by the Executor of the Estate to ensure we were Reputable enough to buy the home.
When I was a youth, I shovelled snow for Mrs. Craig. She told me that she and her husband used to travel overseas on ocean liner ships in the 1930s and on one trip visited Italy. During a visit to one of the towns in Italy the whole town came out to greet them including the Mayor who wore a wide sash. They had never before met Canadians.
John Armour–This is a picture of Abner Nichols, (very early 1900’s) from my late Grandfather Walter Armour’s collection. Abner Nichols married Eliza McNeely (daughter of 2nd generation James McNeely). My Great Grandfather, Robert Armour married Jessie McNeely (daughter of 2nd generation McNeely, Thomas Moore)
Each picture I see of Abner Nichols appears to me that you didn’t fool around with this man. However, I ran across this story today that made him look like everyone else. In one of the local newspapers was a tale of how the man that was famous for running the Nichols sawmill down at now Centennial Park was having a bit of a dilemma trying to get a gasoline engine started at his boathouse.
Abner was so stubborn he spent a whole day trying to get the darn thing going and finally the proud man admitted defeat. Well, Billy Montgomery was called in and Billy looked at it and then asked the old gentleman to try the engine once again. The engine still would not start. Billy tried the engine once again it immediately began to run like a well-oiled piece of machinery. Abner scratched his head and asked Billy what he had done. Billy smiled and replied that he had simply turned on the battery switch.
A teenage boy tells his father, “Dad, there’s trouble with the car, it has water in the carburetor.” The father looks confused and says, “Water in the carburetor, that’s ridiculous!” But the son insists. “I tell you, the car has water in the carburetor.”
His father, starting to get a little nervous, says “You don’t even know what a carburetor is…. but I will check it out. Where is the car?”
Centennial Park Carleton Place 2015–Photo by Linda Seccaspina- Photo taken by Hawthorne Mill
In 1900 Abner Nichols & Son brought their season’s log drive down the lake to their newly opened sawmill at the riverside at the end of Flora Street; while two drives of logs, ties and telegraph poles were reaching the mill operated by Williams, Edwards & Company at the dam. It was destroyed by fire in 1939.
This photo taken from the south shore of the Mississippi River shows the foundry to the right, with the Findlay family’s boathouse at centre. Foundry buildings took up the whole property, right up to High Street.–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
In the old days according to the files of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum only the boys swam at the old Abner Nichols Mill. The girls swam at the old Findlay Boat house behind the foundry.
Boys being boys would skinny dip, and it didn’t matter if it was day or night. Heck, they just knew there wouldn’t be any girls around. Abner Nichols & Son had their sawmill at the riverside on Flora Street. Nichols always supplied a wide plank for a diving board and they would call him Old Bill when he was out of earshot.
Mayor of Carleton Place – 1902 – Planning & Sawmill Owner.
Bob Dowdall was the sawyer. He would roll the logs with a cane hook into the saw carriage, and it rolled back and forth on rollers. The planks were cut off by a man named Tom Hastings. He trimmed them and produced long pieces of slabs.
Today I was looking for some information about the Hugh McMillan home on Bridge Street and came across this 1980’s news article about “the little yellow house” and its continuing struggles. Just more information on the fight over a renovation—one that was assured to all that “it would compliment the area”.
It began in November of 1986 when Judith Hughes, then owner of “the little yellow house,” began her battle against the proposed renovations to the former John Deere building 4.5 feet away. The one storey cinder block, owned by self-employed contractor Al Roberts, sat snugly in between the Abner Nichols and one of the Miller’s homes. Hughes said if Roberts proceeded with his plans she would sue him for of the loss of enjoyment of her property.
She also argued that the projected ‘ghastly’ renovations would destroy the quaint streetscape of Bridge Street, which she had personally worked hard to preserve. Roberts assured her that the heritage type renovations he planned would compliment her home. He also cited himself a heritage restoration expert to the Ottawa Citizen. The contractor said he had carried out more than 50 such jobs in Lanark county in the past five years.
Well, we all know the outcome of this story. The little house sits unoccupied, dwarfed by the “complimenting” building next door. This week I have noticed “a ‘we’re going to dig’ construction sign” on the front porch of “the little yellow house”. Who knows whats next?
Photo- Linda Seccaspina.. newspaper photo- Ottawa Citizen 1986
Buy Linda Secaspina’s Books— Flashbacks of Little Miss Flash Cadilac– Tilting the Kilt-Vintage Whispers of Carleton Place and 4 others on Amazon or Amazon Canada or Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street in Carleton Place
Linda–Does anyone know anything about the little yellow house on Bridge Street? It has been empty for years, overgrown, but no matter what time of day you go past, 2 am, 3pm, all the lights in the house are always on.
“The History as we know it so far..”
The “little yellow house” at 274 Bridge Street in Carleton Place is known locally as the “Abner Nichols House”. It was once designated as a municipal heritage building, and it is still on the 2015 list. According to a Conservation Review Board affidavit- in 1991, then owner, Judith Hughes requested it be removed as a protected building under the Heritage Act. At the same time she was requesting another property she owned at 222 William Street to be repealed also. It is to be noted that in the late 80s Algonquin College renovated this home.
Abner Nichols once owned a saw mill along the Mississippi River at the bottom of Flora street. Nichols was also in the timber business and owned a planning mill on the corner or Lake Ave and Moore Street in 1896. The Nichols home was the first home of a family that produced three mayors of Carleton Place over three generations. Nichols was also Carleton Place’s first Reeve, and served as Mayor in 1894 and in 1899. Later the house served as the rectory for St.James Anglican church.
As of 2015 when I am writing this it doesn’t take much to notice the building has gone into disrepair over the years. I have no idea why the present owner (name withheld) continues to hold the property and not occupy it. Then owner, Ms. Hughes was initially upset over the aesthetics of the building that was built next door. Joann Voyce said the apartment building that sits partially in front of the old Miller home was once the John Deere dealership. read- Heritage Homes Disputes- Abner Nichols House.
The two buildings side by side do not complement each other that is for sure. While I’m sure both structures are on legal property Hughes also argued at the time about the personal economic cost of attempting to sell a property that was designated heritage. So for now, only the lights remain on in the “little yellow house.”
This current Council actually just passed a pretty cool By-law on Tuesday to approve a Heritage Grant Policy which will assist owners of designated heritage properties with the costs to maintain them. You can read more about it here: https://pub-carletonplace.escribemeetings.com/filestream…
Also read
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Parsonage House
Another of Carleton Place’s beautiful old homes is slowly dying. This pretty yellow frame house is on the north end of Bridge Street. It’s been empty for many years, caught up in a war over Heritage Designation. It was originally the parsonage house for the Methodist Church across the street. CLICK here
The Carleton Place property standards does require the present owner to do repairs. But, if an order is given under property standards, the owner only has to do the minimum requirements to meet the request. I, like everyone else, would like this house to be restored to it former glory, but owners of properties can and do decide the level of property maintenance as long as basics requirements are met. Last winter the top door facing Bridge Street blew open and the town of Carleton Place had to go and close it. I have been also told the roof is in need of immediate attention. There is no doubt the full restoration of the Nichols house could become quite expensive at this point and time.
The same thing is presently happening in Windsor, Ontario. A Windsor couple wants the city to remove a heritage designation from their Riverside Drive home, so that potential buyers won’t be dissuaded from considering its purchase. Similar to the Hughes 1991 case the homeowners asked the city to designate it as a heritage property in 1999. But now the couple want the status reversed so they can sell their home.
The Easton’s have asked for a repeal of the heritage designation, but city staff recommended that the request be turned down. Now that the couple is selling the home, Bruck Easton said he and his wife have found that when they tell a buyer the house is a heritage property, “you can sort of watch the buyers just turn around and walk out.” The city’s planning, heritage and economic development standing committee dealt with the application at a meeting last week.The committee said there was nothing they could do. The Eastons are upset and plan to take the issue before city council soon.
Many people seek out heritage homes when making a purchasing decision. Should the heritage designations stay? Things don’t stop being heritage just because someone wants to sell them. I think it is an issue that the right buyer needs to come along– more than the heritage issue. In the case of the Nichols home its fate appears quite bleak. I hope someone saves the little yellow house before it’s too late—or is it already just a matter of fact.–
As the mayor of Carleton Place, Doug Black said: Thank you Eden
on your very thoughtful email to myself on behalf of council.
There is no doubt we need more residents like Eden especially whoever purchases the property.
To Whom It May Concern:
Hello, my name is Eden Cain, I am currently a grade 11 student at the local high school, Notre Dame. I am a member of our student council and am a member of the local Carleton Place community. I am also an avid lover of Carleton Place local history. I am writing to you regarding the house at 274 Bridge Street in Carleton Place.
You may recognise it as the bright yellow house that you see driving, biking, or walking down Bridge Street. This house has recently been posted for sale. I have walked by this house countless times and often stop to take in its beautiful potential. To me this house is history at its finest and one of the many beautiful historic homes in Carleton Place. This house to me represents everything that Carleton Place is about, preserving history and coming together as a community. I saw the for-sale sign and quite honestly, I felt disappointed because I am obviously at an age that I personally would not be able to buy this home. I would more than anything like to see this beautiful historic home be restored and loved like it deserves to be. I hopefully looked at the listing online, and it does not even discuss the beautifulness and the specifics of the house itself, only the land which it is on. It also talks about all the new things could be build in its Place. I do understand that it may be in disrepair, but it just needs people to love and see its true beauty.
I have done a lot of research regarding this house and its history. This house was the home of Abner Nichols who moved to Carleton Place in 1867 from Kingston. Mr. Nichols is a big part of Carleton Places history; he was the Deputy Reeve in 1890 and he was even Mayor of Carleton Place from 1894-1899. He also worked as a sawyer at Gilles and McLaren Canada sawmill. In 1879 he opened his own planning mill on Rosemond Street. In 1886 he built another much larger mill and window sash factory at Lake St and Moore avenue. It was operated by three generations for over 70 years. Abner Nichols and Sons later opened a sawmill on Flora Street, this was the last sawmill to bring logs down the Mississippi River. Abner’s son William was Mayor of CP in 1902 and his grandson also named William was Mayor in 1936 and 1937. Three generations of Carleton Place Mayors and members of our beloved Carleton Place community.
You may be wondering what I am trying to get at, as you can see this house holds important historic value to Carleton Place history. I believe that this house should be covered under the Ontario Heritage Act. The address 274 Bridge Street was once covered under this act. I am aware that on Wednesday January 14,1991 there was a public hearing to determine whether the classification of this house under the Ontario Heritage Act should be repealed. The owner at the time was Judith Hughes, she was looking for it to be repealed in hopes of selling it at the time when there was interest in the home. On the 24th of July the same year, the repeal was passed. One of Hughes main objections at the time was that there were hundreds of other buildings that had equal significance. I think that while that may have been true at the time, with Carleton Place growing at an extreme rate, I think its more important to ever to preserve the history of Carleton Place, the Places that give us hope and see the true beauty.
I think that this house for me represents more than just preserving history, it represents having a vision and fighting for what you truly believe in. In all honesty this house, even though it is a part of history, it represents the future-the Carleton Place I want to live in. That to me is one of the reasons why this house should be preserved, and possibly restored as a historic site. It would crush me to see this house be demolished and made into a new modern house or a duplex. I know this may be harder to take coming from someone as young as myself, but I know I am not the only one with the drive to keep the beautiful history of my home Carleton Place alive and thriving. I think that with the last two years more than ever hope is what we all need. Please consider my message and realize that to me this is not just a house and to those who are reading this, I hope you see that. I am willing to do anything in hopes of saving this beautiful site.
Please email me with any questions, concerns, or if you need more convincing. If you are passionate like I am or if you think you can help me in this, I would greatly appreciate you reaching out. I would g appreciate a response, and rather quickly as the market is selling so quickly during these times. I am very passionate about this and will continue to fight for what is right.
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this and to consider my words. Together let us save history and preserve the Carleton Place we all know and love.
Sincerely,
Eden Cain
John Armour–This is a picture of Abner Nichols, (very early 1900’s) from my late Grandfather Walter Armour’s collection. Abner Nichols married Eliza McNeely (daughter of 2nd generation James McNeely).
My Great Grandfather, Robert Armour married Jessie McNeely (daughter of 2nd generation McNeely, Thomas Moore)
lindaseccaspina 