McDonalds Corners- Google

Hello Linda, My name is Tracy Munro and I am messaging you from Alberta..

My great grandfather, Alexander Stewart Munro, b. 1870 came to Alberta with his wife, Susan Eureka Godkin, b. 1874, and family from McDonalds Corners about 1900. I discovered a bit of the Munro story a few years ago and am really enjoying the look at the area through your posts. I know that my great, great grandfather Alexander Munro ran the general store at McDonalds corners for a time and his father, Dr. Alexander Munro, b. 1808 came to Lanark County from Scotland in the early 1800’s.

McDonalds Corners- Google

I recently spotted the photo on your blog of children in front of the McDonalds Corners schoolhouse in 1880. I imagine my great grandfather is in there somewhere at about 10 years old. I did see a poor quality photo in an online version of Away Back Clarendon & Miller of the general store at McDonalds corners and through some poking believe that that building may still be standing in McDonalds Corners now across the street from the current general store.

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Alexander Munro and Eureka Godkin Munro and their family– Photo–Tracy Munro

The photo is of Alexander Munro and Eureka Godkin Munro and their family in Red Deer, Alberta circa 1921. My grandfather is the young boy beside his mother. Our family still lives in Red Deer and I live not far from the home that my grandfather built here in Red Deer. Again, thank you for your wonderful page. Tracy

No the readers of the Lanark County Genealogical Society thank you Tracy!!!

historicalnotes

Perth Courier, Jan. 27, 1899

It is proposed to change the name of McDonald’s Corners in Dalhousie Township to Minto after the new Scottish governor general. There are petitions in circulation both for the change and against and there are reasons on both sides of the question. Minto is much shorter and is a historic name; McDonald’s Corners was the name the pioneers gave and is endeared to many especially the older people.

Article —From the Lanark & District Museum

McDonald’s Corners was first settled by Scottish pioneers in 1821. Like most rural villages, McDonald’s Corners was once a self-sufficient community including not only the homes of its many residents, but also general stores, inns for the travellers frequently passing through, shops including the local blacksmith and carriage maker’s businesses, and of course a church and a school. Until relatively recently, the village had two general stores, the Hill General Store and McLellan’s General Store, both important locations where residents of the village and surrounding areas would come to socialize, often spending hours in the store before making their purchases.

The schoolhouse was built in 1868, the third school in the community. It was originally painted a vibrant red with white trimming around the windows, housing rows of desks for all grades (1 to 8) around a central stove. The school was larger than most in the area and held more students (as many as 70 at one time) but was still presided over by a single teacher. The school is now an active community centre called the MERA (McDonald’s Corners Elphin Recreation and Arts) Schoolhouse and is home to a number of artists in its weaving and pottery studios.

The oldest building in the village has served a number of purposes over its lifetime and provides a great reflection of the history of the village itself. Its first function was as a general store in the early years of the village when its owner, Edward Johnson, brought in supplies and delivered goods using his unique mode of transportation, a sled pulled by Newfoundland dogs.

The store was later closed and the building sold in 1866, subsequently becoming an agricultural hall. Agricultural fairs were held in this building, once producing a show of potatoes that was said to exceed that of any other local fair and to rival even the provincial exhibition. The building was later home to a dance hall (known as Polly Hall after its owner Polly McCullough) where frequent dances were held, attended by settlers from miles around. The dancing continued alongside plays and other musical events when the building housed the McDonald’s Corners Women’s Institute, seeing many more lively nights before it was eventually sold, standing to this day as a private home.