1951 The Torch Annual CPHS thanks to Doris Blackburn/ Karen Chenier Blackburn
Delmar Dunlop took a lot of local photos during his lifetime. Archives Lanark is now in possession of these photos.Then there is the Delmar Dunlop fonds– an eclectic collection of everything from photos in early Glasgow, Lanark Village and Carleton Place to family histories. Of special interest is the Cummins Rural Directory map that lists the landowners in 1920 in Ramsay and adjoining townships.
Here on the hill and in this park at Innisville Which overlooks the lovely Mississippi Lake, The urge came over me to take my pen And tell of things as they were told to me. The placid pond above the rapids fast Is calm and peaceful in a changing world, It mirrors round its banks the trees and reeds And soaring fish-hawks with their wings unfurled. It isn’t bridge of steel I see in memory But dam of logs with flume at either end That forced the water fast to turn the wheels Of two grist mils and woollen factory.
This little village on the river banks so green Did know depression in the troubled days of old When woollen mill closed down and building ceased The fire then destroyed the big stone mill. The old Orange Hall so sorely needing paint Has stood the gales and winds of many years: Then farther back and in the old log house Lived Robbie, John and Fanny, his good wife. The village Church, which stood upon the slope. The choir which so sweetly sane, “Abide with Me”, They all are gone but still the timbers of the Church Were used to build a hall in a community.
And memory brings back to me the wooden bridge of old, The lady who did live a hundred years and two, The old board sidewalks with their crazy slant And there, I think I see, Jerry with his came. He walked as sailors walk on deck of ship And stories told of travels far and wide, How proud he was of all that he had seen Then settled here, with Bessie for his bride.
And women here, with names as told to me Were Granny Hughes, McLaren and Granny Dial, No cigarettes were theirs to comfort bring They smoked their ‘baccey in their old, clay pipes. The blacksmith ship, high on the river bank, The forge, the anvil and the horses’ shoes, They all are in the past, but there the old stone house Reminds us still that there lived Bob and Susan Hughes. The Fenders house that burned in later years The schoolhouse with its flight of wooden steps Up which the schoolboys trudged reluctantly With small birch switch which took the place of strap. The wagon-shop of Johnathan of old, The home where typhoid fever struck, The old log piers beneath the bridge of wood, The big frame house where once lived Jimmy Mac.
The brick house which was owned by Mr. Code The old post office and little general store And down there by the point, a tannery All these were here, and I know there wee more; The two saloons with whisky made in Perth, The spittoons and their dark, old oaken floors The hunter bold who stalked the mounted crane While two girls watched him though the window pane.
And I recall the names of Hillis, Paul and Dial As some of those who walked this street as girls and boys, Crampton, Evoy, Churchill, Morris, Rath, Cornett and Irvine, Hammond, Ruttle, Bolton, McLaren, Rathwell and Ireton And let not forget the Martins and McCoys.
They skated boldly on the river ice, And raced the spotted pony far above the current swift; They watched the wild ducks southward fly in early spring. And heard the wild geese northward fly in early spring. They listened to the songs of whip-poor-wills at twilight And wakened to the rumble of the rapids in the dawn And some there are who will remember two who drowned For one was Percy and the other one was John.
And there are those who travelled far away And of their dreams, I’m sure that there are some Of boom of bull-grogs in the soggy march And splash of fish when sucker-time had come. And there are other things that are remembered The hunting of the coons on moonlight nights, The fishing through the ice in wintertime, The Log Drive in the Spring, OH, what a sight!
The rushing of the water through the flumes, The turning of the stones which ground the grain, The rattle of the carders and the looms. All here were heard, but ne’er will be again. Nostalgic memories come back to me Of honey taken from the hive of the wild bees And spread on Scottish scones of oatmeal dark, And picking cranberries beneath the tamarack trees.
It isn’t cars and trucks I hear today Nor tires as they screech and skid and scream, But what I hear is the thunder of the rapids in the spring, And crack of frost in ice when winter came. The elm tree down by the river’s edge, The pine grove with its trees so very tall, If they could tell the tales that I have missed ‘T’’would make my story very, very small. But, if you now, my readers, have grown weary Forgive me, for I dearly love to rhyme, And if my story has not been too dreary I’ll come again and visit you sometime.
ATTEMPT MADE TO CLOSE SCHOOL NO 3 IN UNION HALL AREA 2
Sparks are flying in the Union Hall section these days over action taken by the Ramsay School Area Board to close Number Three school which is located about half a mile east of the second line on the road leading into Almonte. Ratepayers up there declare that the first intimation they received of the Township Board’s contemplated action was an item in the published minutes of a recent meeting stating that action had been taken to close the school.
Union Hall built in 1857
What angered the people of Union Hall particularly was the decision of the Board to transport their pupils to Number 2 School known as Wright’s on the second line a few miles in the direction of Highway 15. Irate ratepayers around Union Hall declare that they have 11 pupils ready to attend their school while the one to which it is proposed to transport the pupils has only six. They insist it is a case of the tail trying to wag the dog.
While the Township School Area Board has made no statement for publication it is understood that the object it had in mind was to save money through eliminating one teacher and other maintenance expenses connected with a school. Two indignation meetings have already been held in the Union Hall in connection with the matter. At the frist one nearly all ratepayers were present although Mr. Dave McIntosh, one of the trustees who lives in that section, did not attend feeling, it is believed, that people would be freer to discuss the situation if he was not there.
It was decided to appoint a delegation to meet the Board and state the case for the ratepayers around Union Hall. But when a second meeting was called for the night of Civic Holiday, the Board signified its readiness to attend so no deputation was necessary. Mr. J. W. Barber of Perth, Public School Inspector for Lanark was asked to be present but he said that in as much as the meeting was to be held on civic holiday he had made other plans. Mr. Bert Miller, Chairman of the Board, who lives near Wright’s School, a fact which the Union Hallers did not fail to note, and his colleagues on the Board, were asked a great many questions and there was much discussion back and forth.
According to people who were present at the meeting, the Board played its cards close to the chest and did not give away its hand by stating what it intends to do. Some think it may rescind its motion to close Number 3 School while others are of the opinion it will persist in its present intention.
In an interesting note circus horse driver Tom Lynch (1856-1938) was born in Carleton Place. He was a trainer and 40-horse driver. At age 15 Tom ran away from home to work for a stableman in Ottawa; pursued by his father, boarded a train and headed for the United States and reached Philadelphia.
First job, assistant hostler, Rice, Ryan & Spalding, 1873. P. T. Barnum’s, 1874; Melville, McGinley & Cook, 1875; Great London, 1876-79; Barnum & Bailey, and Ringling Bros.’ until his retirement, 1936, with 34 years as superintendent of baggage stock. Drove the 40-horse hitch. [New York Herald Tribune: “His horse sense was uncanny, and even when he was in his seventies, the wagons rolled with smooth celerity, whatever the weather, as Tom Lynch prowled from one trouble spot to another about the lot.”] Died, Bridgeport, CT, age 82. Member of the Elks, Odd Fellows, Eagles and Moose. Wife’s name Rebecca, non-professional.
At an early hour on Friday morning, Perth presented a scene of unusual animation and bustle, scores of heavily loaded wagons and more pretentious buggies, with here and there a sort of two-wheeled equipage termed a gig, wended their way through clouds of dust, and by 9,30 o’clock several thousand people had arrived in town to see that wonderful sight popularly known as ‘the Elephant.’ which in the present instance was Bailey & Co’s Circus and Menagerie. Amorous swains and and loving damsels, benedicts and bachelors, matrons and maidens, small boys and little girls, happy in the expectation of soon beholding something extraordinary, perambulated the streets with admirable perseverance, and kept a sharp lookout for the appearances of the procession.
Entree Into Town
Before 10 o’clock, the music of the Brass Band was heard in the direction of the ‘Long Swamp,’ and in a few moments the first wagon, drawn by eight horses, and conveying the Hippopotamus, reached the Lewis House, and followed by fifteen immense vehicles, containing various sorts of wild beasts, proceeded through the town. The dust was simply horrible, but despite this disagreeable circumstance, a large crowned accompanied the procession in its course.
Preliminaries
The performance had been announced for 2,30 o’clock, and the interim was employed in erecting the Pavilion and making preliminary arrangements. One or two “side shows” speedily got under way, and attracted considerable numbers, who evinced a very laudable curiosity to witness the ‘melting’ sight of a sudatory “Fat Woman. ” somewhere in the neighbourhood of a quarter ton weight; and the “tall’ spectacle of a man ninety-five inches high. Pending the opening of the “Big Show,” the assembled masses dispersed in all directions, and anxiously awaited the hour at which the proceedings were to commence.
Slightly Crowded
Finally the time at which the outside world might enter the huge tent drew near, and in a short time every available seat was occupied, and many hundreds had to be content with standing room. As the day was exceedingly warm and upwards of three thousand persons were crammed closely together, it may well be imagined that comfort was entirely unknown, and indeed many were under the necessity of leaving.
The Menagerie
Placed in wagons on either side of the entrance, were the wild beasts; the collection, however, was not nearly so varied as most people expected. The hippopotamus, apparently almost overcome with the heat, came in for a fair share of attention; the lions, leopards, elephants, another smaller animals, were also viewed with no little interest.
The Circus
The athletic, gymnastic, and equestrian feats of the various performers, were quite equal to any ever before witnessed in Perth. The poses of the Australian Family, the splendid exercises on the Double Trapeze, and the daring horsemanship of James Melville, elicited frequent bursts of applause as hearty as it was deserved. the Trick Pony, the Comic Mules, and the Performing Elephant, all sowed a high degree of systematic training; and altogether the Circus proved a decided success, not only in a pecuniary point of view, but also in the general satisfaction it afforded to the vast assemblage both in the afternoon and veining. Early next morning the entire company departed for Smith’s Falls, in which classic village two exhibitions were given on Saturday.
Dead
Since writing the above we learn that the hippopotamus died when on the way to Kingston, in the beginning of the week. The poor animal appeared to be suffering even during the time of its stay in Perth, and many of the coguoscents, then declared that it would not survive for any length of time. Its live was insured for something like $3,000.
The Lanark County Geological Society tour of Perth and Tay Valley began under the incredible ceilings of Farrell Hall on Gore Street Saturday June 4th at 9:30 am.
The California table. Descendants of Capt. Joshua Adams and the one on the left is also from California –but is a descent of the Yaver –Levy family;) He had no idea I was taking this..hence the dazed look.
At Glen Tay, Capt. Joshua Adams, a veteran who had served through the recent American war, had the first saw and grist mill in the vicinity of Perth and also erected a tavern in the village which may possibly have been the building shown on the Foster Street side of what was then or afterwards the aforementioned Bell property, for the Captain’s name appears thereon. Adamsville (later called Glen Tay)
More descendants of the Joshua Adams family from Syracuse, NY, who bought one of my books. Thank you!!
CAPTAIN JOSHUA ADAMS, a veteran who served in the American War of 1812-13 in the Canadian Militia-Photo by-Perth Remembered
The Scotch Line School House
Built in 1856, this stone structure served as a schoolhouse in North Burgess Township until 1968. The building, now owned by the adjacent cemetery, still contains original wooden desks, a Union Jack flag, old textbooks and some school registers dating back to 1924.
T.B. Caswell, headmaster of the Carleton Place school, had occasion to punish some pupils in his room. Among them was the son of the Reeve Mr. Steele who felt so aggrieved that he undertook to punish the teacher for which he will have to answer at the next Quarter session.
Judging from the number of complaints made to the Board of Education at Carleton Place about the undue severity there must be quite a number of people in that town who are wiser than Solomon for we have his authority for saying “spare the rod”. We will “spoil the child”. A parent should rarely side with a pupil in the matter of discipline.
The year 1896 was a good period for the hotel industry in Perth. Five recorded hotels flourished within the town boasting a grand total of 165 rooms, five bars, and two more establishments than presently service the needs of the traveling public in 1964.
According to 19th century observers, Perth had a high caliber of service and had an excellent reputation as a fine hotel town. One such observer was the old Perth Expositor which noted how strangers “always judge a town by its hotels” and then carried the impression of hospitality and service to the far reaches of the land.
The hotel business of 1898 was a vast improvement over the rude taverns and inns of early days. Several of the hotels survived the turn of the century and can be readily seen in today’s busy commercial trade. The only hotel still bearing the same name and remaining in the same location is the Revere House at Wilson and Foster.
The hotels of Perth began just prior to the Boer War, and were five: Barrie’s Hotel, Hicks House, Allen House, Revere House and Queen’s Hotel. They were all located in the business section of down town Perth and catered to a through trade from road, stage and traveling salesmen. Since 1900 the road trade has shifted west to Highway 7 where an assortment of motels enjoy a lucrative business from an almost entirely auto trade.
The St. George Hotel had a direct relationship to the economic and social development of Perth. Constructed in 1830 by John Doran, a native of Wexford, Ireland and one of the earliest settlers of Perth, this Georgian-style structure was constructed as a private home. However, by 1832, the building had been converted to a hotel by William Cross, a Perth Innkeeper, who advertised in the Bathurst Courier that he had moved to a “Commodious Stone House” and would supply his guests with “choice liquors of all kinds” and a larder stocked “in the good old English styleIn 1896 the oldest hotel was Barrie’s operated by Thomas Barrie. It had thirty rooms and a well stocked bar. A resort of the surrounding farming community, the hotel enjoyed a heavy seasonal business. Mr. Barrie was hailed as a “jolly good natured fellow” with a “pleasant greeting” for all.
The Hicks House, now the Perth Hotel, was hailed as the “leading commercial hotel” in eastern Ontario, sporting a bar, billiard room, free bus rides and a variety of fare on the table. The proprietor was John Wilson, noted for his catering and disciplining of the “hotel attaches”.
The Queen’s occupied thirty rooms, a bar, a billiard room and stables across from what is now Girdwoods Store on Foster Street. Owned by Frank A. Lambert, father of Edward Lambert, present day proprietor of the Imperial Hotel on Wilson, the Queen’s closed its quarters in 1918 after purchasing Barrie’s from James P. Hogan who succeeded Mr. Barrie as operator. Queen’s and Barrie’s are thus the modern day Imperial Hotel operated by Ed Lambert who took over from his father in 1934.
In 1896 Revere House was a 25 room establishment run by W.J. Flett who is described as one of the best hotel men in the valley. He enjoyed a popular local trace.
Largest hotel in Perth, now closed to business, was a fifty room spread called the Allan House, situated to the west of the town hall in a block now occupied by Chaplin and Code and the Coin Wash. Andrew Robinson the proprietor, was famous for his “uniform courtesy and kindness” and the free bus rides to the train and stages. Mr. Robinson purchased the Allan House from I.C. Grant after ten years as an employee of the Hicks House.
Needless to say, the hotels of Perth had close connections with Crystal Sprine Brewery and McLellan’s Distillery, two enterprises which made Perth famous from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.
Photo from Perth Remembered-The oldest house in Perth, now at 65 Craig Street was built of logs in 1816. Constructed by Lieut. John Adamson the house has served at various times as tavern, school, church, public hall, masonic lodge and printing office. Rev. William Bell held his first services in the attic of this house and Rev Michael Harris use the same quarters for his Anglican serves for three years, 1819-1822.
Education in the Early Days–Perth Courier October 15, 1864
In 1826 John Wilson opened a school in Mr. Tett’s building and later in the same year moved to the red building on Craig Street known as the Fraser property. Still later he moved to a log building on the west side of Drummond Street.
About 1832 Mr. Wilson gave up his school and went in with John Stewart, as assistant of the district school this is the Wilson who was the hero of the Lyon-Wilson duel. On leaving Perth he practiced law in London and was subsequently justice of the high court. During 1830 or before, Dawson Kerr opened a school in a log building just east of the Methodist Church. This school was still in existence when the public school started.
A Mr. Hudson (his grandson was later to be the foreman for the Code Mill) and a Mr. Tully both taught at this time the former from 1830-32 or 33 in a frame building on the north side of Brock Street, between Beckwith Streets and the river and the latter from 1831 to 1833 in a log building which stood on the south side of the stream.
Robert Lees a brother of the ex-M.P.P. for S. Lanark conducted a school in a stone building on D’Arcy Street, starting some time in 1839. In 1847 Mr. Lees went to Ottawa, then Bytown, to practice law. He later became a prominent Queen’s Council of that place. Another of these schools was one directed by a Mr. Crookshanks in a building near the Methodist parsonage in 1845-50. In 1840 a Mr. Somervilletaught in the building on the site of the present public school A Mr. McLaren had taught there before his coming.
Besides these schools mentioned, which are the most prominent, there were several conducted by ladies from the earliest days. The first of these seems to have been one managed by Mrs. Thompson, mother of Mrs. Arthur Meighen in her dwelling situated on the corner of Drummond and Brockville Streets. This was as early as 1830.
Probably the best known and best remembered teachers in the district were the Miss Jessops who conducted their school in their dwelling (frame) on the north side of Brockville Street between Drummond and Beckwith Streets, starting some time before 1830 and continuing for many years. There were three sisters, Margaret being the head of the school. These sisters finally left town and their brother who had married the daughter of a wealthy Indian planter and dissipated her fortune, brought his wife to the old home, where she took up the school formerly taught by her sisters-in-law and managed it for some years. Mr. Jessop was a gentleman of leisure and seems to have spent his time gardening and living on the proceeds of the school taught by his wife. She was noted for being very cross and as would be expressed in the present day as “cranky” and seems to have vented all her anger against her dissipated husband upon the unfortunate children who were put under her care.
A Miss Matheson remembered attending this school when very small and told that they had “confession” every Friday when all the children had to go to Mrs. Jessop and confess the sins of the week. TheHon. John Haggart also attended Mrs. Jessop’s school and seems to have been one of the banes of this worth school mistresses’ life. He was seemingly so very stupid and dull that one day as punishment he was made to stand on the stove which did not support his weight the result being a bad mixture of broken stove and small boy.
In the early days, those ministering to the spiritual needs of the people in Perth did not receive very substantial addition to their income. The number of scholars kept increasing until the rooms of the manse were too small to accommodate them.
A Mr. Rutherford then put up a frame building farther back on the lot facing Brock Street and in this building Mrs. Wilson conducted her school until 1844 when she and Mr. Wilson returned to Scotland. When Mrs. Wilson began to take scholars Mrs. Jessop’s school began to go down and nearly all pupils were ultimately taken from her and sent to Mrs.Wilson. She finally was compelled to close and then accept a position on the Common School staff.
The sisters Miss Frasers taught in the same building occupied by Mrs. Wilson after the latter left town but on their giving up there was no private school of any kind for girls. Amongst a great many others who attended Miss Jessop’s, Mrs. Wilson’s and Miss Fraser’s schools were the Miss Mathesons. On the occasion of Miss Frasers giving up teaching the Hon. Roderick Matheson wishing his daughters to have every advantage arranged with a lady by the name of Leuard to come to Perth. He furnished throughout a frame dwelling just east of a Mrs. Weatherhead’s home at the back of his own garden and gave it to her free, paying her a certain amount every year. He also gave her the privilege of taking other scholars to supplement her income. Mrs. Leuard was only able to stay in Perth for a short time much to the regret of her scholars and their guardian.
Mr. Matheson then brought the Miss Sinclairs to fill the position.
Another school was kept by a Mrs. Auckland and her assistant was a Miss Hughes the heroine of the Wilson-Lyon duel. Miss Hughes afterwards married Judge Wilson the survivor. On the site of Mrs. Aukland’s school there was a school later kept by two Miss Hawlins. In the 50’s the brick house opposite to St. James Church was used as a school house. Mrs. McKenzie was the head of this school. One of her assistants was a Miss Dunham who later married Mr. McNalran, the grandparents of Mrs.Cyril Inderwick.
Miss Helen Buchanan, the eldest daughter of Rev. George Buchanan, a Presbyterian clergyman who settled in Beckwith township in August, 1822, opened a school in Perth soon after the family arrived in Upper Canada. She was assisted by one of her sisters and the school was a great success for a year or two. Miss Helen Buchanan then married John Ferguson, a wealthy merchant and lumberman. She died on Feb. 19, 1830. The sister Catherine Buchanan traveled to Montreal where she taught school for some year. There she died in November of 1836.
Have you ever wanted to go back in time? If time travel is possible then become one of the visitors from the future on June 4, 2016. Tickets are going fast for this guided bus tour through Historic Perth and Tay Valley Township, in celebrating their 200th anniversary.
The world is a book, so watch the pages turn and hear the stories about Perth which was first established as a military settlement in 1816, shortly after the War of 1812. Many of the first settlers were military veterans on half pay, while others were military veterans from France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Scotland or Ireland who were offered land in return for their service.
Travel to evolve, and learn about the great Rev. William Bell, who arrived in June 1817, who noted in his many diaries that the settlement of the Tay Valley Township was more European than a Scottish settlement.
Time travel along with us for romance, as Perth was the site of the last fatal duel in Upper Canada. Robert Lyon, a law student, was killed on June 13, 1833 after fighting over a woman (Elizabeth Hughes) with a former friend, John Wilson. Come relive the tales– you will not regret it!
It’s the journey that matters in the end, so join us for this unique historical event. Tickets are going fast and the first bus is already full, now adding a second. Once a year, go somewhere where you have never been before!
Get your tickets early. No tickets sold on day of event!
Want all the details?
Event Location: Farrell Hall 186 Gore St E, Perth ON K7H 1K3
Doors Open at 9:30 am
Bus Departs at 10:00 am or sooner if seats are full
Catered Lunch at 12:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: John McKenty is a local historian and Author will speak on “Early Perth Through the Eyes of a Businessman (George S. James 1869 – 1964), a central figure in Perth’s early economic and social development.
Guest Speaker: Sandra Joyce, an Author will be speaking on the subject of British Home Children whose age ranged from 1 – 18 years. These impoverished children came from all parts of the British Isles to Canada with hopes of a chance at a better life. Their stories are a huge part of Canadian history, which to this day largely remains unknown.
Some Invited Exhibitors to the Marketplace:
Lanark County Museums Networks, Perth Historical Society, Beckwith Township Hertiage Group, Global Genealogy, Ontario Historical Society and others
Tickets for the full event includes catered lunch $30.00 per person.
Also available a limited number of tickets tor luncheon and afternoon speaker portion only $15.00 per person.
Cheques payable to Lanark County Genealogical Society can be mailed to Lanark County Genealogical Society, Glen Tay Bus Tour Group, P.O. Box 512 Perth, ON. K7H 3K4.
This is part of the Findlay Memorial Cairn, located on the site of the first foundry on High Street. It gets missed, tucked away on the north side of High Street in a tiny little park with a shuffleboard court! All that remains is an empty field and a cairn of a once great company.
Mike Doyle–Thank you, Linda, for this. My father Meyer Francis Doyle (b: 1910), worked in the Findlay plant as a pattern-maker prior to 1939, when he was hired by the Canadian Vickers Company in Montreal, as his trade, learned at Findlays, was integral to the manufacture of the PBY ‘Flying Boat’ which Vickers was building for the war effort.
This plaque and photos will now be part of my family history.
lindaseccaspina 