Our Very Own Tom Sawyer–Adam of Arklan Island

 

 

Arklan Farm–is a tract of land without homogeneous character or boundaries. Arklan refers to the vicinity immediately east of Carleton Place and includes an island. This island was formerly utilized as a water power site and was first called Bailey’s Mills, then Bredin’s Mills and later Arklan Mills. Arklan Island on the Canadian Mississippi River.

The Timezone in Arklan Island is America/Pangnirtung
Sunrise at 05:43 and Sunset at 18:33. It’s light

Latitude. 45.1501°, Longitude. -76.1327°

If Tom Sawyer and his gang went to Jackson’s Island, Adam Dowdall went to to Snake Island last week. The real name is Arklan Island, but many locals call it Snake Island, because of the brown watersnakes by the shore.) 

Latitude. 45.1501°, Longitude. -76.1327°

Arklan is derived from the County name. This land was purchased by A. C. Burgess and his brother, G. A. Burgess (who was the mayor of Carleton Place in 1903 and 1921). The name Arklan was given to this property by Burgess.

The McNeely’s, who first owned the land for most of the twentieth century, maintained the name Arklan. Those of you who have grown up in Carleton Place know of this location as simply the Arklan Farm. Like Tom Sawyer Adam walked across the river on his two day visit as the river is low due to drought-like conditions. Adam said said the crossing took about 5 minutes as the riverbed is all bedrock. It was hard to take pictures as the island is all bush and full of poison ivy.

Arklan Island River finds: 1837 province du Canada half penny, 1852 Quebec half penny bank token, an awesome bell and a beautiful blue gemstone, which I do believe is cut glass.

 

 

 

 

Finds from Arklan Island Carleton Place. 1859 Canada large cent, 1854 American cent and an unknown American cent and 2 very old rings

Update from Adam Dowdall —Thank you but we don’t know if it’s cut glass yet and the 1859 large cent is to be appraised because if its valuable then I’ll have won the lottery

 

 

 

 

Related Reading to Arklan Island:

New Photos from Mysterious Arklan Island

Tales from Arklan Island–Odds and Ends

The Natives of Carleton Place — Violins and Deer

Tales From Arklan –The Midnight Heist

 

Related reading to Adam Dowdall:

Adam Dowdall’s Metal Detecting Group- FACEBOOK PAGE

The Mystery Ruins of Carleton Place- Photos by Adam Dowdall

The Luck of the “Irish”– Coins Found by Adam Dowdall

Adam Dowdall Just Found the Oldest Coin in Beckwith County

What Did Adam Dowdall Find in My Carleton Place Yard?

What Did Adam Dowdall find this week?

 

 

New Photos from Mysterious Arklan Island

 

Arklan Farm Sept 1892 Photos-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Photo by Bill and Carole Flint our Carleton Place Sky Pilots

Arklan  Dam and Power House–August 1914

Photo by Bill and Carole Flint our Carleton Place Sky Pilots

 

Related Reading

Tales from Arklan Island–Odds and Ends

The Natives of Carleton Place — Violins and Deer

Tales From Arklan –The Midnight Heist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tales from Arklan Island–Odds and Ends

Arklan–Photo is from our sky pilots- Bill and Carole Flint

 

At Arklan Island a smaller sawmill was built by William Bredin.  The island was first called Bailey’s Mills in 1820, then Bredin’s Mills and later Arklan Mills. The mill is now in runs and the bridge that once connected it to the mainland was removed.

 

 

Some collected or gathered float wood down below Arklan. A couple of the native families would spend winters on the outskirts of town, first out by Brownlee’s later down around Arkland Island. They made and sold a lot of axe handles and baskets. On a special order they would make you a bow and arrow for 15 cents in the 1800s.

 

Perth Courier, July 22, 1892

Lowe—Drowned at Arklan on the 18^th July, Dickson Lowe, son of William Lowe of Carleton Place, aged 7 years, 7 months.

RELATED READING

New Photos from Mysterious Arklan Island

Our Very Own Tom Sawyer–Adam of Arklan Island

 

The Natives of Carleton Place — Violins and Deer

Tales From Arklan –The Midnight Heist

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News and now in The Townships Sun

 

Tales From Arklan Island –The Midnight Heist

Arklan–All photos are from our sky pilots- Bill and Carole Flint

These pictures show the old mill remains near Jerry Flynn’s home. Note the long sluice.  It could back up water overnight for use in the morning. The stone remains of the mill are downstream on the north side. The island had a bridge near Gerry Flynn’s and another bridge somewhere on the north shore.  Doug Allan told me stories of the first Carleton Place electricity being produced there. It was DC power.  Bill Flint

Tales From Arklan –The Midnight Heist

Bill Douglas was superintendent of The Gillies and McLaren sawmill in Carleton Place. It was said he lived in the white frame house on Bell Street that was across from St. James Church.

The Gillies mill was running night and day- two shifts of 11 hours each. One night about ten o’clock a mishap occurred. The crown gear of the water wheel broke which was a very serious matter as it left the plant idle.

Bill was called in the middle of the night and he had to sit there for a bit and think about how to fix this problem. With a couple of helpers he went to Arklan where there was equipment with the same kind of water wheel. Working quietly they removed the much needed part and returned without being detected, and before morning things were humming along as usual.

Bill’s employers of course reimbursed the Arklan people not only for the machine part, but also for the loss of time ensued. The Arklan Mill was only operating part time whereas if the sawmill closed it would have meant a two week closure which was necessary to obtain a new gear. It would have meant a sever loss not only to the company but the 200 or so employees that worked there.

Arklan–All photos are from our sky pilots- Bill and Carole Flint

 

Arklan–All photos are from our sky pilots- Bill and Carole Flint

 

Arklan–All photos are from our sky pilots- Bill and Carole Flint

 

Arklan–All photos are from our sky pilots- Bill and Carole Flint

 

 

This is the second panel of the Giant Tiger Mural. It’s a full one! From left to right: Mary McDiarmid, local teacher and David Findlay, founder of the Findlay Foundry, with the Gillies McLaren sawmill and workers in the background, at center, an ariel view of Carleton Place showing the Findlay Foundry on the north bank of the river, a wagon load of stoves heading to the train station to be shipped and the CPR train bridge with a train heading north. Various lumber mills, churches and our town hall fill the background. Carleton Place has a full and varied history!– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Gillies McLaren Mill 1896.

 

MacLaren Mill formerly Gillies.

RELATED READING

The ONLY Way to Get to This Place in Carleton Place is by Boat

The ONLY Way to Get to This Place in Carleton Place is by Boat

All about Arklan Island

 

Photo–from Heritage Carleton Place

This vintage photo of the Arklan Island Saw Mill and bridge was taken Sunday May 14th, 1939.  The island is ownd by the Town of Carleton Place and was donated to the town for future parkland.  The building you see in the picture is now in ruins and the old bridge across was removed many years ago. The island is only accessable by boat today but the ruins and stone channel walls can still be seen today. The island is steeped in history going back to the 1820’s.  If you look on the historic 1833 district map, the sawmill is noted and it is called Bailey’s Mills.  It should also should be noted that Carleton Place’s first hydro electic plant was located near the Aklan Island Bridge. —Heritage Carleton Place

Photo by Poison Ivy-Flikr

Taking a few of the township’s place names as they come alphabetically, the location of Arklan, including an island with a small formerly utilized water power site near Carleton Place, was called successively Bailey’s Mills, Bredins Mills and Arklan Mills.

The former two names were those of its owners. The present name is derived from that of the county. George Bailey’s mill was established almost as early as Hugh Boulton’s at Carleton Place. Both mills are named on a district map of 1833. George Bailey Sr., an 1820 settler lived there for forty-five years, dying in 1865 at the age of 90.

Photo from the Carleton Place Herald from the files of The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

The Bredin family then bought properties, within a few years turning their use over to others. The Bailey site served as a sawmill, and a times as a shingle mill and a planing mill, for lessees of the departed Bredins. It was bought by A. C. Burgess in 1887 and after improvements, was leased again as a sawmill. The name Arklan was provided by Mr. Burgess, who a little earlier had begun developing his model stock farm on the adjoining farm land. His brother, G. Arthur Burgess, mayor of Carleton Place in 1903 and 1921, and at times a stormy petrel in municipal affairs, installed a small hydro electric plant at Arklan in 1909 and for about a year supplied a part of the town’s power for electric lighting purposes, leasing his installations in 1912 to the town’s other supplier of electric power.

Where is this?

Interesting building.. but where is it?

So readers thought it was on Arkland Island but it is not..

Allan said and I might have to go looking for it. Thanks Allan!

Hey Linda… the very top photo above the Arkland Island image is part of an old mill beside the rapids in Blakeney… downstream from Almonte.

This is Arkland Island in Carleton Place

Arklan Island— Mississippi River, North-east of McNeely Ave Bridge

This vintage photo of the Arklan Island Saw Mill and bridge was taken Sunday May 14th, 1939. The island is owned by the Town of Carleton Place and was donated to the town for future parkland. The building you see in the picture is now in ruins and the old bridge across was removed many years ago. The island is only accessable by boat today but the ruins and stone channel walls can still be seen today. The island is steeped in history going back to the 1820’s. If you look on the historic 1833 district map, the sawmill is noted and it is called Bailey’s Mills. It should also should be noted that Carleton Place’s first hydro electric plant was located near the Aklan Island Bridge.

Heritage Carleton Place

Photo from Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum