I love your blog. We’ve been in Ashton for 3 years and have gotten to know many of the older folks in town. We live in the Fleming house which is at 2005 Worley, which was a house over from the castle. ( still looking for comments and photos of ‘the castle:-Looking for Photos of ‘The Castle’ in Ashton)
Our house is often called the Ormrod house because they lived here longest, but a Fleming built it. He married Elizabeth the daughter of Neil Stewart who lived in the little red brick house on Flewellyn (a log home, clad in brick). Some of that home is from the 1840s, but some of it burned. The Stewarts were farmers and owned the big barn tucker in behind town, Fleming took over the farm when he married Elizabeth and built this triple brick house somewhere between 1880 and 1890.
We actually found love letters between Joe Ormrod and Liz McAffrey in the attic floors. Looks like there were two Flemings, at different times and two fleming homes/houses.
Also, there are a few people left here who knew Thelma Crigger. The Jinkinsons still own the garage and still live in the house next to it. The school house was built because Joe Ormrod and Jinkison raised the funds. I found newspaper ads where they were looking in Ottawa for a teacher. If you have any questions about any part of it, I may have more information. We used your blog as a starting point for a lot of research. We have a lot of artifacts. Including an orange order manual from 1914 I think.
Can you add any memories or history? Thanks Seth for this!!
In the books that were donated I have come across some interesting information about a home that was once in Ashton that was called, “The Castle”. It was believed to be build by Mr. Archie Blair and was an imposing 3 storey, 14 room frame bulding painted white.
It had a high roof with four gables and the surrounding verandahs were supported by broad pillars. Over the large hospitable French doors was a very ornate fanlight. Mr. Blair operated a shoemaking business over at the Forester’s Hall and had two sons: Dr. Blair and Jack Blair.
The imposing home was destroyed by fire. Living there at the time of the fire was Mrs. Archie Blair, her sisters Tina and Jessie McEwen and a brother Sandy McEwen. Sandy was in bed with a broken hip when the fire broke out at noon hour. Hilton Fleming was at his home nearby for his midday meal, noticed the smoke and realized that Sandy was upstairs and helpless scaled two fences and enetered the burning building. He was able to snatch Sandy in his arms and head for safety. Sandy kept shouting for his pants, but Mr. Fleming just screamed back ” to hell with your pants’ as he carried him to the safety of the Forrester’s Hall. The hall later was a residence owned by Mr. Slade.
The year was 1958 and it proved to be quite a year. I had received my wings in Winnipeg, Oct57 and was awaiting assignment to the CF100 OTU (operational training unit) but they were backed up and there was no opening until 11 Jan 58. I was given rather boring duties, which allowed me to go on leave over Christmas/New Years in CP. (Think Ashton, where Beth lived).
The previous Christmas I had given Beth a ring that we decided to consider as an engagement ring. It had been an inexpensive ring centred with an emerald, set between 2 zircons but I had the jeweller replace the zircons with diamonds (raised his eyebrows-perhaps the diamonds were no more expensive than the zircons?). There was no getting down on one knee-that came a year later-in front of the Godfather, aka Eagle beak, aka Mr. Perfect in every way, aka “The Greatest” (we loved him!)-which brings us to 1957/58 and the new Year’s Ball at Uplands Mess. I then drove back to Cold Lake AB in time for my course which I successfully completed on the 22 May 58.
That day, I placed a call to Beth, via the base switchboard, to the long-distance operator, to (I believe a Smiths Falls exchange) to the party line that served the Ormrod’s residence (next door to the Slades). I had never done this before but I felt the circumstances were such that the Ormrod’s wouldn’t mind (Slades had availed themselves of this on occasion). The other option would have been the Ashton General Store but that would have been too complicated involving a call-back. Everything seemed to go like clockwork, although there was the necessary wait for Beth to get the message and come to the phone (giving ample time for other party-liners to gain access.
“Hello Beth”; no reply?, the long distance operator came on the line; “she can hear you and she said Hello back,-can you not hear her”-“no”, I said.
Thus, the conversation proceeded-we decided to continue the call with LD operator relaying the conversation-can’t remember the exact words and could well be that neither of us could hear the other-but this is my recollection.
Operator: “go ahead sir”.
Me: “Beth, we have to get married right away, as soon as we can!”
Operator (making strange noises) relayed the message.
Me: “I have passed the course and am being posted to France at the end of June, so we need to get married before then.”
The conversation continued for some time in a rather light-hearted fashion (which included the operator-having made her day!)
I was given leave, including extra embarkation leave but time was still a critical consideration and we (Remi Saulnier in his MG, my pilot** and I in my Ford) set out almost immediately for Carleton Place. There was a slight delay while Ray picked up his car from the garage where he had had them perform a tune up.
Before we reached Vermillion (100 miles of gravel in those days), it became obvious that Ray’s car was under-performing but he did manage to make it to Lloydminster and a mechanic. He was rather perturbed that the previous mechanic had to the wrong settings and the valves had been burned. Aware of our schedule, he re-set the valves and said that it was only a temporary fix and the valves would need to be re-ground soonest. We made it as far as Regina and stayed overnight in a motel.
Left Regina at 12 noon, stopping only for food and fuel, making it onto the ferry at the Sault, with Ray’s car becoming more and more cantankerous and at that point, refused to start in order to get off. I managed to push it off and we got it going with the intention of finding a garage that could repair the vehicle- 10/11 o’clock on a Sunday night.
We located a suitable garage, parked the MG with a note explaining the situation and that to expect a call on the Monday morning. We both got into my car and continued the journey, arriving in Carleton Place at 6 in the morning; just a little tired after 42 hours without sleep-the last 4 hoursI resorted to smoking in order to keep myself awake-to keep each other awake.
Arriving, found that wedding plans were finalized for the coming Saturday; the garage in the Sault was called and arrangements were made for his car to be repaired; arrange, arrange, arrange, all week- Beth-a hurry-up passport; Beth-innoculations; Beth/Larry packing, etc. My mother, (bless her heart) helped with the packing but I didn’t know the extent until after the honeymoon.
Of course, when we got home from our honeymoon, everyone was excited to hear about the trip (Nova Scotia and Connecticut). After skirting the subject a couple of times, my mother finally asked if we had any problem with our clothing; to which I replied, perplexedly . “no, why do you ask?” She said, “Well, we sewed up all the openings in your pyjamas!”
I’ll leave this story at that-the voyage to Europe may come later.
**There had been a mock “marriage ceremony” in Cold Lake where we had crewed up together and we would continue to fly together for the most part while we were on squadron**
My 1956 Ford with Ormrod’s house in the background!
From Homestead to suburb Church services in Ashton began five years before there was a church. While the Irish settlers were busy clearing the land and establishing homesteads,” services were held in a house. In 1845, the pioneers began to build a place of worship, cutting stone from the nearby Jock River and hauling it by ox cart. But by the turn of the century, extensive repairs were needed. The community decided to build a new church nearby. It was completed in 1915 at a cost of $5,000. The old church, visible here in the background, is now boarded up, though exterior restoration will be completed this year for 150th anniversary celebrations. 1995.
Former Christ Church Ashton
Jim Amy Kirkpatrick The first Christ Church Ashton was built in 1845 and in use until 1915. The south wall was built using ‘scrap’ stone so that the north wall (facing the road) would be built using good stone. John Bobier, stonemason, and John Shore, carpenter, were responsible for the construction..
Ted Hurdis Our confirmation class from St James had our first communion at the Ashton Anglican church.
Gary Box wrote on my story about being a Tombstone Tourist yesterday.
“I sometimes find wandering through cemeteries and reading the stones can be quite an emotional experience. I found a cenotaph bearing the name of Nursing Sister Jessie M. McDiarmid who drowned June 27th, 1918 by a German Submarine. I was so taken by the words that I looked up the incident and found the Hospital ship carrying Jessie and over 300 Canadian Soldiers to safety when it was torpedoed”.
“There was no warning and those who were not killed instantly were machined-gunned right in their lifeboats. Only about 25 people survived to tell the story. I also went to ST. Fillans Cemetery to find ancestors when I came across a McDiarmid family Grave and there on the bottom was Jessie’s name. I was quite taken by such a tragic, sad and emotional experience”.
“The sinking of the ship and the finding of the gravestone were purely coincidental and happened within 2 years of each other. I made the connection only because some else thought that Jessie was on the Lusitania when she was torpedoed on May 7th 1915…….my maternal grandparents were survivors of the U20 attack which sank the ship in 18 minutes. At the time the Lusitania was the greatest cruise ship in the world and this was the first incident of indiscriminate Warfare by the Germans, illegal under wartime “Rules”. The loss was 1200 passengers and 700 survivors The Germans then stopped, after this tragedy but reinstituted indiscriminate warfare when the U.S. was dragged into the War…..at least that’s how I heard it.”
“Here is the Cenotaph Story. The cenotaph is located at the Beckwith Sports Complex at Blacks Corners” Thanks Gary, I had to search for the story myself.
Gary Box runs runs the The Ottawa Valley Box Family, Relatives and Researchers and you should check it out.. CLICK
Jessie Mabel McDiarmid was born in Ashton, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada in August 14, 1880. She was the daughter of John McDiarmid, Beckwith Township, Ontario and niece of Mr. J. McDiarmid of Ashton, Ontario. She was 35 and single when she enlisted as a nurse with the Canadian Army Medical Corps and 37 when she died. Only twenty four of those on board, including the captain, survived the treacherous attack, which came without warning.
The submarine commander, who ordered the destruction of the Llandovery Castle declared that he had sunk the ship because she was carrying American aviation officers and others in the fighting service of the Allies. He added to this later by asserting that the vessel was carrying a lot of ammunition stores, because an explosion had occurred after.
The hospital ship that contained the 12 twelve nursing sisters capsized and the sisters were drowned. It is assumed that the fourteen nursing sisters reached a lifeboat, but so far as was known there was no trace of them after the ship sank in July of 1918.
Thanks to Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum we now have photos of what once was of the Ashton Feed Mill on Highway 7. All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
.All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Llew Lloyd Don Montgomery was the original owner . He moved his business there from downtown Ashton , the building now occupied by the Ashton Pub. The business in Ashton was run by Don’s dad Roy, Bob Montgomery’s grandfather.
Dale CostelloMany a horse drawn trip there with my grandfather early 50’s
Faye CampbellYes was the old Ashton grist mill, but has been closed for years! Donnie Montgomery had it built and served all the Farmers well in the area. It was sold and continued to be run (cannot remember name). Must have closed in late 80’s
All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
All photos– Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
June 18, 2018
Photo- Faye Campbell
My nephew took this picture of the old Grist Mill at Ashton Station next to the Cavanagh Concrete Plan
District 8 Chief Todd Horricks captured dramatic video of the structure in flames from top to bottom and billowing thick black smoke. He thanked the Carleton Place-based Ocean Wave Fire Company and Beckwith Fire Department for pitching in.
Firefighters use creek water to fight Ashton fire Fire hits ASHTON (Special) Six fire departments responded to a fire Sunday at Ashton Feed Service Ltd. on Highway 7 west of the Ashton cut-off. Late Sunday night the fire was still smouldering at the feed mill, one of the largest in Eastern Ontario. The first alarm was sent in at 1 p.m. when smoke coming from the upper of three levels was seen by passing motorists. Gutted in the fire were two elevators, three distribution systems, 40 bins, grain and pre-mixes
Beckwith Councilor Faye Campbell added: Just wanted to tell you that Robert Presley, who operated the saw mill in the Village of Ashton, was my great grandfather
Built in 1854, St. Augustine’s had a seating capacity of 120 to welcome Irish Anglican worshippers from the Prospect area who had previously made do in a school house. The church closed in 1967 but the building, cemetery and grounds are still maintained by the Ashton Parish. A service is still held here once a year during the first Sunday in August.
The social held last Monday evening in the beautiful grove, on the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron McTavish, first concession of Drummond, under the auspices of St. Angustine’s church, will stand out as one of the most enjoyable events of the summer months to be field in that section. A most elaborate program had been arranged and all entered heartily into the festivities. Read more Who were the Carleton Place Orioles?
lindaseccaspina 