The Carleton Place Canoe Club. Pictured here are the first two clubhouses – the first was originally the blacksmith shop for the Caldwell Sawmill, located at what is now Riverside Park
I love finding memories of Lanark County. This postcard I bought on EBay was from 1908. I had not seen the back at all as they had not shown it– so I was really surprised when I saw the back.
The signature of ‘Baldy’ was none other than Carleton Place’s iconic Jack ‘Baldy’ Welsh. The back of the postcard wished a Horace Merrill a Merry Christmas. So who was Horace Merrill?
War Canoe 1905 –Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum Photograph taken by Will H. Hooper. (l to r) Norm Gibson, Bob Green, Bill Sims, Billy Janoe, Jack Virtue, Harry McEwen, ___, Dr. ____, Howard Morphy, ___, ___, Tom Scott, Herb Singleton, Jack “Baldy” Welsh.
Horace Jefferson Merrill (deceased) was a Canadian senior single-blade canoe champion in 1904 and 1908-09. He was coach and captain champion of the Mile War Canoe from 1909 to 1911 and silver medalist ½ mile War Canoe from 1908 to 1911.
He was a member of the Cliffsides, first Allan Cup champions 1909. He Captained the Ottawa Senators hockey team. He was a defence man with the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) for eight seasons. Stanley Cup champs, 1919-20.
Merrill was an outstanding paddler in the decade 1902-1912. He was a member of the Rideau Canoe Club’s first war canoe crew in 1902.[3 Paddling for Ottawa Canoe Club(OCC) in 1904 he won the senior singles in the Canadian Canoe Association (CCA) competition. By 1906 he had switched to the New Edinburgh Canoe Club (NECC) and took second place in the senior singles at the CCA championship. In 1908 and 1909 he took the title as Canadian senior singles champion. In 1908, 1909 and 1910 he led the NECC war canoe crew to second place finishes in the half-mile Canadian championships. The crew came second in the mile race in 1908 and finished first in 1909, 1910, and 1911. In 1912 he served as rear commodore of the CCA.
Merrill retired to live and marry in Ottawa. He became the president of the Dadson-Merrill Press Company until his retirement from that business in 1945. He also served as a school trustee. In 1958, he suffered a stroke on an automobile trip to Florida with his wife, while driving through Cortland,New York, and was returned to Ottawa on December 19, 1958. He died a week later and is buried in Ottawa at Beechwood cemetery along with numerous other Senators players.
The famous Baldy Welsh The Carleton Place Canoe Club is the oldest continually operating club in the country and is the only surviving charter member of the Canadian Canoe Association. The club has consistently produced athletes who qualify for the highest levels of competition at the provincial, national and international level. These range from Ontario team members to Canada Summer Games team members, Junior World Championship competitors to Senior National Team members, Pan Am Games to the Olympic Games.-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.
No story of Carleton Place would be complete without more than a passing reference to W. J. “Baldy” Welsh, famous Carleton Place paddler. In 1952 he was a young 89, “Baldy”, as even the school children called him was spry and extremely active for his age. Baldy Welsh used to stand in front of the Post Office where he once lived with one of his sons who was the caretaker of the building. He used to wear a silver Maltese cross, dangling from a silver chain fastened in his coat lapel. It was something that meant a great deal to him when he won the double-blade single canoe race in Brockville on August 6,1900. The man he beat was Billy Dier, Brockville’s strong man.
Baldy Welsh was also on a four-man canoe crew that won a cup given by Barbara Ann Scott’s maternal grandfather, Mr. Derbyshire, in 1898. In 1952 the canoe he bought 50 years ago was still in a shed not 50 yards from the Post Office. Baldy Welsh was proud of the fact that his three sons, Jim, Frank and Emmet , served the First World War and his four grandsons, Jack, J. D., Tom and William, all served overseas in the Second World War.
Besides being a great paddler in his day, Baldy Welsh also found time for baseball, hockey and lacrosse. He retired from the CPR shop in Carleton Place in 1929 after 22 years spent painting locomotives and tenders. About all he had to show for it was his long service pass but he made good use of it. He never missed a regatta and after some big sporting event in Ottawa, the sports writers usually included a line that said:
“Among those heard and seen cheering loudly at the game was Baldy Welsh of Carleton Place.”
The former paddler was born of Irish stock and his father came from Tipperary, his mother from Cork so Baldy Welsh was Irish and make no mistake about it. He was a natural to play a leading role in “My Wild Irish Rose,” staged by the local Carleton Place dramatists in 1920. Baldy’s eyes lighted up when he recalled how he played the part of Colum McCormack, a prosperous farmer of County Kildare, and how he led a male chorus in a bonafied show-stopper.
Baldy Welsh was modestly proud of a story written about him in the Ottawa Citizen by Austin Cross, back in 1945. He discussed the old stone schoolhouse (Central School) on Bridge Street, and recalled the day in 1870 when it was opened.
Before that, he said, he went to the old frame school across the “school lane.” Half of the old school was moved to a corner a block away on Victoria Street where it is now a terrace dwelling. Baldy, of course, liked best to tell of his paddling- prowess of years ago.
As you know the Balderson Cow is nicknamed Baldy Welsh after Carleton Place’s iconic paddler from the Canoe Club. The Storyland Bunny is now named the Storyland Ballygiblin Bunny now he is residing in Carleton Place. Thanks Ted Hurdis and a high five from Lynette Stanfield!
I spent 13 hours on Saturday celebrating The Royal Wedding. Am I crazy? Maybe, but I have loved Queen Elizabeth II for over six decades, and she’s made some pretty bad ass moves during that time. She has spearheaded a history-making trip to Ghana, ordered divorces, and even critiqued episodes of Downton Abbey for historical accuracy. But, I figured at my age this was the last time I was going to see a Royal Wedding, so I was going to enjoy each minute of the day. I was in full countdown mode.
Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous: ‘Full countdown mode? ?! I’ll be the judge of that.’
When I took all my necklaces off at the end of the day it looked like small mice had crawled over my neck LOL- red marks everywhere. The hat that I made was thanks to Martha Stewart Christmas ornaments trim from a Games of Thrones hat and a lot of work. Looks like I lost a rhinestone somewhere LOL
Welcome to the world Elia (eleeia) Angelo Seccaspina– Friday am May 18th around 1 am
Four a.m came quickly Saturday morning after celebrating the new arrival of my grandson Elia May 18th. You know what they say–‘life comes in bunches!‘ But, I had chosen my clothes the night before and got dressed while cranking up the volume of the TV to hear mundane tidbits about the upcoming wedding at the crack of dawn.
I walked around in my complete outfit except for my billowing tulle long skirt. I have been taught all my life to make you sure you potty before you go anywhere and did not want to deal with a skirt hanging in the toilet, so this seemed like it was a good idea.
Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous: ‘Darling, if you want to talk bollocks and discover the meaning of life, you’re better off downing a bottle of whiskey. At least that way, you’re unconscious by the time you start to take yourself seriously.’
First stop- The Hub’s Royal Wedding Event held at the Civitan Hall in Almonte.
It was an event well done, and the homemade wedding cakes and photo booth in front of “Buckingham Palace” was genius. Rico Falsetto from Carleton Place was there and working his magic. Who but CBC drops the feed just as Meghan the bride gets out of the car? LOL The Hub
They created magic and I was so impressed. Well done ladies!
What a gal!!
Me and Steve at their wonderful event.
Meanwhile back in Carleton Place
Sylvia Giles was practising being a bridesmaid while watching The Royal Wedding with a few of the women from St. James Anglican Church.
Second Stop–Under Pressure Cafe in the Carleton Place Mews–
(not their cake but it looked like this)
They were serving Victoria Sponge, Fruit Trifle & New Royal Chocolate Biscuit Cake in honour of the Royal Wedding so I picked up a couple of slices of the Victoria Sponge for Jennifer and Steve. Everything is awesome at the Under Pressure Coffee House!
Third Stop– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum.
Third Stop– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. Saturday was their opening day of the the “Paddles UP!” exhibit, celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Carleton Place Canoe Club.
The famous Baldy Welsh
The Carleton Place Canoe Club is the oldest continually operating club in the country and is the only surviving charter member of the Canadian Canoe Association. The club has consistently produced athletes who qualify for the highest levels of competition at the provincial, national and international level. These range from Ontario team members to Canada Summer Games team members, Junior World Championship competitors to Senior National Team members, Pan Am Games to the Olympic Games.
Fourth stop– Lanark & District Museum–Lanark Village
They were showing local wedding dresses in honour of the Royal Wedding. If you have not been to the Lanark & District Museum or the Middleville Museum–run don’t walk. A pure joy!! Put it on your summer visiting list! Come on in an see great historical mementos and sit down for a spell and have a chat.
Fifth Stop– Crossroads Tearoom Royal Wedding Tea
Driving really isn’t my friend these days after the heart attacks last year and parking is a nightmare for me. I couldn’t figure out from the sign if I could park in the locale as “only guests and visitors” could park there. #Confusion!
Does that mean I can’t if I am going to a tea there? I took a chance and left a note with a Union Jack flag on top of it. By this time I was getting tired so I threw caution to the wind.
William (Billy) Blais- who plays at Crossroads Tearoom also.
It was a lovely affair — as it always is if you have ever been to Crossroads Tearoom in Perth. If you haven’t– put that on your visit list this summer– you won’t regret it! I had great conversation with complete strangers and learned you can’t call the British flag a Union Jack anymore across the pond. In fact they get downright upset.
Sometime around 1674 the British flag became formally known as the ‘Union Jack’ when mounted on a warship and the ship was not in harbour. At the same time the British flag was referred to as the ‘Union flag’ on land. Brits insist it should called the Union Flag now. It was the lovely British gals from Merrickville that set me straight– so: mark that one down!
Eddy from Absolutely Fabulous on the liberal elite: “When somebody deliberately over-educates themselves out of the possibility of useful employment, I take issue.”
Exhausted and pouring rain outside I walk back to the parking lot to see my car is indeed still there but– someone has parked right next to it like second skin so I cannot get into the driver’s side of the car. That’s right, with a huge billowing skirt, accessories galore, and that big hat I have to slide into the passenger seat and roll across the transmission to get to the driver’s seat. Please note there are no photos of this “Absolutely Fabulous” moment!
Friends since the 70s William (Billy) Blais and me at the Crossroads event
So, to those wee “plucky” granddaughters of mine who want to be a princess. My advice to you now? It seems as though you have to be a stunning gal on a hit TV show, and the next day you are a princess. Maybe I am wrong, but this is how this event happened and I would just stick with Disney for now. Gammy insists my sweet loves!
The Royal Wedding was fun, but now all I want to see is the Burger King marry the Dairy Queen– the definition to eternity.
Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous on her kind of day out: “I thought a little mosey down Bond Street, a little sniff around Gucci, sidle up to Ralph Lauren, pass through Browns and on to Quags for a light lunch.”
Thanks so much to Crossroads tearoom for the lovely prize for my hat. It will be consumed with delight.
It was a nice day for a white wedding and a nice day to start again!”
This is the first Carleton Place Canoe Club’s all woman’s war canoe crew. Darlene Page’s grandfather was the coach–Her aunt’s also in the photo too (lady girl on the right) Her grandfather, Clarence Waugh, was in the middle standing. Darlene’s Aunt’s name was Deloris Agnel, maiden name Julian. The year would be 1940s.– Photo Darlene Page
For in the cradle of these waters, the Ottawa Valley Canoe Association (OVCA) was born in 1893. The Carleton Place Canoe Club is the oldest continually operating club in the country and is the only surviving charter member of the Canadian Canoe Association. The club has consistently produced athletes who qualify for the highest levels of competition at the provincial, national and international level. These range from Ontario team members to Canada Summer Games team members, Junior World Championship competitors to Senior National Team members, Pan Am Games to the Olympic Games.–Carleton Place Canoe Club
Far left John Morris?
Second from left is Ivan Charalambij who defected from Romania in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and spent a couple of years competing out of CPCC. Ivan, was a member of the Romanian paddling team. Ivan never got to compete in the Games because before his event he’d already decided a future in Canada was more golden than any medal he might win for an oppressive Communist regime. His son Mykhailyk Charalambij, is an Ottawa athlete who has been a champion in both solo canoe racing and cross-country skiing.
I had posted this video months ago and someone sent it to me this week so I thought we should post it again.
David Findlay
FINDLAY, David Gordon Peacefully on Monday September 13, 2010, at the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital, in his 83rd year. Devoted husband of 59 years of Betty, beloved father of David (Chris Mondor), Janet (David Hunter), Stephen (Carol-Ina Trudel), Allison and Dolora, proud grandfather of Tracey, Shawn, Joshua, Stephanie, Kaitlin and Lucas. Great-grandfather of 7. Survived by sisters Leigh and Sheila, brothers Michael and Timothy, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and special friends Jeremy and John & Sue Edwards and family. Friends may call at the Alan R. Barker Funeral Home, 19 McArthur Ave., Carleton Place on Thursday September 16, 2010 for visitation only from 6 to 8 pm. Private burial. Please join us also on Friday September 17, 2010 at the Carleton Place Canoe Club from 4 to 6 pm to celebrate Dave, with a Commodore’s Salute at 5 pm. At Dave’s request no ties please! A special thanks to the staff at the Ottawa Civic and Carleton Place Hospitals for their kindness and compassion. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Carleton Place Canoe Club or the Carleton Place Victoria School Museum, c/o the Carleton Place and Beckwith Historical Society. www.barkerfh.com
in 1900 the Carleton Place Canoe Club was reorganized as a racing association and joined the new international canoe association. A district grouping to include Ottawa, Brockville, Aylmer, Britannia and Carleton Place clubs was planned and they ordered their first war canoe.The club was originally conceived in 1893 as the Ottawa Valley Canoe Association. Our Carleton Place Canoe Club is the only surviving charter member of the association, and the oldest existing sprint racing club in Canada!
Who is Mickey Morphy? Watch the Carleton Place Canoe Club Trailer below. There is also a brief glimpse of John Edwards in the clip
lindaseccaspina 