Photo—GoBiking.ca
101 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Photo from The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
101 Bridge Street
Next to the New York Café (see Volume 6) was the Olympia Restaurant that was operated by James and Louis Laskaris and in 1960, the New York Cafe was destroyed in a fire as was the Olympia Restaurant, in the next building.
Located at 101 Bridge Street, the restaurant, with its booths, curved counter and red leather stools, was a local institution and operated by Louis and James Laskaris as the Olympic Candy Store in 1920. Jim was the manager and principal owner and Louis was the candy maker. There was once great displays of Turkish Delight fudge and butter cups displayed in their windows.
Jim married a local girl Helen Mesner and they had two children Bill and Nan. After Helen died Jim returned to Greece and remarried and sold to Jim Antonakos in 1958. Louis Laskaris left Carleton Place and opened a business in Bowmanville. A fire destroyed the building in 1960, but it was rebuilt and opened again in 1961. Jim Antonakas had previously purchased the building 2.5 years before that fateful day. Antonakas had originally operated a restaurant in the Byward Market in Ottawa.
Everything in the restaurant and garage was destroyed but the firemen aided by the residents of Carleton Place were able to save almost all of the equipment in the barber shop. A fire that amounted to $75,000 worth of damage to: The Olympia Restaurant, Howard Little’s Barbershop and a garage owned by Elmer Robertson containing a small amount of furniture fell prey to the flames. In 1961, the Olympia was rebuilt and reopened. At this time, Stewart Comba leased a part for his furniture shop and R.A. Downing had an office here.
One of the people that ran the Olympia restaurant was Monib El Jaji and his family. El had been cooking for other restaurants for 18 years when he decide to open his own. He had moved his family from Lebanon to Canada in 1967 as he wanted his kids to grow up in a peaceful place.
Some of the people that worked at the Olympia were: Pearl Wilson, Reta Chilcott, Toots Morris, Marian McDaniel and Ruby McPherson. The Olympia closed it’s doors for good in 2000 and is still greatly missed.
Tommy McCaffrey’s Barber shop was next door and he had various assistants such as Jack McPherson, his brother Earl, and Weary Little. Later Howard Little came along from Almonte and took over from McCaffrey. The barbershop was also destroyed by fire and when rebuilt they were set back in line with the rest of the stores instead of protruding 6 feet which narrowed the sdiewalk. There was a small apartment over the barber shop and it was occupied by Carrie Tosh who was employed at the local hydro office.
Memories of the Olympia & Howard Little Fire-Ray Paquette
Food Fit For Olympians in Carleton Place
The Howard Little- Olympia Fire on Bridge Street
104-106 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Photo–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Photo- Linda Seccaspina
104-106 Bridge Street Carleton Place Circa 1889-1897
This property was the home of one of the most prominent persons in town during his lifetime. Dr. Richard F. Preston served the community not only as a Physician but as a Reeve of the village, the first Mayor of The town, a member of the Legislative Assembly in 1895 and a Member of Parliament in the 1920s. The building once had a very wide staircase from the centre of the lawn that led to the 2nd floor.
The Crown granted the property originally to Edmond Murphy. Some of the other owners of the property included James McDiarmid, Allan McDonald, John McEwen, Archibald Gilles, and Alexander Forbes Stewart. Stewart sold the property to Preston and Dr. Preston is first mentioned in the Assessment Roll in 1880 when he was twenty-four years of age. He purchased the 11,336 square feet in 1883 for $1000. In 1885-1889 the Assessment Rolls list the property as vacant. From 1890-1897 the building is listed as unfinished. It seems that the house was made habitable and over the next six years, the details were completed.
From 1887 or so, Dr. Preston had a medical practice and he delivered both Lloyd and Harold Hughes. He was also the Mayor and a member of parliament for several years. The building itself had a stable behind it, which was kept by Mr. Halpenny who drove the house and buggy for the doctor. If a lady was having a baby in the country the doctor would not be able to get there in tie to deliver the child but a midwife would be on hand. The midwife would not only be the temporary doctor but would also stay with the family for a few days to help the mother and get the meals for the other members of the family. The doctor usually got there the day after the birth to ensure all was in order andreturn to town. In 1917, Dr. Preston brought in Dr. Smith. Dr. Smith was there for ten to fifteen years. Dr. Preston was quite old when he gave up his practice and Dr. James kept it up.
Dr. James at an old age died while trying to help someone get a car unstuck. Dr. MacDowell took on the practice. Before his practice in Carleton Place he worked out of Almonte. Some of the doctors that were located in this building were: Dr. Ivan James,Dr. Stone,Dr. Murphy, Dr. Ross McDowall and Dr. Bartlett. Dr. Clifford Dobb was also in this building before the Centennial Medical Centre was built. The second floor was made into apartments and one of the earliest tenants was Mr. and Mrs. Del Anderson and Mrs. Blanche Jelly. The downstairs was housed the Children’s Aid Society Office and a real estate office and is now apartments.
Related reading
Shades of The Godfather in Dr. Preston’s Office in Carleton Place
Dr.Preston Was in the House — The Case of the Severed Foot
Haggart vs Dr Preston– The Little Intriguer that Pulled the String….
110 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Original owner George’s Pizza, George Poulos flipping the dough, and outside the restaurant with his stepson, circa 1989. Photo from Terry Poulos
110 Bridge Street Carleton Place Circa 1870
The façade of 110 Bridge Street has probably been renovated since it was initially built, and the original structure was probably was made of clapboard and later on stucco was put on to replace the clapboard. Originally, the building was the office of John (Johnny) A. McGregor, who was the county sheriff, commonly called doctor, but certainly was not a doctor of any kind. Carleton Place was ‘dry’ in his days but there still was a good number of bootleggers. Johnny was short in stature and wore a long fur coat in the winter that dragged through the snow like a western rustler.
Whenever a raid was to be carried out Johnny had to present and he would be transported to the scene of the crime by Kidd Bryce Taxi and word on the street was there were never too many successful raids.
This building also housed the ticker tape for the Toronto Stock Exchange and was operated by Howard Dack and Bill Patterson. The building sat idle for a few years and iconic George’s Pizza occupied it for years. Now there are apartments on the second floor and Heather Lalonde and Suze Tomas have a hairdressing establishment on the main floor. (Hair Loft and E2)
Related Reading…
RACK ‘EM UP —Do You Remember George’s Playhouse?
116 Bridge Street Carleton Place
116 Bridge Street Circa 1870
116 Bridge Street was the home of the Darou’s bakery for approximately sixteen years. Darou’s bakery was later operated by Minnie who was the daughter of the Darou’s and Earl Dunlop. It was under the ownership of the Dunlop’s up until 1957 when Nat Nelson purchased the building and operated a delicatessen with his wife bought the building. The Bridge Street store used to be the home base for Nate’s Delicatessen, which was run by Nelson’s parents. Paul took over when his dad died and operated a photography shop. Paul Nelson cherished, long time member of the Carleton Place Community, passed away Monday, February 28, 2011. It is now home to Solace Hair Design on the main floor and apartments on top.
William and Barbara Neelin sold lot 10 section D to William Brundige in May of 1873 for $1200. The early tenants included Steele’s tinshop, Wilson’s Bakery, Northern Telegraph and George Keyes Boots and Shoes. George Keyes was the son-in-law of William Brundige marrying his daughter Lucy. After the fire, the new red brick building was constructed in 1898 with two storefronts. The Union Bank rented 109 Bridge Street.
George Keyes died in 1909 and the Deir’s open a grocery store at 107 Bridge Street. Cal Moore moved from Smiths Falls and purchased and operated Moore’s Central grocery in 1919. Calvin was also the son-in-law of George Keyes marrying Edena Keyes.
Maynard Argue operates Argues’s Grocery at 107 Bridge Street for many years and then the Mi-Lady Dress Shoppe operated out of the same location from 1953-1977. It was owned by Dorothy Burns and later E. Shane. The tenants included: the Remembrance Gift Shop and Charlie Jay Shoes. Ken’s Discount Shoes opened at number 109 in 1965 and then The Granary Natural Foods opened at 107 Bridge Street in 1977 expanding in 2015.
Related reading:
Life Before Digital Cameras in Carleton Place – Remembering Paul Nelson
107-109 Bridge Street Carleton Place
Photos from —Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum —Before the fire
107-109 Bridge Street Carleton Place–1880 ca, 1898 rebuilt fire
Originally 107-109 Bridge Street was the tin shop of Mr. Steele and the tin shop shared
the premises with Wilson’s bakery in the latter part of the 19th century.
During the early 20th century Garant and Weir operated a grocery. Also
occupying the building at this time was the Northern Telegraph. For approximately
fifty years, up until the middle of the Twentieth Century there has been a grocery
store operated in this building. Deachman and Weir Grocery was later taken over by
The old photo shown with this article was taken circa 1919, shortly after Cal Moore purchased the store from Deachman and Weir.-Photos from —Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
The original structure that occupied the lot was built in the early 1800’s. Originally 107-109 Bridge Street was the tin shop of Mr. Steele and the tin shop shared the premises with Wilson’s bakery in the latter part of the 19th century and the modest wood building housed the Keyes’ family shoe business and living quarters. The early tenants included Steele’s tinshop, Wilson’s Bakery, Northern Telegraph and George Keyes Boots and Shoes.The structure was destroyed by fire in the 1880’s and the current building was constructed in 1887 and it quickly become known as “The Keyes Block”.
George Keyes was the son-in-law of William Brundige marrying his daughter Lucy. After the fire, the new red brick building was constructed in 1898 with two storefronts. The Union Bank rented 109 Bridge Street.
George Keyes died in 1909 and the Weir’s open a grocery store at 107 Bridge Street. Deachman and Weir Grocery was later taken over by C.W. Moore Food. Cal Moore moved from Smiths Falls and purchased and operated Moore’s Central grocery in 1919. Calvin was also the son-in-law of George Keyes marrying Edena Keyes.
Originally 107-109 Bridge Street was the tin shop of Mr. Steele and the tin shop shared
the premises with Wilson’s bakery in the latter part of the 19th century. During the early 20th century Garant and Weir operated a grocery. Also occupying the building at this time was the Northern Telegraph. For approximately fifty years, up until the middle of the Twentieth Century there has been a grocery store operated in this building. Deachman and Weir Grocery was later taken over by
The current building was constructed in 1887 and this address has been home to several grocery stores including C.W. Moore’s and Maynard Argue’s. C.W. employed Charles Costello for a number of years and had Charlie Whyte as a delivery boy. Maynard Argue took over the business for a short time until he went to become the manager of the IGA store in the newly renovated Rubino Bldg. at the corner of Albert Street.
Baird and Riddle operated a men’s and boy’s clothing store for quite some time and Mi Lady Dress Shoppe conducted business from 1953-1977 and it was owned by Dorothy Burns and later E. Shane. Their staff was: Ortie Luons and Carmell Hurell Scissons. Other tenants included: the Remembrance Gift Shop and Charlie Jay Shoes. George Keyes operated a shoe store at 109 Bridge and then Ken’s Discount Shoe Store operated a shoe store in 1965 for several decades. In 1977, The Granary took up residence at 107 and continues to operate in 2017 in this location also having expanded into where Ken’s Discount Shoe Store was at 109 Bridge Street.
Related reading:
Under Lock and Keyes- Keyes Building
The Old Grocery Counter –Calvin Moore
Memories of Argue’s Food Market?
The Granary in Your Backyard — Dena Comley
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.
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