Feeling very nostalgic today. Is that Grandma Yuills writing with the date on the cover page . Just need to know so I can cry harder. We did not know how incredibly lucky we were. We did not even know we were making memories , we were just having fun. Glenda Mahoney
Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum..photo
In 1861, the McLean’s owned the building. In 1877, William McDiarmid gained ownership of the premises after Struthers owned it. William McDiarmid took over William Neelin’s general store in 1870 – the Golden Lion Store on the North West corner of Bridge and Emily Street. By 1882, the store had gas lighting.
At 120 Bridge Street between 1882 and 1905 Duncan and William McDiarmid operated a store together. Later Mr. Pollock operated a music store at this location. The Central Canadian’s Office was located at 120 until the 1923 fire prior to merging with the Herald.
The Central Canadian’s editor was W.W. Cliff. In 1876, Cliff started the Canadian. Cliff was at the helm of the Central Canadian for thirty five years until F.A.J. Davis took over. In 1927 the name of the Central Canadian was changed to the Carleton Place Canadian.
The photo of the burned out building was taken on January 7, 1923, this photo shows the aftermath of a fire at the Herald/Central Canadian Newspaper office located on the north-west corner of Bridge and Elgin/ Emily Street in Carleton Place. This is now the site of Body Graphics Tattoo.
It was 10 pm when the fire was discovered in the office of the Central Canadian. It took over two hours to get the fire under control-but in no time the roof had fallen in and the floors collapsed in several places.The newspaper plant and stock valued at $13,000 was destroyed, and the building frame veneered with brick was a wreck estimated at $5000 in damages.
The flames had spread upward to the second floor where the heavier type of metal machinery was and it became too dangerous for the firemen to enter, less the floor give way. Mr. F.A. Davis the owner had insurance of $6000 on the plant and the Wm. McDiarmid estate owners of the building $2000, so the loss was a heavy one to both parties. The brick building adjoining the burned building was saved intact –so the Central Canadian moved next door and Mr. Davis determined what arrangements he could make to get the town’s newspaper out the next day. No word if that paper did come out.
After the 1923 fire, the new building housed Leo. McDiarmid’s Sports. Guns could be purchased or repaired, and ammunition and decoys were sold. Later Cliff Caldwell and his wife Edna operated a hair salon and lived on the second floor. About 1950 George H Doucett bought the building and his insurance company operated there until the early 70s. Mr. William S. Rowat was his office manager and after he lost an eye and could no longer drive, Mr. Doucett’s nephew Allan joined the staff. Mr.and Mrs. Dan Nichols occupied the upstairs apartment and the building was later purchased by Howard McNeely who operated a barbershop at 120 Bridge.
Mademoiselle Decourcelle. The world’s first woman taxi driver, dressed in uniform, circa 1909
July 1939
As soon as hotels in Perth and Smiths Falls secure licence to sell beer and wine local taxi drivers will inaugurate a cheap nightly service from Almonte to those places it is understood. Word that no licences would be granted in Almonte or Carleton Place because of local option came as disappointment to thirsty people who had looked forward to beer by the glass in these towns.
Drivers of cars on the other hand, stand to benefit under the government’s ruling and will run a regular service to neighbouring towns as soon as the hotels open their beverage rooms. Whether the Premier will find some way of preventing these Almonte and Carleton Place commuters from patronizing hotels in other places remains to be seen. No representations have been made to him on that score up to the present time though it is possible something may be done about the situation in the near future. Local bootleggers, it is said, were overjoyed at the news that they were not going to have legitimate competition.
Almonte Taxi’s
memories of Almonte– Johnson’s Taxi– 1950s–Sandy France said “Don Johnson was the taxi driver in the early 50’s. Think he may have been an ex serviceman”
Linda Beaupre asks:Hello Linda, new member here. My mother’s family had cousins or uncles in the Almonte area the used to run a taxi service out of their home . I was wondering if you had any info on them , last name was Majaury and it was in the 60s?Anyone? Thank you!!
Don RaycroftYes, we used them when it was really cold to go to school. If you didn’t call them they would pick you up on the way if they thought it was too cold to be walking. Nice people.
Mary HurdisMargret and Jimmy Majaury had a taxi service.She loved chocolate and beer! He was related to my husband, his mother was Margaret Majaury. Try texting Elizabeth Dennie her mother was a sister of James if not I have a Majaury book
Laurie LadouceurThey lived at 49 Carleton street on the Island. My family is related. We purchased the house from them. We lived there for awhile
Taxi service in Carleton Place– Kid Bryce ( Norman)
Mr. Dowdall purchased the brick building at Bridge and Emily and moved his business. Walter Stanzel later lived here and operated his taxi business. It was well known all around town that Mr. Stanzel had a pet skunk and and a pet raccoon as well. No word if they came for rides in his taxi!
. Mr. Graham who once lived here served in the War, worked for CPR and offered a Taxi Service to the town and lived in the little yellow house–…(Nichols) on Bridge StreetRay Paquette’s Carleton Place Moment..-In the right corner of the advertisement for Howard McNeely’s Barber Shop, it mentions E. McNeely, Assistant. I wonder if that is Earl McNeely who later or perhaps prior to worked barbering with Howard Little and lived on Munro Street west of Rochester? As well, how many people remember Ned Root’s Shoe Repair beside the driveway for Stanzel’s Taxi?BEFORE AND AFTER-100-102 BRIDGE STREET CARLETON PLACE–THE FRAME BUILDING WAS MRS. ROGER’S BOARDING HOUSE BEFORE SHE MOVED TO VICTORIA STREET AND THERE WAS A SMALL ADDITION AT THE REAR OF THIS BUILDING. THE BUILDING WAS BRICK AND CLAPBOARD AS THAT WERE USED TO CONSTRUCT MANY OF THE BRIDGE STREET BUILDINGS. Asa Roe and his family occupied the house for a few year and then Richard Dowdall bought the property. Early in 1936 George Doucett moved his insurance office into one side and Dr. J.A. McEwen had his medical office on the other. It was thus occupied until the early 1950s when Mr. Dowdall purchased the brick building at Bridge and Emily and moved his business. Walter Stanzel later lived here and operated his taxi business and when Dr. McEwen moved a couple blocks down Bridge Street both sides became dwellings. Penny Trafford mentioned that Mr. Stanzel had a pet skunk and I think a pet raccoon as well. I remember taking clothing to the tailor that was on the right hand side of this building in the 80s? Last year I heard a story about a local woman who made teddy bears– and is this the same spot she was making them in? Still trying to find out the source of that information. Searching for Information– Teddy Bears Made in Carleton Place? Ray Paquette added: My parents lived in the right side of the house before moving to an apartment in the Senior Citizen’s site at 126 Sussex Street. The Watty Stanzel ran a taxi service out of the left side for many years and I seem to recall Mrs. Cecil McCann and Ms Eileen Costello living in that side in later years.Ray PaquetteI’m having a senior moment. Will somebody reminding me who ran Moore’s Taxi please? Linda Gallipeau-Johnston Ernie Moore – I think. Ray PaquetteWas that the same Ernie Moore who ran the store on Moore Street?
Nancy HudsonLinda I think the taxi driver’s name was John Moore, Ernie had the store on Moore St. Ray PaquetteNancy Hudson I remember Watty Stanzel, Arnie McNeely, Ronnie Wing and Wib Giles but John Moore, I have no recollection of. Where did he live? Nancy HudsonRay Paquette John Moore lived at the corner of Town Line west and Moffatt St. My Aunt and Uncle, Les and Olive Nield lived next door to him on Moffatt St
Ray PaquetteLinda Gallipeau-Johnston Ted has taken on the affectation of 2 “d’s” in his name. He is now known as Tedd. Go figure?!?!? Doug B. McCartenRay Paquette great to see Brian and Tedd are well and enjoying life as retirees! Ask Brian if he remembers the two young ladies who were traveling through town selling magazine subscriptions? We all went back to Brian’s house to discuss our choices….. lol! I actually got a subscription for Car & Driver….. I think Brian took one of the ladies to his room to get money or something BAHAHAHA what a nice visit we had with them……. Ray PaquetteDoug B. McCarten I sent your comment regarding the magazine sales staff to Brian who commented “…You can tell Doug that , although that little experience had slipped my mind, yes I do remember now that he mentioned it. I thought that there might have been a third guy involved but I might be wrong. I ended up getting a subscription for a year to a magazine I cared little for.Those girls were VERY good at their job.”
Ray PaquetteThere are a lot of commercial locations of earlier times that are not included on this “place mat”. Bellamy’s Restaurant, Sinclair Bros. Men’s Wear and Patterson’s Furniture to mention a few others not already noted above. I could go on but would bore most readers… Joan StoddartRemember the rest rooms beside the Queen’s
Though the financial situation facing Almonte and other towns in 1933 may not be as bright as could be desired there is always a silver lining to every black cloud. This was demonstrated, so far as Almonte is concerned, on Tuesday night at the first regular meeting of council, when the following letter from J . P. , Orr, Carleton Place auctioneer, was read By the clerk:—
The Greatest Freak “
To Mayor and Council, Almonte, Ontario, Canada—
“Dear Sirs—“I am In possession of the Greatest Freak Animal on earth that I purchased last year from a farmer of Franktown, Ont. “I have named this animal ‘Queen of the Forest,’ its mother was a cow’.and its father a buck deer.
It is 1 years old, stands 38 inches high and weighs 211 lbs. “You have no doubt read about this animal in the papers. Everyone that has seen it says, it the strangest freak they have ever seen.
“1 am going to show this animal in different towns this winter, and every town I show this animal in I propose to turn over 40 per cent of the money taken in, to the Mayor and Council to aid the unemployed of their town this winter.
The price I charge to see this animal is 10 cents. “All I need is a small empty store some place in town with electric lights. . “If the Mayor and Council are interested in this, kindly let me know and I will call and arrange for some Thursday, Friday and Saturday.—
Yours very truly, J. P. Orr,
Reading of the above ‘communication produced a deep impression on the council. The idea of getting 40 percent of the gate appealed to municipal legislators who know not where to turn in their search for revenue. Mayor Comba was glad to learn that the spirit of P. T. Barnum still lived even though the great American showman had passed to his reward.
What Barrmm Said “I believe there are a couple of vacant” stores in town,” said His Worship, “though I do not know whether they would be suitable to serve as temporary quarters for. such a splendid animal as “Queen of the Forest.”
He thought Mr. Orr’s letter ‘ should be answered but felt It was no part of the council’s business to provide ‘ a stopping place for “The Queen.”
Memories of w hat Barnum said about “one being born every minute,” may have flashed across the “Mayor’s mind because he concluded by remarking that Mr. Orr seemed to want to saddle some responsibility for the show on the council.
Apparently Mr. Comba wasn’t going to see the new council in the class indicated so contemptuously by the sarcastic Bamum. Councillor Montgomery suggested that the old bar In the Belmont Hotel would be an excellent place to exhibit “Queen of the Forest.”
He offered to act as doorman and take the money if Mr. Orr wished to bring his protege to town. It was agreed, finally, that a letter be sent to Mr. Orr from the council giving him permission to exhibit “Queen of the Forest,” but declining to take any responsibility in respect to providing her with quarters while she was a guest of Almonte.
Angela Pratt-Shoup Yesterday at 9:53 AM · Sorry to hear about Mr. P’s passing. He was such a nice man. Rick swore that it was the best Canadian Pizza around.
From Clay Spero
Hi Linda,
You might have not known Phil Pavlides—- but his businesses were a long standing staple in the community. He passed away quickly on Jan 17th, 2022 at home with family. His son Paul Pavlides and his daughter Georgia Pavlides helped out with various businesses ( El Passo Pizza, Phil’s Pizza, Minute Muffler, food(chip) truck and others). His business on Moore Street was part of the Carleton Place community for years.
I had the priviledge of being his business account manager from 1998-2011 and have always considered him to be one of my best friends. He was also a very good friend of Lorne LePage for the last 27 years.
I am sure you knew of Phil as well and would agree he was quite the loveable character. Thanks
Cindy HernsIt was!! I ate there all the time!! RIP
Maryann VandusenAwe my condolences to the family. It was a good pizza spot
Emma-Alycia PaiementThat makes me sad. I used to love that place when I still lived in CP. I’m sad for his family. Sending my condolences to them all
Paul Anthony PercyI remember working for him when I was 16! He taught me lots about cooking. When I delivered for him I used his brand new car. Great man would give you the shirt off his back. Going to miss him.
Penny CoatesPhil was a really wonderful guy and he made great food
CLAIRE and John Osborne
He was a great guy and I loved his pizza my son and I are very sorry for his family
My Friend Phil Pavlides First of all, I want to introduce myself. My name is Lorne Lepage, I am 57 years of age at the time of this article, January 21st, 2022. I moved from the Cornwall area in 1995 after my grandfather (John A. Chenier), and care giver for my entire youth passed away on January 3. I moved up to the Carleton Place area and started doing some contracting jobs as a self-employed contractor, with the assistance of a trade-off for advertising from Ken Ferguson. I worked for many in and around the Carleton Place area and when I was in Carleton Place. I would frequently stop by this chip wagon in town… the food seemed to be good and the prices were descent. I tried to stay busy and chat with people in and around town to get more business. I always liked stopping by the chip wagon because there were usually some people waiting for food and we would chat about renovations that they may be doing or have in the near future…. always trying to sell myself. As the summer passed I did visit the chip wagon quite frequent and also went back to his restaurant El Paso Pizza after my day and got to chat with Phil, my new best friend, and we started chatting about work, he explained that he started off being a pipe fitter over in Greece and did that for a few years before coming to Montreal, Canada. He found some work in the restaurant business to fill the holes in his work week and at nights to earn extra cash…He then moved to Smiths Falls and ran a business with a friend then went on to run his own shop. After many years he picked up out of Smiths Falls and bought the property in Carleton Place, and then the Pizzeria property on the corner of Moore Street and Munro St. Which was an old BP Gas station, he worked tirelessly to set it up so he could run his El Paso Pizza business and he did very well with the help of his wife and daughter for many years, his daughter Georgia was the real artist when it came to making the pizza’s, I remember her saying many time when she was there to help her dad on some large orders or in the very busy times, “Dad you just can’t throw the peperoni on like that, you have to place them on”. Phil just loved it when she came around cause then he could take a break and step away from the heat. Then his wife became very sick and passed away. I only met her once at the restaurant, she was a nice lady. He met another lady and they were 2 of the funniest people to see to try and work together, Phil was Greek and Suzanne was French. He wasn’t allowed to cook too many times in her kitchen and she wasn’t allowed to be in his space at the restaurant…but they still did it anyways just to make sure the other knew of who’s kitchen they were in… it was very entertaining, cause after they cus each other, she would look at me when he wasn’t looking and wink and when she turned her back Phil would shake his fist at her back and smile… as if to say “One of these days Alice”. I watched and laughed at these actions for many years whether I was at the restaurant or at their home for a special occasion meal. They both loved having family and friends over and share some laughs and the odd shot of Oozo. Suzanne was a real hard worker and loved her gardens, she grew everything she could that was known to mankind… and she kept the lawn and all of her gardens just beautiful and very productive. You would always find many plants being started in the house along with most of the orange, lemon and any other type of tree that they would grow from a seed… she had a green thumb for sure, even though there was dirt under her nails…. sorry just a little humor. Hard times hit after the fire in May of 2001 at the Pizza shop and it took Phil a while to figure out what he was going to do, so I stepped up and with my carpentry skills assisted in the reconstruction of the very badly smoked damaged and fire scorched building. I worked with the building inspector and also with an Engineer from Ottawa and I was able to get the building back to a safe and sound building with approvals from both parties so the new and improved building then became home to the Minute Muffler & Brake shop, this shop was managed by Phil’s son Paul, who has been in the auto parts as long as I have known them moving from dealership to auto parts place gaining experience in all the different fields. “Now it was time for him to take all those parts out of the box and assemble them” … kind of like assembling a plastic model car… oops sorry there I go again with my humor. The shop was doing well with having contracts with the local rail division doing the repairs on their fleet and also having the constant repairs from the locals for their everyday repairs on their vehicle, this also helped out the Pizza place because while the customers would be waiting, they could sonder over and have something to eat and have a chat with Phil in his reduced size for “Take out Only” Pizzeria, he loved the smaller shop cause it was less steps for him and with the declining times, he didn’t really need all the extra space for freezers and coolers. He was very content in there with his little 12” tv and his chair so he could take his little naps when the supper rush was over. As the times worsened it was hard to keep afloat as many other businesses in town faced the same issues and he was forced to close…. Phil was a born leader and a hard worker and decided to take the plunge and go and find work outside of his comfort zone, but still in the kitchen. He applied and started working for Tim Horton’s in the kitchen baking the donuts and everything that is required for the front counter sales. It was not long that he felt very comfortable there and really figured out the scheduling of how long everything took to cook. I heard each and every time that I stopped in to chat with him at home, he said he really enjoyed working there and is really glad that he chose to do that… he was able to be creative with the decorating (some he liked and some not so much, lol) of the donuts, muffins and cookies. Phil had to take some time off for some health issues that he had but it was not long that he recovered and was back to work as even the doctors were surprised that he was able to go back so soon. He was suffering but he went back to work and did so, right up till he could not do it anymore, he was sent home because he was too weak to stand for hours, now I am very sorry but isn’t that the hardest thing that anyone has to face is to end your working career because of health, this gentleman deserves a medal for what he has accomplished and proved what one man can do if you only put your mind to it. Phil was a great friend and a mentor to me for twenty-seven years, we have talked about work, women and wine… and that was just the start… we figured out how to build stuff with what we had available and with the limited funds as well…. talked to the proper authorities and made sure that we did our own leg work so that we could understand how it had to be done… even up till this winter Phil came to my place and we sat and chatted in my Clubhouse (an old milk house that I have a woodstove in it for heat and some comfy chairs) about things that we wanted to accomplish. He had a lot of dreams and loved to work, he did not expect to go this early cause he had plans and it wasn’t to retire… I will miss you “BOSSMAN”. Sincerely: Lorne
On the evening of January 10 th, Errol R. Stanzel of Carleton Place met a tragic death when he was killed by the westbound C . P. R. Dayliner about 7.10 p.m . on the level crossing on the eastern side of Almonte on Andrew ‘s Bros, farm . The crew of the train said he was standing on the track in front of his stalled car and appeared to be waving. So far no one seems to know why the unfortunate man was where he was at that time. One guess is that he missed the turn at Perth Street and continued along Country Street and in some manner stalled on the track. It could easily be that he underestimated the speed of the Budd car. He was in his 70th year and retired a few years ago after conducting a successful retail shoe business in Carleton Place for many years. Dr. J. A . McEwen, County Corner was called to the scene of the accident. The funeral was held by the Fleming Bros. Funeral H om e, Carleton Place to St. James A nglican Church on S at.. Jan . 13 at 2 p.m. Interment was in St. James Cemetery.
We went for a walk this morning at Centenial Park and went into the boathouse. I was amazed at what great shape the building is in. There was very little graffiti and no damage which is amazing but it is off the regular path.Also read- Before and After at Centennial Park
Glenda
Also built with alot of asbestos so not mentioned in any guide books. Lol. Glenda Mahoney Photos and text
I had a lot of people ask me about vintage crime in Lanark County, so if you look below you will find a series of titles that will interest the crime reader
The Beer Warehousing Company’s store at Carleton Place was held up by armed bandits on Saturday morning a few minutes after it opened at 10 o’clock. Two men entered, and one pulled a gun ordering the three attendants to lie face down on the floor. The two thugs then went in behind the counter, opened the cash register and helped themselves to what was in it. In the end they took off with between $3,000 and $3,500.
As the men did not wear masks it is obvious to the police that theywere strangers from a distance. It is thought that at least one other man stayed outside for the getaway. A green car was seen leaving the vicinity immediately afterward. The police are working on the case but if they have any clues naturally they are not divulging them.
Cases like this are difficult to crack because the men are probably members of the underworld in some big city and no local man needs to case a beer warehouse after the New Year business. All such stores open at a given time and no precautions can be taken against armed robbery.
This is the first instance of a beer warehouse being held up in Lanark County. The one at Perth was burglarized twice. In each case the safe was blown in the night when the noise of a passing train disguised the sound of the explosion.
While the Carleton Place Chief of Police was not available when the Gazette made inquiries about the hold-up on Wednesday morning, it is believed that all the money taken could not have been in the cash register. It was too much, and likely only enough was taken from the safe to start the day’s business.
If the safe was open and empty the money must have been put in some other so-called safe place. But no place is safe when a man “has a gun on anyone who does not want to be a dead hero’.
Everybody Hurts – Sometimes Linda Knight Seccaspina– Sherbrooke Record Column
I don’t know if any lollipop in the world could have made me smile after lining up at the town hall, or was it the fire station, on the Main Street in Cowansville in the 50s. There we were– 100s of kids in line for a polio shot with doctors and nurses pushing those ugly needles down in our arms. Loud cries pursued like clockwork, and children were led out with a lollipop in their hands mixed with tears. That image has never left my mind, nor the two hours one Friday night at Dr. Roy’s office on South Street with someone trying to pin me down for yet another inoculation.
At my age now I have been picked and prodded all my life and one more is not going to make a difference. But this week I got a COVID booster and there was no treat for me after I had received it. I seem to miss that little act of kindness after something significant in my life. You go through hours of labour and at the end there is your baby, or you get hit by a car like I did at age 6, and there were stacks of Illustrated Classics Jesus comic books given to me by my Grandfather Crittenden.
So what happened and when?
Enduring a bout of strep throat at the age of 17 my Grandmother asked me what I wanted to eat as a special treat. I told her there was nothing I would enjoy more than KRAFT spaghetti. It had to be KRAFT, nothing else. After hours of dreaming about boxed spaghetti she turned up with a bowl of vegetable soup. Is that where it turned all wrong? Or was it just Mary Knight’s way of saying– everyone that hasn’t felt well should have vegetable soup, bread and butter and a piece of cheese for their first meal. All I know is that when I got that COVID booster this week, there was no lollipop, no stickers, just a full shot because I am 70. I could have really used a treat when I had the aftershocks afterwards: you know: “the fever, headache, fatigue and pain at the injection site”. For 24
hours I could not move, and in my mind an ear worm song of “It’s a Small World“ was playing in my head. It’s still playing actually.
My husband Steve understands ‘treats’ and even though I was dead to the world he asked me what I felt like eating. I said,
“I would like a McDonalds Chicken Burger please”.
He looked at me in the way Mary Knight used to look at me and said,
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like a bowl of soup?”
I gave him ‘the look’ which he understood immediately. I don’t know how husbands figure things like that out but there was no other conversation after that. But Steve doesn’t treat me like regular glue anyways, I’m always glitter glue to him.
As I began to eat that chicken burger I realized that was not what my body wanted, and could barely take a few bites. But that was my treat for all this and why didn’t my mind or body want the treat. It was obvious that my body was still in distress and Mary Knight’s remedy of a bowl of soup, bread and cheese would have been better. I went back to bed and never thought about it again.
At 2 am I woke up and my hair was soaked just like I had gone swimming. Obviously the fever had broken and my body was going back to normal. I smiled. Now where was that treat? Yes, I thought, I needed that treat even if it was now cold. I ventured downstairs quietly and looked in the fridge. Nothing there. Then I looked at the garbage pail. Sitting on top was the McDonald’s bag and there inside the box was my chicken burger. Some of you are saying,
“Oh no she didn’t”
I am telling you right now, “oh yes she did!”
Pulling a George Costanza from Seinfeld, I took out what was left in that container and I ate it all. You have heard the saying, “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight”. It was after midnight, and I was going to have that treat still with the ear worm of It’s a Small World playing through my head.
lindaseccaspina 