Command’s Bridge– Galbraith

Thompsontown Maple Products





It’s not autumn in Galbraith until you’ve stopped at Command’s Bridge for a photo

April 1945

The engineer and Mr. O. H. Dezell, roads commissioner for Ramsay were today making plans for building a new bridge over the Indian River on the seventh line, the old structure has got to a stage where it no longer can be repaired and it will be necessary to replace it with a modern 70 foot span. —-

She wrote a book before she passed away used to live in the retirement home in Clayton. Believe there should be a copy of her book still in the library there. There are local stories if Union Hall in her book. Her husband was Elvin McKay. His father is in Rose Mary Sarfield’s Book- “Whispers From the Past” (email at rose@sarsfield.ca or call at 613-621-9300, or go to the Clayton Store) he used to drive the sawdust/slab wagon for the sawmill.

There used to be another floating bridge over Indian River above the command bridge on Galbraith rd. I remember my grandfather saying it was in use till the seventies until a oil delivery truck fell through. Many years ago one could see a fire tower in the distance at the head of Taylor lake. Many call the channel between Clayton Lake and Taylor Lake Watchhorn Lake. I am assuming if comes from previous land owner before the lake was flooded by the Clayton dam. ( Read more about the Watchhorn’s in : Rose Mary Sarfield’s Book- “Whispers From the Past” (email at rose@sarsfield.ca or call at 613-621-9300, or go to the Clayton Store.)

There is a story of a family being buried at the corner of I think the 10th line on Galbraith Rd. The corner is fenced off about 8 ft square where they are supposed to be were placed there after they died of a plague and the house was further up at the end of the road.–More on The Floating Bridge– Memories of Lyall McKay

Clorise Anderson

Top contributor

does any one know the story about the bridge that WAS on Concession 11 E that went over the Indian river to the Tatlock rd. Would love to know what happened!!!!!

• Brent KingClorise Anderson I you haven’t been to the @Middleville & District Museum it’s a must go . There is a significant amount of info there about the school and others as well as the local history . I know there is info on the floating bridge but not sure about the one on the 11th . I do know that it was replaced by Commands Bridge on the Galbraith road sometime in the late 50’s or early 60’s. the late James Foster used to pick up some of the local kids in the area and take them to Clayton to catch a bus to Almonte for high school . Also those folks at least some of them also went to the Galbraith school . My mother was one of them . The land the school is on before the homes that are there now came off family land . Like I mentioned before the museum is a portal to the history of the area . It’s an amazing place to visit but don’t be in a hurry , there is a lot to see . Hope this helps

CLIPPED FROM
The Lanark Era
Lanark, Ontario, Canada19 Jul 1911, Wed  •  Page 5

CLIPPED FROMThe Lanark EraLanark, Ontario, Canada24 Jun 1908, Wed  •  Page 5

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The Lanark Era
Lanark, Ontario, Canada10 Jul 1918, Wed  •  Page 8

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The Lanark Era
Lanark, Ontario, Canada25 Nov 1908, Wed  •  Page 4

The Strongest Bridge on the Mississippi River — Ferguson Falls Bridge

The Sullivans —- Floating Bridge Builders

Just Another Floating Bridge—- Lake Champlain

Dedication to Deachman’s Bridge 1946–Photos— thanks to Laurie Yuill

Floating Bridges, Toll Gates and Typhoons– Clippings of Billings Bridge

The Sharbot Lake Floating Bridge

The Floating Bridge – Claudia Smith

More on The Floating Bridge– Memories of Lyall McKay

The Carp River Floating Bridge

More on The Floating Bridge– Memories of Lyall McKay

The Carp River Floating Bridge

So Where was this Bridge? Melanie Johnston Mason Photos Ferguson Family

More Memories of the Floating Bridge

More Notes on the Floating Bridge in Clayton

The Floating Bridge of Carleton Place — Found!

Clayton floating bridge

Searching for the Floating Bridge?

The Floating Bridges of Lanark County

The Mystery Ruins and the Floating Sidewalk Near the McNeely Bridge

The Summer of 1964

rank Hunter — Death Veiled in Mystery — Mcllquhams Bridge 1929

Down at Old McIlquham’s Bridge

“Naked and Afraid” in Lanark County –McIlquham’s Bridge #2

The House on the Cliff and the Old Bridge

Almonte Bridge- Unsurpassed in the County

The Back Bridge of Almonte April 1960

Clippings of MacLan Bridge– Buchanan’s Scrapbooks

Primitive Bridges –Where was this Bridge?

Andrew Stevenson- Justice of the Peace, Cooper and Cheesemaker

Almonte Gazette

April 14 1882

Death of Mr. A. Stevenson – The many friends had scarcely returned from following the late Mr. Snedden to the grave before they were called upon to wend their way thither again, to mark their respect for the memory of Mr. A. Stevenson, J.P., who has gone over to join the “majority.”

The deceased gentleman came to Canada from Glasgow , where he was born, with the other members of his mother’s family, together with his step-father, the parent of the late Mr. Galbraith, of whom the deceased was a half-brother, in the year 1821. The family settled in Ramsay, and at that time our late townsman was about nine years old. He resided with his family for some six or seven years, and then went to Montreal , where he learned the trade of a cooper, remaining there about seven years, when he removed to Carleton Place and commenced a cooperage for himself.

He followed the trade for two or three years, his shop being on the site now occupied by Lavallee’s hotel ( Leland). In 1833 he married, and moved to his own farm on the 2nd con. of Ramsay, where he remained until 1870, when he came to Almonte, and has since resided here. Mr. Stevenson was a member of the township council from 1852 to 1856, and was for many years a Justice of the Peace. For over thirty years he was Pork Inspector for this district. After forty-nine years of married life, he has left a widow, who feels her loss keenly, and a family of two sons and three daughters. The deceased was a very quiet, unobtrusive man, and was consequently not as widely known as many less worthy, but in all the various positions he was called on to fill he brought a strong conscientiousness, combined with a good share of common sense, to bear, and thus succeeded in establishing a claim to the respect of those with whom he was brought into contact.

Owing to frequent attacks of asthma he was latterly confined much to the house, but he was not long confined to his bed. He died on Sunday morning last at the ripe age of 77 years, and was followed to the grave on Tuesday by a very large number of the people of the town and country. Those who knew the late Mr. Stevenson were conscious that he felt severely the death of the late Mr. Galbraith, from the shock of which he never recovered.

During the 1874 and later, when the cheese was being made at the Rosedale Union Hall Cheese Factory, Andrew Stevenson would load a wagon up with 25 or 30 boxes of cheese, and head for Pembroke with a team of horses. At this time the building of the railroad was in full swing and camps were set up in different places.

John Morrow

John Dunlop 1837-1914 was my great-great-grandfather; the Andrew Stevenson mentioned would have been his wife Euphemia Stevenson-Dunlop’s brother, who was also a Justice of the Peace. This story was written a few years ago now since my granduncle Norman Gilbert Dunlop died Dec. 27, 2010, 15 days short of his 103rd birthday, and the author, Berneice McKay, has also passed away.

Justice of the Peace 1864- Who Do You Know?

Justice of the Peace Convictions for the County of Lanark–Dec. 13, 1898-Who Do You Know?

Rosamond History– The “Damn” Dam Case 1870

John Menzies Registrar Almonte – Genealogy

One of the ‘Old School’ — Judge Jamieson — Home and Career

Judge Senkler and the Almonte Fire Bug

Have you Ever Heard about Doran? Here Come da’ Judge!

Snippets of the Thompson Farm — Ramsay

Related reading

Who was Patricia Thompson From Clayton?

Looking for Stories and Photos- Thompson Family

Black Rock Clayton

Information about the Thompson Farm came from:

About WI
Women’s Institute is a local, provincial, national and international organization that promotes women, families and communities. Our goal is to empower women to make a difference.

About FWIC

The idea to form a national group was first considered in 1912. In 1914, however, when the war began the idea was abandoned. At the war’s end, Miss Mary MacIsaac, Superintendent of Alberta Women’s Institute, revived the idea. She realized the importance of organizing the rural women of Canada so they might speak as one voice for needed reforms, and the value of co-ordinating provincial groups for a more consistent organization. In February 1919, representatives of the provinces met in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to form the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada.

The identity of the Women’s Institute still lies profoundly in its beginnings. The story of how this historic organization came to be is one that resonates with women all over the world, and is engrained in the mission and vision Ontario WI Members still live by today. CLICK here–

Jennifer E. Ferris Photos of SS#10 — the Remains of Galbraith Public School

I’ve got some pics for you, SS#5 Galbraith still stands, but can’t be entered. I was out there Sunday walking the 100 acres across the road, so took advantage of being right there to walk around it.  Apparently it closed in 1963-64 — Jennifer

All Photos Jennifer E. Ferris

This view is from the road, looking directly at the school, facing south.

The wood shed is the front building on the left. The school is deeper in the trees

Farthest from road, eastern side of building. Back porch space only has entrance from inside the school.

From farther away from road. This would be looking north, from southern side.

Up to the door.

Door is screwed shut, to keep out trespassers

You can see a bit of blackboard wall to left.

Old window frames, and shutters too I think? Looking at entrance side

Still standing just fine.  Woodshed

Thru a window on the front porch, thru the doorway to inside.

This just struck me as one of those interesting perspective photos.

Seems like it’s screaming for attention? Or yawning til it finally crumbles?

Note the square nails up the left side, maybe held the shutters?

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and theSherbrooke Record and and Screamin’ Mamas (USACome 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. Tales of Almonte and Arnprior Then and Now.

The Forgotten Galbraith School House

 In Memory of Mrs. Aubrey Ferris — Jennifer E. Ferris

Lost Lanark Legacy Fruit Trees–

Need Help!

A.C. Burgess “Dining Hall Carleton Place” 1885

Henry Lang and His Lanark County Magic Barn?

The Story of an Old Apple Orchard

The Hopetown General Store– Looking for Memories