On July 20, 1899, another fatal lightening strike in the Carleton Place area was added to the season’s list. The well to do bachelor, 39-year-old Henry Crampton had retired early at the family home on Scotch Corners Road and left his bedroom window open. He and his mother age 75-years, lived together. Not wanting to disturb him, his mother never checked on him when he was not about as usual in the morning.
Mrs. Crampton went about her household work and noticed Henry was still lying in bed. She entered his room and closed the window. It wasn’t until Friday evening, nearly 24 hours later, that the terrible truth became known.
She sensed something was wrong with Henry and started for Henry Lowe’s about ¾ of a mile away. She met her nephew James Crampton on the road and they went back to the house together where the horrible facts became known.His mother told James she had always thought Henry was asleep.
Neighbours were notified, and they decided to call Dr. Sinclair of Carleton Place for a professional statement. On close examination of the room, there was no place noticed where the lightening bolt had entered the log structure. On the top of the deceased, at the left hand side, was a mark. His beard on one side, and portions of his hair were burned. The lightening current had also shattered one of the foot posts of the bedstead. The deceased was 39 years of age, and a respected member of the community. One of his cousins, Robert Crampton, was prominent as a merchant and municipal officer of Carleton Place. Henry had been born, and always lived at the scene of his death which was about 2.5 miles from Innisville. The funeral was largely attended.
Scotch Corners Road Trivia-
One of the most beautiful dead end roads to explore and ends at Squaw Point Ln.
The Sinclair Cemetery, Scotch Corners is also on Scotch Corners Road. Here lies the original Scottish settlers John & Colin Sinclair Bros. from Argyllshire, Scotland and Colin McLaren who settled on the adjacent farms, on the 9th of November, 1822, also Wm. MacDonald in 1838. Burials – 1858 to 1964.
In 1822 John Sinclair and his bride, Sarah Black together with two unmarried brothers, Colin and Alexander, sailed from Tobermory (presumably near Inverary), June 14th, among 64 passengers on the sailing vessel Pilgram (or Philgram). They arrived at Quebec on August 22nd and thence to Ontario.
John received a land grant in Lanark County, Beckwith Twp. Colin got land in Carleton County, Torbolton Twp. but shortly moved to Beckwith Twp. adjoining that of his brother John. Alexander was quite a bit younger, eventually acquiring his farmland in the same Township a few Concessions away.
The district in Beckwith Twp. is called Scotch Corners, and there is a family cemetery located on a small parcel of land from what was John’s original land grant. John and Colin along with several of their family members and a few neighbours are buried there. Alexander was buried at Almonte, Ontario.
In Memory of Barbara, wife of Colin Sinclair, who died Aug 1, 1875, aged 37 yrs. Also two infant children.
“Earth has one mortal less, Heaven one angel more”
Beautiful wetlands which extend into Mississippi Lake.
ALL PHOTOS BY LINDA SECCASPINA
Mrs. T. A. Bulloch and family, living at Hopetown, received a very close call early Sunday afternoon during a severe electric storm which passed over th at district. Mrs. Bulloch and her family were all in the house when lightning struck the chimney , demolishing it, followed down through the stove pipes into the stove and through the floor, ripping up the boards and also the baseboard. Two of her sons were standing near a sewing machine alongside the window watching the storm. The lightning bolt tore the boots completely off one of the boys, tore his pants and he received severe burns to his feet, A younger son, wearing running shoes, also had his pants torn and shoes ripped and received severe burns to his leg. The glass in another window was smashed1 out. Fire did not start from the lightning. Another son, J n his bare feet had his toes burned. Apart from shock and surface burns the children were not seriously injured.. May 1939
Buy Linda Secaspina’s Books— Flashbacks of Little Miss Flash Cadilac– Tilting the Kilt-Vintage Whispers of Carleton Place and 4 others on Amazon or Amazon Canada or Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street in Carleton Place
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