This postcard from the 1910 period has a view of cottages in the Lake Park area close to scenic Mississippi Lake outside of CARLETON PLACE Ontario. Brighton Dale Cottage- The Schwerdtfeger cottage at Lake Park 1905- Henry and Bertha on the top verandah. Children Hazel and Gladys on the grass.
The cottage nearest the camera was distinctive because of its octagonal design. This summer home was constructed during 1904 by Henry Schwerdtfeger, who owned/operated a successful tobacco products store on Bridge Street. Its demolition was carried out in 2005-Read The Cottages of Mississippi Lake — Carleton Place Ontario
Jennifer Fenwick Irwin from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum said at one point there were FIVE octagonal designed cottages in the Lake Park area.
These cottage pictures from Lake Park bring back great memories of city girls there with their folks for a couple of weeks or maybe the whole summer back in the 60’s. What a great time to be alive and what a great place to live. CP was a long walk away sometimes though, pre cars. Especially after a late night maybe dancin’ in the lodge-
The 2 daughters owned the building where As Good As New is now my mom and I rented the apt up stairs when we first moved to Carleton Place for $50 a month 1966.
Memories of Homemade Quilts Linda Knight Seccaspina
Last week I reposted a story I wrote about quilts and how much they mean to me. One, I lost in a fire, another is hanging on by a thread, and last year a Lanark County one made in 1902 was rescued at an auction.
Friday morning, my friend Julie Sadler called me up and said she had something for me. She had a precious quilt from her grandmother May Morphy. I didn’t know what to say, but I believe a bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars. I asked her to send me a story about the maker of the quilt and she did.
May Morphy ( Mrs. Warner Morphy) was her maternal grandmother. Born in Ottawa in 1895, she married her husband Warner in 1922. He was Edmond Morphy’s great-grandson and grandpa worked at the train station. May was a very private lady and her passion was quilting.
As long as Julie can remember, she was at the church hall every Wednesday afternoon quilting with the ladies rain or shine. Her mother was born in the house she lived in and the front room always had a quilt set up. She made dozens over the years and there wasn’t a sewing machine in sight! Every stitch was by hand with love and her quilts are prized possessions! Quilts are a link to our past and they each have a story.
Mae Morphy’s quilt – Julie Sadler
My second quilt was purchased at an auction and was a crazy quilt made in 1902 in Lanark County. It is signed by approximately 30 people who had a hand in making it. The quilt was made as a fundraiser–either church or community, and all the stitching looked to be very consistent. This would indicate that likely only one person would have had a “hand” in quilting/making it. Usually the quilts made as part of a “quilting bee” had many people helping to make them, and you can usually notice differences in how the stitches are done. Stitching is similar to everyone’s hand signature. Each one is slightly different from person to person.
Have you ever asked yourself why everyone loves quilts? What drove families to gather in their communities and make quilts for their families? Quilts connect everyone, and they speak about former lives of families, and their joys, their hardships, and their homes.
Seven days after my birth I was placed in a quilt my grandmother had made and brought immediately to her home as my mother was ill. I was tucked into my crib with the same quilt I came home from the hospital in. One night my father gathered me up in that same quilt and smuggled me into the Royal Victoria Hospital hoping my mother might remember me as she had postpartum depression. I can still see her looking down at the cards she was playing solitaire with while I was holding on to the edge of that dear quilt in fear. To this day I will never forget that image – my father says I was barely two, but I still remember the greyness of the room. While my life was sterile and cold, the quilt held warmth and security. My grandmother always said that blankets wrap you in warmth but quilts wrap you in love.
At age 12 my mother died, and my grandmother sat with me on her veranda and wrapped that same quilt around me while I cried. Life was never the same after that, and the quilt was placed on my bed like an old friend when I stayed with her. I would stare at the painting on the wall while I tried to sleep and thought that a lot of people understood art but not quilts. If I had a lot of money I would own a quilt and not a piece of art, because in the end which gives you the most comfort?
When I got married at age 21, my Grandmother sat at the dining room table for weeks and worked on a quilt for my new home. As I travelled down the road of life the quilt was always there while people came and went. Although it was ageing gracefully it was still heavy and secure anytime I needed it. Through death and sickness it held comfort, and the promise that it would never desert me. This quilt held my life with all the bits and pieces, joys and sorrows, that had been stitched into it with love.
At age 47 the quilt died peacefully in my arms. A terrible house fire had destroyed it, and as I looked at the charred edges I realized the thread that held it together had bound the both of us forever. Now it was time to go down the final road by myself, and remembering the words of Herman Hesse I began the journey.
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.”
Reading your posts and enjoying the beautiful quilts. A picture of one quilt I own made by my Aunt Betty James. She made quilts of different colours, patterns and themes for every one of her nieces and nephews. She is a retired teacher, and a former councillor of Portland Ontario, mother, aunt, grandmother, sister and friend. She made many quilts over the years for her church and various fundraisers close to her heart over the years. I wonder how she found time. But I’m grateful she did. I’m happy to use it on my bed. Who needs a weighted blanket when you have one of these.
As a little girl my mama made two quilts, one for me and one for my sister .. Time passes and the quilts were sold with our bedroom furniture.
The other day Sean had decided to treat my mom to a lunch date. He had her by the arm and together they were walking the Main Street in Almonte, my Mom glances up in the antique store window.. and says to Sean, there’s my quilt!!! Gulp!
Today I bought it back for her… Isn’t it crazy how life comes full circle? Thank you Mom.. FOR EVERYTHING!
feeling so grateful
LOVE this from Stu Thompson
Hi Linda. I saw your posts today of quilt memories, and it reminded me of a photo that I have of a display of quilts that my mother had quilted over the years for her children and grandchildren. They were brought by the family members to the celebration of our parents’ 50th anniversary, Nov. 8, 1988, and put on display. Alan and Betty Thompson, with the family, and with the extended family.–Snippets of the Thompson Farm — Ramsay
Photos from Doris Blackburn/ Karen Black Chenier and you can buy local school books from Archives Lanark.–http://archiveslanark.ca/index.php
U.S.S. No. 1 Drummond & No. 1 North Elmsley
This brick school was built on land purchased from a Mr. Acheson, William Imeson (Lot 20 Con. 10) and R.A. Wilson. The Merry Makers, a local club, raised money for playground equipment and the installation of electricity. Pearl Richardson was the first teacher in 1914, and Norma Devlin was the last in 1967.
Photos from Doris Blackburn/ Karen Black Chenier and you can buy local school books from Archives Lanark.–http://archiveslanark.ca/index.php
The incident would have been on the other side of the road where this building is at Hay’s Shore
Mrs. Delores Bell was attacked by an unknown man when picking berries with her three small children. Mrs. Bell of Carleton Place was the victim of a harrowing experience late on Friday afternoon when in company with her three small children she was picking berries in the woods about a mile south of the town and near Lake Park. An unknown man attacked her throwing her violently to the ground and threatening her with a knife during a brutal attack.
Fighting desperately the woman managed to wrench the knife from him and after a terrific fight scared him efficiently to drive him away. Meanwhile her screams and those of the frightened children had attracted the attention of Mr. and Mrs. John Duff and Mr. J. A. Hay, who live nearby and they rushed to her aid. Chief of Police Fred Nichols with provincial officer MacGregor and traffic officer Tomer searched the locality until midnight without success.
Men answering somewhat to the description of the woman’s assailant were rounded up by the police, one at Perth and the other at Carleton Place. Both were.taken before Mrs. Bell who found one smaller and the other of heavier build than her assailant. The search continues. Mrs. Bell described the man who attacked her as being about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds and of dark complexion. He wore old dark brown shoes, a brown peak cap and his trousers were torn at the right knee. He spoke French. A policeman at Smiths Fails has since reported that a man answering the description of Mrs. Bells assailant, boarded an eastbound freight train Sunday night
Hay’s Shore at the foot of the Second Lake, was James Duff’s farm from about the 1840’s. William (Bill) Duff ran a farm and a retail dairy on the shores of Mississippi Lake. Duff’s Dairy on the 11th line was later taken over and sold to John Hays in 1918. Big Bill did a big business in Carleton Place, and *Fred Hunter of Carleton Place was once quoted as saying it was real milk, as there was no such thing as pasteurization in those days.–Hay Look Me Over! Big Bill Duff
Tuesday afternoon some little girls were picking strawberries between the lOth and 11th lines Beckwith. A tramp appeared on the scene, and caught Maggie Garland as she, with the rest, was climbing a fence to escape.” She tried to break away, and the others hurled stones at him. They then ran off, screaming for Mr. McNeely.
No one turned up ; and the girls hurried home.. Mr. Jamieson and Mr. Demer hastened to the spot. The latter found the girl walking in a dazed way. Her face was scratched and her neck black and blue. Mr. Demer put the matter in the hands of Chief Wilson at once, who promptly acted. This morning the girl had not yet recovered her mind, and her story is not yet all known. The mother, Mrs. N. Garland, was in a dreadful condition of excitement last night.— C.C
Sara Barker Strayer October 31, 1896 Gracey, Kentucky, US
Died
January 21, 1986 (aged 89) Arcadia, California, US
March 1924- Almonte
Famous actresses or movie stars seldom come to a country town. We know them only as we read about them. So Almonte people will be interested to learn that Miss Margery Wilson, whom we have all read about, is to be here herself this week. Miss Wilson will appear at the Orpheum on Saturday, March 8 when her motion picture “ Insinuation” will be shown. This was written, directed and produced !by herself. Miss Wilson will give a very intimate talk on the motion picture industry. Her topic will be “Life in the picture colony o f Hollywood.”.
A week later
The feature of the theatre in Almonte last week was the appearance of Miss Margery Wilson, the well known actress with her picture Insinuation. She spoke both afternoon and evening at the Orpheum and was introduced with greaceful words of welcome by Councillor George L Comba. While in Almonte Miss Wilson, met a number of local people and visited the chief sites of the town. She was charmed and impressed with the swiftly tumblng falls and the town generally had high praise.
“What a beautiful town Almonte is ,” she said .’ “P eople ought to be very h appy h e re.” She visited several of the stores comparing prices, and making little purchases. She thought the prices in Almonte remarkably fair.
KOZY-TV Presents Silent Sunday Movie in “The Clodhopper” from 1917. Isaac Nelson is the tight-fisted president of a country bank and owns a farm, where his son Everett works long hours every day, even on Sundays. Everett wears his father’s cast-off clothes, and after his mother buys him a mail order suit, Everett goes to a Fourth of July picnic with his sweetheart Mary Martin. The father sees his wife in the field doing the son’s work and, after forcing his son home from the picnic, beats him… –Wikipedia Starring: Charles Ray as Everett Nelson Charles K. French as Isaac Nelson, Everett’s Father Margery Wilson as Mary Martin Lydia Knott as Mrs. Nelson Tom Guise as Karl Seligman
The Village of White is on the 511 at Campbells Rd a church still stands!
The township comprises the communities of Arklan, Boyds, Brightside, Bullock, California, Cedardale, Clyde Forks, Clydesville, Dalhousie Lake, Elphin, Flower Station, Folger, French Line, Halls Mills, Halpenny, Hood, Hopetown, Joes Lake, Lammermoor, Lanark, Lavant, Lavant Station, Lloyd, Marble Bluff, McDonalds Corners, Middleville, Pine Grove, Poland, Quinn Settlement, Rosetta, Tatlock, Watsons Corners, and White, as well as the ghost town of Herrons Mills.
Rick Roberts
That’s actually the old school house at White. It was never a full time church. It is the second building that was built on that site. An earlier school house was closer to the road. My grandmother Lizzie James, attended school in the first school building from 1908-1916. Her husband, my grandfather Harold Devlin was in charge of schools in Darling Twp during the 1940s and 1950s until he died in 1958. It was also used for church services during summers when student ministers would board at my grandmother’s farm and hold services at White, Tatlock, and Flower Station. After the school was decommissioned it became a community hall. The community hall sign on it today was installed by my father and me in the early 1980s. read-S.S. #5 White School White Community Hall
CLIPPED FROM The Lanark Era Lanark, Ontario, Canada 24 May 1911, Wed • Page 5
I saw this clipping above last week and I clipped it thinking there might be a story. There sure was and it took me all of Sunday afternoon to dig it out. It’s not a happy story, but it was a story of what happened in the past and I wanted to document it. The beginning of the story was that William John White married Euphemia Pretty. She died at the age of 28 in childbirth along with their child William Delbert in 1903.
William having two small children like other widows in those days needed to find a wife and he married Nellie Harper whose father was Samuel Harper in 1904. They had a child Doris Irene White in 1905 and then tragedy struck. William John White drowned tragically in Drummond’s Rapids in June of 1905. So Nellie legally had to take guardianship of her children as it looks like family of the first wofe was fighting for them. At that time I had no idea that her daughter Doris Irene was their legal child. I thought it was one of the former wife’s Euphemia’s children. When the guardianship came to court Mary Cora and Ethel Jane had to go live with their uncle, Thomas Pretty, near Hopetown, Ontario. In those days, women had little rights and I assume family wanted them, but pretty strange for an uncle to have custody.
Nellie and Doris kind of disappeared under the radar until I found out they moved out to Saskatchewan and Nellie had married Alexander John Kirkwood in Frontenac County and they all moved out west. She had posession of Doris Irene and I figured out they had let her keep one. I was wrong, it was her child with William James, so it was her legal child. Still with me?
Nellie had three other children with John Kirkwood and Doris Irene was still listed–until she disappeared. She wasn’t even showing up on the geneaology charts of her half sisters Mary Cora and Ethel Jane White. I thought maybe she ran away. What happened to her? Well after a few hours I finally found her. By the age of 12, she had lost an eye and other maladies and fell off a wagon and perished. See all about her at the end.
This is what happens when you dig too hard. Sometimes you find unhappy endings, but people still need to be remembered. Now we know the rest of the story about Doris Irene White Kirkwood.
When Mary Cora Whyte was born on 13 August 1899, in Lanark, Ontario, Canada, her father, William John White, was 23 and her mother, Euphemia Pretty, was 25. She married Charles Lawrence Virgin on 13 November 1917, in Calabogie, Greater Madawaska, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada in 1901 and Parry Sound, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada in 1901. She died on 7 July 1974, in Perth, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 74, and was buried in Lanark, Ontario, Canada.
By 1911, she and her sister Cora were living with their uncle, Thomas Pretty, near Hopetown, Ontario. She passed away about 1947 and is buried at Hopetown United Church Cemetery, Lanark Township, Ontario.
Children
Five still living
Charles Stuart Machan, died about 2010
Willard Machan, died about 2010
Marion Machan, died about 2008
DORIS IRENE WHITE
Name:
Doris I White
Gender:
Female
Racial or Tribal Origin:
Scotch (Scotish)
Nationality:
Canadian
Age:
11
Marital Status:
Single
Birth Year:
1905
Birth Place:
Lanark County Ontario
Home in 1916:
Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Canada
Address:
33, 20, W3, 2nd Avenue
Relation to Head of Household:
Daughter
Father:
John G Kirkwood
Mother:
Nellie Kirkwood
Sub-District:
28
Sub District Description:
Townships 32, 33 and 34, ranges 20, 21 and 22, W. 3. M., including the Villages of Dodsland and Druid
Friday, March 13, 1908. On a slow news day in Troy a divorce case involving a custody battle for a small child can command considerable space in The Record’s pages, especially when cases like this are still more rare and scandalous than they will be a century later.
Judge Wesley O. Howard presides over a habeus corpus hearing in which Nellie Gorman is obliged to show cause why she shouldn’t be compelled to give up custody of her 22-month old son to her husband, “local sporting man” James Gorman. The Gormans have sued each other for divorce, with the husband demanding custody of the child because the wife is “not a proper person to have charge of it.”
This description alone would raise the eyebrows of many Record readers. A “sporting man” is almost by definition a disreputable character, presumably involved in gambling and related activities. Our readers are likely to agree with Nellie Gorman’s contention that James “cannot have the child [because] he has no place to take it and cannot give it proper care.”
Nellie Gorman denies her husband’s charge that she’s endangering the boy’s morals. “Its morals endangered. That’s good,” she scoffs, “I won’t give the child up. I have not refused him the right to see the child, but he has not called to see it since January 1. He came spooking about the hall of the house I live in, but he did not come in to see the child.”
James Gorman interrupts to deny “spooking” his wife, while his attorney Thomas F. Powers explains that James has avoided contact with his son on advice of counsel pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings.
Nellie Gorman is represented by John P. Kelly, who requests a delay in the hearing. He complains to Howard that his client was only served with the writ at 10:30 last night.
“Mrs. Gorman has not refused to let her husband see the child, but she does refuse to surrender the baby entirely,” Kelly notes, “It would not be right to take so young a child from its mothers care. This will appeal to your honor as the father of children.”
Kelly quickly learns that he’s made a mistake.
“It does not appeal to me as the father of children,” Howard replies sharply, “My being the father of children has nothing to do with it. You are addressing the court and not the father.”
Despite rebuking Kelly, the judge approves a compromise on the custody issue. He allows James Gorman to have his son on Sundays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., pending the outcome of the divorce proceedings. Since relations between the Gormans remain strained, James’s sister will pick up the boy and bring him back to Nellie’s house.
lindaseccaspina 