In the mid 1880’s, as the story is told, Louise, Lilly, and Maud used to roller skate up and down Bridge Street in Carleton Place, ON. for exercise. They once had taken up rope jumping but stopped after they heard there was much danger in this violent exercise. It had been said that death or permanent injury had resulted from such foolish attempts from the indulgence of this exciting sport. Nerves of the limbs and foot had been reported paralyzed in Smiths Falls; so the girls decided to take up roller skating instead. Each day they would stop and rest their tired legs on a bench in front of the Queens Hotel and enjoy their daily dose of Beecham Pills for their nervous disorders.
As legend goes, Mrs. Mary Chatterton ran the “Chatterton House” in the Queen’s Hotel alleyway. It was well reputed that Mrs. Chatterton served more than alcohol to her clients! An advertisement for Chatterton House read: “the proprietress has spent a large portion of her time in catering to the wants of the traveling public and this house has become justly famous for its good cheer and pleasant associations.”
Each day Louise, Lilly, and Maud gossiped on that very bench as they kept an eye out for Mrs. Chatteron’s “pleasant associations.” One day as Maud chatted to the other two about her father allowing a guinea pig to wander the house to get rid of the rats they spotted a Chatteron girl prancing outside the hotel in a horse outfit. All of them exclaimed in unison:
“They’ve lost their heads!”
“No, they have lost their minds!”
With that they gathered up their skirts and roller skated down the street. After all, they didn’t want to be associated with these ladies because they appeared vulgar and very friendly with men. Of course friendship can exist between men and women but if they are too friendly they ought to be engaged. If anyone indulged in anything else they must all be vigorously put out of the pale of civilized society.
Mrs.Chatteron was the mistress of flirtation and also had rather a large appetite. When the girls made faces she told them quite loudly from the alleyway they should dress and adorn themselves only for the edification of the superior animal–Man.
“I can assure you that a well-dressed woman feels far more joy at a single look of admiration from a man than she does for a volume of flattering comments from your female rivals,” she said.
Louise, Lilly, and Maud shot her a look of disdain and chanted together:
“They’ve lost their heads!”
“No, they have lost their minds!”
In private the girls admitted to each other they had never heard such information. Their mothers never mentioned these words to them as they thought the most important thing they should know was about the marvels of Sunlight Soap.
“Happy is the bride who has been instructed in the matters of Sunlight Soap because it was the basis of simple household details as the future happiness and comfort of themselves and their future husbands must depend on.”
The next day at the hat store the girls mentioned the words of Mrs.Chatteron and asked if they had any merit. The women hushed them and told them not to pay mind as a man loves a woman who plays the piano and learn to make a happy home without a horse costume.
If they really wanted to have anything to do with a horse they might think of purchasing one of of the new horse exercise home units from Vigor’s Horse-Action Saddles. After all, one was personally ordered by H.R.H The Princess of Wales and the saddle had give her complete satisfaction. Not only did it promote health and invigorate the system, it brought all the vital organs into inspiriting action. They quietly mentioned in hush tones that if Mrs.Chatteron tried one of these home saddles it might be a complete cure for her hysteria, gout and obesity.
The girls shook their heads and said:
“They’ve lost their heads!”
“No, they have lost their minds!”
When the ground turned cold that year word spread quickly that Mrs.Chatteron had died. Details were hid from the public, but it was said her death was caused by her William Whitely smart french sewn corset. It was rumoured that it was tied so tightly that not even the smelling salts had not revived her. Or, had it been an argument with a favourite customer of hers who refused to buy her a poodle? Her working girls decided to go into mourning and the business was to be closed for awhile. After all, three months in deep mourning and three months slight was enough to drive the clients away from its business of ”pleasant associations.”
One evening Louise, Lilly, and Maud were deep in conversation on their usual bench. Maud had met a young mechanic of sober habits; industrious and of respectable connections. As they giggled they failed to notice a small gust of fog travelling near them. The fog seemed to stop right in front of them and as they looked closely they all screamed. There standing in front of them stood the ghost of Mrs.Chatteron with head in hand. Frozen in fear, they heard her sing:
Daddy wouldn’t buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
Daddy wouldn’t buy me a bow-wow! bow wow!
I’ve got a little cat
And I’m very fond of that,
No I haven’t lost my mind,
But I have certainly lost my head!
So if you are walking down Bridge Street after midnight or you hear a creaky staircase on a stormy night, I guarantee you it is the ghost of Mrs Chatterton coming to visit you with her severed head along “with the haunting faces of her young prostitutes, in virginal white and vicarage embroidery.”
Chatterton House was located in what we now know as The Queen’s Hotel at 142 Bridge Street. Built in 1870 by Duncan McIntosh and operated as a hotel under the name of McIntosh House, it was bought in 1882 by the widow Mary J. Chatterton. By 1886 she has sold to Peter Salter, who ran it until about 1890.
Pictures are of innocent bystanders and some information came from research from:
“The Ruined Maid” by Geoffrey Eley -Modes and Manners of the Victorian Women.
Last quote by James Morris.
Queens Hotel
Photos by Linda Seccaspina
Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum
The Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum
Email Us: cpbheritagemuseum@bellnet.ca
Call us at (613)253-7013
267 Edmund Street, Carleton Place ON
K7C 3E8
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