If you drive down near the end of Lake Avenue East you might spot an anchor stuck in the ground in front of Bill and Carole Flint’s home. Not everyone has an anchor in their front yard so I had to get the story and Mike Flint was kind enough to share it with me.
I was returning from a dive during the summer of 1987 under the Highway 7 Bridge. On my way back to the boat launch at the west end of Lake Avenue, I came across one of the ends that was sticking out of the mud. Only 6 inches of the anchor was showing, but I recognized what it was.
Out of excitement, I shot to the surface of the water and yelled for my father to come and see.
We marked the spot, and came back with a tractor to retrieve it from the lake.
We partially floated it underneath the boat and dragged it in until the tractor could reach it.
There were markings on the anchor, but not legible to put together any kind of story of where the anchor was made.
Thanks Mike Flint for telling us this story!!!
Steven Flint– I remember scuba diving. I was in the boat when we found it on the Mississippi. We filled 45 gallon drums with water, sunk them then used the scuba tanks underwater to fill them with air. Then pried and the air drums lifted the anchor to the surface. Hauled it into the boat and it’s been at home there ever since.
So was it from the tugboat that used to frequent the Nichols lumberyard where Centennial Park now is– or the steamers that went up and down the Mississippi River?
Jennifer Fenwick Irwin from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum thinks it could be from one of the steam ships or from a lumber raft.
Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Sept 6 1968— Almonte Gazette
A relic of the Mississippi river’s interesting past was reclaimed from the waters recently by Kathy and Keith Dack. The two were diving in the river opposite the former Hawthorne Woollen Mills, now Leigh Instruments, when this discovered a ship’s anchor, well over three feet in length and of tremendous weight.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Is this the one Jennifer Fenwick Irwin has at the Carleton Place and Beckwith Museum? If you know– please let Jennifer Fenwick Irwin know
Come 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.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)
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