The Eeels Named “Ling” of Carleton Place

Photo-news clipping from the files of Doris Blackburn/ Karen Black Chenier 

 

If you have read-Myth #343 The Electric Eeel of Carleton Place you have read what Rob Gardiner said about eels in Carleton Place:  “When I was life guarding at Riverside Park, we would tell the kids that an eel lived under the raft to keep them from swimming under there where we couldn’t see them. I worked there a long time, but I never saw a real eel, even though others will swear they saw one. The power of suggestion must be very strong”.

But, after I posted this news clipping above from the files of Doris Blackburn/ Karen Black Chenier I got all sorts of comments:

Shane Wm Edwards I seem to recall that they were doing this the year the Outward Bound Club at CPHS decided to take canoes out and canoe down the Mississippi toward Almonte. We had to carry the canoes past this point and there were still some small pools of water and in one of the deeper ones we saw a huge eel just swimming along the bottom. I had not known how big the eels in the Mississippi River could get. I think we only got as far as Appleton as some of our group seemed to enjoy capsizing their canoes as we went through some of the rapids. Then one group found golf balls in the river near the golf course and filled the bottom of their canoe with them. Unfortunately on the way back around Glen Isle the got swung around and the canoe tipped dumping out almost all of the golf balls.

There used to be some Americans, I believe from Detroit, who would come up every year to catch the eels and they would bring them to my father’s store to flash freeze them and then store them in ice for the trip home.

 

 

Llew Lloyd The eels that were caught in front of the powerhouse were referred to as ” Ling ” . Once they passed through the turbines and out into the waters below the dam they became “Electric Eels”!

Okay I thought Lloyd was pulling my leg but he  wasn’t. In the Mississippi River you supposedly can pull long, eel-like creature from any dark hole — a hole that is could be an entrance to the underworld. Okay, I can maybe make a story about the underworld of the Mississippi, but I will save that for another time.

“I heard about such a serpentine creature being thrown to the ice during an ice fishing event but the long-finned tail swiftly wrapped itself around the fisherman’s arm. Face contorted with fear, he stumbles back from the hole, trying to shake the menacing fish loose. Such an angling nightmare could continue with the widemouthed creature clamping down on the jugular and sucking the life from our hapless angler but — as anyone intimate with the virtues of the ling will attest to — this is no nightmare.”

Okay, I  will stop now.

Those who know the secret of the delicately flavored firm, white, flesh hidden under a rough exterior know ling are great eating. However, the first thing most notice is that they’re different looking. Some don’t hesitate to call them ugly.

To tell you the truth if they were remaking The Godfather into a Canadian version, I wouldn’t want to find one in my bed, but some say they make for a unique and exquisite fish. They say all it takes is a big mouthful of ling meat and what might be perceived as ugly and undesirable, suddenly becomes a delicacy.

The ling is the single surviving freshwater species of the codfish family and in Ontario ling are native to cold, deep lakes and during winter often share the habitat of lake trout and even walleye. Few break out in song upon catching a ling, but many, if not seduced by their beauty on the ice, are sold by their performance on the table– the dinner table that is.

I think I will never go swimming in the Mississippi River or Lake again– not that I ever did. I will just rename that watery area Electric Avenue.

 

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 and The Tales of Almonte

1. Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun  Screamin’ Mamas (USA)  and The Sherbrooke Record

   

The size of a Minivan Sitting 30 Feet Offshore— The Big Rock of Carleton Place

Myth #343 The Electric Eeel of Carleton Place

Stone Fence Theatre Coming to Almonte Town Hall

 

Lanark County Genealogical Society hosts the Stone Fence Theatre as they present their new musical of 2018 – I Come from the Valley! Tales and Times of Joan Finnigan, by Playwright Ish Theilheimer, with Johanna Zomers, directed by Chantal Elie-Sernoskie.  Date Sunday Sept. 23rd, 2018 at 1:30 pm at the Old Town Hall in Almonte, ON

This all-new musical brings to life the stories that the Valley’s most illustrious author, Joan Finnigan, collected from Valley old-timers as well as the tumultuous times she lived through. Joan  was the daughter of one of the NHL’s first super-stars, Frank Finnigan, and she was raised in Roaring Twenties Ottawa. Her parents came from Shawville, which was her second home as a child, and there she absorbed the Valley’s story-telling tradition. She published 28 books.

In the mid-’60s she suddenly became a single mother of three and set out to raise them on what she could earn as a freelance writer. She had a huge success with the script she wrote for NFB film Best Damned Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar, which became Canada’s Film of the Year.

Joan quickly became a Canadian literary celebrity in the ’70s but turned from that to focus on what really drove her – collecting oral histories from the Valley’s old-timers before their stories died with them. Always outspoken and often controversial, Joan, herself, was a legend. The play follows her life and work in story and song – most of the songs set to traditional Celtic tunes in light of Joan’s Irish roots.

The songs and dialogue in the show are drawn, as much as possible, from Joan Finnigan’s works and words, including stories, poetry and personal interviews. The music is Celtic and Irish in flavour, with most of the songs based on traditional Irish fiddle and pipe tunes. Musical accompaniment is by the Donohue Family of Douglas – Aidan (17), Mhari (15), Hannah (13), Kieran (10), and their mother Siobheann, who is a member of Lakefield, Ontario’s famous Leahy family. All are multi-instrumentalists and born show people.

Stone Fence Theatre favourite and Ottawa Valley’s famed vocalist Fran Pinkerton assumes the title role of Joan Finnigan. Cast of Stone Fence Theatre veterans and new faces.

Almonte Old Town Hall
Sunday September 23rd, 2018
(seating for 200 people)
14 Bridge Street,
Almonte, ON K0A 1A0

Doors Open at 1:30 pm

• Refreshment Buffet at intermission (Leatherworks Catering)

Buy Tickets
$45.00 CAD is the cost per ticket and includes applicable taxes

You can purchase your ticket online by clicking below
 click on this link here..

Electronic funds transfer is available, please contact: president@lanarkgenealogy.com

 

Janet Jeannette Lawson Tripp Genealogy

From the Lanark County Genealogical Society files

 

 

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Isaac Tripp CLICK here for more..

M, #91184, b. 10 May 1792, d. 6 January 1870

• Birth*: 10 May 1792; Saratoga Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of MarnieMDA on ancestry.com, Aug 15 2015.¹
• Marriage*: 16 June 1824; per family tree of MarnieMDA on ancestry.com, Aug 15 2015.; Principal=Jennette Lawson¹
• Death*: 6 January 1870; Champion, Jefferson Co., New York, U.S.A.; per family tree of MarnieMDA on ancestry.com, Aug 15 2015.¹

Family: Jennette Lawson b. 15 Jan 1803, d. 26 Mar 1883

• Elizabeth Tripp+¹ b. 15 May 1836, d. 22 Sep 1890

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 and The Tales of Almonte

1. Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun  Screamin’ Mamas (USA)  and The Sherbrooke Record

   

   Middleville Genealogy-McIlraith- Sommerville

   The Oldest Queen’s Graduate D.W. Stewart– Middleville — Lanark Genealogy

   Middleville Social Notes 1890

Lanark County Genealogical Society Genealogy Jamboree — June 9th- Chief Kirby Whiteduck

 

Please note the silent auction has been cancelled

Only at Beckwith Heritage Days Click here June 9 — 9-6

 

                                           Chief Kirby Whiteduck

 

Kirby earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Anthropology from York University and has partially completed a Masters of Social Work from Carleton University. He holds a Native Counsellors Certificate from the Ministry of Education of Ontario.

Outside of his educational pursuits, Kirby has spent all of his employment working for and with Pikwakanagan and First Nation Organizations. After university, he was employed for two years with the Union of Ontario Indians researching the Algonquin land claim. Kirby has also worked as a Social and Education Counsellor at the Ottawa Native Counselling Unit operated by Pikwakanagan. Other employment and commitments have all been with and in support of Pikwakanagan in varying capacities such as Manager of Education Services, Manager of Fish and Wildlife Commission, Researcher, Advisor and Land Claim Negotiator. Kirby is now in his ninth consecutive year as Chief and he currently holds the portfolios for Communications, Finance, Administration and Personnel, Child and Family Services, Negotiations and is the supervisor of the Executive Director of Operations.

He is the author of ‘Algonquin Traditional Culture’, published in 2002. His book details the traditional culture of the Algonquins of the Kitchissippi Valley at the early period of European contact.

Only at Beckwith Heritage Days Click here June 9 — 9-6

                                    June 9

For Information:

Lanark County Genealogical Society

47 Lansdowne Avenue, P.O. Box 20028

Carleton Place, Ontario  K7C 4K3

Contact

President
president@lanarkgenealogy.com

 

Next Lanark County Genealogical Society Meeting May 6th– Come Meet Doug Sturgess

 

 

Doug Sturgess will be our guest speaker on May 6, 1:30 pm– and he will be speaking about the Lanark County Plowman’s Association, and the plowing matches that have been held in Lanark County, and the farming families involved.

Where?

Beckwith Township Municipal Complex–

1702 9th Line Beckwith Carleton Place May 5th MONTHLY GATHERING

1:30-3:30

Appreciated to help cover the cost of refreshments at the meeting or  help cover the cost of this event.

 

Once upon a time farms were founded and generations carried on the task of sowing the fields and milking the cows. No one ever questioned what they were going to do after graduation and many of my friends went to MacDonald Agriculture College in Quebec or Guelph in Ontario. They studied hard and resumed work on the farm when they completed their education to continue family traditions for their children.

Running a farm in today’s agricultural market is now very difficult; to make a profit you have to operate on a massive scale. That has caused a lot of young people to throw up their hands and walk away from the family farming business. Agriculture college enrollment has dropped 75% and there are more people getting out of farming than going into it.

The average age of todays farmers is 55 years old and more than a quarter of all farmers, are 65 years or older. There are so many costs now to produce a crop that by the time they have dealt with the elements and other issues there is just too small a profit for the effort involved. Farming is hard work, and let’s face it there are easier ways to make a living. How do you compete with bigger or commercial farms these days? Credit problems and over the top production costs have literally taken the family out of the farm.

So why should we care about all of this? Why should you read some boring text about farms and the lack of young farmers? Because this is the base of our countries and without secure food grown by farmers we could be in a deep mess some day. As much as I would like to believe it; supermarket produce is definitely not harvested by the Keebler Elves.  It is grown by people that care about what they do and they are attempting to draw the food culture into a new direction. The 4-H Club is also doing a great job inspiring youth to stay in the business of farming.  They offer Agriculture Scholarships and a lot of other programs to encourage the farmers of tomorrow. So come hear Doug Sturgess talk about the Lanark County Plowing Association.

 

The 2018 Lanark County Plowing Match–EVENT DETAILS

The 2018 Lanark County Plowing Match will be held on August 18th, 2018.

Location — Montague Township

 

For more information, please call or email Barb Dowdall at 613-257-1637 or barbdowdall@storm.ca

Next Lanark County Genealogical Society Meeting May 5th

Where?

Beckwith Township Municipal Complex–

1702 9th Line Beckwith Carleton Place May 5th MONTHLY GATHERING

1:30-3:30

Appreciated to help cover the cost of refreshments at the meeting or  help cover the cost of this event.

 

Who was Mother Barnes? Find Out About the Witch of Plum Hollow April 7

 

Reenactor Elaine Farley

 

                         Who Was Mother Barnes??

 

 

Reenactor Elaine Farley presents—Who was Mother Barnes?? Beckwith Township Municipal Complex-Lanark County Genealogical Society–April 7 MONTHLY GATHERING- 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. ONLY 100 SEATS Available!!!

Elaine Farley will highlight research about local legend Elizabeth Barnes the Witch of Plum Hollow and debunk some myths about her.

 

Clipped from Vancouver Daily World, 18 Oct 1889, Fri, Page 1

 

Elaine Farley photo and text “Mother Barnes lived in this area and was known as a “seeer”. Her log cabin is privately owned in Sheldon’s Corners/Plum Hollow”

 

                              Where?

Beckwith Township Municipal Complex–ONLY 100 SEATS Available!!!

1702 9th Line Beckwith Carleton Place April 7 MONTHLY GATHERING

1:30-3:30

Appreciated to help cover the cost of refreshments at the meeting or  help cover the cost of this event.

 

All are welcome—a five dollar donation is appreciated

 

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

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.

 

An Interview with the Witch of Plum Hollow–Mother Barnes— The Ottawa Free Press 1891

My Grandmother was Mother Barnes-The Witch of Plum Hollow

A Bewitched Bed in Odessa

The Witch of Plum Hollow – Carleton Place Grandmother

Different Seasons of Witches in Lanark County

 

The Witches of Rochester Street

Hocus Pocus –Necromancy at Fitch Bay

The Witch of Plum Hollow – Carleton Place Grandmother

The Witch Hollow of Lanark County

 

Next LCGS Meeting March 3- Speaker– Bud Van Alstine–Doran’s Rapids

                                   MONTHLY GATHERING

March 3, 2018 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Beckwith Township Municipal Complex
1702 9th Line Beckwith Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P2

Speaker — Bud Van Alstine

Our March 3rd speaker will be Bud Van Alstine. Bud was born and raised in old South Sherbrooke Township, now part of Tay Valley Township, Lanark County. He grew up to be, among other things, a history teacher in Perth. Bud is now retired from teaching but still has a passion for local history. He speaks to us today on some of the short stories he has written on the area, the contributions he has made to the Van Alstine Family history book, and will probably touch on the ghost town of Doran’s Rapids.

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 andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

 

 

Dorans Rapids– From Historic Mills Tay Valley

Located on the Fall River in Lot 2, Concession 9, of the Bathurst Ward these mills were owned at one early date by Alvah Adams, son of Joshua Adams of Adamsville (Glen Tay). Later, they were owned by William Doran. The saw mill and grist mill became known as the Village of Doran.

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

Next LCGS Meeting February 3- Speaker Local Author Barrie Crampton

MONTHLY GATHERING

February 3, 2018 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Beckwith Township Municipal Complex
1702 9th Line Beckwith Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P2

Speaker Local Author Barrie Crampton

The Lanark County Historical Mapping Project
Barry inspired and led a team of volunteers to create a Historical Mapping Project; telling the story of the settling of the Perth Military Settlement consisting of the original townships of Bathurst, Drummond, Beckwith and the Town of Perth.

Employing digital mapping technology and resurrecting original maps of the original survey of 1815, the project shows the settlement of the soldiers and settlers by individual lot, concession, names of the original and subsequent families and land owners, and telling their stories for a lasting on-line legacy on the history of the current municipalities.

Internet service not provided for this event. If you have means to connect to your service provider you may wish to bring your laptop as Barrie will show how you can access this information on your computer.

Refreshments will be served.

 

Related Reading

Perth Military Settlement Historical Mapping Project launches at the Perth Civitan Club on Friday

How Many People Read About Lanark County in 2017? Top Stories?

 

Look What Happened in 2017!

 

In 2017 we had over 780,261 views and visits from 135 countries who read about Lanark County (and now Quebec Eastern Townships) history.

Facebook brought in the most hits, next it was various search engines I use and then Twitter coming in second and third respectively. The top countries reading our local stories are: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Australia– and Brazil coming up strong this year.

Here is the deal- I can’t do this alone– no one can–it is only through sharing stories and commenting that we make history come alive! So thank you for helping get the word out about Lanark County. Now let’s keep spreading the word– we can do this!

The top 12 Stories of the Year

The Day the Ku KIux Klan Came to Smiths Falls

The True Story of the Hershey Factory in Smiths Falls

The Story Behind the Christmas Lights on Stonewood Drive

Hashtag #Sleepless in Carleton Place

Down by the Old Kitten Mill

Romancing the Mississippi Hotel

 

Was Frelighsburg Really Slab City?

Memories and Mentions of Names in Maberly

The size of a Minivan Sitting 30 Feet Offshore— The Big Rock of Carleton Place

When I was 17- The Kitten- Glenayr Knitting Mills Reunion

An Interview with the Witch of Plum Hollow–Mother Barnes— The Ottawa Free Press 1891

The Curious World of Bill Bagg –The Deer Heads

The Ghost Towns of Eastern Ontario

Happy New Year and Thanks for reading!!  It is only through sharing stories and commenting that we make history come alive!

Linda Seccaspina

 

 

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 andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

 

 

 

How Many People Read About Lanark County in 2016? Top Stories?

How Many People Read the Tales of Carleton Place? Top Stories? 2015

Annual Potluck Coming!!! Next Lanark County Genealogical Society Meeting

 

 

Hosted by Lanark County Genealogical Society

Date/Time
Date(s) – December 9, 2017
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Location
Brunton Community Hall —ADMISSION is FREE

1702 9th Line, corner of Hwy 15 and 9th Line, Blacks Corners, Carleton Place ON.

LANARK COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS POT LUCK PARTY

Date/Time
Date(s) – December 9, 2017
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Location

Brunton Community Hall —ADMISSION is FREE

1702 9th Line, corner of Hwy 15 and 9th Line, Blacks Corners, Carleton Place ON.

 

Sharing categories of your contribution to the buffet tables including appetizers, main dishes, salads, desserts, non-alcoholic beverages and party goods  Please bring your own cutlery, dinner plate and beverage cup.

Annual General Meeting will follow Pot Luck.  Election for Board of Director Volunteers will take place.

 

Back by popular demand,  guest speaker Randy Boswell.
If you missed Randy Bosswell’s presentation earlier this year you really must try to make it to this event.  Randy is an entertaining speaker.  He will be speaking on his historical finds in the old newspaper.  Randy has a wide-ranging career with the Ottawa Citizen and Postmedia News, where he covered city hall, had a business column, wrote a variety of feature stories, served as city editor and developed a national history beat, he became a full-time professor at Carleton University in 2012.

 

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.

Lanark County Genealogical Society website–click here

Blast from the Past 2016 Potluck

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 andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

 

Potluck Don’ts?

Ye Olde Tea and Concert 1888 in Perth- LCGS Annual Potluck

McDonald’s Corners Party 1888-LCGS Potluck

Glen Tay Social 1887 LCGS Potluck