Fire at the Manse in Watson’s Corners

CLIPPED FROM
The Lanark Era
Lanark, Ontario, Canada26 Aug 1908, Wed  •  Page 1

During Rev. McConnells’ ministry, the first manse at Watson’s Corners was built in 1893, and the next year the Zion Church was built at Watson’s Corners. During Rev. McLean’s ministry in 1908, the Manse was burned to the ground on August 20, but was rebuilt immediately after the fire.

Perth Courier, November 10, 1893

Watson’s Corners:  On the night of 31^st October the minister and his family, who lately moved into the new manse at Watson’s Corners, got a very pleasant surprise by the ladies and their friends of that section of the Dalhousie congregation.  On the evening named Mr. and Mrs. McConnell were invited out to tea and while at the house of their hostess and before the hour for tea had come, two messengers arrived announcing that visitors had come to the manse and Mr. and Mrs. McConnell were wanted.  On retracing their steps they found the ladies and gentlemen to the number of 36 had taken full possession and on being ushered into the dining room they found the table loaded with everything inviting to the appetite and they were invited by the president of the Ladies Aid of Watson’s Corners to take their places at the table.  After supper, Mr. McConnell was called to take the chair for the evening and a very pleasant hour was spent in religious exercises.  Congratulatory addresses were made on the work done since the minister’s labors began in this part of the Dalhousie congregation to which the minister replied and thanked all who were present for the earnest and zealous aid he had received since his arrival at Watson’s Corners.  The ladies not only brought ample supplies for all present but enough to make a good beginning in the way of supplying the manse for some time to come.  Nor was the minister’s horse forgotten for several bags of oats were brought and stored away for him. Such a visit as this of which we have written is stimulating and helpful both to the minister and the people; and we trust the kind words spoken by those present on this occasion and the response returned by the chairman will long be remembered by all.  In concluding this brief recital of what happened at the Presbyterian manse on the night of the 31^st October we may add that besides the representatives of our own church and congregation we had male and female members of the Methodist Church who were as liberal and cordial in their gifts and kind words as others.  At about 10:00, after singing “God Be With You Till We Meet Again”, etc., the chairman pronouncing the benediction the company dispersed well satisfied with the entertainment of which they were the originators and active agents.

The Landmark Pine Tree in Watson’s Corners– Gloria Currie

When Researching — Tragedy Somehow Shows Up- Fair Family- Watson’s Corners

More Photos of the Watson’s Corners Kangaroos – Thanks to Connie Jackson

The Valley Calendar 1976– Cindy Duncan–Watson’s Corners

Watson’s Corners School

Watson’s Corners

It’s the Watson’s Corners News 1895!

Social Notes from Watson’s Corners

All the Single Ladies?

It’s the Watson’s Corners News 1895!

The Miserly Woman From Watson’s Corners 1903

The Deserted Fireplace at Watson’s Corners

WATSON’S CORNERS NEWS. 1897-April 16

Watson’s Corners And Vicinity 1891–Shetland Ponies and Cheese

So…. We drove by Kangaroo Crescent

Tie Me Jackelope Down Boy–Tie Me Jackelope Down!

More about Cindy Duncan – Thanks to Connie Jackson

The Manse in Appleton Fire

 

 

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
27 Dec 1954, Mon  •  Page 22

 

 

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
11 Jun 1966, Sat  •  Page 54

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
23 Feb 1892, Tue  •  Page 3

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
09 Jul 1952, Wed  •  Page 14

The Chilliwack Progress
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
18 Sep 1907, Wed  •  Page 1

 

Clippings of the Appleton Collie Mill 1940

Tales from the Old Mill Appleton Morrow Collie

The Abandoned Appleton Mill

Collie Mill Fire Almonte October 1, 1965

Appleton General Store – Names Names Names— Wesley West Appleton and Almonte Merchant

Tragedy in Appleton

Looking for Dorothy Whittle of Appleton

The Appleton Incident 1954

Tom Edwards Appleton Photos 1910-1920

The Story of the Appleton Sleigh Ride–Audrey Syme

Appleton Notes– Who Do you Know?– Names Names Names

The Bryson Craig Farm in Appleton

“They Didn’t Fit My Dinner”—Letters from Hilda-Maberly and Appleton– – Doug B. McCarten

Where was Bay View House in Appleton?

You Never Talk About Appleton

Suspended Teacher —Appleton School 1931 — Miss Annie Neilson

Local News and Farming–More Letters from Appleton 1921-Amy and George Buchanan-Doug B. McCarten

The Letters of John Buchanan and Mary Ilan–Appleton– from Doug McCarten

Why the Appleton Bridge Collapsed…

The Day the Appleton Bridge Collapsed

Lawsuits in Carleton Place — The Collapse of the Appleton Bridge

Poutine Curds From the Appleton Cheese Factory?

The Appleton General Store and Polly Parrot

The Insane Spinster Ghost of Appleton Ontario

The Abandoned Appleton Mill

Unravelled: Appleton textile mill

The Abandoned Appleton Mill

Update on The Manse in Beckwith

After I wrote the story on the manse in Beckwith (see link below), Corry Turner-Perkins left a comment on the Tales of Carleton Place:

Corry Turner-Perkins —”My dad lived in the Manse in 1957-1960 when he was 5 and his family moved to Beckwith. My grandpa was John Turner, he worked for the town for 25 years, grandma was Roberta (Bobby ) and my dad is Dave and his sister Gypsy”.

Beckwith Councillor and historian Tim Campbell read the comment and invited the family to come back to the manse. On Sunday the two families met and reminisced about the historical property.

Tim Campbell sent me this note this morning with the following information:

“We had a really nice visit from daughter  Corry, Dave and grandson John. Dave told us that he lived in our house from 1956-64 and that they rented the house from the owner John Rintoul.  He remembered that there were many more barns then we ever realized and that they were 4 in the family and they all slept downstairs.

They said that the house was freezing in the winter. The father -grandfather was a worker for the Carleton Place Public Works for 25 years (John Turner). John found the pond he used to swim in when he was a kid (no longer on our property) and he told us that they used to have approximately 40 head of cattle”. 

Now, here is the kicker. Somewhere there is a lost musket. Like the cornerstone on my house, all old homes have secrets for us to find and remember the past. This is why I write. For the sake of getting people together talking TOGETHER about the history of our area. It is that important!

 

 

REALATED READING

The Manse on the 7th Line of Beckwith

Home and Garden Before Home and Garden Magazine

Well, We’re Movin’ On Up to Franktown Road

 

1903

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church – Carleton Place, Ontario – First mass was on Christmas Day, 1884. Photo 2002.

So what happened to the rectory you see in the back beside St. Mary’s Church? Photo- Dave Young

Did you know they moved the manse that used to be  part of St. Mary’s to a location on Franktown Road in 1993?

Photos of 1993 manse move by Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

 

Sandra Hurdis Finigan-– I was working at Giant Tiger that day. I remember them coming in to tell us they were shutting off the power because I think they had to take the lines down as the house passed. We had to write down what customers were buying and use a calculator. I don’t know who entered it all in later but I’m glad it wasn’t me. We all stood at the Windows to watch the house drive by.

 

 

Terry Latham —To get it around the corner at Bridge and Lake Gib Drummond went to Mac’s Milk and got all their dish soap and put it on the tires and ground so it could slide sideways.. I think one window cracked that was it.

 

photo– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Thanks to Cathy Mulvihill for the newspaper clippings. Jan 2023