Old Dominion store..Cecil McCann/s billiard hall and the list goes on– found in the files of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage files toda (Carleton Place Canadian) Memories and Thoughts of the Grocery Store–

May 27 1951

Burglars made off with more than $3,000 in cheques in a daring break-in at the Carleton Place branch of Dominion stores early Monday morning. The thieves did their work from the front of the store at one of the town’s main intersections, Bridge and Franklin Streets, subject to discovery by any passer-by or beat policeman. Police believe the job was done by experts who planned it carefully. The beat patrolman tried the door at midnight. Sometime between then and eight a.m., when manager Jack Campbell arrived to open the store, the burglars did a fast, neat job of breaking in and rifling the safe. The front door had been pried open with a crowbar, and the door of the small wall safe under the front counter had been cleanly removed from its hinges. The entire operation would have to be conducted in full view of the main street. Mr. Campbell said that all of the more than $3,000 missing was in cheques save for a few dollars in coin. , Police Chief p . E. Cornell, who is conducting the investigation, said he had no leads whatsoever as yet. The only other recent break-in here also was in a store, but that case had been solved and could not be connected with this one.

Photo= Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Dominion store heist click to read
Clipped from The Ottawa Citizen, 06 Aug 1960, Sat, Page 34

Dale Costello

Shopped at both the Dominion and Argue’s grocery store. Vividly remember the produce in Argue’s, probably local in the summertime. Shot many a game of pool at Uncle Cecils pool room. My pool idol was Bill Poulin. Remember Asseltines, Allan shoes, May Mulvey, the shoe repair shop, Jock Mailey, Bellamys for sodas and chips,the tiny bicycle repair shop, only 10 feet wide, watching TV from outside on a Saturday night at Bob Flints, Canadian Tire next to the old post office. On and on, but still vividly remembered.

Donna Mcfarlane

I used to get Kreamy Bread for 19 cents. 2can red salmon 50 cents,back in 63/64.

Evelyn Louise

My mother worked for the head office of Dominion stores in Sudbury. I remember being on holidays when she got the call from her boss telling her to enjoy her time off as there was no need to rush back as they were closing the office. I’m almost 50 and still remember the look on her face getting that call. Heartbreaking.

Carl Moulton

That picture taken before the post office went up across the street. I recall being with my mom when she shopped there.

**Marlene Springer**
Former Dominion store –This Dominion store had two sides divided and in 1976 they opened Universal Travel where i worked for a few months before I went to government.

Marching Saints Carleton Place–courtesy of Bev Hurdis- Dominion Store on the right–Marlene Springer— I remember going there with mom for groceries every Thursday, pay day and dad would pick them up on his way home from work.

Mike Kean

Mike was actually head hunted and moved down Bridge Street to the Dominion Store at the corner of Bridge and Franklin because of his experience. I asked him who the head hunter was and he said, *“Terry Vincent was the man!” *A lot of people in Carleton Place know him well as he was a real genuine person.

The manager of the store was from Smiths Falls and his name was Mickey Pickup (no joke). One of Mike’s fellow employees was Noreen O’ Brien from Appleton. Mike stayed with Dominion Stores and ended up working in every Dominion store in Eastern Ontario through the growing years. He became the youngest manager in Canada when he took over the store in Perth at 25.

In the 1970s, inflation and discounting wars with rivals ravaged Dominion’s bottom line. Dominion stores was Canada’s No. 1 grocery chain from the 1950s through the early ’80s. Then, in 1985, it came to a quiet, wrenching, end. But, thankfully thanks to the internet Mike Kean’s memories don’t- and I for one am grateful for his memories for this series.

In the early years of the Taylor Block ( Blossom Shop etc) some of the businesses included The Crown Grocery operated by Lowe and Richardson,Ferguson and Smythe’s harness shop, Andy Neilson Jeweller, I.O.O.F. had a hall upstairs, H. Abdallah’s, and Bennett and Code Grocery.
Marj Whyte recalled that the Dominion Store was first located in the Taylor Block and that the first Bell Telephone Exchange office was on the second floor. The manager was Walter Termarch and his clerk was Mary Scott. When Marvin was transferred to Renfrew, Mary left with him and became Mrs. Termarch. Badminton was also played on the second floor.

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 12 Feb 1937, Fri, Page 17

In Memory of Mickey Pickup– Carleton Place Dominion Store

Glory Days of Carleton Place–Mike Kean

Carleton Place News July 30, 1952 – Drowning and Robbery

Dog Day Afternoon — The Only Bank Robbery EVER in Carleton Place

Robbery at Sinclairs 1886

The Bat Signal of Carleton Place

Robberies in Carleton Place — Mr. Ed Campbell of High Street

Another Broken Bed incident.

This story was related to me by sister

The Old Stone House at Snow Road on the Mississippi, had a lot of stories to be told. When you are a child, sweet innocence is so present and in the 1940’s this was much more prevalent.
Be right back

The Stone House had no running water, electricity, the only source of light was a coil oil lamp or a flashlight. In the forties the flashlight gave off little light. If the moon was out it was not bad as you could find your way, when it shone in the window. If the stars and moon, were tucked behind the clouds, you could barely see your hand in front of your face, it was dark.

The children were put to bed when darkness descended, so by the time the adults came up to bed, they had been sleeping for a while. On most evenings after the kids were out of their hair, everyone would sit and play cards or just talk and some may have beer or a drink. It would be much later when they would venture up to bed.

The men would be up early so they usually went off to sleep quite quickly, after all it was a lot of work rowing a boat, fishing or cleaning the fish for dinner. When they needed to bring up a block of ice from the Ice house, it would take a bit of muscle power and a walk to the barn. Oh such groans could be heard. Now if they had already made their trip to the outhouse it meant another trip, maybe even digging out a block. One has to remember that some of the blocks were a good size, and they were on holidays. Rest was important, so they believed, after all they worked hard all year and they were on holidays. But, most important they were MEN!

On occasion one would become romantically inclined and I guess maybe had been thinking of it during the day, so on their way to the bedroom the urge would once again rear its ugly little head. Now my parents, aunts and uncles were young active people and a two-week period might just be a long time to wait. It never seemed to matter that there was a few people in the house. After a week of good old country air and rest from their work a young man’s thoughts might just turn to thoughts of love.

Photo Noreen Tyers

You have to remember the house would be filled with young innocent sweet things, too young to know anything about a young man’s fancy. All of a sudden a big crash bang and who knows what the NOISE was about in the middle of the night and pitch black. It does take a few minutes for a flashlight to be found and then find out where the noise came from. As a child you can only think something wild has arrived on the scene, maybe a Big Bear or God knows what. Imagination of a child is quite vivid, at least mine was. The flashlight on, Grandpa was first on the scene into my Aunt and Uncles Room he went. The stately old bed had broken and the mattress was laying on the floor, two red faces appeared on the bed rail just wondering what had happened. Surprise the mattress is on the floor, and thoughts of love soon Punk disappear.

“Foolish young people” that’s all Grandpa, said and the kids went back to bed non the wiser and still the sweet innocent children that had no thoughts other than the bed broke. Grandpa will repair the bed in the morning, he always fixes things.

From the Pen
of Noreen
April 29, 2018

Note: I often wondered why my grandfather never gave his little talk to the adults? Who me?
“You know if you want to come back next year ….”

Stories from Richards Castle.

Photo Noreen Tyers

Castles in the Bush click here.

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.