Clippings thanks to Janet I. Ritchie Scott
Thanks to the scrapbook of Lucy Connelly Poaps ADHS cheerleaders 1960-1961
Kathleen Downey — Miss Almonte High School 1958
Here She Comes —Miss Almonte High School January 1958
A Tale From Almonte High School –Dugald Campbell
Meet Janet I. Ritchie Scott — Keeping History Alive –Janet I. Ritchie Scott series
The Girl Guides Talking Stick Returns to Lanark County –Janet I. Ritchie Scott series
November 1974
The 18th annual Christmas Fair to be sponsored by the U.C.W. of Almonte United Church will feature a Fairyland theme. Visitors will be greeted by the Fairy Queen and her helpers, costumed in a fairyland theme. The various booths will be appropriatly decorated and it should be interesting to deal directly with such fairyland characters as the Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland or the Queen of Hearts. Jolly old Santa Claus will be present with his helpers and a continuous childrens movie will be shown so that mother can shop worry free or perhaps have a cup of tea.
A musical program will be given in the Church early in the afternoon and to wind up festivities, the men’s supper will be served for the whole family. It should be a great event so let’s all go to the Fair Saturday, 23th November, starting at 2 p.m. Mrs. Raymond Jamison has been convenor of this event for 17 of it’s 18 years. It’s continuing success is a result of good organization and-hard work by the ladies of the congregation. Work groups have been meeting regularly and individuals contribute much time all year in order to prepare the many handicrafted items presented for sale at the fair booths. In recent years the men of the congregation under the leadership of Mr. Norman Sadler have opened a handicraft booth which has been most successful.
Over the years the enthusiastic support of the people of Almonte and district has grown and so has the size of the fair. A few years ago an addition was built to the hall which permitted some additional booth space. The ‘ ladies of the church are appreciative and every year they attempt to offer something new and interesting. This year also promises to be a most enjoyable event.
November 1974
Toy Drive
In former years the United Church Women have collected Christmas gifts for children in
various families in the community. After some discussion with members of the families on the
receiving end, it was decided that a sale of good used articles and toys would be of greater benefit and value and the ” Hub ” Coordinators agreed to organize this, in cooperation with some members of the Churches inAlmonte.
In providing this service it is hoped that parents will have a better chance to fill the needs and meet the wishes of their children.For the past month Karen Jones, Joyce Lowry, Marilyn Snedden, Junie Campbell, Pat Bowden Dorothy James and Julia Thomas have been working and sorting toys for the sale at St. Paul’s Church next week. Members of
the community have been dressing dolls, repairing toys and checking puzzles.
The invitation list has been made up with the help of the Public Health Nurse, the Community and Social Service person;each church has been approached
for names of members of their congregations who may be eligible for an invitation.
Proceeds are to be used to give these children a ChristmasParty; Any used toys left over will
be sold at the Hub following the sale. Our many thanks go to all the people who have generously donated toys and helped in many ways to make this sale possible.
In Memory of David Scharf — Almonte United Church Tragedy
The Almonte Fire 1955– Almonte United Church
Oso Station: Mrs. Storms from Olden Station has moved here.—William Connors, our venerable shoe maker, is ill. Little hope for his recovery.—G. E. Armstrong has his grocery window fitted up handsomely with nice things for the Christmas table. It is quite an artistic arrangement. William Armstrong was the designer.
Warren–
So Where is that Gnarled Oak in Beckwith?
Where is it Now? The Heirloom of William Camelon
Does Your Name Make Your Day?
Linda (Darnell) Susan (Hayward) Knight always hated her name, because in class there were at least three girls with the very same name. So, much to her Dad’s opposition, she decided to change the spelling of her name to Lynda. After all, if she was going to be a famous fashion designer, her name had to be slightly cool or have an edgy spelling.
She was so enamoured of the way her name looked now that she began sending away for free stuff. Every day after school she would walk across the street, march into the Post Office, and open up the family’s mail box. Her father would not touch the mail addressed to Lynda because he thought she was being ridiculous.
Most days, the box was full of the many free travel brochures she had requested; all addressed to someone named Lynda not Linda. She decided that once she got out of school, she would travel the world designing for the rich and famous, so she really needed this incoming travel information.
Lynda entered contests daily by the loads, all with her newly made up name. She won a pen on the Canadian TV show, “Razzle Dazzle,” hosted by Alan Hamel and a talking turtle named Howard. She loved Howard and he read her winning story aloud on the air, and then carefully spelled out her name as L y n d a.
One day, while reading Seventeen magazine, she saw that a movie studio was having a contest seeking someone to play a part in the upcoming film, “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”. The movie was to be based on the Carson McCullers novel of the same name, which she absolutely loved and had read many times. Lynda had long blonde hair and was in her anorexic stage, weighing approximately 105 pounds, and of course, she had a great name now. She read the instructions over and over and thought she would be perfect for the movie.
One day, a letter from Seventeen magazine arrived in Box 35 and Lynda opened it with glee. To her complete misery it said that yes, she could have been a contender, but sadly she was Canadian and the contest was only open to US citizens. Lynda became very upset as she had been denied the chance simply because she lived on the wrong side of the border. Had they not seen the way her name was spelled?
In that time and in that particular space, Lynda thought her whole world had ended, but years down the road, she was relieved. You see, the part went to someone named Sondra Locke. Sondra, being a skinny blonde, ended up shacking up with the co-star in her next film called “The Outlaw Josey Wales”. His name was Clint Eastwood.
Sondra and Clint had a nasty relationship that ended up so badly, she wrote a book called “The Good the Bad and the Very Ugly.” If Lynda had gotten that part and ended up with Clint, she felt he would have made her change her name back pronto. Clint was a pronto sort of man.
Eventually Sondra ended up leaving Hollywood so no doubt Lynda would have made the same decision. Yes, Lynda would have returned home miserable and gone back to her old name, as nothing is forever is it?
As Clint might have said; “that would not have made Lynda’s day.” No, not made her day indeed because young hearts always run free, no matter how they spell their names.
Sept 1954
Findlays Limited of Carleton Place gave a presentation dinner to employees with over twenty-five years’ service, at Rideau Ferry Inn on Friday evening, Sept. 17th. Seventy-five employees or former employees sat down to dinner.
Among those honored on this occasion was Mr. Stanley D. James of Almonte who has rounded out 36 years in the Company’s service.
The following employees, all with thirty-five or more years’ service, were given suitably engraved gold watches: Edward R. Gibson, Joseph Poynter, Jam es E. Crawford, Alvin E. Baird, Stanley D. James, J. Kenneth Simpson, Carns R. Lever, Earl L. Fleming, Richard C. Jelly, J. Nairn Findlay, James H. Cavers, Williaifi J. Fraser, Miss M. McPherson and Miss E. Viola Cummings. The two ladies did not attend the dinner, but were given wrist watches.
The following thirty-five employees with more than twenty-five years’ service received suitably engraved silver-plated trays: C. Herman Miller, Clarence A. Waugh, Bryan S. Drader, C. Leslie Mullins, C. Roy Cooke, John F. Stevens, William G. Lewis, J. Aylwin McAllister, C. Herbert Simpson, W. Alvin. Doe, Silas Davidson, George L. Bulloch, Robert H. Donahue, D. Alwyn Prime, Ernest Lay, Charles E. Johnston, Harry] J. Brebner, J. H enry McKittrick, Robert A. McDaniel, Keith C. MacNabb, Kenneth B. Howard, G. Ernest Giles, Ernest A. Buffam, William C. Cummings, John McDiarmid, Traverse E. Coates, Harold H. McaFdden, Russell E. Simpson, H arry P. Baird, D. Hamilton Findlay, George E. Findlay, John A. MacGregor, William K. White, R. Gordon: Drummond, Edward T. Bittle.
After the dinner, the recipients were given an opportunity to speak and many interesting anecdotes of the past were brought to life again. This is the second such presentation dinner. A similar one was held in 1949 at which 25 watches and 48 trays were presented.
It’s Findlay Friday yet again… and here we have one of the many photographs loaned to the Museum by Bill and Betty-Anne Findlay! This Findlay Family photograph depicts William Findlay (Bill’s grandfather and son of the Findlay Foundry founder, David Findlay) along with his wife and four children.
Seated in the front is Mr. William Findlay, his wife, Mrs Annie Shaw Cram Findlay, and their youngest daughter, Rosamund. Standing behind them are their three oldest children, William Fraser (Bill’s father), David Douglas, and Dorothy.
This photograph was taken in 1916, the day before David Douglas left for the war.
Clippings of the Sold Findlay Firm 1965
Findlay Plant on Townline –September 1978
Memories of Findlays 1972 – “They’re Proud, Independent, and Resigned to the Loss of their Jobs”
Forgotten Letters – William Findlay- Almonte Memories –The Buchanan Scrapbook
Photos of Carleton Place — Larry Clark— Findlay Memories
Friday’s Message About the Findlay Foundry and Whistle
Findlay’s and the Mennonites 1977
49 High Street — Community Notes About The Findlay Guest House
The Man Known as D.K. Findlay–David Findlay
October 1955
The annual convention of the Lanark County and Smiths Falls Teachers’ Institute was held last Friday in St. James’ Parish Hall, Carleton Place, with an excellent attendance. The meeting opened with devotional exercises by Rev. D. F. Weegar, and then a nominating committee was appointed. W. J. MeShane, Smiths Falls supervising principal, gave the report of the Easter convention of the Ontario Educational Association. J. W. Barber, inspector, spoke on the June entrance tests and considered them a success. It was a measure introduced last year as a guide to pupils’ status. “The output of teachers is measured in terms of people.
Teaching is not a competitive business but a friendly profession,” he observed. The teachers were entertained by Miss Chamney’s class of the Carleton Place Central School under the direction of Paul Vinden. Choral numbers were presented. Mrs. Helen B. Paul of Perth and an inspector, stressed the emphasis on English composition and considered it the most poorltaught subject on the curriculum. Duncan Schoular of Smiths Falls gave a. report on the first Canadian reading conference. Noon luncheon was served in Memorial Park Church Hall where Prof. Alexander M. Beattie, associate professor of English at Carleton College, Ottawa, spoke on “The Theory and Practice of Light Verse.”
The afternoon session took the form of teacher participation. The following subjects were discussed: The teaching of memory work was dealt with by E. H. Farnham of Almonte; physical education in the school program by Lawrence Code of Perth. The use and abuse of text books by Mrs. Elsie Gardiner of Carleton Place; the correction of assignments by Miss E. Smith of Pakenham; the art program in elementary schools by Miss Lila Barrager of Smiths Falls.
Miss Jean Biair of Perth, convenor of the nominating committee, submitted the following report: Honorary presidents, T. C. Smith, M.A., Perth; J. W. Barber, B.A., B. Paed., Perth; Mrs. Helen B. Paul, B.A., Perth; past president, Mrs. Marion McVeigh, Lanark. President, Duncan Schoular of Smiths FaHs; first vice-president, E. H. Farnham, Almonte; second vice-president, Mrs. J. Menzies, Carleton Place; secretary-treasurer, J. C. Sutherland, Almonte; executive committee: Glen Blanchard, Perth; Alton Cassidy, Carleton Place; Mrs. Vera McGregor, Almonte; Mrs. H. Somerville, Mrs. M. Willis, Lanark; auditors, Mrs. Mary Turner and Miss Helen Kelly, Almonte. O.E.A. delegates appointed were Miss M. Miller of Perth and Mrs. M. McVeigh of Lanark. The Energetic Group of St. James’ Church served tea at the close of the sessions.
Update — Teacher Fired in Appleton School May 1931 –Annie Neilson
The Cheshire Cat — Native Encampment and Mulligan’s School
Rhyme of the Little Red School House- The Buchanan Scrapbook
The Thing about Schools in Carleton Place
November 1957 Almonte Gazette
The Union Hall group met in the Community Hall on Wednesday evening, November 6th. This was “Family Night” and there were fifteen members and 43 visitors present. It was moved that alloutstanding bills be paid. Correspondence dealing with mental health was left over until next meeting. A letter from the Naismith Memorial Hospital Almonte committee, stated that they were transferring their funds to the JR. M. Hospital to be used under their charter for a new hospital, the name of which is undecided.
Mrs. Neil McIntosh, representing this branch, reported on a meeting held in Almonte, Nov. 5. She told of the need of help for the making of dressings for the Cancer Society and that means of transportation to the clinic would be gratefully received. She also gave a few of the highlights of Dr. MacDowall’s talk. When business was concluded, the meeting was given over to the convenors for Community Activities and Public Relations, Mrs. Alfred James and Mrs. Roy Robertson.
The motto: “Fun is the cheapest medicine and the easiest to take” was explained by Mrs. Bert Thompson and the roll call was, “Which has most influence in a child’s life, the home, the school or the church?” The members were unanimous in their opinion that the first named was the correct answer. Mrs. Alfred James conducted a contest on ‘Community Surnames’ which was won by Mrs. McMunn and Mrs. Sutherland. All present joined in this. Mrs! Morris Turner conducted a bow contest which lasted throughout the evening and was much enjoyed.
1st prize, Mary James; 2nd prize, Mrs. Keith McMunn. Two, one-act plays were presented and were much enjoyed. The first called, “The Lucky Ones,” dealing with public relations, was put on by several W. I. members. The second, “The Grass Is Always Greener’’ was presented by the Girls’ 4-H Club. A deliciousi pot luck supper was served at long tables and a social hour spent. Mr. Kenneth Robertson moved a hearty vote of thanks to those who supplied the humorous program and to the ladies for the bountiful refreshments. All joined in singing God Save the Queen.
The Old Union Hall Cheese Factory By Berenice McKay
At the last regular meeting of the Almonte Public Utilities Commission, held Thursday night, Oct. 31, several of the employees were granted small pay increases. In a letter sent to the Commission about, two months ago, the three operators at the generating plant— Messrs. Wm. McClymont, Duncan Forgie and O. L. James asked for more remuneration. They based their plea on the fact they had never been given any more money through the years and that the cost of living was advancing since war broke out.
The rate of pay received by these men worked out at 30 cents an hour for an eight hour day, seven days a week. This meant a weekly salary of $16.80. The superintendent of the system, Mr. Edgar Lee received $28 a week; his assistant, Mr. Prank Honeyborne, $25 a week; the secretary, who has charge of accounting and collections, $22.50 a week. When this question first came before the Commission, Mr. James Edmonds, representative of the Mayor on the Board, felt that the request of the men should receive favorable consideration. He offered a motion to that effect but was blocked by the chairman, Dr. A. A. Metcalfe, who demanded that notice of motion be given. This was done.
When the matter came up on the night of Thursday, Oct. 31st, Dr. Metcalfe was absent. In support of his application for an increase, Mr. Lee urged the same reasons as the operators, as did Mr. Honeybome. Mr. Kelly took the same stand but added that since the imposition of a Federal tax on electric power, the duties of his office had been increased considerably—-so much so, that he had to do quite a bit of overtime for which he received no monetary consideration.
After a good deal of discussion it was decided to give Mr. Lee and Mr. Kelly a dollar a week more plus five percent of their former salary. Mr. Honeybourne’s request was not entertained. The three operators were allowed a five per cent increase on what they were getting, but were not given any straight raise such as the dollar added in the case of two employees above mentioned. The result of this concession on the part of the commission, as it worked out for the three men in the generating plant who had asked for 35 cents an hour instead of 30 cents, was almost amusing if it was so insignificant. It meant that instead of receiving $16.80 a week, they will get $17.63—-an increase, of a fraction under 1 1-2 cents an hour, or to put it otherwise 83 cents a week.
Naturally, the consensus of opinion among the three operators, who work eight hours;a day, seven days a week, is that the commissioners might better have rejected their application than insulted them. How the Minimum Wage Board of Ontario would view remuneration paid to these men, in view of the hours they work, is a point that raises interesting speculation. In view of the magnanimous action of the commission the three power house operators have concluded that so far as they are concerned, Santa Claus visited them almost two months earlier than usual
Nov 7 1940- Almonte Gazette
November 1941- Almonte Gazette
The old saying about distant fields looking green certainly applies to deer hunting this year. While more hunters than usual are roaming the wild country around the Black Donald and Matawatchan, and the northern parts of Lanark and Frontenac Counties deer have walked right into town as if they knew all the crack shots were far away.
The other day a deer swam across the river landing just above the fairgrounds. This may have been the same buck that appeared on Tuesday in the Spring Bush, now a part of Gemmill Park. The animal was spied on by the Separate School pupils and as it was nearly time for the junior room to be let out the class was dismissed. Another deer swam the river and landed at John Grace’s farm on highway 29.
Other similar instances are being reported from many points and it is hard to keep track of them all or to verify the stories. W. A, Jamieson, E. C. Gourlay, Jas. McDonald and Louis Peterson are hunting up at White Lake. Reports have reached civilization that Mr. Gourlay got a deer. Another buck or has it that the party bagged a large bear. Whether it is a polar bear, a grizzly bear or a common brown bear has not been learned nor is it clear which one of the Nimrods shot it although some give credit to Mr. Jamieson.
On the other hand Mr. Peterson has long been considered an authority on bears since one night, long ago, when he and a friend hid all night in his car at the Black Donald while a bear sniffed around near them. Robt. Cochran shot a deer right near his home in the woods on R. A. Stewart’s farm. In this party were Wilbert McKay, Jim McKay, Harvey Boal, Russell Cochran and Archie Lockhart. This was on Monday.
Mayor Scott has been hunting in the Burnt Lands with the Meehan boys, Jack Command and Jack Kennedy. The first day Messrs. Command and Kennedy each got a deer. Hunting at White Lake also included Bob Leishman, Andrew and Robt. McPhail, Mel Royce, Oral Arthur and Mike Walsh. This party got two deer—one on Tuesday and another on Wednesday.
Among those from this district who are deer hunting are the following: Wm. and Mac Davis, Eddie Moone, Bob Cochran, E. C. Gourlay, Walter Moore, Carmen Munroe, Ronald Gunn, W. J. Drynan, Harry McGee, Clayton, W illard Smithson, Charles McKay, Clayton, Cyril Pierce, Herb and Elmer Rath, Clayton, James M. Brown, Gervaiss Finner, Eddie Manary, A. J. McGregor, W. A. Jamieson and Bill, Felix Finner, Michael Walsh, Jerry Price, John Gourlay, John H. Munroe, Russell Cochran, W. G. Yuill, Gordon Hanna, Andy McPhail, Wilfred Meehan, Corkery, Harvey Boal, John Command, Allan Carswell, Wilbert McEwen, Desmond Vaughan.Among those from this district who are deer hunting are the following: Wm. and Mac Davis, Eddie Moone, Bob Cochran, E. C. Gourlay, Walter Moore, Carmen Munroe, Ronald Gunn, W. J. Drynan, Harry McGee, Clayton, W illard Smithson, Charles McKay, Clayton, Cyril Pierce, Herb and Elmer Rath, Clayton, James M. Brown, Gervaiss Finner, Eddie Manary, A. J. McGregor, W. A. Jamieson and Bill, Felix Finner, Michael Walsh, Jerry Price, John Gourlay, John H. Munroe, Russell Cochran, W. G. Yuill, Gordon Hanna, Andy McPhail, Wilfred Meehan, Corkery, Harvey Boal, John Command, Allan Carswell, Wilbert McEwen, Desmond Vaughan.
The Tale of a Teacher, a Duck, and the Mississippi River
Stories of the Mississippi River — Elk, Rice Beds, and Corduroy Roads
WHO’S AFRAID OF BIG BAD BEARS? Louis Peterson and Harvey Scott
Sometimes You Just Need to Remember– Reggie Bowden
Did any of your ancestors donate to the hospital?
Pakenham
Carleton Place
https://heritageottawa.org/50years/wallis-house
The Carleton County Protestant General Hospital circa 1900 – now The Wallis House
I found this yesterday
On September 19, 1850, the corner stone for The County of Carleton Protestant General Hospital was laid; it opened in May, 1851, on the open area to the east of where Wallis House.now stands. The two-storey stone structure opened with ten beds and two employees – a steward and a matron (his wife) to tend to the sick .
A third storey was added to the hospital’s east wing in 1912 and large sun rooms constructed at the ends of the wards on Rideau Street . The last major epidemic to strike Ottawa was typhoid fever in 1912; so many patients were admitted that tents had to be set up on the grounds where the first hospital once stood. By 1920, Ottawa’s medical requirements outgrew the city’s facilities and the County of Carleton Protestant Hospital and St . Luke’s Hospital were amalgamated to form the Civic Hospital, which moved to a new building on Carling Avenue in 1924.
Tents around the Protestant General Hospital during the 1912 Typhoid Epidemic
Epidemics of typhus, typhoid, cholera and small pox continued to scourge the city, and by 1870 the first hospital was inadequate. A new hospital was designed by Robert Surtees, and construction was begun on 16 May 1873. The corner stone was laid by the Governor General Earl Dufferin with full masonic ceremonies. read–Dark Moments in Ottawa History- Porter Island
The hospital opened in 1875 with a capacity of 75 beds. It was the largest, most modern, and best equipped hospital in Ottawa, with high ceilings and segregated wards separated by long corridors. The first hospital was recast as an isolation hospital for contagious diseases, and was demolished around 1900 due to its condition.
What happened to the building?
Heritage Ottawa president at the time Louise Coates invited the media to a chilly demonstration in front of Wallis House on February 21, Heritage Day, to highlight the need for a solution that would see the building conserved. After deliberating for a month, Public Works refused an offer which would have seen the building converted into market-value apartments with townhouses to the north, and non-profit housing to the east.
Increased pressure by Heritage Ottawa, elected officials and other community groups resulted in the government re-tendering with a closing date of April 18, 1994. Heritage Ottawa wrote to Cabinet Minister Lloyd Axworthy in 1995, encouraging his support for a conservation solution:
“These offers make economic sense both because they take the price of site clean-up off the hands of Public Works, and because they restore a building so it can be used again, thereby revitalizing the street and the neighboring community.”
A purchase offer of $320,000 by Sandy Smallwood of Andrex Holdings was accepted, putting an end to the continued deterioration of a prominent heritage landmark.
The Wallis House rehabilitation and conversion into 47 loft-style condominiums was designed by Julian Smith and Associates of Ottawa and Paul Merrick Architects of Vancouver. The project was financed by selling part of the property’s land to Domicile Developments for construction of 24 townhouses along Macdonald Gardens Park called Brigadier’s Walk, and to the City of Ottawa for construction of a 7-storey social housing apartment building, Lady Stanley Place, now owned by Ottawa Community Housing.
An advanced sale of the Wallis House Condominium saw all 46 units sold in under 36 hours.
The newly-rehabilitated Wallis House officially opened on October 19, 1996, introducing the trend of “loft living” in converted historic buildings to Ottawa.
The building remains a successful example of adaptive reuse. Read more here..click
Related reading
Union Almonte and Ramsay Contagious Hospital — “The Pest House”
Becoming a Nurse — Rosamond Memorial Hospital
Susie’s Kitchen Band– Names Names Names
Dark Moments in Ottawa History- Porter Island
So What was the Almonte Cottage Victorian Hospital?
lindaseccaspina 