What’s left of the foundation of Rochester Street and Santiago Street-Carleton Place–Photo-Linda Seccaspina
Tom Edwards emailed me and asked the following:
Good morning Linda
I was out and about yesterday and I noticed at the corner of Santiago Street and Rochester Street, there is still a foundation there, small,but it is still there. I believe that may be the remains of the penny candy store that used to be in that location. I remember there used to be one there, and it reminded me that there was another one at the corner of Queen Street and Munro Street. I was just curious if any of your readers remembers these stores?
So I took it to the Tales of Carleton Place and as everyone knows– the best history is from the community– so Tom, feast your eyes on this and thank you to everyone who contributed.
Sandra Rattray Santiago and Rochester Streets corner store was Coolidges. I went there about once a week, as a young child, to buy penny candy.
Penny Trafford– I remember both these stores.
Dale Costello--I lived at 40 Rochester St and visited this little store often. That is if I wasn’t playing street hockey.
Valerie Edwards –I remember Coolidge’s too.
Ann Stearns Rawson– That is where you could buy the rolled ice cream (vanilla, chocolate or strawberry). Went there often from our house at the end of King St. Also bought penny candy…some were 5 for 1 cent!
Shane Wm Edwards– I do remember occasionally going to Mr. Coolidge’s in the early 60s as he seemed to have if not more penny candy than my father’s store at least a different variety. Also I want to say that the small store on Munro at Queen was run by a Mrs. Bairds(?) in the late 60s but I am not entirely sure.
Ray Paquette– Mr Coolidge lived in the brick house that is still on that corner. I suspect that I’m older than Shane which would explain our different memories of who ran the store. I remember being able to buy a coke for 5 cents in that store, 7 cents (2 cents for the “bottle”) is you wanted to drink it somewhere else other than the retail outlet.
Donna Mcfarlane– Ray Paquette I also remember the 7 cent soft drinks with the refund of 2 cents per bottle. that was the price when Shackletons opened the store at Blacks corners. I remember going to Coolidge/s store one time also.
Ray Paquette –The convenience store at the corner of Santiago and Rochester was run by a Mr. Wilson, father of Roy “Shad” Wilson who was initially involved in selling used cars on the other corner of Santiago and Moore Street. Roy later went into real estate, initially in Carleton Place (I saw his office in one of the pictures concerning GWB McDonald Optometrist/Ernie Foote Photography) and later moved to Smiths Falls where his business in real estate continues under his name although I believe it is his son’s business now. The Wilson’s lived on the end of Grant Street in a brick house just before the boundary of the Mississippi Manor. I believe Mr. Wilson had brothers living on Peter Street.
The convenience store at the corner of Queen and Munro Streets was run by Ray Hynes and his wife. I remember it was open during the building of the hospital because me and some of the kids I hung around with would do “runs” for the construction workers during the hot summer to buy cold drinks and chocolate bars for them. In appreciation, they often tipped us a nickel and let us keep the empty pop bottles. Big money for us at the time!
Marilyn White –The Hynes like Mr. Hughes on Lake Ave W. let people charge for their groceries. Went to them often.
Carole Flint– His daughter Vera married Bower McFadden. Bill bought 2 of his rental properties from Bower and Vera.
Dale Costello– Anyone remember McLelands florists up the street from Rochester St toward Moore St. Olive McClelland and my mom were best buds. I believe Arthur McClelland was the man in charge along with Olive.
Linda Gallipeau-Johnston He had that great huge fish tank with gold fish in it – at least it looked huge when I was a kid!
Dale Costello– I loved just browsing inside, the smell was almost as good as Woodcocks bakery.
Janice Tennant Campbell– He had a banana tree too!
Valerie Edwards –Yes, in the bungalow. For me it was always a special occasion to go there.
Jim Amy Kirkpatrick-– Janice Tennant Campbell we used to go in just to see the bananas. The smell was wonderful.
Ray Paquette– Dale, do you remember when Ted Townend held a boxing competition in the back shed of your home. The championship bout pitted the late Grant McNeely against my brother Tedd who won. Ted Townend then painted “Champ” on the back of my brother’s shirt which caused my mom to go ballistic! We sure could keep ourselves amused in those days!
Dale Costello— Ray Paquette, Don’t remember the boxing matches, but it sounds like I didn’t get very far, not with Tedd and Grant as opponents. I do recall it didn’ take very much to rile your mother and she could be heard as far away as Lake Park lodge. Just loved her to death.
Lynne Johnson– I remember the one on Munro. It was around the corner from our house on Prince Street. Many decisions were made regarding the best combination of candy for 25 cents! I remember a woman with a young daughter named Bonnie perhaps? I think they lived in the attached house. The store was really just a refurbished porch. If I am not mistaken, they eventually lived across the street?
Ray Paquette– It was a refurbished porch. The house across the street was owned by the Johnsons of cedar post fame on highway 15.
Shane Wm Edwards –The small neighbourhood stores were the original convenience stores. As I recall in the mid 60s to the late 70s they usually did not carry a wide variety of goods but had the basics and children could be sent out for milk or bread or soup without having to go all the way down town to the IGA or Dominion Store or even my father’s store on Franktown Road.
But by the 70s the smaller stores were giving way to the chain convenience stores which undercut the prices of these small independent stores. Also larger fridges and home freezers meant most families could shop once a week at one of the supermarket style stores.
*Carleton Wholesale was where the seniors building is at Coleman and Lansdowne._
Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 18 Apr 1959, Sat, Page 52
When Carleton Wholesale was bought out by Hudson’s Bay they were less willing to service the smaller stores with delivery and the owners had get their inventory on a cash and carry basis which was not feasible for a small store when the owner was the sole staff member. So with the competition and these challenges most of these small independent stores had disappeared by the end of the 70s.
Early Hudson Bay Company’s– Some of our Lanark families went north– northern Ontario. This is an early photo from Tom Edwards family.. He has no idea what part of his family went north.. Mobrert .It is in Northern Ontario near Marathon– This is the Hudson Bay store.
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.
*Carleton Wholesale
Keith Giffin— Carleton Wholesale was first located on Franklin St. Between Bridge St. and Beckwith St. On the right hand side,behind the brick house on the corner,the cement block building. Then they built a new place and relocated on Arthur St.
Shane Wm Edwards-– I worked there two summers, first in the warehouse and then the second summer in the office. That was probably 1972 and 1973 and it was bought by the Hudson Bay Company by 1973. I remember in 1972 the wholesale served a broad range of stores throughout Eastern Ontario and drivers had hundreds of stories of the small towns and the store owners. In 1973 we had to sent our entire inventory of watches to the new Bay store at Bayshore as their supplier was unable to get them watches for the opening of the store.
Ray Paquette The original Carleton Wholesale store was on Judson Street just off Bridge.
Marilyn White It was started and owned by George Clifford and Jan and Paul’s dad. I’m having a senior moment and can’t remember his name.
Shane Wm Edwards Dawson?
Ray Paquette Yes, Shane, I think that’s the name. Jack Bracewell was also involved in the early days of the business.
Marilyn White Shane Wm Edwards it was Mr. Dawson McDowell.
Jeremy Stinson My mother would refer to that building as the Frobisher’s Bay building. I remember being there for some event when I was a child, and it was an unpainted building and there was a clown on roller skates and an empty concrete floor.
Shane Wm Edwards Probably she said Hudson’s Bay building. It was known as Hudson’s Bay Wholesale from about 1973 until they moved a few years later into Ottawa on Colonnade Road off Merivale.
Keith Giffin They also had a access to the pool hall basement
Keith Giffin This was used for storage.
Ann Stearns Rawson We lived near the one on Queen & Munro (King St.). At one time it was owned by Wentworth Marshall (Marsh) and his wife Audrey.
Debbie Roy My aunt and uncle, Ray and Isobel Hynes owned the store on Munro and Queen Streets from the late 1950’s to when they sold it to Wentworth.
Dale Costello Also, many a late night card game was played in this facility. Too young to be invited.
Linda Seccaspina oh don’t whisper that too loud mentioned it once and some were not happy..history is history
Dale Costello I have all the names in my memory bank. What am I offered for silence? LOL
Linda Seccaspina I will use you for backup if I need you LOL
Buddyzee Fisher– Does anyone know who owns this spot now?? Would love to run my metal detector around this site.
I have been writing about downtown Carleton Place Bridge Street for months and this is something I really want to do. Come join me in the Domino’s Parking lot- corner Lake Ave and Bridge, Carleton Place at 11 am Saturday September 16 (rain date September 17) for a free walkabout of Bridge Street. It’s history is way more than just stores. This walkabout is FREE BUT I will be carrying a pouch for donations to the Carleton Place Hospital as they have been so good to me. I don’t know if I will ever do another walking tour so come join me on something that has been on my bucket list since I began writing about Bridge Street. It’s always a good time–trust me.
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