This is the last grade 13 graduation from the old Carleton Placer High School 1918
Photo Thelma Dowdall
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
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships SunScreamin’ Mamas (USA) and The Sherbrooke Record
Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 22 Jul 1974, Mon, First Edition, Page 2
First we lost a few skids of stone from the Findlay house on High Street that were supposed to be saved. Later I found out that the missing stone is sitting on McArthur Island along with the stone from Central School and Prince of Wales. (some of the school’s stone was used as fill to fill up the river channel next to the Gilles building down by the back bridges)
No one is aware that this cairn existed except a few, but the article above from the Ottawa Journal says it does. Saturday I drove around and around the block and saw nothing but this concrete slab. It looked like something was once in there?
David Robertson seems to remember a cairn but not at this location as pictured but down the street straight off the side of the building. “I seem to remember someone telling me the cement base pictured was a location of a water well with pump — I could be wrong”.
Bill Brunton thinks it was located right across the street from Barbara Couch’s old house and David thinks he is right. Bill also mentioned that he thinks the cairn was once hit by a car?
Anyone?
Today I went back and think this is the location just on top of the wee hill as you can see the stone buried in the ground, or what is left of it.
This is the Findlay Memorial Cairn, located on the site of the first foundry on High Street. It gets missed, tucked away on the north side of High Street in a tiny little park with a shuffleboard court! All that remains is an empty field and a cairn of a once great company. The Findlay Cairn on High Street–The Inner Remains of the Findlay Foundry
The Willis Cairn in Riverside Park-photo sent to me by Jennifer Fenwick Irwin-The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
In Riverside Park there lies a little-known site which is of some interest in the town’s history. It is found at the extreme end of the town’s park, near Lake Avenue and close to the Mississippi River. This was a burial ground, where members of one of the first families of settlers of the town were laid in a now unmarked graveyard. The late Alex John Duff, Beckwith farmer, that he recalled this burial ground in his youth in the 1880s as being at that time a little cemetery about 15 or 20 feet square, a gravestone in which bore the name Catin Willis.
Discovery of this site in 1946 was reported at a Carleton Place Parks Commission meeting, at which the suggestion was made that the area should be marked as a historical site by erection of a cairn. Later the remains were exhumed and moved to the United Church cemetery. – Whatcha’ Talkin Bout Willis? — This Old House in Carleton Place
The Cairn above placed on the property now owned by The Bell Telephone Company, which was the original burying site for the Morphy Family, first settlers of this area. In 1819 Edmond Morphy, his wife Barbara Miller and their eight children, the first residents on the site of Carleton Place, emigrated to Upper Canada from Ireland and settled here.–Read more The Statue of Liberty of Carleton Place
MORE Cairn photos at the very end
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ 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 Place Fact–1878 – A separate High School of stone construction was built on High Street called the Prince of Wales School. During the course of bitter and widespread disputes and litigation, based on a division of business and real estate interests between the north and south halves of the town, the new school, though much needed remained unused for nearly five years. Photo from Comments About a Picture–Prince of Wales School (Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum)
Ottawa Daily Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
23 Oct 1879, Thu • Page 1
When the Prince of Wales High School in Carleton Place was to be built a huge argument arose in town to where it should be situated. The “southsiders” wanted it on the north side of the river and of course the other side “the northerners” couldn’t see that side of the question. Finally, it was taken to a vote. Like recent municipal disagreements, they decided to take it to a vote and it was strictly open voting. In the end everyone knew how the other one voted–well you know how this is going to end up already.
It seems that each side thought of everything in order to win. *One side even brought in former residents to vote, whose legal qualifications to say the least, were very doubtful. Actually at that time there were more folks living on the South side than the North side. However, many of the South side voted for the North only for the ‘sensible reason’ that a lot of the building material had already been placed on High Street.
The day after the election a group of “Southerners” were discussing the result in front of Napoleon Paul Lavalee’s Hotel when along came Jasper Holland on his way from the Post Office with his newspapers in hand.
Jasper lived near the station on Miguel Street and was one of the chaps who thought he had the good sense to vote “North”. As he passed the hotel the gang hanging outside began to get unruly and they chastised the passerby for voting the way he did. Jimmie Gemmil who ran the grocery store where Mrs. Mulvey was once located began to get real testy with Jasper and said “the traitor” was not the worth the spit on the ground and it was nothing but treachery.
A fight broke out between the two but the others quickly separated the fight once Napoleon “Paul” Lavallee the hotel owner poked his head out the door. Jasper was quickly declared the winner and with a defiant look he asked if there was anyone else that wanted to argue. Receiving no reply Jasper picked up his “Family Herald” and “Weekly Star” and strode off in the direction of home.
Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum Carleton Place Canadian newspaper files.
After..
March 28th 1973-Ottawa Journal
*Carleton- Place School Question. January 1 1879-Almonte Gazette
Judge Senkler’s Decision Perth, 14 Dec, 1878
Bell vs Greig — This is an investigation (held under R.S.O cap. 204 S. 61) of complaint respecting the mode of conducting the election of the deft, as a Public School Trustee for the Village of Carleton Place. The Election was held 18 Nov. 1878
“If a Trustee of any School Corporation is convicted of a felony or misdemeanour, or absent himself from the meetings of the Board for three consecutive months, without being authorized by resolution entered upon its minutes, or ceases to be a resident within the school municipality for which he is a Trustee such Trustee shall ipso facto vacate his seat and the remaining Trustees shall declare his seat vacant and order a new election.”
In this case the affidavits established that Wm. Bredin, who had been regularly elected trustee in January 1877, ceased to be a resident of the school municipality in April last, and immediately before leaving notified his fellow Trustees that he resigned, and of his intention to leave.
On the 5th last, being the day for the regular monthly meeting of the School Board, said Bredin and one Wm. Weir (who stands in the same position as Bredin) returned to the school municipality temporarily, and these two men, together with the other ten trustees met, and certain proceedings were adopted or attempted to be so, which culminated in the appointment of two chairmen and two secretaries, and in a resolution (with others) being declared passed by one chairman that the Board of Education declared the seats or Wm. Weir and Wm Bredin vacant, and ordered the chairman, Mr. McArthur, to forthwith give the necessary notice and call a meeting of the rate payers to elect two Trustees in their places.The first point to be decided is, were the seats of Weir and Bredin vacant before the Nov. last.
By clause 38, absence from meetings for three consecutive months without being authorized by resolution entered on the minutes ipso facto vacates the seat. The resolution declared by Mr.McArthur may have been voted for by all the qualified Trustees, but the affidavits do not show so. The ten other than Bredin and Weir were allowed to vote at that meeting without opposition upon that resolution; only four voted ( I don’t count the votes of Bredin and Weir; they were clearly bad, as that resolution most be the act of the remaining Trustees) as. abstained from voting.
Their silence cannot be deemed acquiescence, as they allege they did not hear the motion. If the ten trustees have preserved their seats, a resolution voted on by less than the majority cannot considered carried in the absence of sent by the balance or enough to make a majority. In this view the election must fall to the ground, unless the Relator has debarred himself from complaining. All that is shown is that he did not protest or object, and that he held up bis hand on a show of hands being called for. No ease cited gods the length of showing that want of protest or objection is acquiescence.
I cannot see that participating in an unnecessary step can he considered as acquiescence in the election. I shall, therefore, set aside the election of James Greig, and order a new. election. The time and place will be fixed in the formal order to be drawn up. As to the coats, I have no sympathy whatever with the Relator in this matter. His affidavit leaves impression that the motion to appoint him chairman preceded that to appoint Mr. McArthur chairman, the fact being that the motion to appoint Mr. McArthur chairman was actually voted on by the whole 12 present before the other resolution was even moved.
Then he used the expression: “I and the five trustees who acted with me.” It is clear that the five trusties referred to actually voted at the election complained of. The vote polled was a very large one, and the majority for Mr. Greig considerable. It should have been submitted to the Relator who as aware of all the proceedings, and he took no steps to protest or object. I therefore give no coats to the Relator .
W . S. Senkler Co. Judge.
Related reading
Picture from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Yesterday I posted a picture of the demolition of the Prince of Wales School on High Street in Carleton Place. It was torn down in the late 70s. Here is what they said:
From the Tales of Carleton Place
Linda Gallipeau-Johnston This just makes me cringe!!!!
Jill Seymour Here’s hoping the powers that be, in CP, will one day realize how important heritage is and protect it. That building could have been made in to apartments or just a big house, or a business or, well use your imagination. Don’t tell me about the money brought in by the sale of the property. It could not, possibly, have been enough to justify the demolition of that wonderful building
Valerie Edwards Breaks my heart
Shane Wm Edwards It may be time to start thinking about how the old mill building (formerly Spar and even earlier Leigh Instruments) beside Riverside Park could best be utilized. Last I heard it was still for sale or has it been sold?
Linda Seccaspina There is too much waste cleanup Shane I think and that costs money.. but yes condos… great idea.. but you saw how far the Gillies Mill went.. You need $$$$ for old buildings.. I know.. mine is fondly called the money pit
Shane Wm Edwards I was at a heritage conference where the people restoring the Tremont Hotel in Collingwood spoke about the project and the incredible economic spin-offs. Old commerical buildings can also make the owner money and enhance a local community.
Shawn McNicholl This would have made good condos, all stone bldg, what a shame
Jean Rogers Such a travesty!! Makes me want to cry.
Joyce MacKenȝie Sad, sad, sad….Linda, hi…apparently, there is a scroll in the foundation…”The corner stone of the present High School (Prince of Wales High School) was laid in 1923 and under it was placed a scroll containing the following information: (historical information on the wiki page) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carleton_Place_High_Schoool
Doug B. McCarten What a sad, sad day! Many memories of attending school there! Truly a historic building that should have been preserved!! Council needs to be more interested in conservation of town history!! Stupid move!!
Jennifer Fenwick Irwin Joyce MacKenȝie that reference to the scroll in the cornerstone from the wiki article refers to the present building on Lake Avenue West. It’s still there somewhere!
Brad Occomore That shovel is about 50? years old…when was the school taken down Linda Seccaspina?
People’s comments seem to think it was recent, I couldn’t see the town taking down a building like that these days!
Jennifer Fenwick Irwin Prince of Wales School was torn down in the late 1970’s.
Stephen Bennett I used to live right across the street from it. Remember playing in the school yard a lot. Especially in the summer. Good memories.
Related reading–
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News and now in The Townships Sun
A huge bouquet of thanks goes to Jennifer Fenwick Irwin curator of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. If it wasn’t for her time and patience, I would not be able to post such great, and not so geat moments in Carleton Place history. Thank you Jennifer!
Prince of Wales School on High Street in Carleton Place-Torn down in the 70s
And the list goes on how these magnificent heritage buildings were torn down.
In my hometown of Cowansville, Quebec they tore down 7 heritage homes in two years in the 60s. Nothing was wrong with them. My grandfather’s stately home which was originally The Cowan House (founder of the town) was also torn down in the 90s.
You cannot get these buildings back EVER– Our heritage is– us working together to keep it strong through words, memories and action so we remember that our buildings and the remembrance of our ancestors matter. No bureaucrat ever created a town, province or country– and we need to project this message to our children and grandchildren. Once something is gone we never get it back.. EVER.
Teardowns like this and the Findlay house etc. should have been stopped in my mind.The term “teardown” was associated with outsized McMansions during the housing boom years. What a waste!
These photos just make me cry.
After
March 28th 1973-Ottawa Journal
Related Reading:
Before- The Prince of Wales High School Carleton Place on High Street
Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum Carleton Place Canadian newspaper files.
After..
March 28th 1973-Ottawa Journal
Historical Fact:
T.B. Caswell, headmaster of the Carleton Place school, had occasion to punish some pupils in his room. Among them was the son of the Reeve Mr. Steele who felt so aggrieved that he undertook to punish the teacher for which he will have to answer at the next Quarter session.
Judging from the number of complaints made to the Board of Education at Carleton Place about the undue severity there must be quite a number of people in that town who are wiser than Solomon for we have his authority for saying “spare the rod”. We will “spoil the child”. A parent should rarely side with a pupil in the matter of discipline. –Almonte Gazette
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