An Ode to Barbara Couch from a Forever Fan

Scot More June 23, 2023

We lost our Mother yesterday and heaven gained an angel. You taught us so much . Rest in Peace Mom. We sure will miss you!! I love you!! Xo

First of all Steve, myself, Skyler, Taryn, Perry and Stephanie would like to send our condolences to Tim and Scott and family on the loss of their mother. Words can’t express how saddened we are to hear of your loss. – from the Seccaspina’s and all the littles.

Let’s be honest, I didn’t know Barbara Couch that well. That’s because I was what one would call ‘starstruck’. Barbara was everywhere, and a force to be reckoned with in my mind when I moved here in 1981. I would see her signs and ads in all the corners of our hamlet. Sometimes I would see her shopping in FreshCo. There she would be unloading groceries on the conveyor belt with the perfect haircut and dressed in the best of fashion. I would stand there and stare at her leopard outfits just overblown how amazing she looked.

Yes, I myself may have carried a ‘fashionista torch’ through life, but to me Barbara was fabulous in all things. I would pass by her former house on High Street, or later, come to the corner of Bridge and High Street and see the former McCarten House and always know that Barbara lived there and smiled. She was always the person I yearned to be.

I used to give Carleton Place kids rides to concerts in Ottawa in the 80s and 90s. I knew Brock Zeman before he became the  troubadour he now is, and when his colourful Mohawk once turned heads in town. One night he asked if a couple of Carleton Place kids could get a ride home from a concert, and of course there was no issue. The car was dark on Highway 7 as they chattered away and one kid said,

“Yeah, my Mum is Barbara Couch!”.

I can’t remember if it was Tim or Scot Moore, but I would put Vegas odds it was Scot. You have to understand I never relate anyone to whose family they belong too. If I know you, I know YOU, and it does not matter who your clan is. I value you for who you are in your own right, as that’s who I am.

I think my heart skipped a couple of beats and I told him what a great woman he had for a mother. That was a fact, as she worked hard and was a powerhouse in the community. Each week in The Canadian I would seek out her ads to read what she was selling.

“Another home sold by Barbara Couch”

This morning I got up and found out she had passed and suddenly a light went off in my brain. I remembered that car ride home from Ottawa, and that Scott, Tim and Barbara were mother and sons. I had never ever put them together, and for the life of me I don’t know why. I just add it up to appreciating folks for who they are and not relating family to family.

Tim and Scott, your mother meant the world to me. I thought she was the most awesome woman in Carleton Place, and my heart breaks for you both and your family. Losing a mother is one of the deepest sorrows a heart can know. But remember that her goodness, her caring, and her wisdom live on, like a legacy of love that will always be with you. May that love surround you now and bring you peace— and I will forever have iconic memories of your Mother.

Linda Seccaspina

From my son Skyler Seccaspina

When I was a kid, she was the first real estate agent whose sign caught my attention and sparked my interest. That was probably because it seemed like ‘BARBARA COUCH’ signs were present on every property that was for sale. It was the first realtor sign that I saw where I realized, ‘Ah, so that’s what you’ll see when a property is up for sale.’ Funny enough, years later, she would actually sell me my first investment property on Birch Avenue. I was hesitant just like anyone would be taking their first plunge into the market, but her knowledge was pivotal in getting both me and the deal across the finish line.

Skyler Seccaspina

The Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Jun 15, 2013Page 61

Barbara Couch’s Carleton Place home is like a fairy tale come to life. Edged in white gingerbread, the three-storey Victorian house is filled with delicate treasures and magical Christmas decorations. Couch, a thriving real estate agent bought the red brick mansion five years ago and has renovated all 16 rooms in a manner reminiscent of their architectural past. Already decorated for the holidays, the floral-and-lace home sparkles with more than 5,000 miniature lights on four trimmed trees and along the black wrought-iron gate enclosing the side yard. Handpainted wooden ponies and a glittering garland encircle the outdoor gazebo like a jumbo toy carousel and an antique sleigh heaped with fresh-cut boughs is parked on the front lawn.

“I have a strong belief in Christmas the spirit of Christmas,” says Couch of her annual decorating blitz. “I guess I’m a little girl at heart.” Last weekend, more than 500 strangers paid $15 each for a close-up look at her exquisite antiques, homemade ornaments and Victorian art collection. The open house was part of a sold-out Christmas tour of six Carleton Place homes to raise money for the local St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. “This is me,” confesses Couch, looking around her pretty-in-pink parlor.

A skilled seamstress and all-around craft whiz, she makes most of her own pouf draperies, chintz table throws and dried flower arrangements. Music and Victorian collectibles are her obvious loves. A pump organ and grand piano in the front living room top her collection of antique instruments (she can’t play any of them) and a gallery of black-and-white prints all of females in gilded frames line the walls. For the past 10 years, Couch has been combing antique shops, estate auctions and private collections for rare pieces to add to her elaborate furnishings. Corners are filled with dainty porcelain dolls tucked in old English prams and plumed hats and vintage lace dresses are draped over armchairs and coat racks.

Running two successful businesses she also operates a local septic system pumping company. It takes Couch about a month to decorate for Christmas. And it’s not unusual to find the Perth native and her helpful band of elves stringing lights or hanging ornaments several nights well past midnight. “It’s a tradition I’m so fortunate to have so many special friends.” Like a frosted wedding cake, an artificial tree loaded with handmade lace bows and potpourri-filled balls is propped in the parlor doorway. White satin skirts the trunk and there are a few scattered gift boxes topped i ”If 1 with dried hydrangeas. Couch calls this her Victorian wedding tree, one of three theme trees displayed throughout the house.

“I like to name things,” she explains, “because it gives them more character.” In the library-motif family room, there’s an elegant gold and plum tree trimmed with small French homs and spray-painted flowers and twigs from Couch’s English garden. A toy steam engine sits idle on the floor, worn out from many good years of chugging around a make-believe track. Upstairs, a tree on the landing overflows with plush white teddy bears, tulle bows and pink lights. The playful setting is a new addition to this year’s decorated forest Couch wanted to do something for her sister, who’s dying of cancer. They designed the tree together.

Like all of the meticulously arranged rooms, the oval table in the formal dining room is set as if expecting company at any moment. A lace-trimmed tablecloth is artfully arranged over the ornate table, accented by fancy wine goblets, blush pink china and four gold candles. In the corner, a fragile china doll stares wide-eyed from a handpainted wicker carriage. But the glitter isn’t limited to the home’s interior. Perched on the front stoop, a small tree (Couch calls it “Charlie Brown,” but the tree is lush and beautiful) is dressed up in plaid bows, tiny lights and spray snow.

A garland is woven down the wooden handrails and chiming bells can be heard from the glowing sleigh. All that’s missing is Santa Claus..

The Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Sat, 3 Dec 1994–Page 51

The Crater Lot on Mill Street — Peterson and Dr. Metcalfe

The old parking lot next to the Victoria Mill was the property

The lot on Mill Street, which was the cause of Mr. Louis Peterson’s resignation from the Utilities Commission a few weeks ago was sold to him for a second time by the Almonte Town Council Tuesday evening during a special session in November of 1945.

The parcel of vacant land which originally had an old crater in the middle of it was sold to Mr. Peterson some months ago by the Council for its assessed value of $240. He wished to build an extension to his ice cream plant and as the property was of no use to him or no one else the Council was overjoyed to sell it to him. At the time Mr. Peterson was a member of the Public Utilities Commission and Dr. A. A.Metcalfe who was at loggerheads with him for years took advantage of a technicality to disqualify him. Dr Metcalfe got an Ottawa lawyer to write letters to the Commission pointing out that Mr. Peterson had violated the law which forbade an elected representative to do business of any kind with the municipality. This law had been in effect for years. On the other hand it was pointed out  that there were no members in other municipalities with an attitude like Metcalfes to take advantage of unseating an elected representative.

After considering the matter for a couple of weeks, Mr. Peterson, who considered the lot more important than a seat on the Commission which brought him no money, decided to resign. After he did this and became a private citizen once more he gave the town a quit claim for the lot and the Council ordered his cheque for $240 returned to him.

The lot was once again the property of the town and the Council advertised it for sale in the local paper. The only offer received was from Mr. Peterson who said he would purchase it once again at its assessed value. In the meantime the assessment for the current year had come into effect and Mr. Peterson had to pay $250 for it which was ten dollars higher than the 1944 price. This of course was neither here nor there.

At this same special meeting of the Council a bylaw was passed confirming the sale of the old Windsor Hotel property to the North Lanark Co-Operative for $1,000. Another bylaw dealt likewise with the old Belmont building which was sold to Howard Davey . (The site of the hotel on the brow of the hill on the north side of the river had something majestic about it, and Mr. Reilly’s square plan, once completed added grace and charm to the site. But to make assurance doubly sure that his hospitality would be welcome to people of the quality, he gave the hotel a name to ensure the royal flavour. On the south wall, between the windows of the third floor, he had the painters inscribe a royal name for his enterprise, WINDSOR HOUSE.) read- Mr. Reilly Founds a Hotel in Almonte

WHO’S AFRAID OF BIG BAD BEARS? Louis Peterson and Harvey Scott

Movin’ on Mill Street– Supertest Building

Memories of the Golden Eagle Gas Station

Farm Real Estate etc 1903-1908 Lanark County — Names Names Names

1904 Almonte Gazette

Last week Mr. P. J. Young sold his farm on the ninth line, with his stock and implements, to Mr. John Oates, who has been a resident of Almonte for the past two years or so, Mr. Young ■ taking Mr. Oates’ property on Union street in part payment for the farm. The price received by Mr. Young was $7,200. The exchange of properties was made this week, and now Mr. Young and Mr.Naismith have become residents of Almonte—a welcome addition to the Citizenship of our town. April 4 1903

All the James Greig estate pro­perty in this town is shortly to be
offered for sale april 17 1903

Mr. Smith, who owned the Carleton steam laundry, has disposed of his business to Mr. Latimer, of the City New York laundry, and the latter will combine the two under the name of the Carieton Place Steam Laundry April 17 1905

Mr. Alex. R. Yuill’s sale last week was a successful one, and now the fini) Ayrshire herd of “ Meadowside Farm,” which was the oldest herd of Ayrshires in Canada and was for the past thirty-four years the winner of many prizes, is now broken up and scattered. One pleasing feature however, is that the animals all remain in the neighborhood, the ones taken furthest away being a pair of heifers bought by Mr. Robt. Metcalf, of Pakenham. The township of Ramsay still retains a large number of the animals, the Messrs. Cochran being among the largest buyers. The sale totalled $2,160.40. The farm was not sold- April 1906

The sale of the farm eSects of the late Wm. Smith, Ramsay, on Friday last was great success, particularly of the live stock. CoWs sold as high as $75, horses $175, sheep in the neighborhood of $10, and so on. The implements did not seem to be so much in demand, but the bidding on the stock-was very brisk. Mr. Jas. W. Bowes bought four head of cattle, all at good prices. April 13 1906

Mr. T. B. McGibbon, of Beckwith, last week’ sold his fine Clydesdale team to Peter McEwen, of Franktown, for the handsome sum of $400- April 13, 1905

Mr. Elias ‘Abraham was here last week from New Liskeard to purchase horses. He secured a heavy well matched span of sisters from Ben. Hilliard, paying $425 for them. His other animals, six in all, were nearly equally of superb frame and action. The Hilliard team was for the hotel ’bus ami they were clad in a $50 harness. The balance of the car was filled with oats and bay and half a dozen sets of single harness. April 1906

 Mr. James Steele recently sold the Henry farm in Ramsay to Mr. Richard Burroughs, of March. The farm has witnessed several ownerships since the Canada Company secured it from the Crown. Mr. Henry bought it in 1866. Then followed, as owners, William Hughes, Peter Turner, John Moore and Mr. Rivington. Mr. Burroughs is a. first-class farmer and is sure to become a good neighbor and a prosperous business man April 1906

Mr. A. Johnston has bought Mr. Chas. Simpson’s property on Queen street, and will become a welcome citizen of Almonte. He has also taken over Mr. Simpson’s real estate auctioneer business. Mr. Simpson intends going west on account of Mrs. Simpson’s health, and she will join him when he has decided where he will locate. He and Mr. Johnston will go somewhat extensively into horse-buying for the western markets. April 27 1906

Mr. Mcllquham began on Monday morning clearing space for a brick extension of his commercial annex. April 8 1908 ( Mississippi hotel)

Mr. Mcllquham is celebrating the quarter century mark of his purchase of the Mississippi hotel. “ Watty ” has never been derogatory to the highest enterprises. Let us hope that the next .quarter will find him just as smiling and as strenuous= April 12, 1907

Mr. George Thom has broken down the middle wall of partition in his stone block on Bridge Street in Carleton Place and so throws himself into very spacious quarters for his general business ; at the same time transferring his fancy goods section into the -Bell Block, South side. april 24 1907

Mr. L. McDonald’s auction sale was held at his farm on the tenth line of Ramsay on Thursday of last week. There was a large attendance and good prices were obtained for the stock. One team of horses bought  for $300 and the young cattle, of which there was a large stock, brought good prices. Messrs. McPhail purchased the farm some time ago, and will run it in connection with their present property on the tenth line. April 3 1908

Mr. Robt. MeLenahan has sold his brick residence on Lake Avenue, to Mr. Chas. Johnstone, and Mr. J. B. Elliott has disposed of his double house next door to Mr. Wm. Machin. Mr. C. Mclnitosh also disposed of the Shilson property o-n tfae same street, to W- C. Leech. April 3 1908

The auction sale at Mr.. Wallace’s last Thursday was well attended and good prices were, realized, cows bringing as high as $41. M r. C .Hollinger was the auctioneer, and Councillor Syme acted as clerk. April 1908

Malcolm H. Leininger, Lanark Village, has purchased the property and business of John White, merchant, Hopetown and moved up there on Saturday. Mr. Leininger until lately, carried on the sash, door and planning factory business with Archibald Affleck, having bought the same from Mr. W.W. Campbell-Perth Courier, Dec. 7, 1888

Perth Courier, Jan. 14, 1898–Auction Sale Farm Stock and Implements—Christopher Donaldson, Lot 26, 12th Concession Bathurst. Mr. Donaldson has retired from farming and everything must be sold.

Auction Sale Farm Stock and Implements: Richard T. Noonan, Lot 20, 5th Concession Burgess–Perth Courier, Feb. 19, 1897

Bonnie Mitchell is looking for.,

Hi Linda, I’m looking for any information regarding a fire at the farm of Arnold Klassen of Smiths Falls around 1970 or 1971. The only other information I have is that he was a pig farmer and lost everything in the fire. Thanks( photo is my kitchen with a Lanark County sign “Pigs for Sale”

Memories— share if you have any of farms..

Tammy MarionI remember a great vegetable stand that use to be in Franktown on the corner of Hwy#15 and #10. If I recall correctly it was a guy in a wheelchair that ran it or looked after it. Use to stop there quite often.

Tania IretonFerrier’s farm on Scotch Line. All the veggies and corn! In their back/summer kitchen I think.

Related reading

Death of Local Farms in 2025? 1975 article

Wind Storm in Ashton- Heath Ridge Farms 1976

The Abandoned Farm House in Carleton Place — Disappearing Farms

The McNaughton Farm– Memories Ray Paquette

Looking for Information on the Native Fort Farm of Fred Sadler of Almonte

The Bryson Craig Farm in Appleton

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

Housing History ….. And so it Began in 2007….

CLIPPED FROM
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
31 Mar 2007, Sat  •  Page 85

BY MICHAEL PRENTICE Carleton Place used to be a sleepy little town on the banks of the Mississippi River a world away from Ottawa. It’s not that way anymore. An expanding ribbon of asphalt between Ottawa and Carleton Place is set to be complete within three years, reducing the commute time for buyers impressed by small-town living and speeding the way to more affordable housing prices.

The highway improvements makes the town a more attractive place to live, and more attractive for big retailers, says Carleton Place mayor Paul Dulmage. He points out that a surge of big box-store construction is now taking place just off Highway 7 on the outskirts of town. It will include a Home Depot, Rona, Staples and Wal-Mart “I’m not sure the expanded highway will make a whole lot of difference in the time to get to and from Ottawa in off-peak hours,” says Dulmage. “But it will make travel safer, and it will make for an easier and faster journey in peak hours.” Quality of life is what brings people to live in this area, he says. “We have so much parkland and so many nature trails. It’s a lifestyle that is not easily duplicated.

What sort of existing home can you get for your money in Carleton Place? You could have bought a restored 1870s heritage home for $219,500. It was on the market for four months, and sold for the full asking price. Or a meticulously restored 1875 Victorian home sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River. The large, three-bedroom house on Moffatt Street was bought recently by a Canadian diplomat for $480,000 after being on the market for less than three months at $499,900. More modestly, a modern, three-bedroom bungalow at 308 Bridge St. in Carleton Place sold in two days earlier this month for the asking price of $189,900. Couch, a REMAX agent with offices in a magnificently-restored 1830s home in Carleton Place, says homes in all price ranges are being lifted by increased demand.

Pauline Aunger agrees. She is a Royal LePage real estate broker whose territory includes Perth, Smiths Falls and the Rideau Lakes. “The new highway will not just make Carleton Place closer to Ottawa. It will put the whole of Lanark County nearer,” says Aunger. “We are already seeing lots of people commuting daily between Lanark County and Ottawa.” The real estate market is busy, and prices have continued to rise in the past year, says Aunger. Newcomers find that small-town living is much more affordable than life in the city, she adds.

 It’s cheaper to buy existing homes in and around Carleton Place than in many parts of the national capital region, says the mayor. “It depends where you look, but you could pay $329,000 for a house that might cost $450,000 in some places in the region.” Statistics support his view. The average price of 228 homes sold in or near Carleton Place last year was about $185,000 compared with an average for the greater Ottawa region of $246,000. In more rural areas near Carleton Places, prices are higher. The average sale price last year was $230,000 in Mississippi Mills and $222,000 in Beckwith. Home prices in and around Carleton Place rose last year by about six per cent, in line with increases across the entire Ottawa region. Barbara Couch, a leading real estate agent in Carleton Place, believes it’s too soon for the coming highway improvements to have had a significant impact on house prices.

“Historically speaking when a commuter town such as Carleton Place gains better access to a divided highway, ultimately reducing commuting time, the demand for homes in that community escalates, as do property prices.” The four-lane, restricted access highway, now under construction, will extend from the outskirts of Carleton Place for about 20 kilometres to the 417 interchange, west of Scotia-bank Place. It is due to be completed in 2010 at a cost of $106 million. The highway will open in stages over the next three years. The commute time from the heart of Ottawa to Carleton Place now takes about 30 minutes, if road and weather conditions are good and traffic is light. For hockey fans attending an Ottawa Senators game at Scotiabank Place, it’s about the same distance home to Carleton Place as it is to downtown Ottawa. The drive from the 417 link to Carleton Place now takes about 15 minutes under ideal driving conditions.

For those working in Kanata’s technology hub, it’s already closer and quicker to get home to Carleton Place or Almonte than to east-end Ottawa or the Quebec suburbs. While Carleton Place is already within comfortable commuting, the highway improvements will now make other, more isolated towns a logical choice for people who want to escape big-city living. These include Perth, perhaps the prettiest and best-preserved town in the Rideau Lakes area. It has many heritage homes, some dating to the earliest European settlement of Eastern Ontario. The asphalt link may also bring new residents to Smiths Falls, a community recently devastated by news the Hershey chocolate factory will be closing.

For five years, an upscale neighbourhood of new homes has been taking shape in Carleton Place, just steps from nature trails, parkland and the Mississippi River. The first phase, of 66 homes, at Stonewater Gate is now almost complete and the second phase, Stonewater Bay on the Mississippi, is set to have an additional 200 homes. Homes in all price ranges are being lifted by increased demand. The development is by Sienna Homes, which previously had built a reputation by erecting large custom homes on two-acre lots in Dunrobin, a mostly-rural part of Kanata, where some of the region’s largest mansions are situated.

Sienna Homes owner Margret Gallo recalls the skeptical reaction of friends and associates when she planned homes for Carleton Place. There were also wary folks in town. “News of prices of our homes’ was not well received. There were those who felt the prices were too high,” says Gallo. “It took 18 months for people to understand what we were doing. If we had not been building homes of quality and style, we would not have come. Sienna Homes has raised the bar in Carleton Place.” Costs and, therefore, new home prices are about the same as similar developments in Ottawa, she says. Prices in Stonewater Bay on the Mississippi range from about $240,000 for a townhouse to $260,000 for a semi-detached adult-lifestyle bungalow. Sienna also has large single homes on the water costing close to $600,000.