And they Keep Coming- Memories of Summer

Jan McCarten SansomI remember it well, and swimming lessons there every summer

Marlene SpringerThat’s how I remember the beach part of the park when I took swimming lessons

Peter BradleyRemember the “buddy” system when you were doing swimming PE at CPHS

Linda Gallipeau-JohnstonTook swimming lessons here – would spend all day long here in summer months – wasn’t allowed to swim in Aug though. Remember the twirlers on the other side of the road and the old change house. Those metal slides on hot days!

Hazel Stewart-HuneaultI remember the raft. Great pic

Ann Stearns RawsonI remember those trees and the benches. My mom would sit there while we had swimming lessons and played in the water afterwards.

Dan WilliamsLinda Gallipeau-Johnston Isn’t it odd that something as simple as taking you for a swim could make a memory that lasts forever. I have a similar one with my dad taking Pat and I swimming but not at the beach. Somewhere near the railroad bridge. I remember Pat seeing a bug and throwing a fit.

Paul HodginsOMG I remember that yellow bench that was between the trees. My Mom would sit there for hrs watching us kids swim.If we were good got to go to canteen. Always went to canteen LOL 

Bill Russell

July 6 at 10:33 AM  · Jim McKittrick I think Paul is in this pic

Barry TraffordI remember those days! They even allowed camping there around. I remember when the water tower overflowed and us kids would run underneath it. Good old days.

Liana Gallanti climbed part way up the ladder on that water tower once, until the cops came along and td me to get down! I can’t remember who was with me but I’m sure I wouldn’t have done it alone! I’ve told my kids about this feat, but they tease me unmercifully, because the tower is no longer there and they tell me I made that story up – lol.. Anyone here help me out?

Dan WilliamsLiana Gallant Just tell them it was the thing to do. They can ask most anybody in CP and they will have either climbed it themselves or know somebody who did.

John ArmourUsed to have to walk down hot oiled roads to go to the booth for a sundae, milkshake or Coke. Early 1960’s.Can remember every year, (when I was around 4 years old-really young), Jackie and Georgie Baker, along with Colin Julian, maybe Murray Hedderson, placing me (lightweight) in a homemade go-cart (wheels nailed on 2×4’s, rope steering, as I was light (age 3 to 5 or 6). They would annually, push me from Frank Street thru Leigh Instruments (even before it was Leigh Instruments) up to the beach and park on the sand beach. They would quietly scoop sand into the cart, (keeping an eye out for Chief Herb Cornell) and then take us back to their house, to unload the sand for the bottom of their tent. (Canvas tents had no bottoms in those days). Even with a lightweight like me riding to steer, the weight of the sand still broke the wheels off by the time we’d get there.I loved the Baker’s. The boys looked after me and the girls (Elizaberh, Joanie and Jeanie all babysat me, as a tot). They were great people on Frank Street and I think of them often.

Andrea NephinJohn Armour Elizabeth Baker babysat Johnny & I many times & the twins, Jeanie & Joanie were great friends. Many fond memories of the Baker family who lived across the street from us in our childhood.

Alana FlintLinda Gallipeau-Johnston I loved that smell along with the poplar sap from the trees along the road

Tom MontreuilLoved the old booth down past the high school

Susan Mary RiskThat raft used to buffer the deep spot between the far shore and a big rock where everyone rested. Now there is just a rock but the water is still way over the head close to the baby shore.

Karen RobinsonI do remember the park like that. My Dad would take us swimming when he came home from work in Ottawa. Swam across the river many times when I got older. Love that park.

Mitzi BrownstoneI think this is the place that my grandfather would take us to visit . Did they sell ice cream there?

Richard Hepton
July 5 at 11:30 PM  · 

There were great times on the riverbank. The boy in this hydroplane is now 18….

Ruth Anne SchnuppI remember those days! – in those times all we had was the Park in the summer & the arena in the winter . But we sure had fun !

Thelma SavardJack hurdis used to take us in the evening after we spent the whole day there

Thelma SavardWe were sent out early morning for our lessons stayed all day packed a lunch

related reading

1963 Riverside Park — Stills from a 8 MM Movie Camera — Larry Clark

The Booth — Ralph and Kelly Neron

Riverside Park Comments Larry Clark ‘The Dip’

St. Mary’s and Riverside Park 1969

When Were Some of the Trees Planted in Riverside Park?

The Carleton Place Riverside Park Booth Etc. Etc.

Let’s Build Cabins at Riverside Park!

When the Circus came to Carleton Place

Tug of War 1970’s Riverside and Centennial Park Carleton Place

Just Beat It! Carnival Riot in Carleton Place at Riverside Park

Before and After at Centennial Park

So What Did You Do in Riverside Park?

It was the Boathouse that Went On and On….

The Carleton Place Riverside Park Booth Etc. Etc.

Thanks to all that commented.. we now have documented more local history.

Almonte Gazette August 1964

Bev Hynes The people in the photo are myself, Debbie Hastie and I believe two of her siblings? I think there used to be a canteen to the right!  They used to sell these postcards in the smoke shop!!!! (Candy store)

Cathy Paul Dulmage I believe that cruiser at the dock belonged to my dad. It was built by a Neighbour across the street when we lived on Charlotte street. His name was Wiggy Lotan. Mrs. Lotan used to babysit us. It was a great place to be growing up. A much gentler time. Paul Dulmage

 

Peter Bradley Leo Dulmage bought my fathers boat in 1960 with a 70hp Mercruser engine on it, he also took us for a ride in an Edsel. Paul used to race go-carts in the track at the end of High Street and let me drive his cart too.

Joann Voyce Paul It was Wiggy Logan . I spent the first 8 years of my life on Charlotte and Thomas Sts.

Photo- John Armour

John Armour It was an “Egyptian” hull, homemade by Willys, with a 40h.p Scott At Water red outboard ( which could never achieve plane). I grew up on boat with my dad, but normally anchored in off the dock in anchors made of coffee cans cemented. Had a crumbly rubber carper and the captains chair used to collapse suddenly. Had an oak ice box. (Photo shows my sister at the dock of our grandmother/father LeMaistre’s cottage.)
Spent early years on this boat and cut up a stink with my Father when he announced in 1967 we were getting a new boat (Chris Craft owned by Leo thru to Ray Chambers) Very rare “Chris Craft – Kit boat) boat had the same painted swish as the cover photo boat which was an idea of Leo’s as I was there when it was adapted to an new paint scheme for the Chris Craft, during a rebuilding in 1970, at Beckwith Construction garage. So the fine, tasteful artistry of Leo, runs amongst multiple craft. ( Glad you are okay now John!)–

 

Photo- John Armour

John Armour Leo was the idea man to add the blue swish at the stern during remaking of the Chris Craft boat in 1970 (similar to the cover picture at the booth of the Egyptian hull) Leo’s artistic eye and taste are evident. Photo taken by me from the boathouse at end of Frank Street.

John Edwards Many memories of “the Booth

Jennifer Hicks Indeed John!

Sylvia Giles Not sure if that was the official name but everybody called it The Booth!!!!

Karen McGee Yes, I worked the canteen for several summers. I also rented boats to Stompin’ Tom when he would come by in the daytime to go fishing.

Sandra Mailey I believe Ray Kennedy and his wife operated the boat rental business and the booth. She made the best hamburgers I had ever tasted!

Ted Hurdis definitely was a great place to go for a burger, fries, shake or whatever. It was the booth to everyone from town. Early on the road through the park ran right beside the front counter of the booth

 

Karen McGee Yes, and it was run by Delmer & Muriel Baldry from Ottawa when I worked there, probably ’71 ish.

Dan Williams Great place. Spent a lot of time there. First renting boats to go fishing. I was only about 12 but I could rent a boat. Usually a row boat but for a couple of extra bucks you could get a motor. Later we hung out there as teenagers. Parked our cars on the high school side of the road. I knew it as Brooks’ booth. The booth was good enough. Great memories.

Ray Paquette —Ray Kennedy and his wife operated the “canteen” in the 1950’s. In addition to the refreshments stand and boat rentals, you could buy live bait, minnows and dew worms for fishing using the rental boats. I believe that Dale Costello moored his “sea flea” there in the late ’50’s early ’60’s nad if he see this post he will make a comment. By the way, didn’t Ray drive a taxi in the “off season”?

Kevin Kennedy — it was called the booth my father and mother built it just after w.w.11 he built 32 row boats that he rented them out before the highway bridge was put in. mother run the both restaurant end of things . they stayed there until one of my older brothers near drowned then they moved to Francis street

Ted Hurdis ,Kevin Kennedy such a great part of our town history Kev. You should be very proud of what they did and accomplished , I hope you have some keepsakes it was a big part of our life back then.

Ray Paquette Kevin Kennedy I didn’t realize that your parents built it. I holds a special place in my memories of summers in Carleton Place as a youth. Did your father drive a taxi at any point or am I having a “senior moment”..

Kevin Kennedy–Yes he did he owned kennedys taxi owned for twenty some years. My dad run it for years after the second world war. Linda there was a store he run sold hot dogs hamburger ice cream cones etc and he had about 50 row boats he rented out to all most 100 campers that stayed in the park then he made extra money when the carnivals came to town his name was Ray Kennedy thanks.

Linda Gallipeau-Johnston We all just loved that place on the river! We were at that canteen on a daily basis throughout the summer and school lunch hours while it was still open.

 

Photo- John Armour

 

John Armour Paul has this boat of Leo’s in mind. Taken at the end of Frank Street at the wharf. This is the boat copied by my Dad as design for the boat at the booth picture..

Keith Giffin In 59 when I went into high school , tried out for the football team, we had our practice at the back of the high school, next to the booth or canteen . When we had a break, some of the boy,s would go for a drink or a ice-cream cone. Coach Davie Palmater put a stop to that.

Jo-Anne Dowdall-Brown They had the best ice cream. It was rolled and really creamy!

 

Dale Costello Remember Ray Kennedy quite well. frequent visitor. Had my small three point hydroplane at his docks. Fastest way to see the girls up the lake. Great years in CP.

Anne McRae I remember Riverside Park , Heather and I were lifeguards there.

Bill Brunton I grew up on Moffatt street and used to walk our Dogs down the trail at the end of Joseph Street. There used to be 2 clearings in there. Straight across the River from the Canoe club.. I always wondered what that was in there. A slag dump for Findlays Foundry? Nice pictures of the boats by the water.

 

Clipped from

1. The Ottawa Citizen,
2. 01 Sep 1967, Fri,
3. Page 39

Clipped from

1. The Ottawa Citizen,
2. 09 Apr 1974, Tue,
3. Page 77

4. where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and theSherbrooke Record and and Screamin’ Mamas (USACome 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. Tales of Almonte and Arnprior Then and Now.

   

   When Were Some of the Trees Planted in Riverside Park?

   Let’s Build Cabins at Riverside Park!

   When the Circus came to Carleton Place

   Tug of War 1970’s Riverside and Centennial Park Carleton Place

   Just Beat It! Carnival Riot in Carleton Place at Riverside Park