Did You Know we Once Had a Grand Hotel? The Grand Central Hotel

 

 

The Grand Hotel has opened in Carleton Place, and today I found out we once had a Grand Hotel here in the late 1800s. It was actually called The Grand Central Hotel and it was first owned by David Dowlin. When he headed west to Minnesota he leased the hotel to his nephew Thomas Doyle from Drummond.

After doing research for a few hours I failed to come up with the location so I called Jennifer Fenwick Irwin at the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum to see if she knew. She had never heard of it either, but we both assumed it had to be near the train station as it kind of went with the Grand Trunk Railroad that went through town– and maybe it wasn’t.

Ray Paquette

This house always fascinated me. When I was a lad the former Snedden Hotel was owned by a Mr. Feltham (sic) who ran a rag business out of a former hotel on the west side of Moore Street in the area beside Interval house that was torn down in the 1950’s and replaced with a Cities Service gas station.

 

The Grand Hotel

Thanks to Jaan Kolk–Hey Linda, the 1888-9 Ontario Gazetteer you referenced actually has an ad for the Grand Central Hotel on the page following the listing (p.225) with a drawing – and it gives the location as directly opposite CPR station

 

In 1905 Thomas went to visit his uncle David Dowlan and was injured in a Great Northern train wreck. I don’t think the Carleton Place hotel lasted too long as Thomas Doyle went to Ottawa and opened the Strathcona Hotel on York Street. I can’t seem to find anything on that hotel either, but it is nice to see that the New Grand Hotel name in Carleton Place has a wee bit of reference to days gone by.

 

 

Shane Wm Edwards  family photo— On Franktown Road Carleton Place. Notice the carriages at the old station.

 

 

Perth Courier, April 12, 1895–Mr. Thomas Doyle of Drummond has gone to Carleton Place to take charge of the Grand Central Hotel there having leased it from his uncle D. Dowlin.

Grand Central Hotel- Carleton Place-David Dowlan— Ontario Gazetteer and Business Directory (late 1800s)

 

Perth Courier, Jan. 24, 1896

The Carleton Place Herald of Jan. 14 says:  “Last Tuesday morning William Earle of Carson and Earle of this town and Annie Doyle of Drummond were united in marriage.  The ceremony was performed in St. John’s Church, Perth, by Rev. Father Duffus after which the party drove out to the residence of the bride’s parents where the marriage festivities were observed.  Miss Hattie Doyle, cousin of the bride, was maid of honor and Thomas Doyle, proprietor of the Grand Central Hotel was best man.  The guests were many and a pleasant evening was spent. The presents were numerous and handsome and useful.”

 

Obituary of Thomas Doyle

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  30 Nov 1935, Sat,  Page 9

 

Jaan Kolk–Linda, you mentioned relatives moved west. Thomas M. Doyle, age 24, died in Anaconda, Montana. (Ottawa Journal, June 11, 1903)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaan Kolk–I had trouble finding anything on the the Strathcona Hotel, York St. too, until I found this June 13, 1903 Ottawa Journal obituary for Thomas M. Doyle, which gave me the address 32 York St., and a year. The 1901 Might directory lists the Strathcona Hotel, 32 York St., Thomas Doyle prop. The 1890-91 Woddburn directory lists it as the Lynott House (Wm. & David Lynott) and the year before it was the Davidson House. The Strathcona was short-lived – by 1906 or earlier it was the Farmers’ Hotel, H.R Boyd prop.

 

 

 

Jaan Kolk–And here is a June 6, 1906 Journal notice of transfer of tavern license for 32 York St., already the Farmers’ Hotel from the Strathcona in Ottawa. I had trouble finding anything on the the Strathcona Hotel, York St. too, until I found this June 13, 1903 Ottawa Journal obituary for Thomas M. Doyle, which gave me the address 32 York St., and a year.

 

The 1901 Might directory lists the Strathcona Hotel, 32 York St., Thomas Doyle prop. The 1890-91 Woddburn directory lists it as the Lynott House (Wm. & David Lynott) and the year before it was the Davidson House. The Strathcona was short-lived – by 1906 or earlier it was the Farmers’ Hotel, H.R Boyd prop.

Clipped from The Minneapolis Journal,  06 Jul 1905, Thu,  Page 2

 

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.

 

Romancing the Mississippi Hotel

Carleton Place Folk Art from the Queen’s Hotel –The Millers

The Leland and Rathwell Hotels on Bridge Street

Leo Doyle of the Leland Hotel in Carleton Place –Calling All Doyles

The Rules of the Queen’s Hotel in Carleton Place

Death from Corrosive Sublimate —Carleton Place’s Revere House

Jules “Julie” Pilon of the Leland Hotel– Weather Man

The Mystery Murals of The Queen’s and Mississippi Hotel

Lake Park Lodge – Queen’s Royal Hotel- Mississippi Lake Carleton Place Ontario

So Who Painted Those Wall Murals at our Carleton Place Hotels?

 

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.

Are You Ready to Visit the Open Doors?

Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum– Snedden Hotel First and the Grand Central Hotel across the street–