Now You see it, Now You Don’t: The Disappearing and Reappearing of the Tim Horton’s Subterranean

Photos by Bill and Carole Flint= The Sky Pilots

A disappearing stream or subterranean (under Tim Horton’s Franktown Road) is the term used to describe a stream or a river, which flows into a sinkhole or a crack. There is a geological reason for this vanishing act: the bedrock under Tim Horton’s on Franktown Road is made of early Carboniferous (around 325-360 million years old) limestone. Limestone is prone to dissolving when it comes into contact with slightly acidic rain water, creating of fissures, sinkholes, and underground channels and caves (Pike Hole) that surface water can escape into.

In the past the stream flowed down Rochester Street where memories of opening up basement windows to let the flood streams go through are still talked about. Then it flows under my house (Springside Hall on Lake Ave E.) where in the Spring before we bought it and installed sump pumps after the first Spring the basement waters would be about 4-5 feet deep.

From there it flows into the old stream at the bottom of Lisgar Street where that stream was once a lot bigger. Big enough to warrant a small bridge on Lake Ave East where there was a small bridge near Beckwith Street. The staff at Nichols/Waugh used to clean their work tools in the stream on a daily basis on the corner of Lake Ave East.

But, where does it come back to the surface again? It is commonly stated that it reappears a few miles downstream and flows out at the arena. I asked our popular photographer John Rayner to shoot some photos, if he was near the arena, so we can see where it finally flows out into the Mississippi River.

So thanks to John here it is.

All Photos courtesy of John Rayner 

These are just some of his fabulous photos–see the rest his Lanark Couty photos here on his blog The AC is Always On..

                      Go to about where there is a path between the ball fields.

 

That scene above was to my back as I looked at the drain pipe.pipe (metal) below.

There is another drain pipe (plastic) to the left as you look toward the river from the path, but it didn’t look as though it had discharged anything for awhile.

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I was able to go down the embankment to look back at the drain pipe (the metal one).

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A young nimble-footed person might have been able to get to where your stream enters the Mississippi, but I am neither young nor nimble, so I took a few photos back up on the trail, all to the right (toward the arena) of the drain pipe above. You can see where they meet up below, with your stream being on the foreground.

​All Photos courtesy of John Rayner

So that’s all I’ve got for you. You might see better later in the fall when all of the leaves have fallen.

I didn’t know about this, so it was fun to explore and find it.

Thanks John!!

— I grew up on Lake Ave. E. in the last war time house. We played in treasure valley a lot. Spring time we would build a raft in the pond in the valley and skate on it in the winter. Summers we played house at the ledges of rock going into the valley. One time some boys had bows and arrows. The end of the arrow had a nail on it. As we were running home guess who got an arrow in her little behind. That’s right me!

 

Photo-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum-This map dates to 1868 with updates in red done in 1873. Rochester Street didn’t exist in 1868 “This has become the division line by length of occupation”. The name Rochester is penciled in red in the 1873 update along with “this part of Street laid out by third parties”.

Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum The stream crossing under 12 Con. (now Lake Avenue East) had A BRIDGE! (at the corner of Beckwith Street). This stream still runs, mostly underground, but is visible in backyards along Argyle Street, and then again along Sussex Avenue.

Is that part of Tannery Creek? This is the barn where Canadian Tire was..

Peter Iveson-– There was Tannery Creek– it emerged on the east side of Beckwith Street and ran between the MacDougal House and where Canadian Tire was, then run under the CPR tracks and eventually went through the old dump and into The Mississippi River.

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.

“The Tim Horton’s River” Under my House.. Is That the Way To Fraggle Rock?

Feeling Groovy by the Lake Ave East Bridge

Did You Know we had a %^&* Creek in Carleton Place?

Where Was One of the Open Air Rinks in Carleton Place?

The Morphy Cram House — Springside Hall

Winter —Rochester Street Looking North– Before and After

Friday October the 13th– 6:30.. meet in front of the old Leland Hotel on Bridge Street (Scott Reid’s office) and enjoy a one hour Bridge Street walk with stories of murder mayhem and Believe it or Not!!. Some tales might not be appropriate for young ears. FREE!–

Here we go Carleton Place– Mark Your Calendars–
Friday October the 13th– 6:30.. meet in front of the old Leland Hotel on Bridge Street (Scott Reid’s office) and enjoy a one hour Bridge Street walk with stories of murder mayhem and Believe it or Not!!. Some tales might not be appropriate for young ears. FREE!–

Join us and learn about the history under your feet! This year’s St. James Cemetery Walk will take place Thursday October 19th and october 21– Museum Curator Jennfer Irwin will lead you through the gravestones and introduce you to some of our most memorable lost souls!
Be ready for a few surprises along the way….
This walk takes place in the dark on uneven ground. Please wear proper footwear and bring a small flashlight if you like.
Tickets available at the Museum, 267 Edmund Street. Two dates!!!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1211329495678960/

OCT 28th
Downtown Carleton Place Halloween Trick or Treat Day–https://www.facebook.com/events/489742168060479/