Memories of Days of Wood Piles Water Plugs and Bushwackers – Carleton Place Railroad

The old train station says goodbye.. The plans for a new station at the Junction have been finished- They provide for a beautiful building, with a covered platform. The site arranged for is in the little triangle where the telegraph office is now languishes,though that may be changed.

Almonte Gazette November 11 1901– Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Carleton Junction Busy Spot In Days of Old Wood Burners Men Who Cut and Hauled Supplies for “Puffing Billies” (steam locomotives) Suffered Great Hardships. Memories of Days When Wood Piles and Water Plugs Lined the Old Brockville and Ottawa Railway. Were Some Fierce Encounters Between the Bush Whackers. ( bandits)

In one of his interesting and colorful series of stories relating to the old days in the neighborhood of Carleton Place, Mr. J. Sid Annable tells about the time in the early eighties when the district around the Junction Town was the center of operations for harvesting fuel to feed the little wood-burning engines that operated on the old Brockville and Ottawa Railway.

“Carleton Junction,” Mr. Annable writes, “was made the working center for the wood gathering operations for the Chalk River and Havelock divisions. The large round house located at the Junction housed the old wood-burners which were equipped with four driving wheels, two on each side. The fender, coupled to the engine, was constructed in much the same fashion as fenders are today. Built of steel with a capacity of up to ten thousand gallons of water, the center was made In a large U to hold the wood about fifteen cords ot four-foot sticks, mostly from the swamps and rough timber lands between Perth and Havelock.”

Every station on the line had Its water tower and wood yard for refuelling purposes. Those water plugs were all under the supervision of Road Master Tom Burgess and he was very proud of the pretty flower beds and shrubs around each station, for which he was personally responsible. Like the Shanties. It was Burgess job to see that the wood was harvested. In winter time he had hundreds of choppers cutting down the tamarack and hemlock trees which were under ten inches at the butt, trimming off the branches and cutting the wood into proper lengths.

After that the wood was hauled on sloops or bobsleighs out to the railway tracks where sidings were provided to hold hundreds of cars. These sidings were also used by trains passing in opposite directions. “The wood was piled as close to the rails as safety would permit. The bush whackers were paid so much a cord, after the wood was measured by the road master’s foreman. When the snow was gone and the winter cutting was finished, there were wood piles everywhere you looked along the main line.

“Then came the wood trains operating out of Carleton Junc tion. About ten crews were en gaged in this work five or six weeks every spring. Among the old time engineers who were at the throttles on the wood trains were Jack Carey, Joe Durecott and Jack Gallagher, all of whom have long since passed to the great beyond.

Some of the conductors I recall were Bill Flagg, Abe Chapman, Pat Caddington, Jack McDonald. Oake Brushe and Jack Laval. “These wood trains would pull twenty flat or box cars to the wood piles and the crew, working for ninety cents a day. would load the cars and ride them to their des tination where they would then engage in the task of unloading These men, with hands cut and bleeding and clothes torn to shreds, worked anywhere from ten to fifteen hours a day.

Today’s photo is of workers taking a break at the CPR Engine Repair Shops. Built in 1890 as a round house and repair shop for the Canadian Pacific Railway, it employed about 200 workers. After operations were moved to Smiths Falls, the building was purchased by the Canadian Cooperative Woolgrowers. Iron tracks from the turntable in the roundhouse were sold as scrap to help the war effort in 1940. Can you help us identify any of these men?–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Real Hardships. “The hardships these nomads of the bush endured to eke out a bare existence was little short of terrible. When they returned home each night they and their families would face mitts with leather of all kinds to protect their hands. Old Dan Tucker and Jim Miller, (read-Remembering a Shoemaker in Lanark Village–Thomas Wilson) the village shoemakers, often cut up calf skins in the shape of mitt fronts and sold them to the workers at twenty cents a pair. “Many fights and wrestling matches were staged at the wood yards and camps while the men were waiting for the trains to pick them up after the day’s work was done. Many a battle royal was started by bullies who always went around with chips on their shoulders. “The genial assistant superintendent, H. B. Spencer, earned for himself the international reputation of being the greatest authority on snow filling on the railways in winter time.

In his capacity as chief train despatches J. E. A. Robillard also was instrumental in preventing many a pile up of trains by his method of mapping out suitable meeting points. His able assistant. John Cole, was always on the Job at night. “Mr. Spencer left the employ of the C.P.R. in later years and assumed the management of the Hull Electric Railway. But his connection with that enterprise was of short duration; lt was not long before he was back on the old Job with the CP.R. “It was in 1885, I believe, that the railways turned to the use of soft coal as a fuel, and that was the finish of wood burning locomotives In this part ot Canada.”

1901– train station where Tim Horton’s is now on Coleman–Photo from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

February 21 1908–The Canadian Pacific railway has taken out a writ asking for an injunction to restrain the town of Carleton Place from collecting $500 taxes from the company. The taxes are on the property occupied by the machine and repair shops of the company. In 1897, on January 1st, an arrangement was made exempting this property from taxation for ten years, and, if the council had power, for a period of fifteen years. The ten ten years are up and the town claims that it had no power to grant exemption for more than ten. years and accordingly now taxes should be collected. The railway company hold to the exemption for fifteen years. The writ was filed by Scott & ’Curie for the railway company. It will be entirely a friendly suit. Photo- Carleton Place Chamber of Commerce

Today’s Carleton Place historical fact
For anyone that does not think there was a water tower at Carleton Junction and the new water tower is out of place next to the new pavilion — here is proof there was.. This was by the old CPR Roundhouse/ Woolgrowers
Hi Linda,
The attached photo was taken in the back garden of my grandparents home on Moore Street and shows what I believe to be the original railway water tower to the right of of the CPR shops (now the Wool Growers warehouse). The round house and the turntable, would have been behind the water tower.
A standard CPR steel tower was subsequently located between the two diverging railway tracks, just south of the Franktown Road – one to Smiths Falls and the other to Almonte and points west. This tower I recall was painted black and provided water, via underground pipes to the standpipes which in turn provided water to the steam locomotives.
Going further back, I would assume that around 1863 when either the Brockville and Ottawa or the Canada Central railway’s station was near the town line, that some form of a water tower would have been there as well.
The children in the image were the then five children of William and Elizabeth Hawkins, my grandparents. Two more were to follow.
Hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
Bob Robert Hawkins-FeDuke

These tulips have been growing at 20 Emily St for about 50 years. They were planted by Willard Hawthorne when he lived there in the 1970’s. Willard lived to be over 100 with a good mind. He worked for the CPR in the Carleton Place roundhouse, repairing steam locomotives until he and that work moved to Montreal until his retirement. Mayor Brian Costello and councillor Bruce Sadler had lots of good stories about Willard. For many years Willard was the towns best pool player. He was one of my great tenants in that apartment. Bill Flint–Carole Flint

Photo of some unknown gentlemen at the CP train station from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum– about the same time… or early 1900s 

The Carleton Place Train Station 1991

Clippings from the Train Stations in Carleton Place

James Fanning– Robert Nolan– Train Accident

Did You Know About These Local Train Wrecks?

Train Accident? Five Bucks and a Free Lunch in Carleton Place Should Settle it

The Men That Road the Rails

The Mystery Streets of Carleton Place– Where was the First Train Station?

Memories of When Rail was King- Carleton Place

Tragedy and Suffering in Lanark County-Trains and Cellar Stairs

I was Born a Boxcar Child- Tales of the Railroad

The Lanark County “Carpetbaggers”–Lanark Electric Railway

The Titanic of a Railway Disaster — Dr. Allan McLellan of Carleton Place

What Happened on the CPR Railway Bridge?

Memories from Carleton Place–Llew Lloyd and Peter Iveson

So Which William Built the Carleton Place Railway Bridge

Perils of the Cows of Carleton Place or Where’s the Beefalo?

Train Accident? Five Bucks and a Free Lunch in Carleton Place Should Settle it

The Removal of the CPR Train Station– Almonte –1978

November 1978 Almonte Gazette

Following recent publicity in regard to the impending demolition of the Almonte Railway Station, a group of local citizens whose interests lie in the area of the preservation of buildings of historical or heritage value have embarked on a campaign to have the 75-year-old building saved from the demolishers hammer.

A special meeting was held at the Continuing Learning/Office last Wednesday evening >ahd it was learned that the C.P.R. had taken back ownership of the building from Mr. Brian Meloche when Mr. Meloche was unable to come up with a definite plan to move the building from its present site – a requirement of the sale. As the situation stands now, the station is still scheduled for demolition by December 1st, 1978. However, the local group has been investigating other means of saving the building and a second meeting, scheduled for tomorrow evening (Thursday), 7.30 at the Continuing Learning Office at 88 Mill Street, may shed some light on the means to bring this about.

Among those expected to be present will be Dr. Harold Kalman who has worked in co-operation with the Ontario Heritage Foundation of the Ministry of Culture and Recreation, doing feasibility studies on old railway stations – among them the Almonte station. Hope has been expressed that help can be sought from the Ontario Heritage Foundation for a restoration program. Another guest who has been invited to the meeting is Mr. Harry Gow who is deeply involved with Transport 2000. This group has been busy with attempts to save some of these old unused railway stations and restore them for use as flag stops for the Via rail system in short haul commuter type travel. Some success has been achieved along this line and the possibility will be investigated here.

Although Almonte’s situation in regard to commuter travel between here and Ottawa would seem to be suited to such a scheme, a definite need for this type of service would have to be established before any steps could be taken. Representatives are also expected to be on hand from the Ontario Heritage Foundation. Unfortunately, the meeting falls on the same night as the All Candidates’ Meeting at the Town Hall but those not planning to attend that meeting are urged to attend the one at the Continuing Learning Office.

Attempts to save the Almonte Railway Station from demolition came to an abrupt end last Thursday morning when a Stittsville firm contracted by the C.P.R. moved in with heavy equipment and reduced the 75- year-old building to a pile of rubble. Surprised members of a heritage minded group of individuals from the Almonte area, many of them members of the North Lanark Historical Society, cancelled a meeting that was planned for Thursday evening to discuss various methods that could be used to preserve the landmark which served the area well for so many years.

Representatives from Heritage Canada, Transport 2000 and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications had been invited to Thursday’s meeting. Meeting organizer, Sandra Way said that her group was unaware that plans to demolish the building had already been finalized with Stacey Construction of Stittsville when the date for the meeting was announced last week. Attempts to have the building saved from the demolisher’s hammer began in earnest following discussions at the Ottawa Valley Heritage Conference in Arnprior recently, in the wake of publicity surrounding attempts by Mr. Brian Meloche of R.R.2, Carp, to secure financial help to move the building to another site, a proposition that proved to be far too costly, apparently.

The C.P.R.’s position was that they simply wanted the building away from its former site before winter set in and when no concrete proposals were put forth to move the building, they cancelled the purchase offer by Mr. Meloche and went ahead with demolition plans. Stacey Construction planned to salvage as much of the cut limestone as possible and the Town secured a quantity large enough to serve as a facia or a small commemorative wall at the proposed new public library which is to be constructed near the former station site.

November 1978

Covered From Head to Toe with “The Beautiful” !! Almonte Train Station

The McKellar Train Derailment 1913

The Almonte Wreck Poem George Millar Dec 29 1942

The Almonte Railway – Memories

Fred Gauthier Survivor — 6 Months 1 Day –1942 Almonte Train Wreck – Vern Barr

Rosebank, Blakeney, Norway Falls and Snedden’s Station

The Carleton Place Train Station 1991

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
11 Oct 1991, Fri  •  Page 4

The old limestone train station here near the entrance of town is the last of its kind in the upper Ottawa Valley. But many years of neglect and bouts of vandalism have taken their toll on the former Canadian Pacific Railway station. Its roof is sagging and the rows of long, rectangular windows are boarded up. Even the tracks that once stretched past the back of the building are gone. Yet local heritage enthusiasts are hopeful the 70-year-old building may soon reopen. Along with 21 other stations across Canada, it was recently designated heritage under the federal Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act. Heather Lebeau thinks it’s a godsend. “It means (the station) is saved from demolition,” says Lebeau, a member of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee. “It’s quite an achievement,” she says.

About 18 months ago, the heritage group submitted a report to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada asking that the building be considered for heritage designation. Lebeau says the condition of the abandoned depot was getting worse. If it was going to be saved, the designation was needed as soon as possible, she says. “Our main concern is that the history of the building remains intact. Our concerns (were) about its bad repair.” Tim Campbell, chairman of the committee, says under the heritage act, the building can’t be destroyed or altered” in any way without approval from the federal cabinet. “I’m very pleased about it,” says Campbell, who plans to make heritage an issue in this year’s municipal election. He’s running for council. “I would like to see it preserved.”

The station is among three heritage landmarks in town that risked being torn down. The historic Mississippi Hotel in the downtown core and the century-old auditorium on the second floor of the town hall are also in need of great repair. Between the 1920s and 1950s, about 30 freight trains and a dozen passenger cars pulled into the Carleton Place station daily. Saturday mornings were especially hectic when as many as 150 people traipsed through the station. But by the early 1960s, freight trains were losing a lot of business to transport trucks. And Carleton Place felt the squeeze. Cargo service dropped significantly and fewer passengers came through town. By the 1970s, passenger service to Carleton Place was discontinued altogether. It returned briefly in the late 1980s, but finally stopped in December 1989. The tracks were lifted a month later. Lebeau believes the building, still owned by CP, has a lot of potential. It’s sturdy and large and could have many uses, she says. There’s been talk of converting it into a restaurant, a local museum or community centre.

photo Tom Edwards 1920s

The original Carleton Place Subdivision in 1966-67

Canadian Pacific’s history in Ottawa goes back to the late 1800s, although there isn’t much that the casual observer will see of the railway’s legacy in this city today. However, if you dig deep enough, there are some fascinating hints of Canadian Pacific’s past in Ottawa, including a number of spots where you can spot the old Carleton Place Subdivision, a line that dates back to 1870 when it belonged the broad-gage Canada Central Railway. Let’s go digging. READ here

https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=6700

https://www.insideottawavalley.com/news-story/10041455-carleton-place-public-library-is-on-the-move-temporarily/ 2020

Clippings from the Train Stations in Carleton Place

Train Station and Bank of Nova Scotia-Old and New

The Mystery Streets of Carleton Place– Where was the First Train Station?

Clippings of the Almonte Library

1980 Almonte Gazette

 

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
04 Jun 1981, Thu  •  Page 47

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
08 Mar 1941, Sat  •  Page 9

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
18 Feb 1980, Mon  •  Page 38

 

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
15 Dec 1965, Wed  •  Page 9

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
30 Apr 1908, Thu  •  Page 7

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
01 Nov 1907, Fri  •  Page 12

 

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
13 Mar 1965, Sat  •  Page 32

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
17 Mar 1900, Sat  •  Page 7

The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
15 Sep 1910, Thu  •  Page 7

The Almonte Town Hall (circa 1910 pictured) was the original home of the Almonte branch of the library.

 

Mississippi Mills Public Library

· March 8, 2016 · 

The Elizabeth Kelly Foundation Inc. (EKLF) is named after Elizabeth Kelly, a devoted and much loved librarian of the original Mississippi Mills Public Library. The Foundation was established in 1985 to financially support education and literacy.

The Foundation supports literacy and learning within Mississippi Mills, in the greater Ottawa area when there is a tie-in with our local community and farther afield by supporting Canadian charities working internationally.

The Foundation is a registered charitable (not-for-profit) corporation in Ontario, Canada.

 

Elizabeth Kelly — Mary Cook News Archives

Covered From Head to Toe with “The Beautiful” !! Almonte Train Station

 

Clippings from the Train Stations in Carleton Place

 

Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Did you know that prior to 1923, anyone taking the train in Carleton Place would have left from this station? It was known as the Carleton Junction and was located on Franktown Road, right where Tim Horton’s is today. The stone station across the street that’s now the home of The Ginger Cafe was not built until 1923. The Mystery Streets of Carleton Place– Where was the First Train Station?

I will keep adding to this as I go through my newspaper archives.

 

Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

 

Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

You could even catch a stagecoach ride to the Mississippi Hotel–Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  19 Feb 1906, Mon,  Page 5

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  09 Dec 1939, Sat,  Page 32

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  29 Aug 1899, Tue,  Page 3

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  17 Dec 1948, Fri,  Page 1

 

The Ottawa Journal Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Fri, Aug 19, 1898 – Page 7

The 2 men on the right were retired CPR Trainmen. Horace St. Germaine and Ted Voyce– Photo Joann Voyce

Photo Ted Hurdis.. 

Carleton Place station

 

June 6 1882–The keeper of the refreshment room of the CPR at Carleton Place has applied for a beer license and -a lucky bidder at a sale of unclaimed goods at the C. P. R. station got 1,100 yards of dress goods for $12 50. Photo–1901-Carleton Place Train Station

 

March 22 1872- J. L. Murphy is selling at Carleton Place, 72 village lots, near Canada Central .Station. .Sale April 2, Tuesday, at Cornell’s Hotel. .J. A. Wright, auctioneer

 

Llew Lloyd—View from Bell Street 1957

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 19 Feb 1906, Mon, Page 5

Marge Mitchell —My Aunt lived on Judson Street and the train tracks were about 60 feet from her house…there were so many trains whizzing by everyday. We loved seeing them and ran up to the station and sat on the benches and watched these mighty iron beasts. Such a fabulous memory of old time Carleton Place.

 

 

 

 

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.

James Fanning– Robert Nolan– Train Accident

Did You Know About These Local Train Wrecks?

Train Accident? Five Bucks and a Free Lunch in Carleton Place Should Settle it

The Men That Road the Rails

The Mystery Streets of Carleton Place– Where was the First Train Station?

Memories of When Rail was King- Carleton Place

Tragedy and Suffering in Lanark County-Trains and Cellar Stairs

I was Born a Boxcar Child- Tales of the Railroad

The Lanark County “Carpetbaggers”–Lanark Electric Railway

The Titanic of a Railway Disaster — Dr. Allan McLellan of Carleton Place

What Happened on the CPR Railway Bridge?

Memories from Carleton Place–Llew Lloyd and Peter Iveson

Linda’s Dreadful Dark Tales – When Irish Eyes Aren’t Smiling — Our Haunted Heritage

So Which William Built the Carleton Place Railway Bridge

Perils of the Cows of Carleton Place or Where’s the Beefalo?

Clippings of The Old Perth Train Station

 

Photo from Perth Remembered

The train station was at the end of Herriott Street beside the Brown Shoe Factory building. I have a great memory of catching the midnight train in Perth enroute to Montreal to watch the Montreal Canadiens play the Detroit Red Wings with Perth’s own Floyd Smith playing for the Wings in the early 60’s.  Perth Remembered

In 1881 flat and boxcars were made at the Perth CPR car shops located in the now empty bush, but in 1905  the CPR moved all its equipment to Montreal. Livestock sheds housed cattle and other animals were soon to be shipped by train to all parts in Canada.

In 1859 the first train of the Brockville & Ottawa Railway Co. took nearly ten hours in 40 degree weather to reach Perth from Brockville. There are now few remnants of the old train station that was built from mottled stone from the Otty Lake area.

 

Clippings of memories

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  26 Mar 1974, Tue,  [Second Edition],  Page 21

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  11 Oct 1979, Thu,  Valley Edition,  Page 3

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  09 May 1968, Thu,  Page 8

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  25 Apr 1952, Fri,  Page 10

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.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)

The Glen Tay Train Wrecks of Lanark County

Did You Know About These Local Train Wrecks?

Tragedy and Suffering in Lanark County-Trains and Cellar Stairs

I was Born a Boxcar Child- Tales of the Railroad

The Lanark County “Carpetbaggers”–Lanark Electric Railway

The Titanic of a Railway Disaster — Dr. Allan McLellan of Carleton Place

What Happened on the CPR Railway Bridge?

Memories from Carleton Place–Llew Lloyd and Peter Iveson

Linda’s Dreadful Dark Tales – When Irish Eyes Aren’t Smiling — Our Haunted Heritage

So Which William Built the Carleton Place Railway Bridge?

The trial of W. H. S. Simpson the Railway Mail Clerk

55 years ago–One of the Most Tragic Accidents in the History of Almonte

The Kick and Push Town of Folger

Train Accident? Five Bucks and a Free Lunch in Carleton Place Should Settle it

The Men That Road the Rails

The Mystery Streets of Carleton Place– Where was the First Train Station?

Memories of When Rail was King- Carleton Place

Memories from Carleton Place–Llew Lloyd and Peter Iveson

 

Llew Lloyd

By 1948 I think my dad had his own business. Here’s a pic of Mom , Pat , Gwen , David and Dad Llewellyn ( L, W. Lloyd ). I’m thinking early 50’s . Might be a new ( to him ) truck as well .

I have another picture somewhere which shows L,W. Lloyd on the door of the truck . Mom was Margaret but known by many as Dolly. Going to public school in Carleton Place in those days it seemed to become a fad to be called by your dad’s name. In my case it stuck, but now I’d guess it’s half and half between David and Llew. A good example of the nickname trend would be to research how many Ossie McNeelys there are in town.

 

 

A.C. Burgess “Dining Hall Carleton Place” 1885

Arthur Burgess Closes Carleton Place C.P.R. Restaurant

Peter Iveson

I think Mr.Burgess’s CPR restaurants were in the old CPR carleton junction station before the new station was built in 1923. There was never a restaurant in the 1923 new station other than a peanut dispenser and a coke machine.

People used to have long waits in the uncomfortable station waiting room changing trains. I heard one horrible story where some people going to Deep River went up the main street to find a restaurant open after their Toronto train arrived in Carleton Place at 9:30 PM.  The Dominion going up the Valley left at 11.51 PM and they got caught waiting for a freight train to clear the other crossing,they nearly missed the Dominion.

 

 

1901-Carleton Place Train Station– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum actually has two photographs taken during the Royal Visit.

Arthur Burgess Closes Carleton Place C.P.R. Restaurant

ARTHUR BURGESS SOLD RESTAURANTS– Owned Ten C. P. R. Restaurants but Will Now Look After Other Interests

January 1920-Almonte Gazette

Mr. G. Arthur Burgess, according to the Carleton Place Herald, has sold his restaurants and will devote his time to other interests. Since his boyhood Mr. Burgess has been associated with the C.P.R. restaurants, beginning first with the Canada Central, his brothers: John, Robert and Cecil, being alternately the lessees.

 

1901-Carleton Place Train Station– Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum actually has two photographs taken during the Royal Visit.

He succeeded them and extended the system until he owned and controlled ten different restaurants at many divisional points. He has disposed of his furnishings and equipment and goodwill to the company, the  compensation being arranged by mutual agreement.

 

Newspaper —Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum — 

 

The new train station was built in Carleton Place in 1921. Did he know that change was coming and decided to close the C.P.R. restaurant before things changed?  Or, had he already decided that he was going to run for *mayor again and win in 1922? According to long time resident Marjorie Whyte, the station burned down. She remembered the horse drawn fire engines rushing to the fire.

I guess we will never know as one could never ever figure out what his next move was– and *he listened to no one.

 *Arthur Burgess was Mayor of Carleton Place in 1903 and in 1922.

December 10-1920-Mr. G. Arthur Burgess has installed a bit of celestial architecture in his Thompson Block— a window brought across from the church in Almonte which he recently purchased.— Central Canadian

Perth Courier, Feb. 1, 1889

Golden Wedding—On Tuesday a large company of friends assembled at Mr. and Mrs. James Halliday of this town to celebrate their golden wedding.  On the 29^th day of January, 1839 Mr. Halliday was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Allan, daughter of the late Francis Allan and sister of James Allan of this town, all then lived on the Scotch Line.  All their children we believe are yet living and number eight.  Of these, seven attended the golden wedding celebration, namely William, James and Matthew, all of Cheasley, Ontario; Mrs. Arthur Burgess; Mrs. Somerville, Carleton Place; Mrs. Donlan and Miss Jennie Halliday of Perth. Mrs. Halliday’s mother, Mrs. Fraser, an aged lady of 91 years, was there and had one of her great-grandchildren, forming at either end four generations.  A number of presents and keepsakes to commemorate the day and event were handed to the golden wedded pair and a pleasant time was spent until the 51^st year had taken place of the 50^th

 

*George Arthur Burgess, mayor of Carleton Place in 1903 and 1921, and at times a stormy petrel in municipal affairs, installed a small hydro electric plant at Arklan in 1909 and for about a year supplied a part of the town’s power for electric lighting purposes, leasing his installations in 1912 to the town’s other supplier of electric power.

 

Newspaper —Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 18 May 1940, Sat, Page 14

The Crazy Town World of Mr. George Arthur Burgess of Carleton Place

Before The Carleton Place Mews?

Who Was John Boland? Chatterton House/Queen’s Hotel Registry — The Burgess Family Dynasty

 

The Auction of the Year in Carleton Place

The Wall Mysteries of Lake Ave East -Residential Artists

 

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

Covered From Head to Toe with “The Beautiful” !! Almonte Train Station

 

 

On Monday afternoon a snow plow passed through here at a high rate of speed, sending the snow flying in all directions. As it was passing the station the snow was thrown with such force against the window that the glass was broken and the desk and floor covered with snow and broken glass. All the pens, ink and paper were buried in the avalanche.

Mr. J . Camochan and Mr. F. Nunn, the operator, had a narrow escape, the latter being literally covered from head to foot with “the beautiful.” The telegraph instruments were so disarranged that it was some time before they could be got into working order again.

 February 1887–Almonte Gazette

LOCAL TRAIN STATION FIRES

Almonte  CPR station fire – 16 May 1911.

Carleton Place CPR carpenters shop – 27 July 1897. {4}
Carleton Place CPR roundhouse roof – 12 December 1911.

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

Train Station and Bank of Nova Scotia-Old and New

Photos-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

Old–New Railway- Howard Morton Brown Notes

James C. Poole, editor of the Carleton Place Herald, announced the coming of the railroad in the July 21^st, 1853 edition of his newspaper:

“We rejoice to be able to announce that the By-law of the County Council, loaning the credit of the County to the Brockville and Ottawa Railway Company, has been heartily supported by the people in the different municipalities.

The inhabitants of this ‘city’, elated at the success which had attended the railroad scheme thus far, turned out en masse and had a regular rejoicing.

With the advent of the railway, and the establishment of industries like Findlay Foundry, Carleton Place saw major expansion in the 1860’s. Some ads in the Carleton Place Herald of 1859 reveal the sudden realization by local merchants and men of industry of the commercial advantages of using rail service to both obtain and deliver their goods:

“First Arrival by Railway Direct to Carleton Place!  Teas, Teas, part of the Cargo of the Ship ‘Gauntlet’, from China, 112 Boxes and 48 Catties – Also a large stock of Harvest Tools – Also by the same conveyance a further supply of fancy and staple Dry Goods and a very full assortment of Shelf Hardware, Crockery, etc. – A. McArthur, June 30, 1859.”

Beginning in 1859 with a railway link established between Brockville and Carleton Place, and again in 1870 with a link from Ottawa, the town and surrounding area was becoming an attractive and cheap recreational destination:

“Cheap Excursion to Brockville on Thursday August 25^th.  Fare from Almonte, Carleton Place, Franktown, and back, only One Dollar! Leave Almonte 7:30 a.m., Carleton Place 8:00 a.m., Smiths Falls 9:15 a.m., arriving at Brockville 11 a.m. Returning will leave Brockville at 4:45 p.m., reaching Almonte at 8 p.m. – Robert Watson, Managing Director, Brockville & Ottawa Railway

Canada Central Railway.  The section of this railway between Ottawa and Carleton Place, forming with its connections a through Broad Gauge route between Ottawa and the west, will be open for traffic on September 16, 1870.

H. Abbott, Managing Director, Ottawa.

Long ago twilight brought out Harry Tetlock to light the switch and semaphore lamps on the CPR yard tracks.  He was always smiling and walked fast.

Mr. Hamilton, a painter, father of John R., a C.P.R. conductor was a veteran of the Crimean war as was my grand uncle who was a V.S. (Farrier Sgt. In army parlance); he was at the Charge of the Light Brigade, although not actually in the charge, took care of the horses.

New-Little Bit O’ Soul in Carleton Place -The Ginger Cafe “Magnifies”!

 

Bank of Nova Scotia

Old-“The Moffatt Brothers have secured tender for the new bank at Carleton Place.  Associated with them for the masonry is Levi Brian.  The price is about $7,000.   Central Canadian“

Putting a Face to Levi Brian, Stonemason, of Carleton Place

The Carleton Place Nova Scotia Bank on Bridge Street- read more about it here.

1940’s

The staff of the Carleton Place Nova Scotia Bank in 1971

 

 

New

Ann Rawson –I believe my husband Dave Rawson is the fellow kneeling down on the right side of the photo.