Fire discovered about eight o’clock, Sunday evening, did considerable damage at the residence of Mr. P. W. Strickland, Union Street, mostly through smoke and water. Smoke pouring out of a garage in which there was no car a t the time, drew attention to the trouble first. This garage was part of a frame shed connected with an unused two-storey stone extension built into the main stone residence. Apparently the fire travelled along the shed and got into the stone wing. The terrific smoke penetrated the main part of the building when a door blew open, and it is said some of the windows were blown out by the force of combustion.
Things looked bad at first. Mr. and Mrs. Strickland were playing golf at Appleton and word was sent to them . In the meantime neighbours rallied around and helped firemen remove household furniture and effects to the lawn in case the flames should spread to the house itself. One fireman, Orville Clement, was overcome with smoke and had to spend the night in the hospital.
The smoke was the greatest trouble and it caused considerable damage to the interior of th( house, which is a large one, purchased by Mr. Strickland from Mrs. Percy Jamieson. The whole interior will have to be done over. The shed was demolished and the stone wing, which was formerly used as an outside kitchen, with rooms overhead for help, was badly blackened and scorched. While officially, the cause of the fire has not been definitely established, it is thought that children playing around the place were responsible.
Hi Linda. I was wondering what info you might have for the William Thoburn house on union?- Tatiana Barr Tatiana, I scoured all day but did not come up with much except the Thoburns and the Fairneys, but I dug up all this interesting stuff LOLOL
Quintessential Victorian home: “William Thoburn house”, 161 Union St., Almonte – of particular architectural interest: the verandah & 2nd floor balcony. *Marshall Benjamin Aylesworth was the architect for Thoburn’s house (161 Union Street). (see historical facts)
Thoburn came to Canada in 1857, age 10, and attended #Pakenham School. He moved to #Almonte, age 20, in 1867. The house was designed by architect, M.B. Aylsworth in 1887. It was home to William & Margaret Thoburn (Lyons) and their two daughters, Annie and Mae.
Info from MVTM guidebook & Lanark Co., 1896, rootsweb & “A cyclopædia of Canadian biography” (online)
Photos Linda Seccaspina 1981
Property bought
July 15 1887 Almonte Gazette-Thoburn building a new home
—Mr. Wm. Thoburn has purchased from Mr. J. Jamieson a part of the property on Union street on which the latter gentleman’s residence is situated ; also a few lots immediately adjoining from Mr. B. Rosamond. Mr T. intends putting up an elegant residence for himself on his new purchase
Life Events
While returning from church on Sunday evening a number of people were walking on the road because of the slippery condition of the sidewalks. When, near Mrs. Bryson’s residence on Union street the pedestrians were met by a horse and cutter in which were two men, and when passing Mayor Thoburn and his daughter, Mrs. Percy (Annie) Jamieson, the driver struck out at them with the whip, hitting Mrs. Jamieson across the, face and knocking off her glasses. Mr. Thoburn at once followed the rig and endeavored to ascertain who the occupants were but he failed in this. The act was a dastardly one and-might have resulted in serious injury, though fortunately such was not the case. The matter has been reported to Chief Lowry and an effort will be made to bring the culprits to justice. 1898- Almonte Gazette
His son–
Willie Thoburn (son of William Thoburn), to whose illness reference was made in last week’s Gazette, died on Saturday night.He was nearly sixteen years of age,and was in many respects a bright-boy, but was not possessed of sufficient physical strength to enable him to give full play to his intellectual powers. On the 25th of May he attended the lacrosse- match, and his illness, was thought to have resulted from exposure to the extreme heat and the excitement of the game.Much’ sympathy is felt for Mrs. Thoburn and her family in the bereavement which has fallen upon them.The funeral to the eighth line cemetery on Tuesday was largely attended by sympathizing friends. Almonte Gazette– July 3 1903
1904
photo Linda Seccaspina 1981
Comments
Sue Winslow-SpraggeThis is a beautiful old house. I remember it well when it was owned by the Fairney family
Marty TaylorKevinandSusan Sonnenburg-Cadman –Never played with any kids at that house that I remember
The Thoburn Woollen Mill, which operated from 1880 to 1956, sits on one of Almonte’s most significant historic sites. Beside the first set of falls as the Mississippi River flows through the town, the site has had 182 years of near-continuous commercial and industrial activity. In 1820, settler David Shepherd fulfilled his land grant obligations by building the area’s first sawmill here. Since then, a variety of other users have been drawn to the site, always in large part because of the river and the water power it provides business. Thoburn emigrated from England to Upper Canada with his family in 1857 when he was 10. He worked diligently to become, according to his 1928 obituary in the Almonte Gazette, the town’s “first citizen” and “one of the foremost businessmen in Eastern Ontario.”
Thoburn bought the original mill buildings in 1880 during the boom years of the woollen business in the Valley. When the mill ceased operation in 1956, the building was bought by Ottawa sheet metal contractor Bill Irving. In the mill he found an old, locked safe. It was forced open, revealing six of Thoburn’s ledgers and correspondence copy books. The books were given to Mr. Potvin by Mr. Irving on the strict condition that they re-main with the building and on public display. “The books are an incredible link to the past,” Mr. Potvin says. The first ledger entry on Jan. 31, 1881, shows that the mill initially had two employees.
By April it was busy producing felt with 16 workers including four weavers, all women. Twelve of the workers earned between 40 cents and $1.75 a day for a 60-hour work week, while the weavers were paid by the yard for finished work. The correspondence copy book reflects the stresses of starting a new business, and the central role of the press in forming 19th-century public opinion. In February of 1881, with his business just starting, Thoburn was eagerly awaiting shipment of machinery for his mill from Mr. Arnold, a Troy, New York supplier. Annoyed that the machinery for which he’d already paid hadn’t arrived, Thoburn wrote a letter exhorting Arnold to send the equipment and threatening in scrolling handwriting that “if we are put to any trouble about this affair it shall be known throughout the whole United States and Canada by the Press of each country. We acted our part honourably and all we ask of you is to do the same.”
The 19th century Thoburn Mill was destroyed by fire in 1909 and 1918. It was rebuilt in 1919, served as a mill until the mid-20th century, and was converted to condominiums in 2000-2009
38 Main Street East: The second Trinity Methodist Church was built of stone in the Gothic Revival style in 1887, replacing the 1860 Methodist church.37 Mill owner William Thoburn played a key role in fundraising and planning for the new church. Marshall Benjamin Aylesworth was the architect for the church and for Thoburn’s house (161 Union Street). William Willoughby and his sons George and Richard were stonemasons for both the church and for the Town Hall in 1885. The church became Trinity United Church on church union in 1925 and closed in 1951.
77 Mill Street: In 1889-90, the federal government built the large stone Post Office and Customs House at the top of Mill Street, designed by Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller and built by local contractor Robert Cameron.39 The clock tower was added in 1914 at the urging of then-MP William Thoburn, whose textile factory was located next door;
“Interestingly, the building’s monumental four-faced clock tower was not added until between 1913 and 1916 when a local Member of Parliament, named William Thoburn, ordered its construction. Thoburn, who was also a local mill owner, was rumoured to have demanded the erection of the clock tower to ensure the timely arrival of his employees to work each morning.
John MorrowIf I remember correctly Mr. Thoburn’s mill was off Little Bridge Street, behind both the Post Office and the Town Hall, so the clock tower would have been readily visible from both buildings. Mr. Thoburn retired from Parliament in 1917 when Lanark County went from two ridings (North and South) to one covering the whole county, being succeeded by Dr. Adelbert Edward Hanna of Perth, father of then future Almonte Gazette editor/publisher Stewart Hanna.
William Thoburn (1847-1928) arrived in Almonte in 1867 from Pakenham and began to manufacture flannels in 1880 from a factory located on Little Bridge Street. He is a significant figure in Almonte history, serving as a school trustee and councillor, as mayor of Almonte for seven years, and as MP for Lanark North from 1908 to 1917. The 19th century Thoburn Mill was destroyed by fire in 1909 and 1918. It was rebuilt in 1919, served as a mill until the mid-20th century, and was converted to condominiums in 2000-2009. 27
77 Mill Street: In 1889-90, the federal government built the large stone Post Office and Customs House at the top of Mill Street, designed by Dominion Architect Thomas Fuller and built by local contractor Robert Cameron.39 The clock tower was added in 1914 at the urging of then-MP William Thoburn, whose textile factory was located next door;
In the last thirty years, some of the surviving mill buildings have been adaptively reused to provide residential or commercial condominiums: the Rosamond Mill on Coleman Island (Millfall Condominiums), the Thoburn Mill on Little Bridge Street (also contains offices and retail space), the Almonte Flour Mill on Main Street (also contains a hydro-power generating station) and the Victoria Woollen Mill on Mill Street (also contains a restaurant). The former Post Office contains a restaurant and art gallery. The “Riverwalk”, a boardwalk with interpretive signage was built along the south shore of the river beginning in 2000. It now extends from the Old Town Hall to the Victoria Woollen Mill. The town hosts many annual festivals and events including: Almonte in Concert series, Art in the Attic, Celtfest, Puppets Up!, Naismith Basketball Tournament and Fibrefest, among others. In 2011, the junction of Mill Street and Little Bridge Street was altered to include a resting spot with benches, trees and a bronze statue of James Naismith, an Almonte native and the man credited with inventing the game of basketball. In 2014, free wifi was introduced along a section of Mill Street, signalling downtown Almonte’s embrace of the digital age.
April 1947 The Thoburn Woollen Mills closed down at noon, Tuesday, owing to flood water from the river making it impossible to operate the boiler. It is not expected that the plant will be able to reopen for at least nine days. The level of the Mississippi River is higher than for many years but so far the Thoburn mill is the only industry to be affected by this factor. The enforced holiday will not be welcomed by the employees who will not be able to collect unemployment insurance unless they are idle for more than nine days.
Almonte.com photo- Thoburn Mill With Nanotec SignThoburn And White Stores almonte.com.. Did you know in the 1800s the White store had the finest boots and the ads always said to look for the White Boot.Brent Eades July 8, 2020 · Here’s a pic of Thoburn Mill I took back in May, meant to post it and forgot
Aylesworth, Marshall Benjamin Architect of the Thoburn Home
AYLESWORTH, Marshall Benjamin (1850-1911) was active in many towns in central and northern Ontario where his eclectic and often elaborately decorated churches and institutional buildings were erected. Born in Ontario on 20 April 1850 he was the son of George Aylesworth of Northumberland County but no information can be found on his early education and training there. In 1878 he was employed as a draughtsman in Toronto, and 1879-80 worked as an architect in that city. He moved to Collingwood, Ont. in late 1880 and advertised his services as an instructor in architectural and mechanical drawing (Daily Messenger [Collingwood], 16 Dec. 1880, 1, advert.). He maintained a practise in Collingwood but the success of his career there was overshadowed by the untimely death of his young wife in May 1883 (obituary for Florence Stone in The Enterprise [Collingwood], 17 May 1883, 3). In early 1885 he returned to Toronto to open an office on King Street East in 1886 where he remained for the next ten years. During this period he travelled to Europe ‘in search of architectural knowledge’ (C.A.B., v, Jan 1892, 10) and published an extensive essay on his discoveries there entitled ‘A Chapter From My Notebook – Building Methods in Rome’ (C.A.B., viii, March 1895, 44-6). He appears to have left Toronto in 1896 but returned to the city in late 1899 and continued to work there until September 1902 when he moved to Fort William. It is here that his most important works in northern Ontario were built, including the Fort William City Hall (1903-04) and the Masonic Temple at Port Arthur (1910). He died at Sarnia, Ont. on 29 August 1911 after suffering a stroke while travelling by steamer from Detroit to Sarnia, and was buried at Warkworth, Northumberland Co., Ont. (biography and list of works in M. Bixby, Industries of Canada – Toronto and Environs, 1886, 190; obituary in Sarnia Observer, 30 Aug. 1911)
While returning from church on Sunday evening a number of people were walking on the road because of the slippery condition of the sidewalks. When, near Mrs. Bryson’s residence on Union street the pedestrians were met by a horse and cutter in which were two men, and when passing Mayor Thoburn and his daughter, Mrs. Percy (Annie) Jamieson, the driver struck out at them with the whip, hitting Mrs. Jamieson across the, face and knocking off her glasses. Mr. Thoburn at once followed the rig and endeavored to ascertain who the occupants were but he failed in this. The act was a dastardly one and-might have resulted in serious injury, though fortunately such was not the case. The matter has been reported to Chief Lowry and an effort will be made to bring the culprits to justice. 1898
1955, Thursday June 23, The Almonte Gazette front page Final Tribute Is Paid Mrs Percy Jamieson Mrs Percy Jamieson, a well-known resident of Almonte until seven years ago, died on Tuesday, June 21st., in an Ottawa private hospital, in her 84th year. She was the former Annie Victoria Thoburn, a daughter of the late William Thoburn and his wife, Margaret Lyons. Born in Almonte, she was brought up here, attended the local schools and later graduated from Whitby Ladies’ College.
In 1897 she married Percy Jamieson who predeceased her in 1936. For a year after they were married, Mr and Mrs Jamieson were residents of Ottawa. At the end of that time Mr Jamieson became associated with Mrs Thoburn in the operation of his woollen mills and the couple returned to Almonte. She leave a son and two daughters: William A. of Almonte; Mrs A.W. Wylie (Elizabeth), Chatham, and Mrs G.S. Charlesworth (Mary) of Edmonton. A sister, Mrs A.M. Ivey (May E.) died two years ago.
There are, also, seven grandchildren. Mrs Jamieson was a very charitable women and she took a great interest in church work. Originally a member of Trinity Methodist Church, she continued with that congregation after union and at one time or another headed or was actively identified with most of the church organizations. An honourary president of the Alexandra Club, she took a great interest in the hospital. During the first World War she was prominently identified with patriotic endeavours. Some years before Trinity Church was merged with Bethany United Church, Mrs Jamieson presented the former with a very fine set of chimes as a memorial to her father, the late Mr Thoburn.
This is now part of the musical equipment of Almonte United Church. Mrs Jamieson removed to Ottawa when she felt her health was on the decline and for the last seven years has resided in a private hospital there. It was only within the last year, however, that she became seriously ill and was confined to her bed. Many residents of Almonte will recall this kindly lady with affection and regret because she had many good works to her credit. The funeral was held on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., at the Comba Funeral Home. Rev J. Ray Anderson, minister of Almonte United Church, officiated, assisted by Rev H.L. Morrison of Brockville, formerly of Trinity United Church, Almonte. The honourary pallbearers were Messrs P.A. Grieg, Q.C.; W.C. Pollack, Jas F. Patterson, F.A.C. Darling, Thorpe Kelly and J.E. Lindsay. The pallbearers were Messrs Jas Wylie, Jos Jamieson, Wm R. Jamieson, Hal B. Kirkland, Milton Cochran and Don Carr. Interment was in the family plot in the Auld Kirk Cemetery.
Here are some old photos of my grandparent’s farm including the one that I already posted. Two others are newspaper clippings from when the house was for sale. The last one is an auction sale that was done when my grandmother decided to move out of the house.
Thanks David!!!
Stuart McIntoshCream cans by the gate. Wood smoke from the brick chimney.
Allan StanleyI loved going there as kid… Great Aunt Chrissie always had on an apron and was always baking pies and cake
Stephen BrathwaiteWhere was that?
David Tosh The end of Union at Carss
Steven Currie— Is it still standing David
David ToshIt was still there when I took a photo of it last August.
David ToshJust the house. All the barns were torn down in the early 1980s.
Steven CurrieLove them old places u grew up with, I own the old farm my dad’s family grew up in outside Clayton
Steven CurrieIs it still in the family?
David ToshI don’t think so
Margaret McNeelyAunt Chrissie Tosh…..her specialty was donut holes….she use to sell them to a lot of people.
There were three bridges going onto the Island, one called Stone Bridge, one called Back Bridge and the other one called Front Bridge. After you cross the Back Bridge as if you were going into the Rosamond Estate they had a huge set of stairs that took you up to Union Street. We used them many times for a short cut to my Uncle Alec and Aunt Chrissie Tosh’s farm at the end of Union Street and I’m sure many of the mill workers used them when going home after work. I have read in the local paper that they are restoring the steps for the new Coleman Island Trail.
A few of our swimming spots were underneath the old blacksmith shop at Gary Houston’s house, at Rock Bottom on the Tosh farm and also at Brown’s Dairy located in part of the town they called New England.
In hospital at Almonte, Ontario, on Wednesday, July 8, 1981, MARY CHRISTINA (CHRISSIE) BOND (of Almonte). In her 85th year. Beloved wife of the late Alexander Tosh and much loved mother of Stuart, Ottawa; Mervin and Orval, Almonte; Hartley, Oakville. Dear sister of Mrs. Harry Nontell (Ruby), Creston, B.C.; Mrs. Pansy Kuehl, Kitchener; Mrs. Jean Proctor and Mrs. Kay Goodfellow, both of Almonte. Predeceased by Florence, Alberna, Pearl and Gordon. Also survived by nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Rested at the Gamble & Comba Funeral Home, 127 Church Street, Almonte, from 2-5 and 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday and where service will be held on Friday at 2 p.m. Rev. Ed Smith officiating. Interment Auld Kirk Cemetery.
Hi Linda,
I think this photo was taken in Almonte but I don’t know for sure. My Uncle Mervin lived in Almonte for most of his life so perhaps it was. Thankfully, someone wrote the names of the people on the back of the photo. Left to right they are Helen Cochran, H Edmunds, Mervin Tosh, Lyle McLaren, Mary Mitchell. Thank you.
lindaseccaspina 