There was nothing to originally mark this cemetery. My Dad, Kenwell Ferguson, knew its location because his father had shown him. When we cleared away years of debris, we discovered quite a few fieldstone markers indicating graves. For the reunion, the rock was moved there from Dad’s farm, the brass plaques were installed and the cemetery was fenced. This was all Jean Allen’s vision – the culmination of her years of research and her tribute to her roots.
I just found this in the Buchanan scrapbook so I thought Id post this giggle today—- Kerith Bellefeuille I’m originally from that general area and also remember the stories. My father swore he saw the famous jackelope. However I feel the need to state he was on his way to the Windsong hotel with family so his ability to recall those events may be questionable due to previous bevies. Lol– With files from The Keeper of the Scrapbooks — Christina ‘tina’ Camelon Buchanan — Thanks to Diane Juby— click here..
Fun Fact #1 — Kangaroo Sighting in Watsons CornersHave you seen one of these lately? Local character Herb Butts swore he had seen a Kangaroo by his woodshed. Herb by the way was the only person to ever see this Kangaroo!! Local Game Wardens were out tracking but to no avail! Anyone know Wayne Rostad (of Country Report at the time)? – Well he showed up wearing an Australian Bush hat checking all kinds of leads in this case. Watsons Corners became known as the Kangaroo Capital of Canada! Thanks goes to the Lanark Era – March 28, 1985-Lanark & District 200th Settlement Anniversary
Bev JacksonKen Jackson and Brian Parsons wrote the original version of the song It was sang many a time at local house gatherings I must say they did a great job !!
Nora CromwellThey did a great job on this song, Bev. I still catch myself singing it every once in a while. My sister Barb and I were singing it last Sunday.
Anna ElizabethI went into the Watsons corners hall with some friends once and they looked at all the kangaroo decor and said “what’s with the all the kangaroos?” I looked at them and all I said was “this is the kangaroo Capitol of Canada.” Sometimes I forget that people dont know the story. Fun fact, I was one of the kangaroo mascots at the winter carnival when I was a kid.
Rose Lathan–There’s actually a lot of people who claim to have seen kangaroos all over Canada Peter Zoskia CBC did a show on it
Tammy MacKenzieI suspect this links to poor Wendell the wallaby, who was missing from Saunders’ for some time after a storm broke the fencing, and was sighted in many areas. Lots of people were following up on sightings, and I remember doing so for one. That was late 2008. read-So…. We drove by Kangaroo Crescent
Marcie TompkinsNow I know why people asked us if we’d seen any kangaroos. Not being from the area, we had no idea what the story was. But my husband pointed out one night that a deer doing it’s business could look like a kangaroo if you’d had too much to drink
Wesley Parsons– I spent a lot of time in Watsons Corners as a young lad – and this story was well known, I spent many car rides looking out the windows on those backwoods for any sign of a Roo. From what I recall – there were at least two farmers that had been known to bring in foreign animals without a clue how to keep them contained and the animals usually wandered off.I remember one old guy wanted his own Buffalo so he bought one and had it delivered. The next day the Buffalo headed west and just walked through the fencing of every farm in it’s path for several miles – a buffalo will push a fence down and keep going – a cow will just turn and head another direction.Things like that are not uncommon – just last week someones peacocks got loose in Almonte – they’re native to India but it’s not uncommon to see them on a farm in Ontario. Kangaroos have the ability to acclimatize as well – lots of places in Australia get snow – they develop a heavier coat and they graze eat like deer so it’s possible for them to survive through our winters…I never saw any in Watsons Corners myself but many claim that they did.
K P I don’t mind to tell you that 40 years ago I got lost in the bush between Robertson Lake and Watson’s Corners and I was never so happy when I emerged and saw the ghost sign on a building that said Kangaroo something-or-other. Prior to that I thought I was going to be a permanent resident in the woods. I didn’t care how or why it had that name, I was just happy to see sunlight, and a sign that let me know humans had once been here
Wildlife officers have examined tracks found in the area. They were five inches long, more than two inches wide and about seven inches apart. Bruce Turner, an Ontario predator control officer, said the tracks were too old for a full analysis but they may have belonged to a large jackrabbit or three-legged coyote. “Anything is possible,” he said. Meanwhile, rumors abound about a Frontenac County man who imported several kangaroos a few years ago and kept them on his farm. They all escaped. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a kangaroo was out there,” said a spokesman for the Australian high commission in Ottawa. “They could probably hang on for a while unless caught in a large snowdrift or something.” Watsons Corners is about 45 miles south of Ottawa.
They’re very hardy in Australia,” said a spokesman for the Australian High Commission. “They don’t live above the snowline but they’re, pretty tough creatures.” . Federal government have reported no ‘requests from Australian kangaroos for landed immigrant status, so how did this thing get her? .- –‘ No kangaroo farms in the’, area, you say. – – . – A Frontenac County man imported three of four of them a few years ago and penned them, on his- farm near Sharbot Lake All got away.” And as for the Lanark County mystery? Deer, jackrabbit, coyote or Ottawa Valley Sasquatch … it just might be a kangaroo at that .—The Ottawa JournalOttawa, Ontario, CanadaThu, Jan 03, 1974 · Page 4
Kangaroo WATSONS CORNERS (CP) Herb Butt says he saw a kangaroo bouncing through the bush near here and not everyone is laughing at him. Mr. Butt, a local farmer, says he saw the animal several times in the fall and again the last few weeks when he was cutting Christmas trees. He says the animal was about four feet tall with a small face and large round eyes. “It had two long ears, a small nose, white strips in back of the ears and it moved on its back feet only,” says Mr. Butt. “It didn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s ears were as long as the distance from my hand to my elbow.” Wildlife officers have examined tracks found in the area. They were five inches long, more than two inches wide and about seven inches apart. Bruce Turner, an Ontario predator control officer, said the tracks were too old for a full analysis but they may have belonged to a large jackrabbit or three-legged coyote. “Anything is possible,” he said. Meanwhile, ‘ rumors abound about a Frontenac County man who imported several kangaroos a few years ago and kept them on his farm. They all escaped and were never found.The Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 04 Jan 1974, Fri • Page 3
Jeff and wife Bev and children Sally (10), Luke, (8) and Ben (3) visited the Corners and its focal point Hannah’s General Store. ; They came away sporting T-shirts with a ‘ legend bearing witness to their visit to the “Kangaroo Capital of Canada.” The Morrises are returning to Sydney after a three-year tour of duty in Ottawa sadly, because they’ve become addicted to this place. At a farewell dinner given by some of; his friends, Jeff was presented with a tankard saluting his successful attempts to introduce more Canadians to the glory of Australia’s Swan Lager. To top it off, up stepped Don Hueston with the toy kangaroo a gift from the folks of the Kangaroo Capital. In return, Geoff promised to seek out a Watson’s Corners in Australia for twinning ceremonies. The Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 09 Aug 1977, Tue • Page 45
NO, I do not sell these– I found them online-https://www.teepublic.com/pin/16595423-watsons-corners
If you check below the picture they have mugs, shirts, masks etc etc.
Died, at Watson’s Corners on Sunday, Feb. 7, the beloved wife of George Fair, aged 51.
When Marion Agnes Craig was born in 1845 in Lanark, Ontario, her father, Alexander, was 30, and her mother, Agnes, was 24. She married George Fair on August 26, 1870, in her hometown. She died on February 4, 1897, in Lanark, Ontario, at the age of 52, and was buried in Watsons Corners, Ontario. Agnes Craig married George Fair in Lanark, Ontario, on August 26, 1870, when she was 25 years old.
Perth Courier, Feb. 19, 1897
Watson’s Corners: It becomes our sad duty this week to record the death of Mrs. George Fair which took place at her late home on Sabbath morning, 7th inst. After suffering intensely from cancer for months. On December 15 the deceased underwent an operation and had what was supposed to be at the time all the cancer removed but as time went on it was found that her system was full of cancer which eventually caused her death.
Deceased, whose maiden name was Agnes Craig, was born in Dalhousie 51 years ago. Twenty six years ago she married George Fair who survives her and came to live in our village where she has resided ever since with the exception of a few years she spent in Michigan. The deceased was of a kind and loving disposition and made friends with all with whom she came into contact.
During her illness her sufferings were such as pen would fail to describe. Some time previous to the end she called her loved ones to her bedside and bade them a loving farewell telling them she was going to the home prepared for God’s children where there would be no more pain or sorrow.
The funeral on Tuesday was very large the church literally packed while many had to remain outside. Rev. J.A. Leitch preached a very appropriate sermon after which the remains were conveyed to the cemetery and deposited in their last resting place to await the resurrection morning. Deceased was a member of Zion Church, the Ladies Aid Society and Christian Endeavor Society and also a teacher in the Sabbath School.
Name:
Mrs George Fair ( Marion Agnes Craig)
Gender:
Female
Age:
51
Birth Date:
abt 1846
Birth Place:
Dalhousie
Death Date:
4 Feb 1897
Death Place:
Lanark, Ontario, Canada
Religion:
Presbyterian
Cause of Death:
Cancer
Her husband George Fair was born on October 25, 1830, in New York, USA. He married Agnes Craig on August 26, 1870, in Lanark, Ontario. He died on October 30, 1913, in Palmerston, Ontario, having lived a long life of 83 years, and was buried in Watsons Corners, Ontario.
When George Levi Fair was born on April 22, 1886, in Lanark, Ontario, his father, George, was 55 and his mother, Marion Agnes, was 40. He had four siblings. He died as a teenager on October 18, 1901, in Watsons Corners, Ontario, and was buried there.
Deep in Lanark County, in the township of Dalhousie, Pollock and Dora McDougall’s rose garden was the talk of the area. Located a hop, skip , and a jump near Watson’s Corners 100’s of tourists used to visit this rose garden each year. In 1973 there were 415 rose bushes and McDougall decided to specialize in Peace Roses and all were said to be of exhibition quality.––Paradise in Hopetown
In the end I never found Wilson’s Corners where the McDougall House was –Posted on October 23, 2017
Until today June 7th, 2020– a few years later-– Today, Jennifer Ferris drove me to see the former McDougall property. There was nary a rose bush 47 years later–instead it was overgrown, but they did have a lovely garden and they were growing hops.
Dozens of farmers in the Canadian province of Ontario dove into growing hops in recent years, encouraged by an explosion of local craft breweries. Hops are an incredibly difficult crop to grow. To do it very well, you really need to babysit it as it’s a very assertive plant. I wonder what this place will look like in another 47 years.
Hunters! Stop shooting cows, cars and each other. Aim for something different: kangaroos! Of course I’m serious. Why, even the New Era, a weekly paper in Lanark, has an ad in its classified section proclaiming: “Attention hunters. We offer $25 for any kangaroo hide caught in the Watsons Corners area. Please call Jim Closs or Bobby Neilson.”
New Era publisher Dennis Schroeder is offering a bounty too. In a front page story the paper declares: “Apparently the famous kangaroo of Watsons Corners, which was believed to have been mercifully laid to rest several years ago, has again been seen hopping through the cow pastures and corn fields. ”
A sign posted on County Road 8 about three miles from Watsons Corners last week warned motorists to beware of kangaroo crossing. The sign has since mysteriously disappeared. Presumably someone was just one hop ahead of the law, realizing that, if apprehended, he could face charges in a kangaroo court. “To enter into the spirit of the thing, the New Era is willing to offer a reward to anyone who can bring absolute clear proof of a kangaroo in the Watsons Corners area.
The reward?
“A one way ticket to the Australian outback. Schroeder may pay dearly for such cynicism! In the meantime, it won’t shake faith in the existence of Lanark marsupials among the 16 members: – Geoff Johnson bears of an exclusive order called The Company of Gentlemen of the Kangaroo Court, who meet twice a year at a certain liquor store before adjourning, fully armed for the hunt, to Don Houston’s kangaroo-country cottage.
There were at one time 17 members, which was really a bunch of guys what one in Lanark County is called “telling tales.” So my question is. Did anyone ever get that bounty?
Wesley ParsonsI spent a lot of time in Watsons Corners as a young lad – and this story was well known, I spent many car rides looking out the windows on those backwoods for any sign of a Roo. From what I recall – there were at least two farmers that had been known to bring in foreign animals without a clue how to keep them contained and the animals usually wandered off.
I remember one old guy wanted his own Buffalo so he bought one and had it delivered. The next day the Buffalo headed west and just walked through the fencing of every farm in it’s path for several miles – a buffalo will push a fence down and keep going – a cow will just turn and head another direction.
Things like that are not uncommon – just last week someones peacocks got loose in Almonte – they’re native to India but it’s not uncommon to see them on a farm in Ontario. Kangaroos have the ability to acclimatize as well – lots of places in Australia get snow – they develop a heavier coat and they graze eat like deer so it’s possible for them to survive through our winters…I never saw any in Watsons Corners myself but many claim that they did.
On the Bench Junior Kangaroos at McDonalds Corners. L to Right. Keith Creighton, Chris Chard, Ed Fair, ? , Cindy Duncan, Bill Fair –Thanks Connie! All photos sent by Connie Jackson. Pictures taken by Marilyn Jackson
Bruce McOuatt, Catcher. Lanark team on bench.
Chris Chard, Catcher Bill Harper. In McDonalds Corners
I was Just forwarded a clip about Cindy Duncan and the Watsons Corners Kangaroo baseball team. When I saw lots of posting of baseball teams I meant to forward these pics as not many have seen them. Thanks Connie! All photos sent by Connie Jackson. Pictures taken by Marilyn Jackson
Photo above-Back row L to R Alan Fair, Neale McOuatt, David White, Bruce McOuatt, Chris Chard, Billy Fair Bottom row Tim? Nagle, Cindy Duncan and Connie Jackson ...
Cindy winding up in Lanark. I was 2nd base
First year we didn’t have our shirts. Hannah’s Store and members of the team fundraised for shirts following season. Our home Field games was in Bobby Duncam’s cow pasture on top of Fiddlers Hill. My Dad I believe donated chicken wire and the the lumber to put up a backstop. There was a few cow paddies to manipulate through.
Wintertime may have afforded more time to be devoted to educating the young in terms of reading and writing. Farm labour during the summer may have precluded much in the way of instruction. Inevitably there would probably have been a wide variation in the level and quality of instruction.
Photo by Joel Barter– Bury, Quebec–“When I arrived 15 deer were there but by the time I took the photo they were on the run. I took quite a few shots and once I looked at them. This was definitely my favorite. I was shooting up the hill just trying to get the silhouette’s.”
“Kind of curious about this photo. Can you explain how this took place?”
Joel Barter had posted this photo online and it had caught my eye right away the first time I saw it. What was that creature on the far left?
Was it? Could it be?
I asked Joel where he took it and he said Brookbury, Bury, Quebec, and he too had wondered why the ears were so big on that curious animal. That’s the mystery he said– but to the ex Eastern Townships ‘pat’ now living in Lanark County, Ontario I knew immediately what is.
I am not a zoologist, and I know kangaroos don’t live in Ontario or Quebec – but, in 1974 a kangaroo had allegedly been spotted in the Lanark County area. The natural resources officials were at a loss for words when something similar to the Australian hopper had been spotted hoofing it through the outback near Watson’s Corners about 60 miles from Ottawa.
One of the local farmers, Herb Butt, who had spotted the critter, said it was about 4 feet tall with a small face and large round eyes. It had two long ears, a small nose and it moved on the back of its feet. He said he had seen the animal several times late in the fall and again when cutting Christmas trees. Of course a few of his neighbours thought he was crazy but Natural Resource Conservation officers thought he might have been right. Actually, there were no jokes coming from the professional wildlife men.
Bruce Turner, predator control officer, said the tracks were too old for a full analysis, but theorized they might have belonged to a large jack rabbit or a three-legged coyote. A three-legged coyote? What on earth were they drinking to come to that fact?
Of course folks said there just might have been a chance that a kangaroo or its bush cousin, the wallaby, might be loose in Lanark County. Mr. Butt was certain it was not a deer, as he had hunted them for over 40 years, and he ought to know one when he sees one he said. After his interview, the story gained a life of its own in all of Eastern Ontario.
In 1980 the kangaroo was spotted once again by Brenda Johnson. Brenda was driving towards the village of Lanark when she thought she spotted a hitchhiker. It wasn’t– it was an animal with two legs. As her car approached “the thing with the two legs” hopped across the road and jumped the fence. She wondered if it had been a deformed deer whose legs had been shot off by hunters.
Local history has records of a game farm at the turn of the century in that area and it had kangaroos. Or–was this animal from a former Frontenac County farm whose owner had imported a few kangaroos and they all escaped.
Since Butt’s now infamous phrase, “I seen what I seen”, Watson’s Corners, Ontario has embraced the unusual title of kangaroo capital on road signs and event advertisements. Look at the photo closely above.
Is this what Joel Barter photographed that one dark evening in Brookbury? You tell me. Is that why no one has seen this creature ever again in Lanark County? Did it just get fed up and move his family lock stock and barrel to the Eastern Townships?
They say the traditional method of catching jackalopes is to lure them with whiskey, since they are extremely fond of this drink. Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower and easier to hunt. Too bad photographer Joel Barter didn’t have a flask that night. He would have become the National Geographic Photographer of the year with that shot. We might never know what that animal was in Joel Barter’s photo — but the story about the kangaroo in Watson’s Corners is true. Their move to Quebec? Not so sure!
Photo is of the Texas Jackalope not to be confused with the unseen Lanark County one.
Wesley ParsonsI spent a lot of time in Watsons Corners as a young lad – and this story was well known, I spent many car rides looking out the windows on those backwoods for any sign of a Roo. From what I recall – there were at least two farmers that had been known to bring in foreign animals without a clue how to keep them contained and the animals usually wandered off.
I remember one old guy wanted his own Buffalo so he bought one and had it delivered. The next day the Buffalo headed west and just walked through the fencing of every farm in it’s path for several miles – a buffalo will push a fence down and keep going – a cow will just turn and head another direction.
Things like that are not uncommon – just last week someones peacocks got loose in Almonte – they’re native to India but it’s not uncommon to see them on a farm in Ontario. Kangaroos have the ability to acclimatize as well – lots of places in Australia get snow – they develop a heavier coat and they graze eat like deer so it’s possible for them to survive through our winters…I never saw any in Watsons Corners myself but many claim that they did.
Kerith BellefeuilleI’m originally from that general area and also remember the stories. My father swore he saw the famous jackelope. However I feel the need to state he was on his way to the Windsong hotel with family so his ability to recall those events may be questionable due to previous bevies. Lol
On Wednesday June 23rd in the year 1926 a wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Forbes Dalhousie Township. The bridegroom was Mr. Stanley Jackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Jackson of Watson’s Corners. The bride Miss Margaret Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Forbes. the bride looked charming in her gown which was whirlpool blue crepe-de-chine, and was wearing a crown of orange blossoms and carrying a bouquet of pretty mixed flowers.
At 4:30 pm the bride and groom entered the parlour to the strains of the wedding march played by her best friend Miss Edith Stead. Mr. Del Storie was Jackson’s best man while the bride’s sister Miss Blanche Forbes waited on the bride. The cermony was conducted by the Rev. J. T. Caswell standing in front of plants and flowers overhung with bunting and wedding bells. Mr David Forbes, grandfather of the bride was present and led the way congratulating the pair.
The bridegroom’s gift to the bride was a wristwatch and to the bridesmaid and pianist pretty bracelets. At the close of the ceremony Mr. Del Storie sang a wedding hymn. After the signing of the register the bride and groom led the way to the dining room where a sumptuous feast was displayed and the wedding crowd did ample justice. The bride officiated at the carving of the cake with a few nervous tremors which could be expected under the circumstances. The toast to the bride was proposed by Rev. J. T. Caswell and suitably responded to by Dr. Droft followed by witty speeches from Mr. David Forbes and Mrs. Alex Jackson. The presents were handsome and numerous consisting of silver, glass and china wear and household linens. The young couple will settle down at Watson’s Corners where the bridegroom is a farmer.
Stanley Jackson—My father Stanley Jackson (Watson’s Corners) is on the list for “granted an exemption” but did enlist in Nov 1917. He spoke of returning from training in Ottawa so he could help on the farm on weekends and return to training on Monday-Alice Gilchrist–The Names of the Exempt of Lanark County- WW1
On the Bench Junior Kangaroos at McDonalds Corners. L to Right. Keith Creighton, Chris Chard, Ed Fair, ? , Cindy Duncan, Bill Fair –Thanks Connie! All photos sent by Connie Jackson. Pictures taken by Marilyn Jackson
Bruce McOuatt, Catcher. Lanark team on bench.
I have more But the article was about Cindy
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