More Wedding Trivia History of the Wedding Ring!

 

Clipped from

1. The Miami News,
2. 26 May 1938, Thu,
3. Page 13

One jeweller tells me that a popular wedding band in 1938 was the old-fashioned one of yellow gold with small beaded border. Those who want something a little more elaborate usually decide between fishtail or channel settings. The latter has a solid row of diamonds while the fishtail design is made up of smaller settings pronged effect. We may grow blase about marriages remaining permanent, but sentiment felt for engagement or wedding rings rarely ever dims one permanency apparent in rapidly changing world.-1938

 

More Wedding Trivia History of the Ring! Thanks to Noreen Tyers

The use of the wedding rings was first recorded in ancient Egypt. Interestingly, say the Gold Information Centre, many of the early historical gold rings were too large to wear and were purely ceremonial or symbolic. Because the ring was traditionally a seal by which orders were signed (i.e., signet rings bore emblems whole impressions were stamped on important documents), it was regarded as a mark of the highest friendship and trust by those who received it. For that reason, the rings was adopted for the marriage ceremony to signify that the wife was admitted as a sharer in her husband’s counsel and a joint partner in his estate. During the late Roman Empire, the engagement or betrothal ring became the first article of gold ever worn by the Roman maiden, replacing the earlier ring of iron.

 

It was believed that the gold ring symbolized everlasting love that would never tarnish, just as the metal of which it was made. Ancient Egyptian writing by Appianus reveal that the wedding ring was worn on the third finger of the left hand because this finger was believed to be connected by an artery to the heart, and this notion persists today. A writer in the late 17th century referred to this artery as a “vein of blood, called vena amoris, which passeth from the finger to the heart”. Curiously, in some cultures the wedding ring was worn on the third finger of the right hand. This was the custom in England until the end of the 16th century, except for a brief period during the reign of Henry VIII when it was fashionable to wear the wedding ring upon the thumb. It is said that the marriage of Queen Mary to Philip of Spain in 1544 did much to establish the prestige of the plain gold wedding band. After much discussion as to the proper ring for the royal marriage, Mary declared that she preferred to be married with “plain hoop of gold like other maidens.”

 

A ROMANTIC MYTH In a fair and far off-country, many centuries ago, a kind, young king was married to a princess he loved so. Together they lived happily, until they learned one day that duties were to force the king to journey far away. One night before he left as he walked through the palace grounds he tossed, into a moonlit pool, some pebbles he had found. As the lovely ripples widened from where the little pebbles fell, the king stood thinking quietly of the wife he loved so well. And remembering, on the next day, the circles he had seen, he had a gold ring made to fit the finger of the queen. “There’s no ending or beginning to the circle of this band”, the king said to his wife as he slipped in on her hand. “And that’s why I have chosen this golden ring to be a pledge to you – “my love will last through all eternity”. And so since then, a golden ring has been the symbol of the beauty and devotion and the endlessness of love.

 

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 and The Tales of Almonte

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

Bride’s Magazine 1878

90 Day Fiance and Mail Order and War Brides

It Pays to Advertise… Classified Ad Brides

Pallbearers and Bridesmaids–A True Story

Splinters of Sinders Nichols and Brides

My Wedding Tiara — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

 

Gerry and Noreen (Regan) Tyers. April 29, 1961 At the Church we were married. Trinity Anglican , on Cameron and Bank Streets in Ottawa. Photo Noreen Tyers

 

 

                               My Wedding Tiara

 

My beautiful little tiara I wore on my wedding day

Was used by my daughter, when as a child a princess she did play.

I’d retrieved this little tiara and placed it back on the shelf

Then one day when I was cleaning, there it was again all by itself.

So once again I retrieved it and wrapped it in a cloth to be put away

Now this time, I hid it oh so carefully and there in the hat box it seemed to stay.

When my daughter decided to marry she thought again of this little tiara so fair

 

Teri (Tyers) and Blair White Wedding Oct 9/99 Camp Merrywood on the Rideau

 

 

She felt once again like a princess and included it in her own wedding plans with care.

Apart came my little tiara with it’s shiny beads all askew

Don’t worry she said for in jig time it will appear once again just like new.

Some pearls were added to the stones of this beautiful little tiara to be worn on her Wedding day

Once again it was used by my precious loving daughter at her very own special time we pray.

How important it is to keep treasures and collect your own special thoughts

For you know my dear wonderful memories like this just never can be bought.

These tiny beads are now left over from your very own beautiful Wedding head piece.

Put them away in a safe place for some day a daughter may use them with her very own wedding fleece.

February 2001 From the Pen of Noreen

 

 

Some more wedding Trivia from my collection of Wedding Trivia

Garters originated in the 17th century as silk sashes tied below the bride’s knee, which were removed by the groomsmen and worn in their hats. Other garters might be fancifully decorated with blue ribbon symbolizing constancy. They would be part of a bride’s trousseau filled with such a frothery assortment of lingerie and linen, perhaps embroidered and sewn by her own hand, to be taken to her new home.

Why does the bride carry a handkerchief? Not all brides do, but if you choose to, it will be a lucky sign. Early farmers thought a bride’s wedding-day tears were lucky and brought rain for their crops.–With Love ❦ Handcrafted by Noreen

In days gone by the Bridal Hankie was put away after the wedding day to be turned into a Christening bonnet for the first born Child

❧❦❧ A Bridal Hankie

A little hankie I edged for you In each stitch I planted a few

A wish for happiness, a wish for health

Please don’t forget to look after your wealth

This hankie may be used when sad and maybe a little blue

But most of all I want happy tears and keep the sad ones few

Carry this hankie on your wedding day

Then put it away and take it out on a joyful Christening day

With Love ❦ Handcrafted by Noreen

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 and The Tales of Almonte

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

The Art of Learning How to Butter Your Toast the Right Way — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

Smocked Dresses–From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Kitchen Stool — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Flying Teeth in Church — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Writings of Noreen Tyers of Perth

Memories of Grandpa’s Workshop — Noreen Tyers

Cleaning out Grandmas’ Fridge — Noreen Tyers Summer Vacation at Richard’s Castle

My Flower Seeds — From the Pen of Noreen Tyers of Perth

The Norwegian Bride– Not Your Ordinary Bride

 

 

 

The sailing ships averaged 38 days from ports in the United Kingdom, 50 days from Germany and 51 days from Norway. The general health of the passengers of the season was good; out of the passengers from the United Kingdom only 11 deaths occurred on the passage, and of the 337 deaths recorded in the sailing ships from Germany and Norway, the greater number, viz: 311 were children who died from infantile diseases incidental to the long voyage, closeness of atmosphere and the want of proper nourishment suitable to their age.

• From a letter dated Quebec, 10 June, 1868 from L. Stafford to The Baron Falkenberg, Norwegian consulate, Quebec: “It is my duty to inform you that a party of Norwegian emigrants, numbering 85 souls, equal to 64 adults, at present on board the ship Caroline, from Christiania, (now lying in the stream,) and destined to the Western States, have been represented to me as having neither the means to pay their fares to the West, nor to provide for their daily support. I have already, I believe, informed you that the system hitherto existing of affording temporary relief and land passage to destitute emigrants is abolished by the curtailment of the grant for immigration purposes, and I shall, therefore, I regret to say, be unable to render these poor people any assistance. The Captain of the Caroline expresses his intention to land them in city this afternoon, ans as our sheds are already fully occupied and we have no room for their accommodation, I trust that your official position may enable you to adopt some means of affording them protection and relief. I shall also feel obliged by your communicating the substance of this letter to your Government, and I hope you will explain to them the hardships to which all emigrants must necessarily be exposed, who land here without sufficient funds to carry them through to their destinations.” The reply was: “I am duly in receipt of your esteemed favor of the 10^th inst., and note contents. With reference to the poor emigrants lately arrived per Norwegian ship Caroline, I beg to inform you that on the arrival here of Norwegian emigrants, who have no complaint to make respecting breach of contract, which, in the present instance is not the case, my function ceases, and I can officially take no notice of them. I must, of course, advise the Master of the Caroline to land his passengers whenever he thinks proper, within the limits of the law, and if through over-crowding or otherwise, malignant fevers should break out, the responsibility does certainly not fall on my shoulders. I consider the present case, as well as the subsequent ones, which, no doubt, unfortunately will occur as great hardships, particularly as your communication of the 4^th May last, conveying the Canadian Government’s intention not to assist indigent emigrants for the future has barely had time to reach Norway, and be made publicly known there.”

 

The bridal crown came in use at the end of the middle ages, with the Virgin Mary’s crown at the forefront. The crown was undoubtedly the most expressive part of anything the bride would wear. It would be a symbol of her purity and virginity. Women who did not qualify in that category or who were pregnant or who were widowed were not allowed to wear the bridal crown. In some districts pregnant brides were allowed to wear smaller crowns or a modified version of the hodeplagget – a head covering that married women wore with their bunad.

Bridal crowns varied from district to district. They, as a rule, would be richly decorated with detailed silver work and, of course, would be very valuable. Some crowns could be so heavy that they would have to be sewn into the bride’s hair in order for it to sit properly in place. A very strong neck was necessary to carry this honorable head piece the entire day! Some crowns were owned privately, but many were owned by the church. Usually the crowns would be rented out and the price was usually one “daler”- Norwegian money unit prior to 1875.

That would be the custom of bride gifts, a folk tradition that was kept alive until the mid-1800s, when a new Norwegian law abolished the bride’s right to these gifts. Baklid conducted the research for his recent doctorate in the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo.

Before marrying for love came into the picture, the primary intention of a couple’s union was economic. Throughout history, it turns out that the groom often gave one or more traditional gifts to the bride.

According to Baklid, the bride could draw on these gifts if she became widowed. The basic principle underlying the gifts was that she would be financially secure if her husband died.

Clipped from The Frankfort Bee,  16 Dec 1887, Fri,  Page 6

 

 

 

 

Blakeney:
Was originally called Norway Pine Falls, then Snedden’s Mills after the first settler Alexander Snedden in 1822. Then it was called Rosebank in the 1850s – which is one of the names showing in the Historical Atlas for Lanark County, however Blakeney PO shows at the same place.

 

Clipped from The Evening Independent,  14 Feb 1948, Sat,  Page 3

 

Clipped from The Circleville Herald,  18 Nov 1929, Mon,  Page 1

 

 

 

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 andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

The McArthur Love Story

How Many Women Does it Take to Replace a Team of Horses?The Doukhobors

 

90 Day Fiance and Mail Order and War Brides

Everyone has a guilty pleasure, and mine just happens to be 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? on TLC, Sunday nights. (repeated throughout the week) I can tell you that TLC rounded up some real “sweethearts” this season and I wonder if they went out of their way to find “love” to shock us all.

Most of these male candidates on the new edition of the series are so much older than their future brides and I swear they act like they shouldn’t be allowed within 300 feet of their local high school.

The show’s shock and awe premise is based on couples who must marry someone they’ve met from another country in 90 days, or their special US “K-1 fiance visa” is revoked and the partner is sent packing.

Brides have been coming to this country for years in one form or other. There were mail-order brides which originated on the western frontier in the 19th century.  At that time, the number of men in the west far outnumbered the number of available women. Lonely farmers and ranchers would seek wives from “Back East” by placing ads in newspapers and magazines.  Interested women would write back and send photographs, and the couple did not usually meet in person until the woman showed up for her wedding to a man whom she had never actually met face-to-face.

My Grandmother was a War Bride after the first world war. In Cowansville, Quebec there were many women who had married military personnel in times of war or during their military occupations of foreign countries.

Mary Louise Deller Knight said she found herself coming over to Canada in a ship loaded with women. The war brides came because of the man they loved, and most brides had no idea what life in Canada would be like. They arrived tired dusty and weary, and some were met by their husbands and some had no one as their husbands were still deployed in the service.

My Grandmother was invited to a wedding shower within a few months of her arrival, and she went with a smile, but had no idea what it was. She thought that a shower was just a form of hospitality from a neighbour blessed with water. Mary Louise used to complain about the Canadian weather from the day of her arrival until she went back to visit England in the early 60s. She returned  from the UK saying she would never go back there because she froze the whole time because of their terrible heating system.

For a not-so-fortunate few, there were disappointments. The government had only undertaken to pay travel fares one way—so an unwelcome or unhappy war bride with no means of returning to her family faced a precarious situation. Eventually, they found help, from the Red Cross, sympathetic neighbours or communities, and managed to return to their families in Britain. In 1946 a total of 61,200 war brides and children came to Canada after WW11 and only 50 disgruntled women announced their return to England because of Canada’s high prices and housing and clothing shortages. Life wasn’t the romantic dream for Brit women who married a soldier.

Tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers had arrived and were turning the heads of young British women who were desperate for a distraction from the misery of war. No matter what year it was, the brides from any era were finally free to begin a much bigger journey. Good or bad—just like 90 Day Fiance.

 

 

Janice Shail sent me this: My mother in law is Patricia Crawford …this is her story:

My mother in law is a war bride who came to Carleton Place at the end of World War 2. When she came, she and many others arrived on a special train for war brides. She travelled across the ocean, arrived in Halifax, and got on the train Many stopped in the middle of nowhere and she remembered they let off a young girl with her suitcases and continued on down the track. Many times she wondered what ever happened to them.
She herself was just 18 years old and that is amazing to think about–to come to a country for the love of a young Canadian soldier. She is now 90 and her husband passed away awhile back— but the memories of the war are there for her too in so many ways.

Thanks Janice

Trudy Jones

January 8 at 6:57 PM  · 

 

My mother (Violet Jones) being a war bride, is pictured here enjoying her first winter snow experience in Canada. She married my father, Gordon Jones, who was serving in Europe and stationed in England during WWII. This photo was taken at my father’s homestead in Eccles Hill in the Eastern Townships. My mother didn’t have any winter clothing so she is wearing a pair of heavy wool pants that belonged to a male relative. This photo was taken in the mid 1940’s. My mother resides in Sutton where she and my father raised my brother and I. My mother will be turning 100 years old in August of this year. 

See less

 

 

CLIPPED FROM
The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada11 Nov 2006, Sat  •  Page 21

It Pays to Advertise… Classified Ad Brides

Pallbearers and Bridesmaids–A True Story

No Country for Old Bridesmaids Dresses!

Splinters of Sinders Nichols and Brides

Women in Peril– Betrayed by Heartless Scoundrels 1882

The Home for Friendless Women

Laundry Babies – Black Market Baby BMH 5-7-66

Embroidery of the Insane?

Women in Peril 1868 — Mathilda Routh

Did You Know About the House of Industry?

The Very Sad Tale of Hessie Churchill

All the Single Ladies?

I’m Every Woman?

Is My Mikado Bride Behind Door Number 1 or 2? Here’s a how-de-do!

 

WordPress.com Brockville Minstrels 1885– I wonder if they sang The Mikado?

 

The Brockville Recorder 1887 

 

A marriage occurred in Brockville lately, connected with which there are some elements of romance. For obvious reasons the names are not given, but the bride is a Brockville girl, and the groom is from below the border.

The groom is a widower with a couple of children, and who some months ago, while visiting friends at Ogdensburg, expressed a desire to marry again. One of his female friends there, with a turn for match-making, told him she was acquainted with a young lady in Brockville who would make him an excellent wife, and advised him to open a correspondence with her. This the party did.

It appears, however, that there were two young women of the same name in Brockville, and the letter was not delivered to the one for whom it was intended, but fell into the hands of the other party, who, believing it for herself, answered it, and a regular correspondence was opened. Although neither of the parties had ever seen the other, the man proposed marriage, and was accepted, and then came to Brockville to make the personal acquaintance of his made.

He met her, and the date for the wedding was fixed. The soon-to-be groom then returned to Ogdensburg. There the lady who had interested herself in his behalf put him through a course of cross-examination as to his opinion of the young woman she had selected for him, and from the description learned that the one that he had proposed to was not the  correct person.

She advised him to take, but a total stranger to her, and, like Ko-Ko in the Mikado, exclaimed: “Here’s a pretty kettle o’ fish ; here’s a howdy-do.” She explained that somehow things were mixed, and that the one he proposed to was not her friend, but an entire stranger. The party then returned post-haste to Brockville, made inquiries, and learned that there were two young ladies in town of the same name. He then ascertained the residence of young lady No 2, and called on her, explained the circumstances, made a proposal of marriage, but was 5 bluntly refused. He immediately concluded that he would stick to No. 1, and the wedding in due course took place.

 

Author’s note: I don’t know about you– but if my new husband came with 4 children I might have said no too… but alas, that was the way of the world in those days.

 

 

 

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)

 

 

It Pays to Advertise… Classified Ad Brides

Women in Peril– Betrayed by Heartless Scoundrels 1882

The Home for Friendless Women

Laundry Babies – Black Market Baby BMH 5-7-66

Embroidery of the Insane?

Women in Peril 1868 — Mathilda Routh

Did You Know About the House of Industry?

The Very Sad Tale of Hessie Churchill

All the Single Ladies?

I’m Every Woman?

 

Bride’s Magazine 1878

photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

The ladies of ye olden time, and particularly the brides, were dressed in a style essentially different from those shown in the fashion plates of Harper’s Bazaar for 1878.

Photo-Vintage Bazaar covers

 Silver gelatin print of a new bride, 1880’s Sydney, Australia

 

Fancy bonnets, kid gloves, and silk dresses were never dreamed of. The most
complete wardrobe consisted of a home-spun dress,deer-skin petticoats, dyed blue from the bark of the soft maple, and a squirrel-skin bonnet. In many instances, bride and bridegroom mounted the same horse, and rode away to the nearest magistrate, a
happy couple.

1880s bride-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

1880s bride in silk and satin-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

1880s bride in silk and satin-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

Bride in the 1860s-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

The Bride and Her Bridesmaids, Albert Sands Southworth, Josiah Johnson Hawes, whole plate daguerreotype. 1851

 

Minneapolis-wedding-Lily Absinthe

 

1880s Wedding Couple Shake Hands-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

wedding portrait circa 1880s-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

A pioneer wedding-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

Pioneer wedding-photo from https://www.pinterest.com/

 

 

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

 

Going to the Chapel? Hold on– Not so Fast!

 

Photo from www.bytown.net

Did you know that among the pioneers, great difficulty was  had for many years. The consummation of courtship was impossible in those days with only the *Rev. Dr. Stuart being the only regular clergy man from the Lower Province line to Kingston.
The eager bridal parites were compelled to wait for months, and in some cases for years, before the golden opportunity presented itself. To obviate this difficulty,in many instances,magistrates, colonels, majors, adjutants and surgeons consented to perform the
ceremony. By the Act of 1783, these irregular marriages were confirmed. The practice yet in vogue in rural sections, of keeping intending marriages a secret, no doubt, in a measure, grew out of the system of posting up notices of the intention of personsto marry.

The notices were frequently attached to trees by the roadside, and taken down by the parties most interested. Public opinion rapidly changed in favor of conferring the right to marry upon ministers of all denominations, and in 1798 an Act was passed, which made it lawful for the minister of any congregation professing to be a member of the Church of Scotland, the Lutheran Church, or a Calvinist Church, to marry according to the rites of
such church.

By a clause of this Act, the clergyman was compelled to appear at the Quarter Sessions,
prove his office, and take the oath of allegiance. It will be observed that, by this Act, the Methodists and some other denominations were treated with contempt by the authorities at that time ruling the Province. An obvious right was withheld, and a grave injustice done to a body well deserving of recognition.

In some instances the ministers were not disposed to quietly submit to the unjust law.
Elder Ryan and the Rev. Mr. Smith, Ryan s son-in-law, both performed the ceremony. Ryan was in consequence banished from the Province, but was pardoned. Smith stood his trial, acted as his ownlawyer, and got free.

Justice was at last done by the Act of 1831, which, in addition to the churches
before named, made it lawful for the remaining orthodox denominations to solemnize matrimony, after having obtained certificates from the Quarter Sessions.In May, 1814, the Government appointed five persons in the Province to issue marriage licenses,the point in Eastern Canada being Cornwall.

 

 

 

Marriage Certificates from the Lanark County Genealogical Society Page–

Marriage Certificates

The certificates have been submitted by website users or from the Perth Museum Archives.

 

Memorial Tiles: Rev. John Stuart

Perth Courier, November, 1933

The following is from the Pilot Mound, Manitoba, Sentinel, Mrs. Stewart having been the former Miss Marjory McIntyre of Balderson before her marriage to Mr. D. A. Stewart.  “Golden wedding bells chimed in Copperfield on Sunday, Oct. 8 when a highly esteemed pioneer couple Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Stewart celebrated their 50^th anniversary of their wedding day at home with their family.  Harry and Kathleen received the congratulations of many friends who called during the day.  On October 8, 1883, D.A. Stewart married Marjorie McIntyre in Winnipeg.  They took the train to Manitou and completed their journey by horse and buggy to the farm close by the (illegible word) Mound.  When they arrived, threshing was in progress on the next acre and the gang halted to give a royal salute with full whistle honors to the bride and groom.  Since that happy day, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have lived on the same farm; a fine pine tree grove planted by Mr. Stewart surrounds an avenue leading to their home.  Both have played important parts in the up building of this district since the pioneer days.  Mr. Stewart is a graduate in Applied Science and Arts of McGill and taught school as a young man in the east.  On coming west he entered actively into political life and as a Liberal candidate successful contested Lisgar in a memorable contest – in which the defeated aspirants included the late R.L. Richardson and represented Lisgar in the Federal House.  He has always been keenly and actively interested in education and municipal matters and for many years was inspector of schools; he is still secretary-treasurer of his own school district, Copperfield, he was for some time clerk of Louise municipality.  Mrs. Stewart despite some infirmities, is a bright, cheerful little lady, possessing a remarkable memory of happenings of early years.

Perth Courier, July 19, 1940

On Wednesday of last week Mr. and Mrs. George Garrett of Doranville, pioneer residents of that district, quietly celebrated the 68^th anniversary of their marriage.  It was on July 10, 1872 that Mr. Garrett, who was the fourth son of the late George Garrett and Mary Greer of Silver Lake, took as a bride Jane Johnston, daughter of Robert Johnston and Ellen Greer of (illegible, maybe Oso?).  (note, last names as printed of the mothers are both Greer).  At that time there were only two or three houses at Sharbot Lake and no church there.  The minister who performed the ceremony was a Methodist circuit rider from Maberly.  Recalling these early days, Mr. Garrett stated “I had built a little cabin back in the bush north of Zealand and not far from the farm now occupied by Jim McCord.  The neighbors were good in those days and they gave me a lot of help in building my first home.”  To this clearing in the woods, the young couple repaired.  They did not have much in the way of worldly goods but stout hearts and a willingness to work were valuable assets.  Mr. Garrett owned an ox team but most of his work was with the axe.  “I was young and strong” he said “and could work all day without ever tiring.  I was always chopping wood to make potash for cash.  We had lots of hard work but there was always plenty to eat and we were as happy as kings.”  The little log cabin became too small for the growing family and a larger house was built in which Mr. and Mrs. Garrett raised their family of three sons and five daughters. After their family had grown up they sold their farm and retired to Sharbot Lake where Mr. Garrett was employed on the C.P.R. section.  “When we were pioneering”, Mr. Garrett said, “game was plentiful.  I saw lots of bear and deer and at night the wolves used to howl.”  Mr. Garrett, who is 91 years of age, is still rugged and active.  Mrs. Garrett is 90 and was able to do all her own work until last October when she was badly injured in a fall.  Since that time she has been in poor health.  Six  sons and daughters are still living including Thomas of Sydenham; Robert of Leamington; George of Zealand; Mrs. Robert Armstrong of Zealand; Mrs. Charles Gordon of Sharbot Lake; and Mrs. Acheson(?) of Detroit.  Mrs. Viola Moore of Lombardy who died last month was a daughter while another daughter Mrs. Ellen McCord, died 23 years ago.

 

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

 

The White Wedding Burial- Local Folklore

 

The following is a story that has been going around for years. Tomorrow a true story that happened when I was a child. 

In 1846, a beautiful, young, and bright Euphemia O’Brien married and expected her life to go the usual wife and motherhood route. Euphemia was to marry a salesman from Ottawa, but alas, she was dying of consumption. Undeterred, he proposed and she accepted, and plans were made for a speedy union. But the poor bride-to-be died before the date they had set. There was no kiss for the bride, no honeymoon, and especially no happily ever after.

Why the love struck man ended up marrying his now dead beloved is unknown,and now comes what has been termed the most unpleasant and discreditable part of the story. The groom had promised young Euphemia  he would not let her go to her grave unmarried. So on the day of the wedding her coffin was taken into the church with the bridesmaids brushing shoulders with the pallbearers. When the good reverend pronounced them man and wife– her husband had to smile just to stop the tears from falling. 

The End

 

 

 

Splinters of Sinders Nichols and Brides

Two Lake Ave West historical homes.

Sinders today and Rose’s Custom Sewing tomorrow

Sinder’s Bridal House

I love brides- I wrote a Carleton Place “bride’s blog” months ago, and in case you didn’t see it: Here Comes the Bride —The Weddings of Carleton Place

 

This week I found this picture from a 70s Carleton Place Canadian at the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum. Is that John Denver in that picture?

 

Photo from the Carleton Place Canadian files from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Did you know Abner Nichols Jr. once lived in the beautiful red brick home on Lake Ave West now occupied by Sinders? He built it in 1899– probably because it was near their lumber business on corner of Lake and Moore where Mac’s now is.

Photo from Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum–Lake Avenue and Moore Street in 1936, when it was the site of W.A. Nichols’ Sons Lumber Supplies. You can just make out the Moore house at the far right in it’s original location before it was moved to Bridge Street and became the home of The Roy Brown Museum.

 

Photo from Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum–Around 1950 the southeast corner of Lake Avenue and Moore Streets looked like this. Originally the site of W.A. Nichols’ Sons Lumber, it became W & S Building Supplies around 1948.
Mac’s Milk, which remains on the site today (as simply Mac’s), was built in 1988. It was then known as Waugh and Snedden.

 

 

 Photo from the Carleton Place Canadian files from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

“Sufferin” Sinders! What was Happening on Lake Ave West Today? Here is a reminder. Remember most building’s you look at in Carleton Place have a story. Let’s pass them on.

Photo by Linda Seccaspina

 

 

Sinder’s is at the Wedding Palace Bridal Show! Check out their set-up from last year then come see us them weekend for all the new styles and another great contest!

Sinder’s facebook page

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal, 06 Jan 1948, Tue, Page 19

 

Here Comes the Bride —The Weddings of Carleton Place

There is nothing like a wedding to make people smile. That’s me on the left in 1960 as a flower girl, and my late sister Robin on the right as attendants for a neighbour’s wedding.

Here are some vintage Carleton Place wedding pictures.

1954

1956

1953

1949

1959- related to our current mayor:)

Buy Linda Secaspina’s Books— Flashbacks of Little Miss Flash Cadilac– Tilting the Kilt-Vintage Whispers of Carleton Place and 4 others on Amazon or Amazon Canada or Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street in Carleton Place