The Devlins and Weldon Armour– Ray Paquette

Comments about–Weldon Armour- One of Carleton Place’s Cool Kids

Weldon was indeed a renown character in Carleton Place, even before his unfortunate accident. Every evening Weldon was brought down town in his wheelchair by George Baker, a neighbour of his and would eventually make his way to the Olympia Restaurant where he would spend the remainder of the evening.

One time (before he joined the RCMP), Weldon was hired by Alan Barker to work on the ambulance. At the scene of an auto accident, Alan gave Weldon a shovel to pick up a human brain, off the road…Weldon quit that day.

I can recall returning to Carleton Place on leave from the Navy after an extended absence and going to the Olympia before my parent’s home because I was sure that Weldon would be there and I could get caught up on what was going on in town and where all the “old gang” were. Having the franchise for the license bureau enabled him to keep current on everything that was happening in town!–Ray Paquette

Photo from-Dishing up the Memories of The Devlins

Comments about —Dishing up the Memories of The Devlins and Sitting on a Bench Outside Devlin’s Store Looking for Stories

Devlin store-The owners prior to the Devlins were the Shackeltons. They were an English couple that had emigrated to Canada in the 1950’s with their two boys, Leon and Frank. I believe that Leon has passed away and Frank my be in the Toronto area. After they sold the store, I believe Mr. and Mrs. Shackleton returned to England.

Since being introduced to your blog I have taken great pleasure in reliving my earlier years in Carleton Place when the population seemed to be eternally stuck at 4800. Those years must have gone a long way in shaping the person I have become and for this I will be eternally grateful–Ray Paquette

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)

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  13 Oct 1898, Thu,  Page 4

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  22 Apr 1897, Thu,  Page 8

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  27 Apr 1897, Tue,  Page 5

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  29 Aug 1898, Mon,  Page 7

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Signed Sealed and Delivered with Tom New — Ray Paquette

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What’s in a Picture?- Mill Street– Ray Paquette

15 Cents for a Movie– Memories of Ray Paquette

Memories of the Olympia & Howard Little Fire-Ray Paquette

Glory Days in Carleton Place- Ray Paquette

Weldon Armour- One of Carleton Place’s Cool Kids

This cool group took over the steps of the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1959!
Pictured are Blaine Cornell, Gary McLellan, Weldon Armour seated, Dave Gordon, Dale Costello, Bob Bigras, Gerald Griffith, Ray Paquette and Gordon Bassett.- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

 

Today in my story about the John Street home in Carleton Place two of these young lads in the photo above helped me out with the story. Each time I look at this photo I truly believe that this has to be the ultimate photo of Carleton Place. I wonder what happened to Weldon Armour and why he was in a wheel chair. Today I found two stories in the newspaper archives and going to document them here for safe keeping.

You are part of  history now Weldon.

 

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  31 Aug 1963, Sat,  Page 34

 

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  01 Mar 1979, Thu,  REVISION,  Page 2

 

“John Armour also mentioned that his uncle Weldon Armour had two of them” in a story I wrote.  Wow–  John Armour? Related to Weldon? Everyone is really related to everyone in Lanark County:)

What did Weldon have two off? Click here–Do You Remember? Memories of the Pengor Penguin

 

Dale Costello– It was a privilege and honour to have counted Weldon “Woggi” Armour as one of my CP buds. We often joined in in keeping the parking meters intact and upright.  Spent many a day with Weldon, one of my valued CP buds. Always one for a laugh, his spirit was never broken and still lives within me. We ran the social activities from the steps of the Bank of Nova Scotia every week and many a young lady received close scrutiny from the boys. Weldon had a car with hand controls, and we would cruise all over town on $1 worth of gas those days.

Marilyn White– How true. They used to stand him at the meters and remove his wheelchair. He would often ask us as we walked by to give him his chair. He was so much a part of our town.

 

Linda SeccaspinaGroup Admin– Where was the location of the office?

 

Dale Costello– Off of the side street, not facing Emily Street.

Ray Paquette– Actually, it was a brick extension to the Armour home on the east side. Weldon’s desk was in front of a large picture window facing Emily Street so that he could watch the passing traffic during slow periods in the office. The entrance to the office was off Charles Street…
Ray Paquette– I stand corrected! I just checked Google Street View and the Armour home at 98 Emily shows the office extension with a ramp leading to an entrance. If memory serves me, when Weldon was first the MTO agent for license renewal, he worked out of a makeshift office in the kitchen (where I bought my Ontario plate in 1971 on return from NS on posting to Ottawa). When the word got out among the RCMP community in Ottawa that Weldon was operating the license bureau, they would form groups with one member designated to drive to CP to get the license renewal for everyone. The exponential increase in business lead to the need for the extension and a dedicated office

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)

 

Related reading

 

So are the High School Cool Kids still Cool?