Hello, I was given some pictures with some clippings of my dad who grew up on 244 William st. My dad Allan Trotman is back left in baseball and centre back with his glasses taped on in the hockey picture. Unfortunately there were no names in the pictures, wondering if you would post asking the people if they can name anyone, they would be all CP boys. Allan passed away in 1967. I don’t remember my dad (I was 5)and thought it would be nice if any of the comments could give me some stories
My dad Allan Trotman is back left in baseball- Photo– David Trotman
Harry Paquette was coach of the Red Sox
august 9 1956My Dad is centre back with his glasses taped on in the hockey picture.
For years I used to drive along William Street looking for these critters as I love animals and Basil Flynn’s flock amazed me. I always used to take photos of them and follow them. I think the reason they did not like me was because I called them ducks. Yes, I am a country girl, but I tend to get certain critters mixed up. These are geese by the way. John Nephin told me so last night. LOLOL. People also posted some great photos and memories so I thought I would document them so everyone will remember them as they exist no more. I took this video in 2011.
Dan Williams-Basil was a good friend of my dad’s. He used to visit us often. A really great guy. For some reason he always called mom Polly.
Kelly NephinThe last 3-4 were there until about 3 years ago. We never saw them again after the flood.
Lorraine NephinWhen Basil passed my dad fed the geese for many years. They would show up at our back door and honk to let him know they were hungry. The local grocery stores would provide them with scrap produce free of charge. When dad passed our kids continued to feed them. Then one day a new couple moved in on William street and they called bylaw and the geese were caged and taken away. They had lived on the river for over 10 years. So sad.
Author’s Note- John Nephin says the ancestry of Basil’s geese flock went on for 30 years on William Street
Joan StearnsLorraine Nephin I never knew what happened to those Geese. We all loved seeing them. And how they would come up from the river every night. How sad that someone would be so small minded.
At the extreme end of William Street on the river bank the walls of an old stone home still stand– barely. It was once a Methodist parsonage and a floating sidewalk was built across the swale to this house. From here along the river bank to the felt mill, a strip of land belonged to Robert Bell.
For those who have grown up on William Street in Carleton Place, we all know of the ‘Old Stone House’ at the very end of the road. Here is what it once was, as her Grandmother Margaret & her friends “raided” the house. Even then, this house was empty-and for my Grandmother & her friends, this was a wonderful playhouse. Early-Mid 1940’s–Photo from Amanda Armstrong-From the photo collection of Margaret Martin” From–The Mystery Ruins of Carleton Place- Photos by Adam DowdallThe Mystery Ruins of Carleton Place- Photos by Adam Dowdall
North of this strip to Townline was the ‘King’s Bush’ owned by James Morphy. In the 1950s a Cameronian church stood on the site of the old Mullet home. About this time the old Presbyterian church was built, but before it was finished some trouble arose and during the interval Robert Bell stored hay in it. Between I.C. Langtry’s house and the Rectory Corner there was a harness shop, a blacksmith shop, and a carriage shop.
The original Napoleon Street once ended at William Street and the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum believes Mullet Street was named after the Mullet Family. If you look at the map closely no one knows what happened to Quarry or Louisa Street. A similar story exists for Elgin Street between Bridge and Victoria Street. These streets just disappeared.
As early as 1860 the C.P.R. from Brockville through Carleton Place to Almonte was open. It is interesting to note that King Edwards VIII, then Prince of Wales, was touring Canada in that year. He had gone by boat to Arnprior and returned making a tedious journey by stagecoach to Almonte. From Almonte he took the train to Brockville but passed through Carleton Place on the way there.
At that time the train station stood about half way between William Street and Townline. Not far from the railway crossing on Townline was the old Tweedie home, father west was the Dunlop home, and not far from Bridge Street lived Frank Lavellee. Mr Dunlop was a cabinet maker and caskets were among the many things he made.
Photo-The Dunlop-Kenny family
The original Gillies home was on George Street and then occupied by Mrs. Hilliard McDaniel. Not far from Bridge Street were two small frame homes owned by Jacob Leslie.
The house was built in 1895 by Hugh Williams, a miller. It has an abundance of gingerbread decoration on the exterior, with flower-patterned, wrought-iron cresting at the top of a bay window. The town bought the house in 1964 but it had become derelict by the time Hughes bought it from the town by tender in 1984.
Please take care of our heritage homes as they are only around once.
Hi Linda– I follow you on Facebook and have noticed that you have been focusing on William St. lately. The photo I attach was taken in 1941, it is the front of my grandparents Gordon and Winnifred (Daisy) (nee Campbell) Bennett’s store on William St– Kelly Crampton….
Thanks Kelly!!!
Thanks to all of you for the comments!!!
Beverley J WylieMy sister worked there
Kelley CramptonI’m pleased to see that others remember my grandparents’ store. I have never heard anyone, other than family, mention it.
Anne CramptonKelley Crampton was that later Bogart’s store?
Lorraine Nephin Kelley Crampton I think so. Always stopped there when I was going to Victoria school
Wendy LeBlanc During the early 1960s the mother of my friend, Gayle Bogart owned the house and store. Not sure how long she ran it. On Friday evenings, Gayle’s parents always went out for dinner, so she and I always had a plan for what we were going to bake that evening using ingredients from the store. I credit my baking skills to those evenings! Mrs. Bogart (Lillian) always complained that our baking was eating into her profits!
Carol McDonald Mary Millar was a very patient clerk working for Mrs Bogart , when all the kids from the neighborhood stopped in there to buy the penny candy , pop, etc.
David McNeelyI remember the Bennett’s giving out candy apples on Haloween.
Lynne Johnsonwhat number on William?
Darla Fishernext door to 123 William
Llew LloydPenny candies, cold five cent cokes from the cooler, and maple cookies from a bushel basket, all paid for with the money collected from empty pop bottles.
Bonnie MitchellI remember Bogarts store. We sometimes went home that way from school.
Lauren HuttThis is so neat! My family and I actually live here now!
Dale CostelloI so loved the little neighborhood stores that were all over Carlton Place back in the 50.s and 60.s. You got personal service, good value, and helped a local family survive.
Tim Neil This is kind of long but it’s a good story. In the early 80’s I was on the far side of Toronto for a pageant my daughter was in. When I came out of the hotel in the morning I had a flat and no spare. I did have a can of instant spare so I blew up the tire and drove around for an hour until I found a small 2 bay garage. I asked the owner, who was kind of a grumpy bugger, if he would fix the tire. He said he was closing and to put a can of instant spray in it. I said I had and that I didn’t think another can would get me where I was going. He asked where that was and I told him , Carleton Place. He stopped what he was doing and said “I grew up in Carleton Place”. I asked where and he said “William Street”.
I asked if he remembered Bennetts store and when he said yes I said ” My mom is Mary, the youngest of the Bennett children”. He turned and yelled to his helper to get my car in and fix the tire. The helper complained that it was past closing time and he said ” Fix the tire” . When it was fixed I asked what I owed and he said ” you don’t owe me anything, Mr Bennett was very good to my family” I wrote his name down ( don’t remember it now ) and when I got home I asked my mom if she remembered him. She said he was much younger than her but she remembered he came from a large kind of poor family that lived across from the store.
My grandfather allowed people to put things on account and pay later and most nights when they would be sitting down to supper there would be knock at the door and one of the kids from this family would be there asking for some milk or bread or something. When they sold the store he was owed thousands of dollars, a lot of money in the sixties , and much to my grandmothers dismay, he burned all the accounts. He said they had made a good living and that through hard times, these people had paid all they could. If that’s not paying it forward then I don’t know what is.
Dawn Jones Tim Neil : that story is beautiful. Made me tear up. Your grand parents were charitable people..ahead of their time in paying it forward. Thanks for sharing!
Bonnie Mitchell Does anyone remember McDonalds store. I think it was on Morphy St.
Tim NeilI do, it was still there in 64 when I was in grade 1. Herman Hilderbrant owns it now
Neighbours assembled Saturday and Sunday outside a house in Carleton Place alleged to be haunted. It was located on William Street in 1921, and no mention who lived there was ever made. The police were forced to post extra men at the door in order to prevent entry by the curious.
Many of the people came from other neighbourhoods, and the police say they have never seen so many automobiles stationed in the area. The vicar of the Catholic parish blessed each room Sunday October 23. The town had made inquiries, and ascertained that fortune tellers had formerly occupied a part of the house. The fortune tellers had predicted by means of cards that terrifying happenings would take place there to anyone who would listen.
The police investigated after calls by neighbours and found the fortune telling cards were still there on the table. The priest not only blessed the house but he tore the cards up and flung them in the fire. Since his visit the neighbours stated that everything is now back to normal and life in Carleton Place can go on normally.
We have a small but lovely collection of original artwork at the museum. This painting by Mary Dodge is titled “House on William Street”. Does anyone recognize it?
Actual Carleton Place Spirit Orb shot by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
One of the places that spirits likes to show up is in photos. This is because the camera is able to capture things that most of us cannot see with our naked eye. These circular “light balls” are known as orbs and are thought to be spheres of energy from the spiritual realm. Many people are of the opinion that orbs are spiritual beings such as angels or spirit guides. The brighter and more dense the orb appears, the more likely it is to be Spirit, the lighter and fuzzier the orb, the more likely it is to be a dust particle.
Actual Carleton Place Spirit Orb shot by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
Orbs are a recently new phenomenon that have been captured with the introduction of digital cameras in the 1990’s. They were first thought to be malfunctions by the camera makers but to this day the manufacturers claim these “orbs” to be microscopic particles floating in the air.
Orbs have been accepted, certainly in the psychic community, as real evidence of spirit presences whereby they are supposed to represent the essence, or soul of a departed spirit. From the point of a medium who can see and sense spirits, they say this a reality. I have asked people to take photos when there is a spirit present and the majority of times, at least too many to count, an orb appears on the photograph.
Actual Carleton Place Spirit Orb shot by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
There is really a lot of “energy’ on William in Carleton Place. I have had a few emails from people who live on this street inquiring about the particular history of a home. It is one of the original older streets in town that had a lot of things happen on it, so it makes sense the spirits hang around. The person that took these photos said: “They appear at different times and you always feel the energy so they advise anyone that senses the same thing to pull out a camera and catch them. In these photos there is a dog and a child and woman”.
Cat in Window-Actual Carleton Place Spirit Orb shot by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
I have the same thing happen at my house, but others have sensed them and seen them. They don’t bother me much, they bother visitors, but as several mediums on the last house tour once told me.:
“Linda the spirits are alive and well in your home.”
Keep your eyes open!
From the guest book at the last house tour in my home.
Mr Basil Flynn. A great neighbour who was very kind to us William St kids in Carleton Place
Basil is son of John Flynn and Barbara Hudson. He died in 1998. He was married to Mary Downey who was born in 1907 and the daughter of John Downey and Velma Way of Carleton Place.
Margaret Martin—Basil was a wonderful, kind caring neighbour to everyone living near him on William St.
Matt Thrasher–Lots of fond memories of Basil. He was my grandparent’s neighbour. He was a great neighbour and friend to them. And wasn’t afraid to tell me off when I was up to no good
Krista Lee-That is what I remember most about him was he missing a thumb…he told me his family was so poor that they made the kids stand in the garden as scarecrows and one day when it was his turn a big crow flew down and bit off his thumb.. I was amazed!!
Chrissie LancasterRemember him well he used to come up to our cottage all the time. He would buy us chocolate bars and put them in a brown bag and we would put our hand in the bag and what we grabbed is what we got. He used to drink with my Dad until he quit. Lots of memories with him and his wife Mary till she passed.
Wanda Lee-Morrison–Basil was a kind and funny man
Joanne TaylorWe lived across the road from him when he passed away in the ice storm he was a really nice man.
Photo from Matt Thrasher’s Collection
Basil on the right helping pour the foundation at the 262 William st renovation in the early 80s.–The photo below is 262 William prior to renovation. The white geese on the river behind Basils were brought there by Basil I’m pretty sure
Janet MacDonald
Thank you for posting these comments and story about Basil Flynn and Mary Downey. We do not know much about either of them. John Downey’s parents are my 3x great grandparents. John’s brother, Andrew (my 2x g grandfather) left Ontario in the 1880’s and moved to Manitoba. John’s brother, William (Autumn’s 2x great grandfather) moved to Saskatchewan. My friend/relative and I have been trying to find out what happened to Mary for awhile now. We were very happy to hear that her life became happier after all her tragedies in the 1930’s. Does anyone know when Basil and Mary were married? We would love to hear more about Basil and Mary. They sound like wonderful people. Basil sounds like quite the card.
Thank you again for posting these wonderful stories of Basil and Mary.
Janet and Autumn
I am fairly sure this is John Downey, 1843 – 1919. He was also a shoemaker and lived in Huntley. I believe this is his first wife, Margaret Dorning. Margaret died in 1900. When John married Velma Way in 1903, he was living in Carleton Place. John and Velma had a daughter Mary in 1907. Mary married George Edgar Swinburne in 1926. Their two children, had both died by 1932 and it appears that George Edgar had left by 1930. It was very satisfying to find out via your site that Mary had married to Basil Guy Flynn and would have had a happier later life.
Thanks for this great service of connecting people and information.
Autumn Downey, related to Janet MacDonald who corresponded with you about Mary and Basil.
For those who have grown up on William Street in Carleton Place, we all know of the ‘Old Stone House’ at the very end of the road. Here is what it once was, as her Grandmother Margaret & her friends “raided” the house. Even then, this house was empty-and for my Grandmother & her friends, this was a wonderful playhouse. Early-Mid 1940’s–Photo from Amanda Armstrong-From the photo collection of Margaret Martin” From–The Mystery Ruins of Carleton Place- Photos by Adam Dowdall
lindaseccaspina 