Chaplin’s Dairy in Glen Tay

Whenever I saw the big white and pink Chaplin’s Dairy truck pull into the yard, I had only one thing on my mind; and that was their delicious chocolate milk.  It came in small pint-sized glass bottles, and had a round, waxed cardboard cap on the top to seal it in. The cap had a little tab, so that you could pull it off of the bottle, and the pint bottle was the perfect size for small eager hands.  After the cap was off, I was just seconds away from tipping the bottle and tasting the richest, creamiest chocolate milk ever produced.

Our Dad worked for Chaplin’s Dairy for decades.  He drove one of the big pink and white trucks, and had a regular ‘route’ of customers in Perth.  He used a big, black, metal carrier to transport milk from the back of the truck to the customer’s front door.  The carrier had eight slots, and each slot held a quart bottle of milk.  He also had a book of order slips. It was a small, thick pad of paper about three by six inches, stapled together at the end.  There was a top sheet that was numbered, a small sheet of carbon paper under that, and a blank sheet at the bottom.  On the top copy, Dad wrote the customer’s name, address, and what they had ordered, along with the total price and that was the customer’s copy.  Because each order was written on top of the sheet of carbon paper, the Dairy had a carbon copy underneath for their records.

Once in a while Dad would bring me to the Dairy and I was fascinated to see the many steps that the milk went through in order to end up on someone’s table.  It was fun to sit in the big truck so high up, and the ride was very different from our car at home.  The truck bounced up and down a lot more, and made a lot of noise, as we drove down the lane, and up the third line toward Perth.  It was neat to look outside, and see how much lower the other cars were on the road.  Every time we’d go over a bump or hill the truck would bounce again, and of course there were no seat belts in those days, so it was quite exciting.

We’d drive along until we could see Nick and Doreen Webber’s house at the corner, and we’d begin to slow down.  Just a bit past Webber’s house we turned right, and Chaplin’s Dairy was a small building on the right side of the road, just up from the corner at Glen Tay.

We’d park the truck, and I would follow Dad into the Dairy.  As soon as he opened the door I could see all of the steam in the air.  It was really, really, humid.  The inside of the building was grey and concrete and the floor was always wet.  Sometimes we’d see one of the Chaplin brothers Cameron or John, and they always wore big rubber boots and the steam rose up all around them.

Because the milk came in glass bottles in those days, a lot of the steam was produced from the big machine that they used to sterilize the bottles.  When the customers were finished with their milk, they would rinse their bottles (hopefully!), leave them on their doorstep for Dad, and he would bring them back to the Dairy that evening.   John or Cameron Chaplin would take the empty bottles and put them through the bottle washer.  The bottle washer washed, rinsed, sterilized, and then rinsed again, so the bottles were sparkling clean and ready for the next batch of milk.

The next machine filled the bottles, then capped them with the little waxed cardboard caps.  There was a large room toward the back of the Dairy, and that was a cold storage room, where the freshly bottled milk was kept.  Most of the time when I visited I saw them bottling homogenized, 2 per cent, skim, and chocolate milk. Sometimes, one of the Chaplins, would hand me a pint bottle of chocolate milk, right off of the filling machine.  I would gladly accept, and thought to myself that if Mother was here she would say that I was going to spoil my supper.  Dad never said anything though, because he knew how much I loved Chaplin’s chocolate milk.

Chaplin’s Dairy was a family business.  The dairy was started by Delbert Chaplin in the early 1900s, and his brother Edgar Chaplin also worked in the business. The Chaplin family owned a large 300 acre farm at R.R 4 Perth and Delbert demonstrated his ingenuity by setting up a method to process their milk from their Holstein herd.  At first he operated the business from their farm, but later in 1935 he built the Dairy building at Glen Tay corners.

1920  – Edgar Chaplin, (Uncle of John and Cameron Chaplin)

Chaplin Dairy Sleigh –Thanks to Gay Lea Dairy Museum, Aylmer, Ontario

When Chaplin’s Dairy began to deliver milk from the new location at Glen Tay, the quarts of milk were just 5 cents each, and it was delivered by horse and wagon. The milk was not bottled at that time but was distributed to the customers from a large tank at the back of the wagon.  The customer would leave a container on their front step or front porch, and Delbert or Edgar would ladle the milk out of the larger can with a pint or quart measure.

The Chaplin farm was producing an average of 3,000 quarts of milk per day and John, Cameron and their brother Don processed the milk and delivered it in the Perth area.

    photo: Nancy Gingerich

The demand for their milk increased, and they expanded, and made arrangements to have five neighbouring farms supply their business with additional milk.  They were also producing chocolate milk and buttermilk at that time.  They made butter as well, but only to supply their own families and it wasn’t for sale to the public.

L to R: Gordon Chaplin, (Royce Frith seated in truck), Donald ‘Don’ Chaplin

By 1945 the sons had taken over the dairy farm and Don took on the responsibility of managing the farm, but their father continued to be active at the Dairy.   They continued to expand their business and operated for many decades.  They expanded their product line to include grape juice and orange juice.They were successful and respected in the community and were known for their high quality products throughout the Perth area.

Memories of Chaplin’s Dairy:

Tim Stafford: ” When I turned nine, Mom told Dad that she could no longer put up with  me on Saturdays because of my bad behavior.  That’s the ‘how and why’ of me working with Dad, on the milk truck for Chaplin’s Dairy.

I wasn’t much help at first, but he gave me fifty cents and a chocolate bar purchased at McGlade’s service station, on Gore Street.

Later, when I got my driver’s license, John Chaplin hired me and another high school student, Don Lindsay, to do his milk route, and the Christie Lake cottage route, while he covered the other routes and the ‘inside’ workers for summer vacations.

We were making $25.00 a week, plus we were expected to eat at the restaurants we delivered to on a rotating basis.  The daily meal was paid for by Chaplin’s Dairy.  John Chaplin’s favourite restaurant was Wong’s Chinese, but Don and I preferred ‘The Bright Spot’, where Muz MacLean, Hillis Conroy’s son-in-law worked.  We usually ordered grilled cheese, french fries, and cokes.”

Quart milk bottles –  1960s

Roger Stafford:  “I am not positive, but I believe I was about 12 when I started working Saturdays and summers with Dad on the milk truck. The first Summer I worked with Dad, our brother, Tim, was working with Grant or Gary Chaplin.

They were delivering to the stores and restaurants in Perth, and to summer camps and cottages. They drove to Christie Lake to deliver to Cavanagh’s (general store) and the Lodges (Norvic Lodge and Arliedale Lodge) . I believe Tim had been Dad’s helper on the milk truck, prior to me starting to work with Dad.  

We used to be at the dairy by 7:00 a.m., and usually got home between 17:30 and 18:00 in the evenings. When I first started with Dad, we delivered milk out of the back of a pickup with a tarp over the glass bottles to protect them from the sun and cold.  Milk was 23 cents a quart bottle, and 25 cents for chocolate milk. We also had pints and half pints in glass bottles. Whipped cream and buttermilk were also carried on the truck. It was not long after I started that we used an enclosed truck to deliver out of. It was much easier, but it had no air conditioning, and a piss-poor heater. When I worked six days a week in the summer, I earned $6. for the week.”

In 1970 Don decided to sell the farm and a few years later in 1974 John and Cameron made the decision to stop processing the milk themselves and just be distributors.  In total, John worked for 42 years in the business and Cameron for 30. At that time Chaplins were one of the last small dairies that still processed their own milk.  They began to sell milk for Clark’s Dairies in Ottawa.  John felt that there were too many changes taking place at that time and that the cost would be too prohibitive to continue processing their own milk.

The milk industry in the 1970s was changing from glass bottles to paper cartons,although most customers preferred the taste of milk in glass bottles. The process of returning and washing the bottles was becoming too time consuming, and too expensive. The federal government was also insisting that businesses use the metric system.  This conversion would have meant purchasing new equipment because their milk was sold in pints and quarts, and they would have to begin selling in litres.

At the point in time when John and Cameron decided to sell the business, they had 1,000 customers, and a modern fleet of trucks, doing 12 runs per day, with four salesmen.  They also offered a complete line of dairy products which included cottage cheese, eggs and also several types of juice. Their last delivery was made by Cameron, on Sept. 17, 1977 and their milk at that time, was 65 cents a quart.

Chaplin’s Dairy was sold that year to Bill McConachie.  Bill was formerly a driver for many years who brought the milk from Ottawa.  His plan was to begin delivering milk to Smiths Falls, to increase his market.

It’s likely difficult for the younger generation to believe that milk was delivered door to door each day, or that it had no expiry date stamped on the bottle.  The milk was fresh from the cow either that day, or the day before, processed at Chaplin’s Dairy, and delivered right to your door step.  There was no need for an expiry date.  It’s also interesting that they managed to have a pretty successful recycling process of sterilizing the bottles and getting them back on the trucks by the next morning.  That was all accomplished without ‘blue bins’ and recycling plants.

Did the milk taste better in a glass bottle?  Yes, it did; and anyone who has drank it from a bottle will tell you the same thing.  We certainly drank enough of the stuff at our house to offer an opinion on that.  One of the benefits of having your father work as a milk man is that he brought home enough milk for the family, each night, in his milk carrier.  When you are raising five children, that’s a lot of milk.  We were fortunate to have had such fresh milk each and every day and we never ran out.

One Pint, glass milk bottle, 1960s

Although the work wasn’t easy, I believe that Dad enjoyed his customers in Perth, and the quick chats had each day.  Whenever Mother and Dad shopped at the IGA on Wilson Street, customers from his milk route would often come up to say ‘Hello’, and exchange a few words.  Dad was well liked, and at Christmas his customers showered him with gifts.  He received many, many boxes of chocolates, packs of cigarettes and one and two dollar bills in lovely Christmas cards.  He was always late getting home Christmas Eve, and part of the reason was that his customers took a few extra minutes to wish him a Merry Christmas, and give him their gifts.

We were fortunate to have grown up at a time when there were family businesses, producing high quality products, and selling them door to door.  At one time we had a milk man, an egg man- (Mr. Greer), and a bread man, delivering right to our door.

As the years passed by, many of the small family businesses have closed down, one by one, and in many cases our products are produced far away by people we don’t know. There are dates stamped on the products now telling us when they are destined to ‘expire’.  We often have no idea what processes are used to make some of the things that we eat, and so we purchase them on faith alone.  Gone are the days when we always knew what we were eating, and even knew the people that made the goods.

Now, we are left with the memories of Chaplin’s, our small, local dairy in Glen Tay. It was a place where we could stop by for a visit and be greeted by John, Don, or Cameron in their big rubber boots, clouds of steam rising all around them. With a big smile they’d pluck a pint of chocolate milk off of the line, and hand it to a little girl from down the road. Their products were made with pride and care, and they were confident that their customers would be satisfied.  For years, Chaplin’s Dairy was a well known business in our community, and their products were enjoyed in Perth and area homes for many, many decades.

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”, and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

(excerpts from ‘Lanark County Kid: My Travels up and down the Third Line’) 

Memories of working at Chaplin’s Dairy – my brothers Tim Stafford and Roger Stafford, excerpts from the book ‘Recipes and Recollections: Treats and Tales from our Mother’s Kitchen’

photos:  Stafford family collection,  Perth Remembered, Perth Historical Society

http://www.staffordwilson.com

Tatlock Memories

Darling township, Lanark County, with localities including Tatlock, White, and Marble Bluff, was named in 1822 for a military officer, Major General H. C. Darling.  He was a colonel serving as the military secretary to Canada’s Governor General. Darling Township was surveyed in 1822 for the influx of Scottish lowland settlers, as well as former soldiers disbanded after the War of 1812 who would be given land grants in this area. Tatlock, is located in what was known as the ‘rocky north’ of Darling Township.

Historic Darling Township Post Offices

Tatlock, Lanark County

Google map – showing Tatlock and neighbouring communities

Tatlock Hall Opened – 1939

“The Ottawa Citizen”, Dec. 1, 1939, p. 7

The Tatlock Hall was built in 1850, originally a Presbyterian Church, near Brightside, on the French Line. By 1914 the church was closed.

In 1939 the building was torn down and rebuilt at Tatlock, to be used as a community hall. At the time, some believed that the cost to rebuild it, $300.00, would bankrupt Darling Township. Many years later, the hall was loaded onto a flatbed and moved again a short distance. Many upgrades and renovations have been added over the years, such as a new roof, insulation, a new kitchen, and decks off the washroom and kitchen.

Tatlock Hall

Tatlock Community Hall

Festival of Small Halls concert, at the Tatlock Hall, in 2017

Tatlock Marble Mine

Omega Marble Tile and Terazzo, opened in April 1963, in Tatlock, Darling Township, Lanark County. High quality marble, named “Rideau Blue”, “Rideau White”, and “Princess Blue” was in great demand, and was used on many distinguished buildings of that time.

Some of the members of the original 1963 Omega crew: Steve Bennett, Clydesville, Bert Wark, Tatlock, Bernard Nichols, Calabogie, Bob Neilson of Clydesville, and Ivan Wark, Tatlock.

Beaton Family

Remains Discovered

During excavations at the Omega mines in 1963, several old graves were unearthed, containing the remains of a pioneer family: John Beaton, one of the early teachers and farmers in the area, along with his wife, Janet (Paton), daughter, Helen, son, Thomas, and an unnamed child, who likely died at birth.

The grave marker indicated that the mother, Janet Beaton, was buried in 1903, at the age of 83, so the family were believed to be early settlers to the area. Bob Neilson of Clydesville levelled off the grave at the Omega mine, and the families remains were moved to the Hopetown Cemetery, where a gravestone was erected in their memory.

Families of Tatlock

Some of the early families of Tatlock: GUTHRIE, SCHAULER, CRAIG, FAY, RINTOUL, GUNN, WARK, CALDWELL, BARR, BUFFAM, MCILRAITH, MURRAY, CAMELON, MCDOUGALL, SMITH, FLEMING, SWEENEY, STEWART, BURNS, CRAWFORD, MAJAURY, BETELL, BEATON, RAYCROFT, PRETTY, TRAILL, JORDAN, LALONDE, LAROQUE, MAJORE, FOY, CARDINAL, RANGER, PERRY, MCFARLANE, BALLANTYNE, ELLIOTT, CAMELON, FRANK, VIRGIN, BRADFORD, LEE, PENMAN, KING, RABB, LANGSTAFF, WATT, BLACK, MUNRO, MCGEE, MCNEIL, LETT, PROCTOR, KILGORE, MCINTYRE, ROBERTSON, ABRAM, BOYLE, KINGSTON, SMITHSON, SPINKS, ROYCE, BARRIE, RING, MANARY, WHITE.

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”, and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

http://www.staffordwilson.com

Oliver’s Maple Tarts

Featured in, “The Lanark Era”:

September 12, 2023, p. 13, “The Lanark Era”

Heritage Maple

This recipe comes from the Oliver family, one of Lanark County’s heritage maple farms.

Maple syrup has been produced at the Oliver farm going back to 1827, when George Oliver (1787-1845), native of Roxburghshire, Scotland settled on Concession 8, Lot 25, of North Elmsley Township.

Award-Winning

Maple Syrup

Through the years, the Oliver family has produced award-winning maple products. In 2016, David and Tressa Oliver, and their cousins, Richard and Jay Hendry shared in the prestigious Sugar Maker of the Year Award.

photo: Oliver’s Mapleworks website

150-Year

Legacy Farm

In the same year, the Oliver’s property was designated as a 150-Year Legacy Farm, as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the Perth Military Settlement.

Today, Oliver’s Mapleworks produces maple syrup, soft maple sugar, maple butter, and they also invite the public to enjoy scenic wagon rides, and tours of their sugar camp.

photo: Oliver’s Mapleworks website

Oliver’s Mapleworks

Oliver’s Mapleworks
158 Lakewood Lane,
Perth,
Ontario K7H 3C7

Phone: 613-264-8612

If you are using a GPS, 

please be sure to enter 158 Lakewood Lane, Drummond/North Elmsley Township

rather than Perth.

Oliver’s Mapleworks website:

https://www.oliversmapleworks.com/

Discover the stories and the heirloom recipes of our Lanark County Maple Syrup Producers in “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Kitchen”, “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”

http://www.staffordwilson.com

McEwen’s Maple Baked Beans

Robert McEwen’s Pancake House, in Ferguson Falls, was the first of its kind in the region. It began as a centennial project, opened in 1967, with the intention of providing jobs for local youth.

Through their decades of operation, Robert and Kaye McEwen did indeed employ not only dozens of local youth, but many others from the community, both in the sugar bush, and the pancake restaurant.

“Local legends say that Dorothy Horricks, who lived next door to the McEwen’s, and worked at their restaurant, likely cooked at least one million pancakes over the years.”

McEwen’s Pancake House, Ferguson Falls (1967-1993)

Although the ingredients are simple, this recipe became a well-loved and much in-demand dish at McEwen’s Pancake House, over the years.

“Maple syrup was used extensively by my mother, in all kinds of dishes, and her baked bean recipe was very popular.” Tom McEwen

Kaye (Huckabone) McEwen’s

Maple Baked Beans

Ingredients

3 c beans

1 tsp mustard

1/2 c maple syrup

1 tsp salt (if desired)

1/2 c butter

1/4 c tomato ketchup

Method:

Cover beans with water, and simmer for 2 hours.

Add mustard, maple syrup, salt, butter, and ketchup

Put in a baking dish and cover with water

Bake in a slow oven for several hours

Add more liquid as needed

McEwen’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush

“Bob McEwen was one of the first maple producers in the area to install pipelines in the sugar bush, and he installed them for the 1968 season.”

Robert ‘Bob’ McEwen was a trailblazer in the close-knit community of maple syrup producers, and was continually embracing new methods and upgrading his equipment in order to achieve the highest possible standards of sap collection and processing.

To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of McEwen’s Pancake House in 1992, – local artist, Ben Babelowsky (1932-2019) created an impressive work of art depicting the McEwen property, capturing this special moment in time.

Mar. 11, 1992, p. 14, “The Ottawa Citizen”

Some of the surnames of the people (and youth) who worked at McEwen’s over the years:

Horricks, Beekman, Blair, McNaughton, Quinn, Ennis, Campbell, Mitchell, Hodgins, Lindenstruth, Closs, Bruneau, Eschke, Morris, Crosbie, Brittain, Couch, Dickenson, Vanderlaan, Badour, Hollington, Kelford, MacLaren, McCullough, Stach, Scott, Leuders…..

(The former McEwen’s Pancake House and Sugar Shack is now home to the award-winning Temple’s Sugar Bush……..another story of a legacy maple family, in the new book, “Lanark County Kitchen”.)

Who were Lanark County’s maple trailblazers? Who are the ‘legacy’ maple syrup producers whose families have been making maple syrup and maple sugar since the times of the early settlers?

Coutts, Dodds, Ennis, Fortune, Fulton, James, Oliver, Paul, Temple, Thompson, VanAlstine, Wheeler….

Meet the families with a long history of maple syrup-making, the award-winners, the names you know, the syrup that you love. Discover their stories, from the old days up to the present.

Enjoy the special collection of heirloom maple recipes – some passed down through the generations, and some made popular in their own restaurants…

.

.

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”

and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

http://www.staffordwilson.com

St. Augustine’s & Heritage Homes, Prospect

Saint Augustine’s Anglican Church is located at Concession 3, Lot 26, 261 Richmond Rd, Prospect, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada

Built in 1854, by stone mason, John May, on land donated by William James, with lumber and stone supplied by parishioners, St. Augustine’s has a seating capacity of 120, and the church served a group of early Irish Anglican settlers who had been meeting up to that time in a school house.

In 1888 St Augustine’s became part of the Parish of Ashton. St. Augustine’s Church and cemetery were consecrated by Bishop Charles Hamilton on September 24, 1896.

Closed in 1967, the building, cemetery and grounds are maintained by the Ashton Parish. A service is held once a year in August.

June 24, 1954, p. 12, “The Ottawa Journal”

James Family

Heritage Home

This heritage home has changed hands over the years: William James was the original owner. The James family donated the land for St. Augustine’s Church in 1854. John Porter bought the house from a son-in-law of the James family. The home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Rees, who sold it to Arnold and Moira Guetta.

Aug. 19, 1972, p. 31, “The Ottawa Journal”

May 4, 1974, p. 42, “The Ottawa Journal”

Prospect Heritage

House Tour 2007

June 2, 2007, p. 88, “The Ottawa Citizen”

June 2, 2007, p. 88, “The Ottawa Citizen”

June 2, 2007, p. 88, “The Ottawa Citizen”

June 2, 2007, p. 88, “The Ottawa Citizen”

June 2, 2007, p. 88, “The Ottawa Citizen”

Some of the family names in the area: Bennett, Beveridge, Blair, Boyle, Budd, Carrigan, Cassell, Christie, Craig, Douglas, Dowdall, Featherston, Flinn, Garland, Gladden, Goodenough, Graham, James, Kinsella, Lackey, Leach, Lewis, Makinson, McMullen, Parry, Plant, Plaunt, Porter, Presley, Rathwell, Rothwell, Salter, Saunders, Simpson, Wilson.

Sunday Drive

or Walking Trails

Prospect is surrounded by farmer’s fields, thick forests, and scenic walking trails. One of the nicest trails, Goodwood Marsh Nature Trail begins at the Beckwith Recreation Complex located at 1319 9th Line Beckwith, linking to the Beckwith trail network

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”

and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

http://www.staffordwilson.com

Spring Came Up the Third Line

One of my friends from DeWitt’s Corners said that they’d seen a robin in their back yard, but I hadn’t seen one yet. The only sign of spring that I’d noticed was the steady drip of water, coming off of the old roof, in the late afternoons, when I returned home from Glen Tay School. That meant that the temperature was rising above freezing during the day, so the sap must be running again.

Sure enough, that same day, I saw Dad heading down the lane, toward the Third Line, and he had his carpenter’s auger in his hands. That old thing looked battered and ancient, but it sure did the trick when he needed to tap some trees. We didn’t have a big maple bush like Korry’s, across the road, but Dad always tapped a few trees along the laneway, so that we’d have enough syrup for the family.

   

If anyone had bothered to stroll past the trees that we’d tapped, they likely would have laughed themselves silly. It wasn’t exactly a professional operation. None of the buckets matched. We had a grey metal pail, that hung on one of the spiles by a rusty wire. We also had a white plastic bucket, that Mother had made, by cutting up an empty corn syrup jug.  Another bucket was made from an empty Billy Bee honey container. We even used one of my old sand pails, that I’d played with on the beach, when we went to Silver Lake in the summer. Any available container was ‘fair game’. It was only for a few weeks after all, and they couldn’t afford to be spending money on something that was used for such a short period of time each year.

Looking back, it didn’t really matter what kind of buckets you used, as long as you had something to collect the sap. I used to stand at the side of the tree, and watch as the clear, sweet liquid dripped ever so slowly, drip, drip, and splashed into the bucket below. I’d lift the bucket off of the metal hook, and dump the sap into Mother’s biggest mixing bowl, hook the bucket back on the tree, and carry the bowl gingerly up the lane way, and into the kitchen. Mother would be ready with a piece of clean cheesecloth, stretched over the big aluminum pot on the stove, and she’d take the bowl of sap, and dump it into the pot. The cheesecloth would catch all of the little specks of dirt, or bits of wood, that had come from the tree, so that the sap in the pot was nice and clean.

I guess if I’d been a little older, and a lot smarter, I would have asked Dad for one of the big pails from the garage, to transport all of the sap, in one trip, into the kitchen. Instead, I emptied one bucket at a time, into the big mixing bowl, and trekked all the way back and forth, up to the kitchen. Up the lane, and down the lane, I went over and over again, until I was finished; usually just before supper time. One night I forgot to empty the buckets, and the next night the sap was overflowing, running down the side of the tree, onto the snow. No one said anything about it, but I felt bad because I hadn’t done my job, and worse still we’d have less syrup because of it.

The air in the old kitchen smelled sweet for those few weeks each year, as the sap boiled away on top of the stove. Usually by the third or fourth day we’d have enough for a little bowl of syrup for dessert. The first syrup of the year was always the lightest in colour and in flavour, perfect for eating straight out of the bowl. Dad liked to pour a little cream into his syrup, and give it a stir. He’d take a piece of day-old homemade bread and dip it into his creamy syrup mixture, until he was down to the last sweet drops, and then he’d do one last sweep of the bowl with his bread.

The other kids in the family poured their syrup over vanilla ice cream, but I liked mine straight-up, with nothing getting in between me and that sweet, perfect, maple flavour. I’d take a melamine bowl and teaspoon out of the old sideboard, pour myself a little, and enjoy it just like that.

As the weeks passed by, the syrup became darker in colour, and the flavour grew richer, and more intense. It was like magic watching the syrup change from a light honey colour to the rich, dark, amber toward the end of the run. The sap dripped slower and slower from the trees, as the days grew longer and warmer. When I waited for the big orange school bus to chug up the Third Line, it wasn’t as dark outside, nor as cold, in the early mornings,

The sun was shining a little brighter each week, and our driveway became a soggy obstacle course, as we stepped around the growing puddles of water. The snow banks finally shrunk, and shriveled away. Soon after, we’d take the buckets down, and put them away in the back porch for another year. Dad removed the spiles from the maple trees, wrapped them in a soft cloth, and placed them in the top drawer of his tool chest in the garage.

By then, the maple trees were beginning to bud, and a few of the familiar spring birds were returning to Mother’s bird feeder, in the back orchard. Almost all of the snow had shrunk down to a few dirty white mounds, spaced here and there in the yard, and the ground was spongy, cold and brown. The sun grew a little brighter each day, and stayed up in the sky later and later, after supper each night.

The warm weather wasn’t here yet, not even close; but all the signs were there that it was just around the corner. Each year when we tapped those maple trees, I knew that spring was not far away. It was only a matter of time now that she’d be coming up the Third Line, with all of her delicate shades of green. She’d be bringing her warm sun, and her gentle breezes. She’d slip into our yard quietly one morning, and tell all of the flowers to wake up, and show their colours. She’d whisper to the squirrels and the chipmunks, and invite them to come back and play in our yard.

I often wondered if spring could see us tapping our trees, and if that was her signal to make her way back into Lanark County, and into our yard. Maybe there was something magical about the syrup, and once we’d had our first taste, Old Man Winter knew that it was time for him to pack up his snow, and his cold winds, and head up north. Either way, we always knew that as soon as the sap began to run we’d be seeing spring in all of her glory in no time at all!

Sweet memories among the maples!

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections” and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”.

http://www.staffordwilson.com

St. Patrick’s Church, Ferguson’s Falls, Lanark County

In 1856 St. Patrick’s church was erected in Ferguson’s Falls, on land donated by the Quinn family. The lumber for the church construction was cut from the farm of William Scanlan.

It is one of the oldest Catholic missions in Ontario, and two of its own members joined the priesthood:  Father Michael Stafford, son of pioneer Tobias Stafford and Elizabeth McGarry entered the priesthood in 1858.  Also Reverend Edmund Quinn, son of John Quinn and Anna Byrnes entered the priesthood in 1947.

Before St. Patrick’s was built, the local Roman Catholics had to travel to St. John’s Church in Perth, which was a long, difficult journey by horse and buggy, particularly in the long, harsh winter months.

This photograph above shows my brother Roger Stafford entering the grounds of the cemetery at St. Patrick’s, July 4th 2012.  Many of the early Roman Catholic pioneers are buried in this cemetery.  Stafford, Richards, Quinn, McGarry, Foley, Holliger, McKittrick, Blair, Carberry, Kehoe, McCaffrey, to name a few.

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The Tale of the Seven Bachelors

There were seven young bachelors who left Ireland at the same time, and during their voyage across the ocean they swore that they would stick together, and help each other in their new country.  They pledged to stay only if they could carve out a life for themselves, and if not, they swore they would all leave together and return to Ireland.

The Irish bachelors were Patrick Quinn, John Quinn, James Carberry, William Scanlan, Terrence Doyle, John Cullen and James Power.

The bachelors cleared about ten acres of land about two miles from Ferguson Falls, and lived together in a rough log cabin that they had built together.  They were given 200 acres of land each, in connecting sections, and each cleared their land and began to farm.  They married local girls, and started families.  The area where they lived was known as the Quinn Settlement.  The story of the Seven bachelors was passed down through the generations.

(The story of the Seven Bachelors was shared with me on two occasions by two local lads, both were raised in the area – from James ‘Jim’ Quinn in 1998, and from my cousin Thomas Stafford in 2001.  My Great Aunt Clara Richards married Tom Carberry – a descendant of one of the seven bachelors – James Carberry)

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112 Years of the St. Patrick Mission in Ferguson Falls – written in 1968

One week before Christmas, December 19th, 1968, “The Perth Courier” published an article celebrating the 112th Anniversary of St. Patrick’s Church.

On September 3, 1858, Father McDonagh recorded his Dedication of St. Patrick’s church in the parish register of St. John’s R.C. Church in Perth, Ontario:

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Patrick, Apostle of Ireland

The tiny country church in Ferguson Falls was “dedicated to the service of Almighty God, under the invocation of St. Patrick.”

Patrick was a 5th century Christian missionary, and is the primary patron saint of Ireland.  Early records show that Patrick was the first Bishop in Ireland, and is regarded as the founder of Christianity.  It is said that Patrick converted the Druids to Christianity by using the clover, a plant which grew in abundance all over Ireland, to explain the concept of ‘the Father’, ‘the Son’, and ‘the Holy Spirit’.

March 17th is known as the ‘Feast of St. Patrick’, celebrated around the world to mark the date that St. Patrick died.  The day is marked by church services, and the wearing of green to symbolize the clovers or shamrocks implemented by St. Patrick, to teach the concepts of Christianity.  Historically, the restrictions of Lent such as eating and drinking alcohol were put aside for the day, which in recent years gave way to the tradition of alcohol consumption as part of the celebration.

The Celtic Cross (below) was often used in the grave stones and monuments of the settlers who had come from Ireland, like those who attended St. Patrick’s Church in Ferguson Falls.

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Quinn Family of Ferguson Falls

These members of the Quinn family are direct descendants of the pioneer Quinn family who donated the land for St. Patrick’s R.C. Church

Father Michael Stafford – 

(first member of the congregation to enter the priesthood)

Michael Stafford was born March 1, 1832 in Drummond Township, and died November 12, 1882, age 51 at Lindsay, Ontario.  He is interred at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lindsay, Ontario.

(Older brother to my Great-Grandfather Thomas,  Father Michael Stafford was my Great-great Uncle)

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Priests Who Served at St. Patrick’s Church

Ferguson Falls

Father McDonagh                          1858-1866

Rev. Dr. Chisholm                           1866-1878

Rev. John O’Connor                        1878-?

Fr. Michael O’Donoghue               ?-1889

Fr. M. O’Rourke                               1889-1907

Father Keaney                                  1907-1912

Rev. Father R.A. Carey                    1912-1925

Father Eugene O’Sullivan              1925-1928

Father Walter Whelan                    1928-1934

Father J.G. Clancy                            1934- 1941

Father Walter Healey                     1941-1947

(Fr. Healey designed the cobblestone cross that stands in the center of  St. Patrick’s Cemetery)

Father Harold Rice                            1947-1950

(following Father Rice’s death in 1950, the parish was under the charge of Rev. Brennan  for two months)

Rev. Fr. Edward Trainor                   1950-1956

Rev. Father Francis Meagher           1956-1959

(after the death of Fr. Meagher, Rev. Fr. Neal administered the parish for one month)

Rev. Fr. Joseph Healey                       1959-1967

Rev. Fr. Edward Keyes                       1967-1975

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Several women from the Ferguson Falls parish chose to serve the Church, at the House of Providence in Kingston, Ontario

Sister Mary Vincent

Julia Stafford 1844-1886

Julia was the daughter of pioneer Tobias Stafford and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ McGarry Stafford. Three members of this family devoted their lives to the divine service: Rev. Father Michael Stafford, who was parish priest of Lindsay at his death in 1882, and Julia and Margaret, exemplary members of this Institute.

Julia entered the House of Providence in Jan. 1868.  She enjoyed working with children and preparing them for first communion.  She also worked to keep the wayward on the straight and narrow, and to bring the sacraments to adults whose early education had wandered from their religious duties. She taught an evening class of adults,  In the early spring each year many of these poor fellows would be prepared for Confirmation and presented to His Lordship.  To protect them against the voice of intemperance to which sailors are inevitably exposed, she would persuade them to take the “pledge” before setting off on their perilous journeys, she gained a sense of satisfaction when they pledged to keep their promise. In a work so noble Julia strongly resembled her Rev. Brother Michael Stafford, who was deservedly styled the “Apostle of Temperance in Canada.”

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Sister Mary Elizabeth

Margaret Stafford  1845-1925

Sister Mary Elizabeth, or as she was known in the world, Margaret Stafford, was descended from a strong Irish Catholic family. Her father and mother, Tobias and Elizabeth (McGarry) Stafford, in the Township of Drummond, in the Parish of Perth. She had several brothers, one, the Reverend Michael Stafford of the Kingston diocese, and later of Peterborough, was a great temperance lecturer and won the appellation of “a second Father Matthew”. Her younger sister, Sister Mary Vincent, who entered the Community a year or more before, predeceased her several years. Like all the family Sister was of a very large build, tall and strong. Her very appearance would command respect at any time or place.

Born February 22, 1845, she entered the Novitiate at the age of 23 on November 21, 1868. She seemed very much older. She received the Holy Habit Dec. 13, 1869, and made Holy Profession May 31, 1871.

In 1888 she was given charge of the men’s department. She took complete charge of the apartment. She ruled as one having authority. There was no questioning, no back answers or insulting words would be tolerated. There was a rule to be observed and it must be followed. The time of rising and retiring had to be observed strictly.  Although she was strict, she was very kind. If anyone was sick or in trouble, she was always there to help. As a result she was loved and respected by all.

Margaret Stafford (Sister Mary Elizabeth)  passed away on St. Patrick’s Day, 1925.

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Sister Mary James

Theresa Quinn  1878-1949

The former Theresa Quinn, born in Ferguson’s Falls, was one of a large family of boys and girls, including Sister Mary. Edward. She entered the Novitiate, on September 8, 1905. She served the church in Smiths Falls, Brockville and Lancaster. She was one of the original members of Rosary Hall, our first foundation in Edmonton, Alta. and spent her remaining years 1905-1949 caring for the sick at the House of Providence in Kingston.

Sister M. James was faithful at all times, devoted to her work in the care of the aged and infirm brought comfort and joy into the lives of others by her cheerful nature.

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 Sister Mary Hilda Quinn

Clara Anastasia Quinn 1888-1956

Sister Mary Hilda (Clara A. Quinn), born in Ferguson’s Falls, Ontario, Educated at Lanark, taught school for one year, then entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the House of Providence in Kingston in January of 1907, at the age of 19.  She graduated from Queen’s University in 1924 with a Bachelor of Arts. She taught school in Belleville and Chesterville for a total of 42 years, 17 of which were as the Local Superior of the Convent.  Her motto for her students, which she wrote on her chalkboard: “That they may have life and may have it more abundantly.”

Rose Mary Quinn  1887-1982

Sister Mary Edward (Rose Mary Quinn) was a descendent of one of the pioneer families who emigrated from Ireland in the early years of the nineteenth century and settled in Ferguson’s Falls.  Bishop MacDonell, the first Bishop of Upper Canada, first offered Mass in the Quinn home when he visited the remote missions of his large diocese. Sister Mary Edward’s parents, James Quinn and Elizabeth McNaughton, raised eleven children and three of the children were called to serve the church: Sisters Mary James and Sister Mary Edward, and a grandson, Rev. Edmund Quinn.

Rose Mary Quinn was educated in the local school, then attended Lanark High School and Ottawa Teachers’ College. She entered the Novitiate at St. Mary’s of the Lake on August 15, 1913, and taught in various schools in Portsmouth; St. John’s, Kingston; Smiths Falls; St. Mary’s, Kingston; Tweed and for thirteen years at St. Michael’s, Belleville. In 1946 she was appointed to Arnprior in Pembroke diocese, where in 1959 she completed a teaching career of almost fifty years.

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Ferguson Falls – Early Settlement

Originally known as Millford, Fergusons Falls was renamed in honor of the early settler Captain Ferguson when a post office was established there. This was the closest village to the Stafford farm on the 11th concession of Drummond, and was a source for supplies, postal services, blacksmith services, social activities, and later St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

Thomas McCaffrey was the first settler, arriving in 1815. McCaffrey was a good friend of Tobias Stafford and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ (McGarry) Stafford. Thomas was one of the witnesses to their marriage ceremony in St. John’s Church in Perth. He also signed his name as witness to one of Tobias’ later land transactions, and was present at the baptisms of some of the Stafford children.

The Forces of Nature

The early settlers not only faced the challenges of clearing heavily-wooded land, building a home, and providing for their growing families; they also dealt with hot summers, and cold winters.  Some years had wet conditions, and some years they dealt with drought. As if that wasn’t enough to cope with; there were the storms…..

The Cyclone of June, 1888

More on the Storm of 1888:

In the spring of 1896 there were record-high water levels that hadn’t been seen since the flooding of 1870:

Violent thunderstorms caused damage and sometimes total destruction to homes, barns and precious livestock.  In the summer of 1897  Ferguson Falls farmer Thomas Haley nearly died trying to save his horses, when lightning struck his barn.

In June of 1921 Ferguson Falls experienced a terrible heat wave, lasting more than three weeks.

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Ferguson Falls Stories and Legends

The Ghost of Jimmy Whelan

There are conflicting stories about a logging accident in Drummond Township that took the life of Jimmy (Phelan?) Whalen.  Some say the accident took place in 1876, and some say 1878.  What can be agreed upon is that Jimmy died as a result of  trying to break up a log jam.

Log driving was a popular occupation for spry, young men, who were agile enough to leap from log to log, or to coast down the river while keeping their balance on such a precarious vessel.

A poem was written, and later sent to music, describing the ghost of Jimmy Whelan, and how he appeared to his lady-friend as she walked along the river bank.

Lost Jimmy Whelan

All alone as I strayed by the banks of the river,
Watching the moonbeams as evening drew nigh,
All alone as I rambled, I spied a fair damsel
Weeping and wailing with many a sigh.

Weeping for one who is now lying lowly,
Mourning for one who no mortal can save.
As the foaming dark water flow gently about him,
Onward they speed over young Jimmy’s grave.

She cries, “Oh, my darling, please come to me quickly,
And give me fond kisses that oft-times you gave.
You promised to meet me this evening, my darling,
So now, lovely Jimmy, arise from your grave.”

Slowly he rose from the dark, stormy waters,
A vision of beauty more fair than the sun,
Saying “I have returned from the regions of glory
To be in your dear loving arms once again.”

“Oh, Jimmy, why can’t you tarry here with me,
Not leave me alone, so distracted in pain.”
“Since death is the dagger that’s cut us asunder,
Wide is the gulf, love, between you and I.”

“One fond embrace, love, and then I must leave you;
One loving farewell, and then we must part.”
Cold were the arms that encircled about her;
Cold was the body she pressed to her heart.

Slowly he rose from the banks of the river,
Up to the heavens he then seemed to go
Leaving this fair maiden, weeping and mourning,
Alone on the banks of the river below.

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From a letter written in 1923, by Mr. Christopher Forbes, of Perth, Ontario:

“The Phelan family live in this district.  The name is pronounced ‘Whalen’, locally.  James’ brother Thomas, whom I knew intimately, died a few years ago.  Regarding the James Phalen tragedy, John Smith of Lanark Village, an old timer and singer of the ‘come all ye’ type, wrote the words which I now enclose.  He sings the Jim Whalen song with much pathos, and with that peculiar dropping off of the last word from a singing tone to a speaking voice.  This style of finishing a song is used by sailors and shanty-men.

I was fortunate in meeting an old shanty foreman, Peter McIlquham, well known on the Mississippi River for over half a century, who told me he was present at Jim Whelan’s death.

It happened 45 years ago (1878), at King’s Chute, on the Mississippi River.  Whalen was a river-man under ‘Old Quebec’, a French-Canadian whose real name was Edward Leblanc.  McIlquham was also a foreman on the river at this time.  Both rafts of longs had come out of Crotch Lake by the river-men.  McIlquham came to assist Old Quebec putting over King’s Chute.  A dangerous and difficult jam formed in the Chute.  ‘Old Quebec’, McIlquham, and Phalen were close together when the jam shifted, and precipitated Phalen into the water.”

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Like the tale itself, there are two different authors given credit for writing the song – Tim Doyle of Drummond Township, and John Smith of Lanark.”

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Stumble Inn

The infamous ‘Stumble Inn’ was one of the three hotels in Ferguson Falls, located right on the shore of the Mississippi River, and is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the village.  According to the lads who grew up in the area it was ‘the’ place to stop for a drink, before or after mass at St. Patrick’s Church.  During the week, local men often gathered there to play cards in the evening, and on the weekends, helped along by a little (or a lot) of alcohol, there was singing, dancing and fiddle-playing.  The Stumble Inn was also notorious for its fights, and it wasn’t uncommon for one or two of the lads to end up in the river before the evening was over.

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Education –

The School at Ferguson Falls

S.S. # 8  Lanark

The original log school house was built around 1820, replaced with another log building in 1871, which was eventually constructed with bricks.  The school remained open until 1968.  That was the year when all students of the small, one-room school houses in Lanark County were sent to larger more centralized schools.

Results of the Ferguson Falls School Exam – school year 1868-1869:

In the late fall of 1888 the little school at Ferguson Falls lost one of its most beloved teachers Jennie Doyle:

Death Certificate of Ferguson Falls teacher Jennie Doyle, age 22.

It wasn’t always easy to find a good, reliable teacher for the tiny school at Ferguson’s Falls.  Below, is an ad that was placed  in November of 1891.  My Great-grandfather, Thomas Richards, served as one of the School Trustees.

In November of 1893, my Great Aunt Mary Stafford was hired to teach at the little school.  The article also mentions one of the Hollinger lads who had accidentally shot himself in the leg.  Apparently there were some thieves in the area stealing livestock.  The last mention is of Mary Stafford’s father Thomas driving his herd of lambs through the village, likely on his way to Carleton Place where they were put up for auction, or shipped by train across Canada or into the U.S.   Some livestock were even loaded on ships and sent overseas to England.

Another column, from November 13, 1896, highlights some of the activities taking place at that time in the village.

The school Honour Roll – 1896

(mentions Vince Stafford – my Grandfather)

A news column from December of 1897 mentions teacher, Mary Kehoe, and her plans for her Christmas vacation. Also interesting is that the local businesses have decorated their storefronts for the Christmas season.  Near the end of the column is a mention of a “disgraceful scene” on the street on the previous Saturday evening, then a veiled reference which may or may not apply to one of the local Doyle lads who would have been living in the area at that time.

In February of 1898,  Sarah Ferguson was listed as the teacher at Ferguson Falls:

A porch was added to the Ferguson Falls schoolhouse in the fall of 1899

from an article printed – March 23, 1900:

By 1909, Margaret Doyle was the teacher at the little school in Ferguson Falls:

Results from the Lanark Entrance Exams of 1925:

 S.S. # 8 Lanark (also known as the Ferguson Falls School, and also known as the Quinn School)

1951 Back row: Janet Hollinger, Arthur Forrest, Charles Hollinger, John Hollinger Middle row : Marion Gilles, Brian Rothwell, Ken Ruttle Front row: Marjorie Murphy, Doris Gilles, Leonard Murphy, Bert Forrest

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Commerce

By 1857, Ferguson Falls was booming. More than 400 people lived in the village.  John Doyle was the Innkeeper, James McCaffrey was listed in the business directory as a Wagon Maker, John & M. McCaffrey were the local Blacksmiths. John Stafford, (Tobias Stafford and Elizabeth McGarry’s son) was the area Shoemaker, and would later open a shoe store in Almonte, then in Perth. There was also a sawmill, and a grist mill owned by Robert Blair and a hotel owned by Charles Hollinger.

Mississippi Cheese Factory – 1890

In 1909 the first telephone line was installed to serve the community around Ferguson’s Falls.

The ‘Falls’ at Ferguson Falls were man-made

Robert Blair built a dam across the Mississippi River which created the ‘falls’, in order to provide power for his two mills.  As time went on, local lore tells that the water from the river backed up along the banks because of Blair’s dam, and caused flooding of the lowlands for the farmers located upstream.  Eventually the dam was taken down.

There were many issues over the years, some even resulted in legal action between residents of the area -like the case between Playfair and Blair in April of 1865:

Problems with the dam continued, and several letters like the one below, were sent to the Editor of ‘The Perth Courier’ in the summer of 1870:

Ferguson Falls Hotels

At one time there were three hotels at Ferguson Falls to provide accommodation to travelers passing on their way to Perth or Renfrew.  The Log-Drivers who worked on the Mississippi were frequent visitors to the hotels.  It’s been said that the floor at Charles ‘Charlie’ Hollinger’s Hotel had to be replaced each year due to the Log-Drivers dancing on the wooden surface, in their spiked logging boots.

In 1890 Mrs. John Murray advertised her hotel for sale in the local newspapers.

Social Items

Hollinger -Nagle Wedding 1875

Teresa Hollinger and Richard Nagle on their wedding day in April 1875

Hollinger sisters of Ferguson’s Falls  – taken c. 1900 in Perth, Ontario

Left to Right:  Elizabeth Hollinger, seated.  Theresa Hollinger is standing, second from the left.  Julia Hollinger McGarry is seated, and standing at the far right is Maria Hollinger.

(daughters of Charles Hollinger and Elizabeth Cokely)

There were also three brothers –  Charles, John and Patrick

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Theresa Hollinger Nagle – obituary from ‘The Ottawa Journal’  Friday, March 2, 1928.

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July 1897 – news from ‘the Falls’

McDonald-Quinn Wedding June 7, 1909

Obituary for Mrs. John Rathwell  (March 1893)

Murphy – Stafford Courtship Begins!

In the fall of 1893, a dance was held – ‘Murray’s Ball’ – a very successful event, and it was during this time that my grandfather’s older brother Peter Stafford began to date the lovely Miss Mary Murphy.  They would later marry, and have a large family.  Peter was a stagecoach driver, and had a little ‘taxi’ service where he transported local folks back and forth between Perth and Lanark, and places in the surrounding area.

Closs-Vallely Wedding

In June of 1894 a lovely summer wedding took place at St. Patrick’s when Alice Closs married Anthony Vallely, ceremony performed by Father O’Rourke.

Sullivan- Brady Wedding   – May 1895

Hollinger Obituary – 1906 – long-time Postmaster in Ferguson Falls

McGarry Obituary  – 1912 – owned the McGarry Hotel in Innisville

Julia Stafford Quinn – obituary 1927

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If you’re in the area…………….

St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church is set in a picturesque location, not far from the mighty Mississippi, and is a lovely spot to visit, and to reflect, on a warm, sunny day.

We remember those who came before us, stood on these very grounds, celebrated baptisms and weddings, and mourned the loss of their loved ones at the funerals held at this small country church.

It is well worth a visit for anyone with local connections, to spend some time at this historic and sacred place in Ferguson’s Falls.

photo of St. Patrick’s church, and Roger Stafford in the red shirt) by Arlene Stafford-Wilson (sister of Roger Stafford)

photo of the Quinn family:  James ‘Jim’ Quinn of Ferguson Falls

photo of Father Michael Stafford, and details of his service to the church – and excerpt from the book: “Staffords: From Ireland to Canada and Beyond” Arlene Stafford-Wilson

news clippings:  “The Perth Courier”

oral history of the Seven Bachelors and the Stumble Inn – Thomas Joseph Stafford, and James ‘Jim’ Quinn (brother of Edmund Quinn), 2nd priest from the St. Patrick’s congregation)

names and dates of the priests who served at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church – provided by Doris Quinn

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”, and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

http://www.staffordwilson.com

Irish Settlers & the Ghost of Burgess Township

Burgess Ghost

The story of the Burgess Ghost begins with the arrival of so many Irish to the areas around Westport, the Scotch Line, Black Lake, and Stanleyville, that it became known as the ‘Irish Invasion’.

This is the the home where the story took place, in the cold, bitter winter of 1935, at the home of Mr. John Quinn.  John lived in the house with his wife, and two sons Michael age 13, and Stanley, 11.

Quinn house, North Burgess Township, Lanark County

“The Windsor Star”, Jan. 14, 1935, p.7

“By evening, the ‘ghost of Burgess’, was the one topic of discussion in Perth”

Andrew Burke saw the windows break, and the dishes jump

William Cordick saw three flat irons come down the stairs

Hundreds of people drove through a snowstorm, to the Quinn home, to see the Ghost of Burgess

“The Windsor Star”, Jan. 14, 1935, p.7

“The Ottawa Citizen”, Jan. 16, 1935, p.1

Howard Traynor and Michael Norwood huddled in the house until daybreak

Predominantly Irish, simple, hard-working farm folk

“The Ottawa Citizen”, Jan. 16, 1935, p.1

“The Mounties are searching the place, determined to ‘get their ghost’.”

“Bradford Evening Star”, Bradford, Pennsylvania, Feb. 6, 1935, p.9

“…a teapot jumping into a woodbox.”

“Minneapolis Star”, Minnesota, Aug. 5, 1935. p.8

Don Rennie, reporter for “The Perth Courier”, wrote a story on the Burgess Ghost in 1967:

“Strange occurrences were happening in 1935 at a farm in North Burgess just off the Narrows Locks road. Mr. John Quinn, his wife and two children, Michael, and Stanley, ages 13 and 11, reported innumerable phenomena taking place in their home. Stove lids, according to the Quinns, “danced” in the air, the teapot “jumped” off the stove into the wood box, three flat irons “walked” down a staircase and dishes “pranced” on the dining-room table. Word of this mysterious goings on spread quickly throughout the district. Although, perhaps skeptical, hundreds of persons from miles around flocked to the Quinn home.

On the Sunday after the reporting of the “ghosts” more than 100 cars arrived at the Quinn farm. Along with the cars a flotilla of cutters and sleighs dotted the white-capped farm. The snow fell incessantly and the thermometer dipped way below the zero mark.

Newsmen from across the country arrived, and the CBC news from Toronto, reported the strange events. Although the strange occurrences could not be readily explained, many held doubts in their minds as the credulity of the phenomena. Believing that there had to be a reasonable explanation behind the occurrences, the Perth detachment of the OPP decided to hold an investigation.

On a Saturday afternoon, members of the force motored to the Quinn home, and inspected the building. Nothing strange occurred while they were there. That same evening Inspector Storey returned to the house. He remained there until Sunday morning along with about a dozen district men, sat in the house, speaking in hushed tones, but again nothing happened.

photo: members of the Quinn family, and the local police force

Mr. Quinn was unable to explain the strange occurrences that had been going on for the past couple of weeks. Pieces of beef he had placed in a barrel had been found littered throughout the house, he said, and the Wednesday before a window pane crashed for no apparent reason. He had not thought that too odd until it happened the very next evening.

Andrea Burke, a neighbouring farmer, declared that a bone thrown out of the home time and time again had always returned to the house for no explicable reason. Another neighbour, William Cordick, swore that he had seen three flat irons descend the Quinn’s staircase one after another.”

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Irish Settlers to North Burgess Township, Lanark County

Most, but not all of the Irish in North Burgess Township, came from County Down and County Armagh, and many came in the 1840s, to escape a horrible famine, that swept through Ireland  like an unstoppable plague.   A disease called Potato Blight ravaged their crops for nearly a decade, and during that time over a million died of starvation, and an equal number fled Ireland on ships sailing to Canada and the United States.

Most were tenant farmers, leasing their land; unable to pay their rent when their crops failed, and were evicted by ruthless landlords.  They bundled up what little they had, and boarded ships headed for the new world.

Seven weeks was the average length of time spent at sea, and the conditions endured by these Irish immigrants were so terrible that the ships were nick-named ‘coffin ships’.  The lice, ticks and fleas common in these over-crowded vessels were the ideal breeding grounds for the transmission of disease, and by 1847 an average of 50 passengers died each day of typhus on their voyage from Ireland.

The areas where this ‘wave’ of Irish settled in Lanark County:

These new settlers brought their traditions, customs, and stories with them to the new country.  Stories and legends were passed down from father to son, and from mother to daughter.  Tales from the old country were told in the evenings by the fire, and the one story that seemed to run up and down the concessions in North Burgess was the legend of the Irish Banshee.

The Banshee, or ‘Bean Sidhe’ is an Irish spirit, and her high-pitched wail foretells of a death in the family.  It was said that each family had its own Banshee, and that they travelled with them from the old country.  Some said that the family’s Banshee would stay in Ireland at the family’s estate, and mourn the dead.  The settlers to the new land brought their vivid descriptions of the Banshees – some claiming that she was an old hag with red eyes, but others said she was a fair, pale Irish beauty with long red hair dressed in a flowing gown.

   

It’s been said that whoever hears her high and piercing shriek could be sure that there would be a death within 24 hours.  Irish lore tells that the Banshee always wailed when a family member dies, even if the person had died far away, and news of their death had not yet come. The wailing of the banshee was the first warning to the household of the death.

When several banshees appeared at once, it was said to foretell of the death of someone prominent, or of an accidental or unintended death – often of a murder victim, a suicide, or a mother who died in childbirth.

The early settlers in North Burgess passed down their stories of banshees, fairies, ghosts and the little people.  Although they were fiercely loyal to God and to the church, they never abandoned their beliefs in the spirits and creatures of their ancient folklore.

The Story of the Burgess Ghost became a local legend….

The story of the ghost in the Quinn house was passed down through the years, told and retold at family gatherings, around campfires, and particularly in the weeks each year leading up to Hallowe’en.

In a strange final twist to the mystery of the Burgess Ghost, the Quinn family home burned to the ground.  The cause of the fire was never determined, and remains a mystery to this day…..

In 1972, the Quinn home was burned to the ground.

Mysterious Fire Destroys Burgess Ghost House

“The Ottawa Journal”, Jan. 4, 1972, p.5

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Some of the families who were among the earliest settlers to North Burgess Township:

Adam, Bennett, Byrne, Byrnes, Byres, Callaghan, Chaffey, Darcy, Deacon, Donnelly, Dooker, Doran, Eagan, Farrell, Hanlon, Haughian, Jackman, Kearns, Kelly, Kerr, Lappan, Lennon, Martin, McCann, McCracken, McGlade, McIver, McLeod, McNamee, McParland, McVeigh, Mullin, Murphy, O’Connor, O’Hare, O’Neill, Parry, Powers, Quigley, Quinn, Ryan, Scanlon, Smith, Stanley, Stapleton, Thompson, Toole, Traynor, Troy, White

………

In 2002 the townships formerly known as North Burgess, South Sherbrooke and Bathurst were part of an amalgamation, and adopted the name of Tay Valley Township, as they are known today.

……..

For genealogical records of the founding families of North Burgess Township:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onlanark/nburgess.htm

St. Bridget’s Cemetery Staneyville Ontario

Roman Catholic interments North Burgess Township

Scotch Line Cemetery – Burials from 1822-2000  North Burgess Township

Scotch Line Cemetery – North Burgess

Lanark County Genealogical Society

https://lanarkgenealogy.com/

Archives Lanark

http://archiveslanark.ca/index.php

Search the census records for North Burgess Township, Lanark County

Searchable online census records for Lanark County

……………

For more information on Irish Folklore in the early days of Lanark County:

‘Banshees of Burgess’, is part of a collection of short stories in ‘Lanark County Classics – A Treasury of Tales from Another Time’. The reader will discover more about the early families from Ireland who settled in Lanark County, and their customs and beliefs in the supernatural, brought from the old country.  The story explores some of the tales passed down by these Irish settlers, and documents their personal experiences with Banshees, ghosts, and fairies while living in Lanark County.

“Lanark County Classics” – ISBN 978-0-9877026-54

…..

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Author of : “Lanark County Kitchen”, “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”

http://www.staffordwilson.com

note: (map of Northern Ireland – By Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) – map by NNW, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7918534)

100th Birthday at Dalhousie Lake

Mary Ferguson McIntyre

“Life, we’ve been long together!”

Mrs. Mary F. McIntyre Celebrates Her 100^th Birthday at Dalhousie Lake

(transcribed from Feb. 23, 1934, edition of “The Perth Courier”)

Showered with congratulations by neighbours, friends, and acquaintances, still healthy in body and mind.

“Lanark County’s grand old lady, Mrs. Mary Ferguson McIntyre, celebrated her 100^th birthday on Monday, February 19^th, at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Geddes, Dalhousie Lake, when she was showered with congratulations by many of her neighbours, friends and acquaintances.  Mrs. McIntyre was also honoured when the news of her 100^th birthday was broadcast by radio from a Toronto station.

Mrs. McIntyre was born in North Sherbrooke Township, Lanark County, on February 19^th, 1834.  With the original settlers about 1820 came the representatives of two Scotch Highland clans, Mr. Duncan Ferguson of Argylshire and Mr. Alexander McDougall of Perthshire.  Soon after their arrival in the new land a son of Mr. Ferguson married Miss Violet McDougall and to them a daughter, the subject of this sketch, was born.  The parents could speak little or no English, only their native Gaelic, and the little daughter taught this in the parental home, could speak it fluently and in fact never wholly forgot it up to the present time.  Of course, association with lowland neighbours and teaching at schools brought a knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon tongue and this became her thinking language.  The first schoolhouse in North Sherbrooke was built at Elphin in 1834 and there Mrs. McIntyre received her early education. 

Her husband, the late Peter McIntyre died about 25 years ago.

During her long-life Mrs. McIntyre has seen the greatest growth in farm cultivation and improvements through many a year of hardship and privation of the early settlers until the original cabins have been changed into comfortable homes, and the very primitive log school houses succeeded by modern ones of frame and brick all over her native township.  The course of progress along life’s highway has been the history of her own life – the sickle, scythe, cradle and kindred working implements have all passed during her life on the farm to be succeeded by the more modern implements of the present time. In her girlhood days there were no bridges across the broad Mississippi River, and the way to the market in Lanark Village and Perth involved much hardship.  She often walked to Perth or rode on ox carts, horseback, rough sleighs, cutters and wagons.

At present, she is in almost perfect health, a slight difficulty of hearing being her only complaint.  It is a pleasure to know that in her daughter’s and son-in-law’s home she has found congeniality and affection in the evening of her long life.

The Reception

Relatives and friends from far and near in large numbers were present at the reception tendered in Mrs. McIntyre’s honour, those from a distance including Mrs. Sam Campbell, of Brighton, and Mrs. James Geddes of Powasson. 

The house was beautifully decorated with pink and white streamers, and in the center of the table was set the birthday cake with decorations in the form of an arch on which was seen a miniature moon, stars, and snow, and underneath the arch written in gold: “100 Years.”

Messages and congratulations poured in from friends at a distance, two in particular being of a novel and pleasing nature, from Mr. Thomas Nesbit of Chicago, a gramophone record of his own voice with greetings and good wishes to Mrs. McIntyre and the following verses composed by Mr. Wm. B. Nesbit of Swanson, Saskatchewan:

To Mrs. Mary McIntyre on her 100^th Birthday:

Oh come my muse my pen inspire,

A rhyme to Mary McIntyre,

Her natal day is drawing near,

She soon will reach her hundredth year;

And looking back down through the age,

What wonderous stories mark the page,

For five score years to live and move

Tasting sorrow, joy and love;

What memories must fill her mind

Of those whom she has left behind,

Who must have fallen by the way

Like flowers that blossom for a day;

Or like the leaves that fade and fall

Are buried by the winter’s pall,

Methinks I see far down the years,

Old Sherbrooke to my mind appears;

Unbroken wilderness around

No fertile fields that sow are found,

Bur pine and maple, elm and beech

Dense forests far as eye can reach;

And through the valley in between

Dark swamps of fragrant evergreen,

Now came the sturdy pioneer

From heather moors in Scotia dear;

McDougall clan, the Fergusons

The McIntyre’s all worthy sons,

And many more of Scottish birth

No better people graced the earth;

With axe in hand and labour vast

A clearance in the bush at last;

A wee log biggin’ hearth stone fire

And mayhap stone, a barn, a byre;

And as I listen I can hear

A lassie singing sweet and clear,

An axe blow in a nearby bush

As down the creek the waters rush;

An oxcart creaking o’er the hill

From Perth or Lanark or the  mill,

Or off to Bytown with potash

To sell and get a little cash;

To buy the tea or pay the tax

Or other needful new knickknacks,

Those were the days of frugal life

And thrifty ways for man or wife;

They were compelled to live that way

For things were scarce and far away,

And many a long and weary road,

Was travelled with a heavy load;

I often think that folks today

Do not appreciate the way

Their forebears used to toil and save

With hardships great and patience brave;

We often hear complaints today

But had we lived the self-same way,

Our present troubles would be less

Things wouldn’t be in such a mess;

The Lord’s been good, ‘tis man that made

Conditions bad I am afraid,

Our aged friend through life has seen

Development of the machine,

From sickle frail unto the hour

Of steam and gas and hydro power

Now cars go rushing here and there,

And airplanes fly through the air,

The telegraph and telephone

When she was young were quite unknown;

Now radio from everywhere

Brings news and music to the ear,

But I’m not sure in every way

That folks are happier today.

Now my best wish to her shall be

That she may have sweet memory

And happiness and peace serene

With naught of sorrow in between;

I often think I’d like to go

And see the faces that I know,

And if I’m spared perhaps I will

And come around by Watters’ mill;

These rambling lines I dedicate

To all who meet to celebrate

This wondrous anniversary

Best wishes to you all from me.

Written by: Wm. B. Nisbet, Swanson, Saskatchewan

published: Feb. 23, 1934, “The Perth Courier”

Obituary, “Lanark Era”, January 30, 1935

“Dalhousie Lake, 25^th Jan., Mrs. Peter McIntyre, in her 101^st year.  Born in North Sherbrooke 19^th February, 1834, the daughter of the late Duncan Ferguson and his wife, Violet McDougall.  On Feb. 17^th 1852 Mary Ferguson was married at Perth to Peter McIntyre by the late Rev. Wm. Bell.  Her husband died March 31^st, 1897.  Survived by one daughter, Mrs. Walter Geddes, of Dalhousie Lake (Violet); and one adopted daughter, Mrs. Roy Kilborn, of Renfrew (Alice).  Burial in Crawford’s Cemetery.”

Mary’s Memories:

An Excerpt from Elphin, McDonalds Corners and Snow Road Churches Centenary Book (1875-1975)

PIONEER DAYS OF NORTH SHERBROOKE

As remembered by Mrs. Peter McIntyre (nee Mary Ferguson), better known as Auntie Mary, who died January 14, 1935, aged almost 101 years

The township of North Sherbrooke was surveyed in 1820-21 and received its name from an officer of prominence in the French Colonial Forces whose name was Sir John C. Sherbrooke.

The first settlers belonged to a society formed in Scotland, named “Lesmahago Society”, and those were John Porter, Daniel Ritchie, Jas.  Gilmour, Anthony McBride, Ebenezer Wilson, Duncan McDougall, Archibald McDougall, Arthur Stokes, Wm.  Christelaw, Josiah Davis, James Nesbit, and Alex.  Young.

Elphin is a little village situated in this township, which was once called Mann’s Corners, after a man by that name.  As far as can be learned, Elphin got its name from an English General named Elphinstone.

The first school was a log building across the road from the present one, except down on the corner.  It was burned, and another was erected on the same ground our present school being the third built.  The first church was built where the Crawford Cemetery now is.  Then they built at Elphin the building known as the old Sunday School recently sold and torn away by Charles Stewart.  The present church was built in-1894. A few of the settlers were Baptists, and held service in a little church on the second line where a few graves still remain on the farm now owned by Haddon Wilson (now Delmer Paul).

The first store was situated on the property now owned by Mrs. J.H. Miller (now Fournier’s), opposite the spot where Charles Stewart’s (now Fair’s) house now stands.  This was run by Germans, Mendels and Silverstone.  Then Mr. Mann kept store on the old McFarlane property now owned by Alex.  Duncan (Wilmer Gemmill).  Then a store was built and run by Peter McIntyre on the property now owned by C.M. Stewart.  It was next run by Tom Crawford until the time it was burned.  Then the store where it now stands was built by Tom Crawford, and afterwards it was run by Charles McConnell, Isaac Allan, Mac McIntyre and now Peter McLaren. (Ted Oxtobee was the next owner-now it is an antique shop)

There was an old building across from where the hall now stands which was used as a blacksmith shop; but in later years Malcolm McIntyre built a shop on the property now owned by Alex.  Duncan (Wilmer Gemmill) which was burned about the year 1920.

The first male child born in North Sherbrooke was Bob Love, uncle of Thomas Love, and the first female child was Agnes McDougall, now Mrs. Hall of Perth.

In the house where Mrs. J.H. Miller (Fournier’s) now lives, a shoe-maker carried on a business.  One who in later years worked at this trade was Billy McIntosh

The farm now owned by Sam Larmon was first owned by Wm. Bryce, whose wife’s name was Christelaw, of English descent.  Next came Duncan Campbell, Duncan McIntyre, Alex McIntyre, and now Sam Larmon.

The first owner of the farm in the valley was Wm. Bryce Sr. who emigrated from Scotland.  His family was as follows-Wm.  Bryce, Jr., Jack Hugh (who married Margaret McDonald, daughter of John McDonald and Peggy Harrower), Lizzie (married Thomas Trimble), Jean (married Thos.  Donaldson at Oliver’s Ferry), David (whose first wife was Violet Howie of Iowa–issue two sons John and James; his second wife was Marion Love).  David Bryce succeeded his father in ownership and later sold it to Peter McIntyre whose wife was Mary Ferguson, daughter of Duncan Ferguson and Violet McDougall.  They had one daughter, Violet Anne, now Mrs. Walter Geddes, Dalhousie Lake.  Next owner was J.W. Munro (Boyd’s Settlement) who married Mary Rutherford, daughter of Wm. Rutherford and Anne Ferguson.  He sold it to Malcolm McIntyre, son of Duncan McIntyre, and who married, Tena Purdon, daughter of Wm.  Purdon and Lizzie McDougall. He is the present owner. (Arnold Long’s)

The next farm now owned by George Weir, having no tenant, was first owned by Geo. Harrower, then Donald McDougall and his wife Minnie Thompson, then by Eby. Geddes, and then Jas. Campbell.

The next farm owned and occupied by George Weir, was, first owned by Jas. McDonald, son of John McDonald and Peggy Harrower, then Walter Sim whose wife was Hannah Harrower of Perthshire, Scotland, then Laghlin McIntyre, then Hugh Weir and his wife Elizabeth Hodgson of Peterhead, Scotland and now George Weir and his wife, Margaret Delyea. (This farm is now occupied by Geo. Weir’s daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Closs)

The first owner of the next farm was Jas. Tweedle (Twaddle), then Duncan McDougall who married Jean Bain, daughter of John Bain of the stone house.  Next James Mann, then Robert Balfour, his son James Balfour, and now Alex McIntyre who married Annie Gilmour–issue one daughter Eva, and one son James. (Ray Purdon now lives on this farm).

The farm now owned by Wm.  Balfour was first owned by Robt. Smith, the next owner was Duncan McIntyre Sr., Duncan McIntyre Jr., then Pitchers and now Wm. Balfour, (Mary Brownlee) (now owned by Ken Brownlee).

The farm which now is Jas. McVean’s was first owned by David Wylie (Bella McVean’s), and the spring beside the road on this farm was always known as Wylie’s spring

The farm now owned by R.L. Brownlee was owned by a man by the name of Stockes (Stoakes and later Stokes)before the Brownlees of earlier days.  R.L. Brownlee married Edith McDonald, issue-four sons, Mervil, Gordon, MacDonald and Kenneth. (now Ken’s).

The old McConochie Homestead now owned by Peter McIntyre (Robt.  Ferguson’s) was first owned by Hugh McConochie and his wife Katie Ferguson of Argyleshire, Scotland, issue–Sandy (married Betty Sim, daughter of Walter Sim and Hannah Harrower), Margaret (married John Miller, son of Matthew Miller, soldier), Jean (married a Mr. Muir), Janet (married Jas. Colquhoun of Hibbert), Duncan (married Jeannie Ferguson), Katie (married George Wilson and lived on the homestead until sold, when they moved to Smiths Falls), Mary (married Robt. Wilson), Bella (married Tom Colquhoun of Hibbert).  The farm is now owned by Peter McIntyre who marred Catherine Corley, issue-one daughter Mary.

The next farm was first owned by Duncan Ferguson, nephew of Hugh McConochie, Strachur Ban, Argyleshire, Scotland.  He and his sister Mary sailed with the McConochie family.  Mary died in Perth where she was a maid at Rev. Mr. Bell’s.  Duncan married Violet McDougall, daughter of Alexander McDougall and Janet Clark.  His family consisted of, Mary (married Peter McIntyre, son of Duncan McIntyre and Ann Ferguson), Katie (married Ebenezer Geddes), Peter (married Mary Rutherford), Janet (married Robt. Lee), Alex (married first Katie Buchan, then Agnes Geddes), Maggie (married Robt.  Nisbet), Duncan (married Deborah Love).  David Nisbet now owns the farm but it is untenanted. (Murray Nisbet’s farm),

The farm now owned by Sam Cameron was first owned by Robert Sim, brother of Walter Sim, father of Jane Sim, who became the wife of Hon.  Alexander McKenzie, Prime Minister of Canada.  Then John McDougall and his wife, Mary McNicol, then Todd’s who moved to Minnesota, next Peter Ferguson who gave it to Duncan Stewart.  It is now owned by Sam Cameron and his wife Annie Adam, issue one son, Garnet.

The farm now owned by Sam Gordon was first owned by Duncan Ferguson and his wife, Barbara Currie, sister  of John Currie who erected and operated the first grist mill at the head of Dalhousie Lake and now operated by Walter Geddes, son of Adam Geddes and Jane Sim, Duncan Ferguson’s family were: Hugh who died a young man on board a boat coming East from the Great Lakes and was buried in Kingston; Barbara, Nancy, Dan, Jeannie and Duncan (twins), John, Katie, Sandy, Mary.  Barbara married Robt. Bain, son of John Bain who built the stone house later owned by John Ferguson and Catherine Stewart.  Nancy married Dan Geddes, son of David Geddes and Agnes Lambie, Dan married Katie Currie his cousin [probably error here: Donald, not Dan, married Katie Currie, daughter of his uncle John Currie], Jeannie married Duncan McConochie, son of Hugh-McConochie and Katie Ferguson, Duncan married Elizabeth Robertson, John married Bella Budd, Katie married Mr. Erskine, Sandy married Janet Gilmour, Mary married Jas.  Gordon in Minnesota.  The farm is now owned by Sam Gordon and his wife Nellie Campbell (deceased), issue–George (married Hilda Beatty), Sherman, Gerald and Florence.

McIntyres:

Duncan McIntyre Sr. (my husband’s father) had twin brothers.  John settled near Perth, Robt. a merchant in Renfrew also a member of Parliament, later owned a wholesale business in Montreal, had one son Peter who returned to Fortobella, Scotland.  Two sisters, Katie and Janet, married in Scotland and never came to Canada.  Among their best friends were the Ferguson family.  Duncan McIntyre Sr. married Ann Ferguson and came to Canada with their family: (Margaret married John Anderson of Beckwith) issue–one son Peter who emigrated to Ohio. (Elizabeth died young), Mary married John Gunn of Hopetown, issue–John died young.  Duncan married Margaret Gunn (no relation), Finley married a girl from Western Canada, George died young, Mary married Wm.  McKinnon, Peter married Mary Ferguson, issue–one daughter Violet who marred Walter Geddes, issue–Robt., Ada (deceased) and David.  Malcolm went to the United States and joined the army, he married over there but had no family, John married and lived in Lanark, Duncan Jr. married Jeannie Glenn, issue-Duncan married Tena Watson, Malcolm married Tena Purdon, Peter married Catherine Corley, Alex. married Annie Gilmour, Katie married Thos. Duncan, Maggie married John Trombley, Annie married Peter Anderson, Charles never married and died at the age of 63, John died at the age of 2 years, two infant girls died, the youngest of the family.

As remembered by Mrs. Peter McIntyre (nee–Mary Ferguson)

 Historical sketch of McDonalds Corners, Snow Road and Elphin, by Hilda Geddes; Kenneth McCaskill.

From: The Centenary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, 1875-1975.

Mary lived a long life and saw many changes throughout her days on earth. From the earliest times of the Scottish pioneer settlement, through to the advancements of the mid-1930s. Mary would see transportation change from the ox to the horse and wagon, to the automobile. She saw the lands around her change from dense forests, to farmlands cleared and thriving with crops. Mary’s story and the celebration of her milestone birthday gives us a glimpse into days gone by, of a simpler time, a life well-lived, and roots reaching back to some of our earliest Scottish settlers in Lanark County.

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award 2023

Author of : “Lanark County Kitchen”, “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”

www.staffordwilson.com

Lent: 40 Days without Ice Cream

40 Days of Lent

I can’t blame the local clergy in Bathurst Township, for believing it was the church telling people it was wrong to eat ice cream before Easter. By the time I was in grade 7 or 8, at Glen Tay Public School, I figured out for myself that it was Mother’s choice to ban ice cream from our old chest freezer, during the 40 days of Lent.

No Ice Cream?

Lent began with Ash Wednesday each year, and was a time for moderation, reflection and spiritual discipline, in the weeks leading up to Easter. It doesn’t have anything to do with ice cream; at least not at anyone else’s house……….but it did at ours.

Mother loved ice cream; particularly vanilla ice cream. Although she was just an average-sized person, she had no trouble at all polishing off an entire gallon by herself, after the supper dishes were done. She’d grab a tablespoon, and the carton of vanilla, and head for the couch in the living room. When I think back now, it wasn’t even particularly good ice cream; at least not compared to what we can get today. She would buy the cheapest ice cream she could find, which was usually the ‘Top Value’ brand from the IGA store, on Wilson Street in Perth.

I.G.A. Foodliner, Wilson Street, Perth, Ontario

A Whole Carton?

Once she’d opened the carton and dug that tablespoon in, we all knew that the ice cream’s days were numbered. She wouldn’t always finish the whole thing at one sitting, but she’d have a good go at it for sure. Sometimes she’d complain later that evening that her stomach was troubling her, or that she had indigestion. She’d look over at Dad sitting contentedly in his lazy-boy chair, and ask him if she could have one of his Tums that he always carried in his pocket. She’d go on to say that she didn’t know why her stomach felt at bit ‘off’, despite the fact that the carton would be empty, and laying defeated in the garbage can, in the back porch. Dad was always too polite to say what was obvious to the rest of us.

A Family Tradition

Mother often told us about growing up in the 1920s in Edmonton, and how each night her mother sent her to the corner store, to buy a vanilla ice cream cone. She carried it home gingerly, catching drips on her tongue, before handing the prize over to her mother. Maybe this is where her love of ice cream began, although that still does not explain how she managed to consume it in such huge quantities.

Not at Our House!

Stafford House, Bathurst Township, Lanark County

So, as Lent rolled around each year, very early in the spring, Mother would announce that she would be giving up ice cream for the next 40 days. For the six weeks that followed, true to her word, there would be no cartons of ice cream in our shopping cart at the Perth IGA, no sign of the stuff in our old chest freezer. There were no cones consumed, nor ice cream sundaes, not one banana split, or even a vanilla shake; not a drop of the stuff in the house, for a month and a half.

Looking back, I understand now that the absence of frozen dairy products in our house wasn’t a rule imposed by the clergy.   It wasn’t religious doctrine from our Calvin Church in DeWitt’s Corners.  No, it was nothing of the sort.

Calvin United Church,  Cameron Side Road, Tay Valley Township, Lanark County

Mother’s Choice

It was Mother’s own choice, to give up her favourite food, for the forty days of Lent each year. It was her way of giving up something that she loved; her small sacrifice. It was her way of showing a little spiritual discipline, leading up to one of our most special holidays of the year.

A Sign of Spring

To me, Lent was one of the signs that spring was on its way, after the long, harsh, winter in Lanark County. Soon the snow would turn to rain, and wash away all of the signs of the dark, dreary, months behind us. The days would stretch out a bit longer, as the mercury rose a little higher in the old thermometer, outside our kitchen window. Soon Easter would be here, and we’d be dressed in our finest hats, and little white gloves, at Calvin Church, and yes, Mother would be eating her beloved ice cream once again.

…………………………………………………..

Arlene Stafford-Wilson

Member, Association of Professional Genealogists

Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society

Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award

Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”

and “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”

( “40  Days Without  Ice Cream” is an excerpt from “Lanark County Calendar: Four Seasons on the Third Line”)

http://www.staffordwilson.com