First kiss, first drink, maybe even a first love, were some of the memories made at the old style country dance halls in Lanark County in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Close to home, these community halls opened their doors on the May long weekend, and became the backdrop for cottage crushes and summer romances. With wooden floors polished to a high shine, and the snack-bars stocked with crowd-pleasing favourites, local bands entertained the crowds into the wee hours.
Some were neighbourhood musicians, and many were bands from out of town, but most used a single microphone and one or two small amplifiers. Parking lots became passion pits, and offered privacy for underage drinking, and occasional brawls.
Music echoed across the big lakes and rivers, keeping cottagers awake, and causing parents to wonder what was going on down at the dance hall. Whether you preferred country, big-band or rock and roll there were venues to suit every taste and style.
See if you can remember these local favourites:
Bill Hannah and the Nightingales
Bill Munro and his Country Rockets
CFRA Happy Wanderers: Ken Reynolds, Ward Allen, Bob King, Vince Lebeau, Lynn Strauff, Marie King
Country Harmony Boys
Country Hoppers: Garry ‘Gizz’ Watt, Fred ‘Pappy’ Ryan, Paul ‘Hiker’ Gurry, Larry ‘Dooley’ Protheroe
Country Rhythm Kings
Don Gilchrist and his Dancers
Family Brown: Tracey, Lawanda, Joe & Barry Brown, Dave Dennison, Ron Sparling
Fred Paquin’s Orchestra (featuring Don Cochrane)
Jerry Badour and His Westernaires
Kenny Jackson’s Valley Cruisers: Harry Adrain, Raymond Donaldson, Gary Barr
Lee Miller’s Orchestra
Lockwood’s Orchestra
Mac Beattie and the Melodiers: Reg Hill, Garnet Scheel, Gaetan Fairfield, Bob Whitney
Mallen’s Melodiers
Mississippi Ramblers
Mississippi River Boys
Riders of the Southern Trails
Ron McMunn and his Country Cousins
Symington’s Orchestra
Tex Montana’s Cowboy Band
Top Hats
Travelons
Valley Ramblers
Wilson Sisters
…and the dance halls where they entertained us:
Antler Lodge
Balderson Hall
Bolingbroke ABC Hall
ABC Hall – Bolingbroke
Carleton Place Town Hall
Carleton Place Town Hall – 1930s
Fallbrook Orange Hall
Franktown Centennial Hall
Franktown Centennial Hall
Maberly Community Hall
Maberly Community Hall – interior
McDonald’s Corners Agricultural Hall
McDonald’s Corners Agricultural Hall
May 5, 1960,p.4 “The Perth Courier”
Perth Town Hall
Perth Town Hall – vintage photo
Rideau Ferry Inn
Rideau Ferry Inn
Lanark Village – Stanley Lodge
article on Stanley Lodge – “The Perth Courier”, Feb. 7, 1957 p.10
Watson’s Corners Community Hall
“The Perth Courier” May 5, 1960, p. 4
Wemyss Orange Hall
Westport Scott’s Ballroom
Scott’s Ballroom in Westport, Bedford Street
Take a trip down memory lane, back to the old style country dance halls, and the folks who kept us dancing until the wee hours, in the story called “Antler Lodge: Dosey-Doe Along the Rideau” from the book “Lanark County Connections – Memories Among the Maples”
photos of Antler Lodge, used with permission – Graeme Hoatson Beattie
