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.”
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:
(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?
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”
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 Tour2007
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”
Naming patterns are important when researching your family history. It has been a long standing custom in families around the world to name children after fathers, mothers, grandparents, important ancestors, relatives and friends. Middle names were often used for the preservation of a mother’s maiden name or the name of a prominent ancestor in that family. Names are very useful in tracking down lineages when there is little or no paper trail.
Names can give you clues to a person’s lineage, but other sources are still required in order to have genealogical proof. The Irish used a very particular naming pattern for children for children born beginning in the mid to late 1700s and through to the early to mid 1900s. It is important to note that not all Irish families followed the pattern although enough of them did that you can often use first names to learn more about an Irish ancestor’s unknown lineage. As with anything in genealogy, this should be proven with supporting documention, but Irish naming patterns are often helpful while building your family tree.
Traditional Irish Naming Pattern:
Naming Pattern Exceptions:
Naming patterns were sometimes affected by deaths in infancy. When a specific name was considered important within the family, the name would usually be given once again, to the next-born infant. In records, there are sometimes two or more children of the same name, baptized within the same family. Each baptism of this name, usually tells of the death of the older child of the same name.
Another example when the naming pattern is altered is when a child was stillborn, or very ill when born, or dying. Sadly, the child was baptized using a less-important family name, but the name of the paternal grandfather (or important ancestor) might be ‘reserved’ for a live birth, or for a child who was expected to live.
Surname Prefixes
Irish surnames of Gaelic origin were more common until Ireland fell under English rule. This led to the use of English versions of traditional Irish surnames. Many of these traditional names had prefixes:
“O”, “Fitz”, “Mc” and “Mac”
Mac or Mc – meaning “son of”
O – meaning “grandson of”
Fitz – meaning “son of” was sometimes substituted for the prefix ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ by many of the descendants of Anglo-Norman invaders.
For a period of time, English law in Ireland forbade the use of “O”, “Mc” and “Mac”, although “Fitz” was allowed. When researching your family name be aware that a name like Connor could have once been O’Connor.
The prefix O’ is unique to Ireland. It originates from the Gaelic word “ua,” meaning “grandson of.” Any name beginning with O’ is without question an Irish patronymic (from a male ancestor). The O’ surnames began in the 11th century in Ireland, before the Mc/Mac surnames. Examples of these surnames are O’Sullivan, O’Connor, O’Brien, and O’Leary.
Mc or Mac?
There is a myth about Scottish and Irish surnames that begin with the prefix Mac- or Mc-, that Mac- (as in MacDonald – son of Donald) designates a Scottish and Protestant heritage, where as Mc- (as in McCormick – son of Cormac) denotes an Irish Catholic family name. In fact there is no difference between these two prefixes. They may be either Irish or Scottish in origin and spelled different ways, with either prefix, even within the same family.
Mac- and Mc- both come from the Gaelic word “meic,” meaning “son of.”
“Micks”
In the early days of Irish settlement in Canada, such a large number of Irish names carried these prefixes that it became an ethnic slur for the Irish people to be called: “micks.”
Surnames thatDescribe the Profession of the Father
Some names beginning with Mc or Mac described the profession of the father.
MacMaster -“son of a master or religious leader”
Macpherson – “son of the parson,”
MacWard – “son of a poet or scribe,”
MacKenzie – “son of the fair one,”
MacDuff – “son of the dark one,”
McDowell – “son of the dark stranger.”.
Some families chose to conform to English laws, and some didn’t, which led to surname variations within the same family. Often Irish who emigrated dropped the prefixes when they arrived at their new countries of residence.
Top 200 Surnames in Ireland
Given Names and Meanings –
– BOYS
Given Names and Meanings
– GIRLS
Researching Your Irish Roots
Don’t forget Nicknames
Most given names in Ireland have at least one associated nickname. When names are recorded in birth, marriage, and death, or in church records, a nickname may have been used instead of the given name (Kate for Catherine or Billy for William, for example). Many nicknames are easy to spot, but others are less well known. For example, the nicknames used for Bridget include Bedelia, Bess, Bessie, Biddy, Breda, Briddy, Bride, or Bridie.
Nicknames may also lead the researcher astray if incorrect assumptions are used. While some might assume that Anty is a nickname for Anthony (a male), it is, in fact, more likely a nickname for Anastasia (a female). Lou is both a nickname for male children named Aloysius, Lewis/Louis, and Ulysses as well as female children names Louise or Lucinda or Mary-Louise, or Mary-Lou.
In conclusion, while naming patterns weren’t always followed exactly (for example if there were only one or two children, the father’s relatives always took precedence in the naming of the children), they were usually followed closely.
Remember, if you have an Irish ancestor, and don’t know anything of their parentage, you can use naming patterns to help in your search.
Best of luck researching your Irish ancestry!
Sources:
De Breffny, Brian. Guide on Irish Christian Names and their English equivalents. Article Christian Names in Ireland found for years 1670-1850. The Irish Ancestor, Vol.1 No. 1, pages 34-40.
Coghlan, Ronan. Irish First Names. Belfast, Ireland: Appletree Press, 1985.
Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, and Fidelma Maguire. Irish Names. 2nd ed. 1990. Reprint. Dublin, Ireland: The Lilliput Press, 1992.
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 6th ed. Dublin, Ireland: Irish Academic Press, 1985.
Matheson, Sir Robert E. Special Report on Surnames in Ireland [Together with] Varieties and Synonyms of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland. 1901. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968.
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”
The Irish brought their Christmas traditions when they settled in Lanark County, in the earliest times. Our ancestor, Tobias Stafford, came in 1816, from County Wexford, Ireland, and married Elizabeth, ‘Betsy’ McGarry, who came from Mullingar Parish, County Westmeath, Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Church
Ferguson’s Falls
Christmas, in those times was a far more religious, and far less commercial holiday than it is today. Priests traveled from larger centers, like Perth, to smaller communities, and people gathered at one of the larger neighbourhood homes to hear mass, and to celebrate the birth of Christ. In 1856, St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church was built, on a gentle hill, overlooking the Mississippi River. Finally, the locals had their own church, not just to mark religious holidays, but also a place to witness baptisms, weddings, and to seek comfort at the funerals of their dearly departed.
St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, built in 1856, Ferguson Falls, Ontario
Advent Candles
One of the early Christmas traditions at St. Patrick’s Church was the lighting of the Advent Candles.
Four candles were set up at the front of the church, and one was lit at each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
1st Sunday of Advent
The first candle was lit with a sermon on being watchful and alert, waiting for Christ’s arrival:
“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42
2nd Sunday of Advent
On the second week, the next candle was lit, with a sermon focusing on making preparations for the birth of Christ:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ Matthew 3:3
3rd Sunday of Advent
On the third Sunday of Advent, after the lighting of the third candle, the sermon focused on St. John the Baptist, and the foretelling of Jesus coming to earth:
“I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.” Luke 3:16-17
4th Sunday of Advent
Week four of Advent was the lighting of the fourth candle, and a reflection on the unwavering faith of Mary and Joseph, and a call to those who believed in what was to come:
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Luke 1:45
Thomas Stafford’s Family
Thomas Stafford, the youngest son of Tobias and Betsy, was just 10 years old when St. Patrick’s was established, and so, he attended the church as a child, and throughout his entire life, with his own children, as he remained on the ancestral Stafford property, on the 11th concession of Drummond Township.
Family of Thomas Stafford, his wife, Mary (Carroll) Stafford, seated with their eldest son, Peter in the middle row. Back row – Margaret ‘Madge’ Stafford, Annie Stafford, Thomas Patrick Stafford, and Julia Stafford (who married William Quinn), front row – Mary Stafford (school teacher in Ferguson’s Falls, Anastasia ‘Stasia’ Stafford, and Michael Vincent ‘Vince’ Stafford, (my grandfather, named for his uncle, Rev. Father Michael Stafford, the Apostle of Temperance), photo taken 1896.
Soaking Fruit
in Whiskey
In the weeks before Christmas, dried fruits were soaked in whiskey and rum, and more alcohol was added each day as the fruit became plump and full. A large, square piece of fresh clean cloth was dipped in hot water, and rubbed with flour to make it waterproof. After two weeks of soaking, the fruit was added to a traditional cake batter, and this ‘pudding’ was tied in the cloth sack, boiled for one hour, and then hung in the pantry to ripen.
Christmas puddings were hung in cloth sacks to ripen
An Irish pioneer’s Christmas pudding
Christmas
Decorations
Back in their homeland, the Irish decorated with sprigs of holly, ivy, and other evergreens native to Ireland like Arbutus, and Yew. Once in Canada, they used the native Eastern Ontario greenery – like spruce, pine, and cedar.
Small branches of spruce and cedar were brought into the home, and laid along the mantle
A spruce tree was cut from the surrounding forests, and brought into the house about a week before Christmas. White candles were attached to the tree, and lit in the evenings leading up to Christmas.
I recall our Dad saying that he was nervous when they lit the candles on the family tree because so many house fires were caused by this practice in the Ferguson’s Falls area, around Christmastime, when he was a young lad.
Shiny Christmas ornaments that we know today were very rare in the early days, and most of the decorative glass ornaments were imported from Germany, were very expensive, and only available in larger towns, like Perth, or Carleton Place. Often, the ladies of the family made homemade ornaments to hang on the tree, and some were made using needle-craft, like tatting, or crochet.
Lace Christmas ornaments were hand-crafted by the early settlers
Some of the more affluent families purchased ornaments imported from Europe
Precious and costly ornaments, imported from Europe
Bloc na Nollag
burning the Yule Log
The cold dark days and nights of the winter solstice were known as “Yule” in Ireland, and most of northern Europe. Burning the “Bloc na Nollag” (Nollag pronounced ‘null-egg’), was an old Irish tradition that continued through the generations, and was common to the Irish who settled in Eastern Ontario. The men of the family dragged home the largest log they could find. After dusting off the snow, the log was placed whole at the back of the fire. This large log was supposed to last for the entire 12 days of Christmas. A small piece of the log was saved to use as kindling for the lighting of the next year’s yule log .
Yule Log
A Candle
in the Window
on Christmas Eve
All through Ireland a candle is lit and placed in the window on Christmas Eve. This tradition was brought to Canada by the settlers, and was a symbol of welcome to the Holy family. It is thought that this custom originated with the tradition of lighting the way for all travelers on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. It is a tradition for the eldest person in the family to light the candle in the window on Christmas Eve.
A candle lit in the window on Christmas Eve, lighting the way for the Holy Family
An orange in the
Christmas stocking
According to Dad, they hung simple stockings, sometimes wool socks, without decoration, on Christmas Eve, and in the morning, the stocking would hold a few pieces of hard candy, a small toy usually made of wood, and always a lovely, ripe, Christmas orange. He said that fresh fruit was scarce when he was growing up in the 1920s, and it was a very special thing to receive a fresh juicy orange on Christmas morning.
A simple stocking with a precious fresh orange was a treat in the 1920s, in Drummond Township
Off to Church
On Christmas morning, the family got dressed up in their best clothing, hitched up the horses to the cutter, and headed to St. Patrick’s Church.
All of the families in the area donated a bit of money to the local priest, and presented it to him with thanks, at the end of the service. The custom came from Ireland and was known as the ‘priest’s box’, even though the settlers used an envelope, or folded paper together and sometimes painted colourful designs on the outside.
Envelope for a special Christmas donation for the local priest
Irish
Christmas Dinner
Many of the traditional foods from Ireland were not available to the Canadian pioneer settlers, so they made a few substitutions when needed. Although goose was the traditional bird cooked for Christmas dinner in Ireland, the settlers sometimes roasted a duck, chicken, or turkey, instead. The clove-studded baked ham was a tradition brought from the old country, and cooked in our ancestors’ homes. Stuffing was made of bread crumbs spiced with sage, onion, salt and pepper. Potatoes were always a favourite daily staple, and they were usually roasted in the fat of the duck or chicken. Roasted carrots were served, along with gravy made with the poultry drippings. The plum pudding was boiled again on Christmas Day, then a whiskey or rum sauce was poured on the top and it was lit at the table, at the end of the Christmas meal, and served as dessert.
Traditional Irish Christmas dinner with ham, turkey, stuffing, carrots, potatoes, gravy, and Brussels sprouts
Clove-studded baked ham
roasted potatoes and carrots
Fiddling Time
After dinner, the leftover food was put away, the dishes washed, and chairs were moved close to the fire, placed in a semi-circle. This was a time for music! Fiddles were played, and traditional Irish songs from the old country were sang around the fire. Stories were told of Christmas’ past, and jokes were shared, generous glasses of whiskey were poured, and the dancing of a little ‘jig’ to go along with the music was common.
The merriment went on into the wee hours, and it was a tradition for the youngest in the family to leave the home’s door unlatched, before going to bed, to give shelter to any travelers who may pass by. When the story-tellers and the musicians grew weary, and the last soul in the house finally retired to bed, it was their task to make sure that the Christmas candle was still lit in the window, to help guide the Holy Family through the long, dark, night.
And so, the traditions and customs of our Irish ancestors were passed down through the generations, from the very first settlers, to the present day. The special Christmas foods, the hanging of the stockings, the lighting of the candles for Advent, the singing of songs, the fiddling, the whiskey, the story-telling, and the lone candle in the window, lighting up the dark, cold, December night.
So, I’ll leave you with a traditional Irish Christmas blessing, and hope that you will pass along some of your own family’s customs to the next generation, from your grandparents, to your parents, to you, and onto your children, and their children. Peace be with you and yours this holy Christmas season.
…
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 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”
The Irish who came to Lanark County brought their religious beliefs, some Protestant, but many were Roman Catholic, coming to the new world to escape the English oppression, which was so widespread in the early 1800s in Ireland.
Along with their reverence for God, and their deeply held religious beliefs, they also brought traditions known as ‘the old ways’, customs that had been practiced by the Celts for thousands of years, and passed down in their families.
Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice occurs on December 21st, and is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
Oak King v.s. Holly King
According to Celtic legends, the solstice marks a great battle each year between the Oak King, who represented the light and summer, and the Holly King who represented the dark and winter. Each year on December 21st, the Oak King would finish victorious at the winter solstice, and daylight would slowly return to the island until it was time to do battle again on June 21st, at the summer solstice.
Dark vs Light
The winter solstice marked the battle between darkness and light, life and death, beginnings and endings. In some Celtic legends the seasonal darkness of the winter solstice was known as ‘the Dream-time’, when Nature invites us to dream, reflect, and feel peace in the darkness, and hope for the rebirth of the earth as the days grow longer. The Celts believed that all beginnings take place in the dark. Like the seeds sown in autumn, they germinate underground through winter before appearing as new green shoots in spring.
Evergreen, Yule Log,
Mistletoe, Red & Green
Many of our Christmas traditions, have Celtic origins. The Celts brought evergreen boughs inside their homes to remind themselves of life, in the cold dark winter. Springs of Holly and Ivy were brought inside to decorate the house in the darkest days, a symbol of hope, as these plants remained green throughout the darkness, just as the people would once again be bright and hopeful as the days grew longer.
Mistletoe was brought into the home as a symbol of fertility, and was brought as a gift to young couples in hopes that their union would be fruitful, and that the family would continue through the generations to come.
The old Celts decorated the evergreens with candles and reflective objects. This was their call to Nature to amplify and increase the natural energy and light of the living green boughs. These were the beginnings of what would become today’s reflective balls placed on the tree, along with tinsel and silver and gold decorations.
Today’s red and green decorations have their roots in Celtic traditions. The red of the holly berries symbolized the bright strength of blood and life, and the green was life everlasting.
The Longest Night
In ancient times the Celts sat outside on the longest night of the year, wrapped in blankets and animal skins, huddled around a bonfire, waiting for the light to appear. Old familiar stories were told, again and again, each year around the fire – some of bravery, and some told of traditions past down through the ages.
Many hours later, a glow was seen along the horizon, as the first shaft of light breaks through the dark – winter has broken, and the summer shall return.
Music begins, and old songs are sung, and the feast is prepared. Men go into the woods and bring back a large oak ‘Yule’ log, in honour of the Oak King, who is victorious, and will bring back the light and the summer to their lands.
Winter Solstice Today
Today, many Irish mark the Winter Solstice at Newgrange, a pre-historic monument in County Meath, Ireland, five miles west of Drogheda. It is a large tomb constructed c. 3200 B.C., and is older than Stonehenge.
Newgrange, photo: Irish Central
Once a year, as the sun rises at the Winter Solstice, it shines directly along the long passageway, and lights the inner chamber and the carvings inside, lasting approximately 17 minutes.
Newgrange, Co. Meath, Ireland
Triple spiral carving, illuminated once a year at Newgrange
A lottery is held each year to determine the sixty people who will be allowed to witness the phenomenon on the morning of the Winter Solstice from inside Newgrange. Winners are permitted to bring a single guest.
People gather outside Newgrange each year to witness the Winter Solstice sunrise
Winter Solstice 2023
Winter Solstice is on Tuesday, December 21, 2023 at 10:27 p.m., in Eastern Ontario.
Take a moment to pause and remember some of the Celtic traditions practiced by your fore-bearers.
For all those with Irish blood flowing through their veins the Winter Solstice marks the victory of light over darkness, and signals a new start, a fresh beginning, as our days grow longer, brighter, and warmer.
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 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”
Filmed in the town of Perth, Ontario, in 1955, this movie features many local people, in a tale of mystery and suspense.
Plot:
Set in the town of Tayville, (Perth), the local museum (the Perth Library on Gore Street) finds itself the center of an intriguing drama when an ambitious young reporter causes a scandal over the authenticity of one of its prize exhibits, a human skull.
Gore Street – 1955, appears many times, filmed from various angles
Local businessman, Victor ‘Vic’ Lemeiux playing the role of Vic Edwards, the Editor of the ‘Tayville Times’, with Richard Lamb, playing Harry Raddall, the ambitious young Reporter
A local fundraising group tours the museum
Mr. Appleby, the Museum Curator, played by Clyde Bell, provides a guided tour of the museum
Harry Raddall, reporter, played by Richard Lamb, tells lovely librarian, Helen Tate, played by Joy Lindop (Cunningham), about his plan to sneak into the library late at night and photograph the museum’s fanged skull
The fundraising group concludes their tour with the curator
Reporter, Harry Raddall, played by Richard Lamb, sneaks into the Museum at night, under the cover of darkness…to photograph the skull
The shocking newspaper headlines are revealed at a fundraising meeting, “Skull With Fangs Declared a Hoax!”
A Town Council meeting is held at the Perth Town Hall to decide whether the museum will receive funding
Professor Goddard, played by Peter Hopkinson, examines the skull to establish authenticity
Is the skull real? Or is it a hoax?
“The Hoax”
This delightful short film, just over 28 minutes in length, is a wonderful glimpse into the past, with many scenes of Gore Street, Perth, Ontario, as it appeared in 1955.
The local cast of actors did a fine job in their roles, many with memorable performances.
This historic film short may be viewed in its entirety on the National Film Board’s website, and is a must-see for local history buffs, capturing scenes of the main street of Perth as they appeared in the mid-1950s.
(All Images are from: “The Hoax”, a movie by the National Film Board of Canada, produced in 1955.)
Director: William Davidson
Story and Screenplay:Norman Klenman
Photography: Robert Humble
Sound: Clifford Griffen
Editing: Douglas Robertson
Production: Nicholas Balla
Cast:
Harry Raddall, Reporter: played by Richard Lamb
Helen Tate, Librarian: played by Joy Lindop (Cunningham)
Mr. Appleby, Curator: played by Clyde Bell
Professor Goddard: played by Peter Hopkinson
Mrs. Tate: played by Mrs. T.A. Rogers
Vic Edwards, Newspaper Editor, played by Victor ‘Vic’ Lemieux
Also featured in ‘The Hoax”:
Vince Lally, Jo Keays, Jack Finnegan, Edna Coutts, Mayor Scott Burchell, John Mather Town Clerk, Mr. ? Arbuthnot, Grace Grainger, Norm Turner, Mr. ? Sawdon, Mrs. ? Hamilton
(and many more)
Please comment below to help identify the local actors from the Perth area so they can be listed with the other members of the cast.
With thanks to the local cast and crew, and to the National Film Board of Canada, for capturing these moments in time, and preserving this special slice of history for the town of Perth, Ontario.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
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”
The legend of the notorious John Oliver begins in 1816 when he and his family settled on the south shore, on Lot 21, Conc. 5 of Elmsley Township, and John began to operate a ferry service on the Rideau Lakes. Over the years there were stories of travellers who went missing, of bones found under a house, tales of fighting among neighbours, and of a grisly murder.
Oliver’s Ferry
Back then, early surveyors reported a distance of about 450-500 feet, at the narrowist section for crossing the Rideau Lake, so anyone traveling to Perth had to pay Oliver to cross from one side to the other if they didn’t own a boat. This community today is known as Rideau Ferry, but at that time, because of John’s thriving business, it was known as Oliver’s Ferry.
Oliver’s Ferry, August 20, 1830, by James Pattison Cockburn, Library and Archives Canada
Travellers Disappeared
John Oliver’s ferry, a rough wooden raft, was a link to the roads leading from Brockville and Perth. John had a most unusual habit. He refused to transport travellers across Rideau Lake to the other side after dark, and always offered to accommodate them at his home overnight and then transport them the following morning.
His neighbours claimed that they seldom saw the travellers the next day. When people in the area asked about the travellers John stated that, “They went on their way at first light. You must have been asleep”. It was said that a number of these travellers who stayed overnight at John’s house never arrived at their destination.
John’s Suicide
When local minister, Rev. William Bell visited Oliver’s Ferry on his way to Perth in 1817, he later noted in his diary, that John Oliver, “appeared to have a somewhat unstable personality”. This observation proved to be true when news came of John’s death by suicide, after he shot himself in 1821.
William Oliver
Takes Over
After his father’s sudden death, William took over the ferry business.
Did John in fact take his own life, or did his son, William, who was said to be both violent and ambitious, cause his father’s death?
Stories of William’s temper were well known in the area and stories suggested that he continued his father’s ghastly habit of killing travellers, stealing their possessions, dismembing their bodies and hiding the remains under the floorboards of the Oliver house.
William was also known to have frequent and violent arguments with his neighbours, and it was said that almost everyone disliked him. He often had disagreements with his neighbours, some of which turned violent. He was also known to pursue other men’s wives, an in particular the wife of William McLean who lived across the river. His habit of being a womanizer did not increase his popularity in the community around the Rideau Lakes.
On a hot summer’s day in July of 1842, his violent nature rose to the surface again when the neighbour’s cattle, from the Toomy farm, were found trespassing on Oliver’s property. William headed straight to the Toomy’s place, confronted the two Toomy brothers, and punched one of them.
“The Perth Courier”, in its July 26, 1842 edition reported that the Toomys retreated to their house and that Oliver followed them there. One of the Toomys grabbed a loaded gun and told Oliver to get off their property. As Oliver tried to wrestle the gun from Toomy, the gun discharged, shooting Oliver through the heart. He was killed instantly.
Rev. William Bell of Perth stated, “The tragical death of William Oliver, at the Rideau Ferry on the 19th, creating at this time a universal thrill of horror. It was dreadful to think of a man so profanely wicked as he was, being sent into eternity in a moment.”
Word spread quickly through the county, and on July 20, Peter Sweeney, Lockmaster at Jones Falls, noted in his diary “I heard that Mr. Oliver was shot by a neighbour at Oliver’s Ferry.”
“On Wednesday morning, July 20, 1842, an inquest was held upon the body, before W.P. Loucke, Esq., Coroner, when the Jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter against William and John Toomy, the evidence being contradictory as to which of the brothers had committed the deed. We understand they were sent to Brockville jail, to await their trial.”
“The Perth Courier”, July 26, 1842, p. 2
The Toomy brothers were jailed and both later convicted of manslaughter.
Oliver’s Ferry – Rideau Lake, 1834 – Archives of Ontario
One local legend passed down through the generations states that when the Oliver family’s buildings were torn down to make way for the new bridge built across the narrows in 1874, human bones were found both inside of the walls and under the floor boards.
Oliver’s Ferry 1828 looking south This shows the south shore where the Oliver family’s house was located (in red)
The bottom shows the north shore and the road to Perth. from: 1828, Scottish Records Office
“The Perth Courier”, October 17, 1873, p. 4
Human Skeleton
Discovered
In 1873, when bids were being submitted on the contract to build a bridge to replace the ferry there was an alarming article in the local newspapers stating that there was:
“a discovery of a human skeleton under the platform of a house
near the wharf that was undergoing repairs.”
After the bridge was completed in 1874, there was no longer a need for a ferry service.
Both the original ferryman, John Oliver, and his son, William were gone – the father, by a self-inflicted gunshot, and the son, shot through the heart by his neighbour.
The legend of Oliver’s Ferry is one that’s been passed along for over 200 years, since 1821, and the unsettling death of John Oliver. His son William’s tragic demise adds to the mystery and intrigue of this fascinating tale!
Who were the travellers staying overnight at the Oliver’s home, and were they ever seen again?
Did authorities identify the human skeletons found under the wharf when they were building the Rideau Ferry bridge?
This fascinating story of the Oliver family remains one of Rideau Ferry’s dark legends!
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
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”.
“Revelry and Rogues on the Rideau”, a story in “Lanark County Chronicle”, tells the tales of John Oliver, and of Coutts House and the Rideau Ferry Inn, and of Al Capone’s rum-running days, and a secret tunnel built so he and his men could escape from their hideaway and cleverly evade the local police.
This eerie tale began in the autumn of 1889, on a farm, owned by George Dagg, and his wife, Susan, located in Clarendon, 10 kilometers from Shawville, Quebec.
George and Susan had three children at that time, Eliza, age 4, Mary, age 3, and baby John. The Dagg family had also taken in a young girl, 11-year old Dinah. Like many orphans from the U.K. at that time, she was brought to Canada, and these children were often placed in farm homes, where they could help out.
When Dinah was present, there were often unexplained, spontaneous fires — eight occurring in a single day. Objects – a water jug, butter tub and wash basin ‘flew’ around the property controlled by an “invisible agency.” Stones were thrown through windows, a harmonica played on its own, and an empty rocking chair, rocked back and forth.
Family members and neighbours heard a deep gruff voice, sounding like an old man, in the house and outdoors, and the voice answered questions, and was heard by all.
It all began on September 15, 1889…..
“The Philadelphia Inquirer”, Jan. 13, 1890, p.6
Who Broke the Glass?
“Oh, Grandmother, see the big black thing pulling off the bedclothes.”
“The Philadelphia Inquirer”, Jan. 13, 1890, p.6
The Dagg Family Consulted with The Witch of Plum Hollow
Percy Woodcock, of Brockville, a well-known artist, and student of Psychology, began to investigate the strange occurrences at the Dagg home…..
Percy Woodcock, 1879
Was it the farm-hand, Dean?
“The Dunn County News”, Menomonie, Wisconsin, Oct. 25, 1889, p.6
Some claimed it was Dinah…
“The Ottawa Journal”, Nov. 29, 1889
Dinah Burden McLean, the adopted orphan from Scotland, taken in by the kindly Dagg family, was blamed for the disturbances, and eventually was sent away to Fairknowe Home, in Brockville. Fairknowe Home was an orphanage, and at the time Dinah was sent there, it was called The National Orphan Homes of Scotland, and later the building housed a division of the Brockville Children’s Aid.
Fairknowe Home for Orphans, Brockville, Ontario
Children at Fairknowe Home, Brockville, late 1890s
(a section of the Old Brockville cemetery has a large monument with the names of the children who died at Fairknowe Home)
“He claims to be a discarnated being who died twenty years ago, aged eighty years; that he gave his name to Mr. George Dagg and to Mr. Willie Dagg, forbidding them to tell it.”
Seventeen farmers and community leaders, including local politicians and clergymen, signed witness statements to the unusual sightings, and voices heard at the Dagg farm, in the fall of 1889.
Seventeen people witnessed the disturbances of the Poltergeist, and signed a statement to that effect…
“To whom it may concern:
We, the undersigned, solemnly declare that the following curious proceedings, which began on the 15th day of September, 1889, and are still going on, on the 17th day of November, 1889, in the home of Mr. George Dagg, a farmer living seven miles from Shawville, Clarendon Township, Pontiac County, Province of Quebec, actually occurred as below described.
1st, That fires have broken out spontaneously through the house, as many as eight occurring on one day, six being in the house and two outside; that the window curtains were burned whilst on the windows, this happening in broad daylight whilst the family and neighbours were in the house.
2nd, That stones were thrown by invisible hands through the windows, as many as eight panes of glass being broken; that articles such as waterjug, milk pitcher, a wash basin, cream jug, butter tub and other articles were thrown about the house by the same invisible agency; a jar of water being thrown in the face of Mrs. John Dagg, also in the face of Mrs. George Dagg, whilst they were busy about their household duties, Mrs. George Dagg being alone in the house at the time it was thrown in her face; that a large shelf was heard distinctly to be played and was seen to move across the room on to the floor; immediately after, a rocking chair began rocking furiously. That a washboard was sent flying down the stairs from the garret, no one being in the garret at the time. That when the child Dinah is present, a deep gruff voice like that of an aged man has been heard at various times, both in the house and outdoors, and when asked questions answered so as to be distinctly heard, showing that he is cognizant of all that has taken place, not only in Mr. Dagg’s family but also in the families of the surrounding neighbourhood. That he claims to be a discarnated being who died twenty years ago, aged eighty years; that he gave his name to Mr. George Dagg and to Mr. Willie Dagg, forbidding them to tell it. That this intelligence is able to make himself visible to Dinah, little Mary and Johnnie, who have seen him under different forms at different times, at one time as a tall thin man with a cow’s head, horns and cloven foot, at another time as a big black dog, and finally as a man with a beautiful face and long white hair, dressed in white, wearing a crown with stars in it.
Signed, John Dagg Portage du Fort, PQ.; George Dagg, Portage du Fort, PQ; William Eddes, Radsford, PQ; William H. Dagg Port. du Fort; Arthur Smart, Port. du Fort; Charles A. Dagg, Port. du Fort; Bruno Morrow, Port. du Fort; Benjamin Smart, Shawville, PQ.; William J. Dagg, Shawville, PQ.; Robert F. Peever, Cobden, Ont.; Robert H. Lockhart, Port. du Fort; John Fulfrid, Port. du Fort; George H. Hodgins, Shawville; Richard F. Dagg, Shawville; George Blackwell, Haley’s, Ont.; William Smart, Portage du Fort; John J. Dagg, Portage du Fort.”
Curiosity-seekers came by the wagon-load, from neighbouring towns and villages, along with the media, to witness the Dagg Poltergeist
The Dagg house, below, as it appeared before the additions
Attested by Scores of Credible Witnesses
“The Times”, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jan. 14, 1891, p.3
“The man left with Dinah, and she was never heard from again….”
Charlie Harris, of R. R. # 2, Shawville, was hit on the head by the Poltergeist
“It” threw water in Mrs. Dagg’s face…..
The Dagg House 2017
Charlene Lombard, lived in the former Dagg home in 2017. Photo: Darren Brown, “The Ottawa Citizen”
Noted by the Lombard family – a strange sound of crawling and scratching in the attic, solely focused above the original house.
Dagg house, with ‘new’ addition (added after George and Susan Dagg occupied the home)
Eliza Jane, age 4, the Dagg’s daughter, died mysteriously, during the time of the poltergeist’s visit.
Grave of Eliza Dagg, daughter of George and Susan Dagg. She passed away in a mysterious accident, during the time of the poltergeist on the family farm. (local lore is little Eliza was playing near a cauldron of soap, her clothing caught fire, and she burned to death)
Protestant Cemetery of Portage du Fort, Outaouais, Quebec
After the Poltergeist
After the disturbances of 1889, the lives of George Dagg and his family returned to normal, for the most part. George became one of the most prominent farmers in the region, and served as a Councillor for Portage from 1918-1922. Popular, and well-respected, he ran for Mayor in 1922, and was elected. He served as Mayor of Portage for 16 years, right up until his death, in 1938.
“The Ottawa Citizen”, May 30, 1938, p.2
Protestant Cemetery of Portage du Fort, Outaouais, Quebec
“The Ottawa Citizen”, Nov. 18, 2014,
(Venetia Crawford, author and historian, with the Pontiac County, Quebec, Archives)
The Dagg house, as it appeared in 2014
Did it vanish for good, or did it return?
The old-timers say that the poltergeist vanished, and appeared like a streaking flame, as it finally left the Dagg farm, after three long months, of troublesome behavior.
The Dagg House, as it appears today. Local people and curiosity seekers still drive by this property, and local teens have been known to walk through the yard at night, on a dare.
Would You Dare to Visit at Night?
More on the Dagg Poltergeist:
A movie about the Dagg Poltergeist, was produced by the National Film Board, and the story was published in a book by R.S. Lambert in 1955:
Exploring the Supernatural: The Weird in Canadian Folklore
1955. R.S Lambert’s book ExploringTheSupernatural: TheWeirdInCanadianFolklore was published, which includes a chapter of what took place at the farm in 1889.
…..
The Ghost that Talked
The Dagg poltergeist was the subject of 1957 National Film Board movie, “The Ghost That Talked.”
“In the fall of 1889 a mysterious presence took up residence in the Dagg farmhouse in Pontiac county, Québec. This dramatization based on the first-hand report by Canadian artist Percy Woodcock shows that ghosts and poltergeists are as common in Canada as in the Old World.”
March 10th, 1957, 30 min.
…….
Fairknowe Home
For more information on Fairknowe Home, orphanage in Brockville: “The Village, A History of Quarriers” , by Anna Magnusson, 1984.
…….
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
Author of 10 books: “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”
The opening of the House of Industry, later known as Tayview Nursing Home, then Perth Community Care Centre, was held at the site, just outside of Perth, on January 30, 1903.
Cost to Build:
From a report published in “The Perth Courier”:
Opening Ceremonies
& Entertainment
Speeches were made by visiting dignitaries, and tours of the new building were attended by many from the community and surrounding area.
“The programme committee had planned out a good list of diverse amusements. It was their desire to meet all demands. Music was provided and good music at that, for those who have a musicianly vein in them.”
“A smoking-room was given over to the men who had an enjoyable pull at the brier, and at the same time were entertained to gramophone selections.” Mr. Everard Doyle was in charge of the tobacco and cigar counter.”
“Two ping-pong tables were located in the confectionery room over which Mrs. Foy presided, while in the attic was a shooting gallery in the keep of Mr. George King. In the evening the large crowd was treated to some popular singing by a chorus of male voices, led by Mr. Chris Forbes, of Lanark.”
Reverend A.H. Scott delivered the dedication of the House of Industry, which included:
“Wilberforce, when he had reached the Indian summer period of his life remarked: I can scarcely understand why my life is spared so long except it be to show that a man can be as happy without a fortune as with one.”
Rev. Scott continued, “With the blessing of the Lord and the practical kindness of this community those who are to be occupants of this institution shall have reason to confirm the declaration of David:
“I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Members of Lanark County Council
representing their constituents
at the Grand Opening:
Warden : Walter G. Cameron
Lanark CountyCouncillors 1903-1904:
W.H. William Stafford, K.C., Almonte barrister, representing Galbraith
A.F. Shearn, representing Galbraith
Wm. Campbell representing Montague
J.S. Livingstone, representing Montague
Wm. Pattie – representing Mississippi
Joseph C. Cram – representing Mississippi
Wm. Watters – representing Tay
Robert Smith – representing Tay
J.M. Rogers – representing Perth
Robert Laidley, representing Western
John Forsyth – representing Highland
John MacLean – representing Highland
The House of Industry, 1911
First known as “The House of Industry”, then as “Lanark County Home”, then “Tayview Home”, and now Perth Community Care Centre
Name Changed1940
to Lanark County Home
In 1940, the name of the institution was changed from “The House of Industry to “Lanark County Home”
In 1958, the home was presented with a brand new television set, from the Lionettes
An ad for a nurse was published in “The Perth Courier” on September 10, 1958, p. 7:
“The Perth Courier” Sept. 10, 1959, p. 7
Name Changed 1959
to TayviewHome
In December of 1959, council recommended a name change to Tayview:
“The Perth Courier”, December 24, 1959, p.5
Name Changed to
Perth Community Care Centre
Life at the Perth Community Care Centre
Featured in 1980s News Column
In the 1980s, “The Perth Courier” began to publish a column outlining the recent activities of the residents of the Perth Community Care Centre, as it was know. Residents birthdays were listed, as well as a ‘Resident of the Month’
Oct. 1981
Surnames: BARTRAW, CHURCH, CLARKE, CLOSS, MACMILLAN, REED, RITCHIE, WHITE
Perth Community Care Centre, in modern times, with additions built to accommodate more residents
Established in 1903, the Perth Community Care Centre continues its long tradition of serving and housing seniors and those requiring assisted living. With accommodation for 120 residents, this historic facility is located at 101, Christie Lake Road, Perth, Ontario.
.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
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”
“They accepted the wilderness at its worst, defied it, and won.
It was a triumph of the human spirit over disaster.”
“The Caldwells of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland, can be traced in direct lineage to an Alexander Caldwell, born 1636, died 1706. From this ancestor three successive generations of Alexander Caldwells carried on the family name until the auld Kirk burying ground gave them perpetuity in slabs of stone. Then came the first break when William Caldwell, son of the fourth Alexander, left the glens and braes, exchanging an Arcady for a wilderness.
William Caldwell was prospering in the Paisley shawl trade when the economic disaster, following the Napoleonic wars, blasted the weaving industry into financial ruin and drove its dependents into poverty. Then for many a family came the most difficult decision of a lifetime – to emigrate and transplant the roots of generations or to remain and suffer with kinsfolk. To their everlasting honor they did not shrink from meeting the only alternative, and this country gained thereby an infusion of that rugged independence of character which is the glory of the Scot, William Caldwell and his family were among those who accepted this challenge of destiny.
They came on the Earl of Buckinghamshire, William Caldwell, and his highland wife, Margaret McCallum, and their children, Margaret, Mary, Alexander and Boyd, who with 600 others faced a seven-weeks’ voyage under distressing conditions before setting foot on land. The limits of space preclude giving many names from the passenger list of emigrants on the Buckinghamshire, and other sailing ships, “George Canning”, “Commerce”, and “David of London”. Many of their descendants still live on the homesteads they hewed in the pioneer townships of Lanark.
Caldwell, and another emigrant, James McIlraith were members of the Paisley Townhend Emigration Society, and having drawn their location tickets from Colonel William Marshall, Superintendent of settlement at the Lanark depot, they selected their lots on either side of the Third Concession Line of Lanark Township, about seven miles northwest of the present village. They must have had an eye for something reminiscent of the glens of home for here a brawling burn known as the Little Clyde, cascades down a charming vista. Most appropriately, they called in ‘The Clachan” (small village), and it remained the motivating spirit of the Caldwell-McIlraith Settlement. Here, far from the noisy gnat-swarm of cities, they wrought out their separate destinies. They accepted the wilderness at its worst, defied it, and won. It was a triumph of the human spirit over disaster.
The Caldwells and all that gallant company started from scratch. Supplies and material were expensive and hard to procure. In summer they had to be ‘man-packed’ over the forest trails from distant centers. Their first log dwellings were chinked with moss, and their clothes were homespun. But there was an abundance of game and fish and wild fruit. They learned the first crude methods of making maple syrup and sugar, and brewed tea of herbs.”
(excerpt from an article by Harry J. Walker in “The Ottawa Journal”, March 23, 1937, p.6)
Caldwell Family
William Caldwell (1774-1863) and Margaret McCallum Caldwell (1788-1879) had ten children, six girls, and four boys: Margaret (1812-1877), Alexander (1815-1872), Mary Ann (1818-1872), Mary (1816-1852), Boyd (1818-1868), Euphemia (1821-1874), William (1822-1862), John (1825-1897), Ann (1830-?) and Agnes (1833-1907).
Clyde Hall
Alexander ‘Sandy’ Caldwell in 1869
Clyde Hall, the Caldwell mansion, was built in 1846 by the wealth generated from a successful lumber trade established by Alexander ‘Sandy’ Caldwell and his wife, Mary Ann Maxwell Caldwell.
Mary Ann died suddenly of a heart attack at age 54, in 1872, and her husband, ‘Sandy’ passed away three months later at age 57. (It’s been said that he never recovered from her death, and that he died from a broken heart)
Clyde Hall in its early days
William Clyde Caldwell, son of Alexander Caldwell and Mary Maxwell Caldwell
Miss Caldwell, June 1881, taken in Ottawa, by Wm. Topley (Library & Archives Canada)
Clyde Hall with the addition of a summer kitchen c. 1889
“Mr. W.T. Traynor, chairman of the reception committee, was waiting with a beautiful sleigh drawn by four beautiful white horses, driven by Mr. James McArthur, and gaily decorated in honor of the occasion.”
“The watch was presented by Mr. W.T. Traynor, and was a beautiful specimen of the watchmaker’s art, being solid gold, 14 carat, 21 jeweled, hunting case, bearing on the outside the monogram, A.C.C., while on the inside was engraved, “Presented to Lieut. A.Clyde Caldwell, R.C.R. by his fellow citizens, on his safe return from active military service in South Africa, Lanark, Dec. 1900.”
Clyde Hall estate was passed down to Thomas Boyd ‘T.B.’ Caldwell, the son of Boyd Caldwell, when he was left as “sole representative and proprietor of the Boyd Caldwell interests”, including the Caldwell Woolen Mill, lumber enterprises, mining rights, and a store in Lanark.
Thomas Boyd Caldwell, known as “T.B.” Caldwell, was a Member of Parliament for North Lanark, under Wilfred Laurier,
Thomas Boyd ‘T.B.’ Caldwell, M.P. for Lanark North, (1856-1932), was the last of the Caldwell family to own Clyde Hall
Clyde Hall c. 1900
April 9, 1908, p. 10, “The Ottawa Journal”
Clyde Hall – Legacy of the Caldwell Family
“In Lanark village, the old Alexander Caldwell house, known as ‘Clyde Hall’, remained in the family for nearly a century.”
Clyde Hall remained in the Caldwell family until the summer of 1932, following T.B. Caldwell’s death, when it was sold to Mr. M.J. Cullen.
Cullen family
M.J. Cullen was the Chief Immigration Inspector of the Dominion, for three terms, and private secretary to the Hon. Wesley Gordon, Minister of Immigration.
Michael Joseph Cullen (1884-1951) married Mary Louise ‘Minnie’ Nagle, (1877-1952) in Carleton Place, in 1907. Their children: John Arthur Cullen (1911-1992), Muriel Cullen Macdonald (1913-1992), Kathleen Cullen Macdonald (1915-1991), Dorothy Cullen Burnett (1916-2005), Frances Cullen (1916-1919), Helen Cullen McCormick (1920-1975), and Mary Cullen Meagher (1929-2011)
When the Cullen family bought Clyde Hall, Michael was 48, his wife, Minnie, was 45. Their children: John was 21, Muriel was 19, Kathleen was 17, Dorothy was 16, Helen was 12, and Mary was 3.
“Mr. M.J. Cullen has recently bought from the T.B. Caldwell estate, the fine old residence known as ‘Clyde Hall’, in Lanark Village.”
The Cullen family enjoyed Clyde Hall as their summer home, and many upgrades were completed while they owned the property. They retained one of the Caldwell employees, Mr. Fred Roffey, as their gardener and caretaker.
The Cullen family remained at Clyde Hall for six years, then in 1938, they sold the property to Ottawa businessman, Herbert Plant and his family.
Clyde Hall Sold
to Herbert Plant
“Mr Plant, a brother of a former Mayorof Ottawa, and prominentbusinessman, intends further to improve the property.”
Plant family
In the fall of 1938, M.J. Cullen sold the property to Herbert A. Plant, (1893-1972) an Ottawa businessman. Plant was the co-founder of Plant and Anderson Limited, and in later years he was a Director of the Ottawa Rough Riders. His brother, Frank H. Plant, served as Mayor of Ottawa from 1921-1923, and again in 1930.
Clyde Hall was a summer home for Herbert Alfred Plant (1893-1972) and his wife, Gladys Lilian Robertson Plant (1895-1986), and their two children, Isabel Plant, (1922-2006), and James Plant, (1925-2018)
Gladys Plant was a member of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E.), and frequently entertained members of her club at Clyde Hall, during the summer months, when they were in residence there.
June 27, 1940, p. 10 “The Ottawa Journal”
The Plant family enjoying the pool at their home, Clyde Hall, Lanark, ON
ClydeHall For Sale
$29,500
In the fall of 1957, Clyde Hall was put on the market:
“14 spacious rooms,and 58acres. One of the finest estates in thevalley.”
Sept. 28, 1957, p. 23, “The Ottawa Journal”
May 15, 1958, p. 26, “The Ottawa Citizen”
McMullen family
Pearl Lusk McMullen, daughter of Howard Lusk and Jessie Grant, purchased Clyde Hall in 1958, along with her son, Thomas ‘Bob’ McMullen and his wife, Jean Victoria Wilmott McMullen, and established the Clyde Hall Nursing Home.
Pearl’s grandchildren, Sharron ‘Sherri’ McMullen (Lillico), James McMullen, Gloria McDonald, Betty Ann McMullen Stanton, Robert McMullen, and Thomas McMullen spent their summers at Clyde Hall.
July 19, 1958, p. 7, “The Ottawa Journal”
September 3, 1958, p. 35, “The Ottawa Citizen”
On March 19, 1963, Pearl McMullen, owner of the Clyde Hall Nursing Home, passed away suddenly, at age 62.
By the fall of 1963, Clyde Hall was under new management.
In 1963 – Clyde HallNursing Home
Under New Management
Nov. 7, 1963, p. 43, “The Ottawa Citizen”
May 23, 1964, p. 37, “The Ottawa Journal”
By the early 1970s, the structure was abandoned by the owner of the property, who lived in Toronto. The building became rundown, and vandalism and looting were rampant.
1970s – Youth Programs
& Project Echo
In the summer of 1972, a program called Opportunities for Youth was established in Lanark County. One of the projects initiated was called ‘Project Echo’, and they received a grant of $12,200, to provide a center for local youth. The owner of Clyde Hall (unknown) a resident of Toronto, kindly allowed the members of the project to use it, rent free for their drop-in center.
“They received a grant of $12,200 to provide a center for local youth.”
July 6, 1972, p. 2, “The Perth Courier”
The program ran from July – September in 1972. In the afternoons and arts and crafts program included bead-work, fabric printing, ceramics with clay, batik, and candle-making. Evening programs featured games, music and entertainment. On September 3, 1972, the program’s final event, a music festival, was held at Clyde Hall, Toronto music group, ‘Crab Shaw’, were the evening’s special guests. Local musicians were invited to play. The festival attracted between 100-200 youth.
“By the late 1970s, there were safety concerns brought to the attention of the Lanark Township Council concerning an open well on the abandoned property.”
The property remained empty, abandoned, and overgrown during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Mysterious Fire of 1999
The fire of 1999 destroyed the interior, and left only a shell of the former glory of the once stately building. It is believed to have been caused by arson.
Very little remained of the beautiful historic home of the Lanark Caldwell family.
Lillico family
In an article in by Iris Winston, in “The Ottawa Citizen”, Oct. 4, 2003, p. 81:
“As a teenager, Mrs. Lillico had spent her summers helping at the retirement home that her grandmother, Pearl McMullen, operated out of Clyde Hall. The house, together with the 300 acres around it, was eventually purchased by Ms. McMullen in 1958. After her sudden death five years later, ownership reverted to the Toronto businessman who held the mortgage on the property.
Mrs. Lillico made several unsuccessful attempts to buy the house from him. Disheartened, she recognized that she must let her dream go.
In 1999, Mrs. Lillico discovered that her grandmother’s property had been purchased by a local developer, who intended to use most of the land for a golf course. He was also ready to sever the house and 10 acres around it from the golf course development. The news rekindled Mrs. Lillico’s dream to own the property.
Although the interior had been gutted (by the fire of 1999), and the roof had caved in, the two-foot-thick stone walls remained intact. So did Mrs. Lillico’s passion for the house. By January 2001, it was the Lillicos’ new home.
Rebuilding and recreating Clyde Hall in the image of the original with the added conveniences of modern plumbing and kitchen facilities was an 18-month undertaking.
Mr. Lillico recalled, “..We made sure that reconstruction was identical to the way it was in 1870. The beams are the same size, hooked into the stone in the same way. The timbers are extra heavy and extra-large. We had to use a manual lift to put them in place in each floor.”
Eaves and decorative overhangs were customized to replicate the originals. The banister and a few of the wooden spindles below it had survived the fire. Replicas were made to complete the reconstruction of the staircase.
It took some time to find a tradesman willing to tackle the complex job, until Michael Miller, an enterprising fellow from Carleton Place accepted the challenge.
The whole project, from purchase through renovations has cost the couple about $700,000.”
photos by Wayne Cuddington, “The Ottawa Citizen”, Oct. 4, 2003, p. 81
Oct. 4, 2003, p. 81 “The Ottawa Citizen”
New Gates added 2011
In 2011, local Blacksmith, Tony Walsh, created new gates for Clyde Hall.
In 2017 Liisa and Robert Salzmann moved from Toronto and purchased Clyde Hall. Liisa is a gourmet chef, and Robert is a certified Master Pastry Chef. He also works part time as a Professor at Algonquin College, teaching baking and pastry arts.
Clyde Hall offers High Tea, Rehearsal Party Dinners, Gift-Opening Brunches, and Wedding Cakes. They also offer courses on the art of running a bed and breakfast business.
Photos of Clyde Hall Bed and Breakfast:
The driveway and scenic grounds of Clyde Hall as it appears today
Entrance hall and staircase at Clyde Hall
One of the elegant rooms at Clyde Hall
Clyde Hall parlor
Decorated to preserve the historical features
One of the bedrooms at Clyde Hall
Elegant dining at Clyde Hall (photo from the Clyde Hall website)
Clyde Hall
Past, Present, and Future
…And so, we’ve witnessed the evolution of Clyde Hall, from its proud beginnings as the mansion of the wealthy Caldwell family, those hopeful sons and daughters of Scotland who came to the New World, worked hard, and found success. The Caldwell offspring continued their legacy, provided employment for many, served their communities in politics, and for them Clyde Hall became a proud symbol of their success.
The families that followed added their own special spirits to this historic home – Michael Cullen, the Chief Inspector of Immigration for the Dominion, his wife, Minnie, and their large busy brood of children, laughing and playing on the grounds. The Cullen family hosted the overseas members attending the Imperial Conference within the walls of Clyde Hall.
Next, there was Herbert A. Plant, founder of Plant and Anderson Limited, Director of the Ottawa Rough Riders whose brother had risen to the ranks of Mayor of Ottawa, and Herbert’s wife, Gladys Plant, an elegant hostess, and their two children, Isabel and James.
Pearl Lusk McMullen came next to Clyde Hall, with her vision for a beautiful home for the aged, set among the tall trees and spacious lawns – the perfect setting for her guests to heal their bodies and their spirits. The McMullen grandchildren never forgot their idyllic summers spent at the mansion – Sherri, James, Gloria, Betty Ann, Robert, and Thomas.
Although Clyde Hall had a brief moment during the 1970s when it served the youth of the community, it may remain a mystery as to why the owner in Toronto left the property abandoned for so many years, or if the fire in 1999 was truly accidental.
Brian and Sherri Lillico, Clyde Hall’s next owners, took the burned stone shell, and pile of ashes, and through hard work and determination brought the mansion back to her former glory and beyond. Like her grandmother, Pearl, Sherri thought the magnificent home should be shared with others, and she and her husband established a bed and breakfast.
Clyde Hall’s current owners, Liisa and Robert Salzmann continue the tradition of inviting guests to their elegant country estate for rest, relaxation, fine dining, and special events. Robert, a Master Pastry Chef, and Liisa, a gourmet chef, bring the element of finely-crafted food to their inviting bed and breakfast.
As Clyde Hall evolves over the years we can only imagine what her future may hold. The estate is one of the crown jewels in Lanark’s past and present, and a monument to the proud history of the community. From a stately home for the Scottish lumber barons, to an elegant bed and breakfast fit for a king, Clyde Hall’s history, mystery, and mystique, lives on.
Clyde Hall is located at 131 Mill St. in beautiful Lanark, Ontario
Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
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”
Percy Woodcock, 1879
arlene stafford wilson 