Arlene Stafford-Wilson's Blog, page 21
March 30, 2023
Almonte’s Distinguished Homes -1982
In the spring of 1982, the Almonte General Hospital Auxiliary organized a fund-raising house tour, of some of Almonte and area’s most distinguished homes.
“The 750 tickets printed for the tour sold out in record time,
weeks before the tour date of June 16th.”
It was the first time in the history of the Almonte house tours that the tickets sold out so quickly. The cost was $8.00, and the proceeds were to help the building fund for the Almonte General Hospital.
Hanna House
The Hanna House – was on Highway 29, just outside of Almonte, and the property owners were, Dr. Alexander ‘Sandy’ Hanna, (1917-1989), (son of Isaac Alexander Hanna, Millicent Elgey Chesney), and his wife, Ann ‘Nan’ (Dalgity) Hanna), (1919-2008), along with their children, Allan, Brian, and Susan. Ann ‘Nan’ was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and her parents were John Watt Dalgity (1895-1963) and Lizzie Mason Houston, (1892–1979).
“The Hanna House was built in 1981,
with retirement and space for horses in mind.”
“The focus of this bright and cheerful home
is the 26-ft high main floor hallway.”
“The 1981-built Hanna home.
set in rolling farmland.”
“Custom designed by their son, Brian, a Regina architect.”
Sheffield House
Sheffield House owners: Judge Alan Sheffield, son of James Garfield ‘Shep’ Sheffield and Viola (Mullin) Sheffield of Arnprior, and Heather (Jardine) Sheffield, their children: Jennifer, Sarah, and Emily.
“Built in 1966, the four-bedroom home, with a pool,
features interesting decor.”
“This comfortable modern Georgian style house
is home to Judge and Mrs. Sheffield,
and their three daughters.”
Henderson House
(also known as Glenelvin Farm)
Dr. Ian Henderson, (1928-2006) and his wife, Jane (Mitchell) Henderson bought Glenelvin Farm in Ramsay Township in 1973. Dr. Henderson was born and educated in Glasgow, Scotland
“This rambling country home was built in 1836,
with additions completed in 1890.”
“At the end of a long lane
lined with century old cedars, is Glenelvin.”
“The rambling country home began its history
as a small log farmhouse.”
Rintoul House
The Rintoul House was located along Highway 29 to Pakenham, near the Cedar Hill turn-off, and the property owners were Laurie Winston Rintoul, and his wife, Janet Ray (Anderson) Rintoul.
Background: Laurie’s parents were George Alva Rintoul and Helen Elizabeth Somerville. Janet’s parents were John Anderson and Irene Hargreaves.
“The tongue and groove cedar paneling
represents many hours of work
as the lumber was cut on a local woodlot,
aged, prepared, and applied by Mr. Rintoul.”
Graves House
“Marney Graves, (1919-2014), purchased
the log house in 1978 for $1,750,
and began extensive renovations.”
“Graves, a decorating consultant,
has restored and refinished most of the interior
of the old log cabin herself.”
Marny Graves was a well-known Decorating Consultant,
and beautified homes in both Almonte and Ottawa.
Margaret ‘Marny’ (Hardwick) Kemp Graves, born in London, England, daughter of William Hardwick, and was married in 1952, to George Garland Graves (1916-1973). Marny came to Canada in 1947, and worked in the advertising department at the “Ottawa Journal” for 15 years. She worked for 10 years as the Decorating Consultant and Curator at Laurier House, a Victorian mansion in downtown Ottawa, and former residence of Prime Minister William Lynon Mackenzie King. In 1974 she was on site at Laurier House for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mackenzie King’s birth.
In an article about the 100th Anniversary celebrations at Laurier House, Marny spoke about the collection, and of Mackenzie King, “You can almost feel him in some of the rooms.”, “The third floor study was Mr. King’s favourite room”
According to the article: “He would work at every opportunity from the study rather than his Parliament Hill office. On every available ledge and wall area there are photographs, paintings, statuettes and other keepsakes collected by the bachelor Prime Minister. According to Marny, “It was what one might call organized clutter.”
Marny Graves, while she was the Advertising Manager for Armstrong and Richardson
From there, she secured a position with Armstrong and Richardson Shoe Stores, and was the Advertising and Display Manager, responsible for store decor. In the 1980s, Marny worked as the Advertising Manager for Neta Clarke Real Estate, where she specialized in decor, specifically preparing a house for sale so it was more attractive for prospective buyers, what later became known as ‘staging’ a house.
Marny Graves – during her career with Neta Clarke Real Estate
The five-bedroom home was converted to a two-bedroom house
Sadly, Marny Graves, age 94, passed away at the Almonte Country Haven, on September 16, 2014.
The Almonte House Tour of 1982 was surely one that stands out as an event featuring some of the areas loveliest and most stately homes.
I wonder who lives in these beautiful houses today, after many decades have gone by?
Please comment below with your memories and thoughts on these lovely homes.
Sources for Almonte’s Distinguished Homes – 1982:
Article on 100th Anniversary Celebrations at Laurier House, Ottawa – “The Ottawa Citizen”, Dec. 14, 1974, p. 25
Clippings from “The Almonte Gazette” , May 5, 1982, p. 6 and
“The Ottawa Citizen”, Saturday, May 15, 1982, p. 79
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
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”
available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
March 25, 2023
Families of Montague Township
Among the first European settlers in Montague Township, Lanark County, Ontario, were United Empire Loyalists, from the U.S., who arrived between 1790 and 1797:
Depiction of United Empire Loyalists – Americans who preferred to remain British Subjects, and who came to Canada after the American Revolution
Historic Townships of Lanark County
Montague Township Families listed in 1863:
“The Province of Ontario: a History: 1615-1927”
Acton, Agnee, Anders, Anderson, Andrews, Armrod, Baalf, Bailey, Ballantine, Beamish, Barton, Begg, Bell, Bennett, Billings, Burchell, Bissell, Blair, Blodgett, Box, Bradley, Bramnick, Brennen, Breland, Brown, Buchanan, Buell, Burgess, Burrows, Cadden, Kehoe, Campbell, Carnes, Carnduff, Carter, Cavanagh, Chalmers, Chapman, Chester, Chock, Christie, Clark, Clink, Coad, Cochard, Comrie, Condie, Conich, Conlin, Conlon, Connell, Conner, Copeland, Couch, Crooks, Croon, Croskery, Cusick, Dalena, Davis, Dempsey, Derrick, Devlin, Dillabough, Dizell, Dorman, Dormer, Douglass, Doyle Driscoll, Dumfield, Eamon, Earl, Edmonds, Edwards, Ervin, Everts, Evetts, Farls, Ferguson, Fibs, Finell, Fitzcharles, Fitzgerald, Flannigan, Fleming, Flood, Foley, Foster, Furlong, Giff, Killaly, Gorman, Grace, Graham, Gravelle, Griffith, Hades, Haley, Hall, Hennessy, Hetherington, Hill, Holbrook, Holt, Hood, James, Jones, Kagen, Keating, Kelley, Kennedy, Kerfoot, Kerr, Keys, Kidd, Kilfoyle, Kinchley, King, Knapp, Lake, Lamb, Larkins, Latt, Lave, Lawford, Leach, Leaver, Lee, Leeson, Livingstone, Lewis, Little, Loftus, Long, Loucks, Lowe, Lucker, Lukas, Lumix, Maitland, McClinton, McCance, McCaw, McConnell, McCormack, McCrea, McCreary, McCrutchie, McDermid, McDermott, McDonald, McEwen, McGilvery, McGregor, McInrugh, McLaughlin, McMahon, McMillan, McPhail, McPherson, McQuay, McVean, Meredith, Meroe, Merrick, Millikin, Moffatt, Moir, Moore, Moorhouse, Morris, McIlroy, Murphy, Murray, Nealand, Newman, Nicholson, Nolan, Nullerville, O’Donnell, Payea, Peck, Pendergrass, Pierce, Plant, Poaps, Poole, Prescott, Prichard, Proctor, Publow, Rathwell, Reagan, Rekey, Reid, Richardson, Rickey, Riddle, Robinson, Roe, Rose, Rylance, Saltier, Salter, Sanders, Scott, Shepard, Shields, Shirley, Smith, Splane, Stacey, Stewart, Stuart, Tilman, Taylor, Tiffin, Tilford, Tillebaugh, Tierney, Tomlinson, Tussey, Tripp, Vanderhouse, Vandusen, Wall, Ward, Warren, Watts, Webster, White, Willable, Willis, Wilson, Winne, Wood.
(Jesse E. Middleton, The Province of Ontario: a History: 1615-1927, published 1927.)
Settlements – Montague Twp:
Numogate, Nolans Corners, Rosedale and Kilmarnock (Kilnarne)
Google maps
Numogate, Montague Township
[image error]Loyal Orange Lodge 705
Federal Election of 1925
Born in Numogate, Montague
Almonte Police Chief
Montague Mailman
40-Year Old Horse
Cameron Family
Area’s first Microwave Tower
at Numogate
Rideau Canal Byways
Nolan’s Corners
[image error]Rosedale Hall
Rosedale Hall, 657 Rosedale Road South
Rosedale Hall
In 2019 The Township of Montague received a grant of $127,500 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and in 2020 completed the upgrades to Rosedale Hall. Structural upgrades were completed including replacing the floor joists, installing new flooring, a new well was dug, and a new children’s playground and walkway. The hall can be rented for weddings, celebrations of life, or other functions, by the hour or by the day, for residents or non-residents.
Some of the families of Rosedale: Rosedale: Acton, Andrews, Blair, Bunting, Chalmers, Clark, Comrie, Dais, Davies, Davis, Dizell, Flagg, Graham, King, Livingston, Louks, McCreary, McCreery, Lumsden, McEwen, McPhail, McLain, Shields, Moir, Porter, Scott, Smith, Tassie, Vandusen, Wilson, Wall, Watt
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock Lockmaster’s House
The Lockmaster’s house was built at the Kilmarnock Lockstation in 1841 by the
Royal Engineers as part of the defence structures for the Rideau Canal. A second storey was added to the main structure in the 1890s, and later a single storey frame summer kitchen. It is a designated historic site on the Rideau Canal system.
Kilmarnock was originally known as Maitland’s Rapids (named for the first settler, James Maitland), and the locks have what is called an “unequal arm”, with a timber swing bridge. It is the lowest lift of any lock on the Rideau, only 2.2 feet. Not far up the road, is the Kilmarnock Apple Orchard.
Side of the Lockmaster’s House – photo: Dept. of Public Works
1424 Kilmarnock Road, Montague, Ontario
The Lockmasters
at Kilmarnock
The first lockmaster was James Maitland, a former soldier, recommended by Colonel John By. Maitland served until his retirement in 1846.
George Newsome, served 1846-1871.
Replaced by his son, William Newsome, the longest serving lockmaster on the Rideau, retired after 50 years, in 1921
J. R. Dalton, from 1922 to 1941
Fred Dawe, 1942 to 1945
R.V. Marshall from 1946 to 1964
Ted Moncrieff from 1965 to 1977
unknown from 1978 to 1980
Stan Irvin from 1980 to 1995
Ron Hyland served 1995 to 2000
Cemeteries of Montague
St. Bede’s Anglican Cemetery Nolan’s Corners, Montague Lot 19 Concession 5
McVean Cemetery Montague Lot 27 Concession 8
McCrae Family Cemetery Montague Lot 3 Concession 1
Christ Church Cemetery (also known as the Anglican Cemetery Lot 8 Concession 6, Status: Closed to further burials
Van Dusen Cemetery, Montague Township, Concession 1, Lot 24
St. John’s Anglican Cemetery, Montague Historical Municipality: Smith Falls Lot 30 Concession 5 North end of Mazie St.
St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Cemetery Montague Lot: 27 Concession: 7 Location Address: N of Kelly-Jordon Side Road on Hwy 15.
Montague Farm Museum
More than 30 years ago, Bill Dobson, established Montague Farm Museum, a private antique collection, a worthwhile destination for antique lovers and history buffs.
Some of the museum’s holdings: antique farming tools, implements, hand-made artifacts and textiles from the 1800 and 1900s, over 1,000 artifacts from the 1800s and 1900s, tools for blacksmithing, coopers, spinning, weaving, quilting and farming. Special treasures: An 1860s dowsing rod for locating water, and a horse-shaped pierced-tin trade sign from a horse-stable.
Montague Farm Museum is next door to a sheep cheese factory – Milkhouse Farm & Dairy and Lynda Hynes Pottery Studio, also beside the museum!
The museum is located at 1105 Matheson Rd., open by appointment only call 613-283-5270.
Bobolink Bird
The male has been described as a bird wearing a tuxedo, with his distinctive black and white coat. These birds are native to Montague Township, and many parts of Eastern Ontario. Bobolinks are small songbirds with somewhat flat heads, short necks, and short tails. They are related to blackbirds and orioles.
Native birds of Montague Township, Lanark County, Bobolinks nest in hay fields and livestock pastures.
Ramshead Lady Slipper
– native to Montague Township, member of the orchid family
Ramshead Lady Slipper – Orchid Family, rare, but still exist in many areas of Montague Township, and other parts of Eastern Ontario.
Familiar Names of Montague Township
Some familiar family names of Montague Township: McPherson, Jansen, Burrows, Kerfoot, Gulley, Houle, Shaw, Covill, MacDonald, Gilhuly, Patterson, Bates, Campbell, McVean, McCrea, Chester, Willoughby, Condie, Sheridan, Taylor, Griffith, Garland, Dopson, Phillips, Aldrich, Hill, Barton, Thomas, Lane, Merrick, Nettleton, Robinson, Phillips, Knapp, Vandusen, Crouch, Stafford, McIntyre, Burgess, Gilchrist, Rose, Sly, Wickware, Lake, Billings, Mars, Draper, Burchill, Chambers, Clark, Colborne, Cook, Davis, Empey, Ferguson, Fraser, Garrett, Hall, Jones, Livingstone, Poole, Newman, Shields, Stevens, Cameron.
Miscellaneous Articles
Visit Montague Township!
With a rich history including the proud United Empire Loyalists arriving in the 1790s, Montague Township is a wonderful place to live, to vacation, or a lovely place for a Sunday drive. With its charming communities of Numogate, Nolan’s Corners, Rosedale, and Kilmarnock, there’s something for everyone. Stop by one of the museums, or visit the grounds of one of the lovely historic churches. The local artisans, cheesemakers, and merchants will have the perfect souvenir of your day-trip. Don’t forget to visit the Kilmarnock locks and marvel at the engineering and beauty of the Rideau Canal, and the clear peaceful waters that remind us all of the special beauty of this part of Lanark County.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
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”
available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
March 20, 2023
Balderson Cheese – Craving the Curd
Whenever a kid in Lanark County heard the word ‘Balderson’ spoken at their home, most of the time their thoughts turned to cheese. The Balderson Cheese Factory was a short drive up the Lanark Road from our place, and they made the best cheese in the world. People came from miles around to buy Balderson Cheese, curds, and butter, and our family was no different. Usually a visit to the cheese factory took place as part of a Sunday drive.
Balderson was a small hamlet situated about halfway between Perth and Lanark and was one of the earliest communities settled along with Perth. Balderson, a suburb was also settled partly by soldiers, and partly by Scottish immigrants from Perthshire in the Scottish Highlands. It was founded by Sergeant Balderson in June 1816.
When we spent time in Balderson during the 1960s and 1970s some of the family names were: Bell, Burns, Davidson, Devlin, Haley, Jones, Kennedy, King, McGregor, McIntyre, McTavish, Myers and Newman.
The Balderson Cheese Factory had already been operating for many decades by the time I first remember it. The factory was established 1881. It was formed by a group of dairy farmers of Lanark County. They were known as the Farmer’s Cheese and Butter Association of Balderson. They decided to use the excess milk that they were each producing on their farms, build a factory, produce Cheddar cheese and sell it locally. They built a small, plain-looking, wood-frame building near the Balderson Corners crossroads.
In the early days, each dairy farmer would bring their milk by horse and wagon and drop it off at the factory. Later, to become more efficient, special milk wagons were built and routes were established and workers from the factory would go from farm to farm picking up the milk.
Just twelve years after opening, the Balderson Cheese Factory was one of the twelve factories that contributed cheese to create the ‘Mammoth’ cheese for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. The old timers said that it was six feet high and weighed over 20,000 lbs.
In 1929, a fire burned the original factory and all that was left was the concrete floor.
Although Dad was familiar with the original factory, we had only seen the one that was rebuilt in 1930. It was a plain-looking building and was built in a similar style to many of the other local cheese factories, in and around Perth. There was a small sign outside and the inside they had a very small counter and sold three products: cheese – yellow or coloured orange, cheese curds, and butter. You could buy mild cheese or old cheese, and Dad preferred the older ‘sharp’ cheese and liked to enjoy it with a slice of Mother’s homemade apple pie. The cheese was cut from rounds, wrapped in waxed paper and sealed with a piece of scotch tape. There was one person working behind the counter that would get your cheese and ring it up on the cash register. Everyone else worked in the back.
Dad would often know the person working behind the counter, and he’d ask if we could go back and watch them make the cheese. Now, that was really interesting! There was always a distinct smell in the factory, even at the front counter. It smelled kind of like buttermilk, and the air always seemed very warm and humid. It was behind the counter where all the magic took place.
There were huge metal vats, filled with heated milk. I don’t know what they use now, but in those days, they added rennet to the milk to make it curdle. Rennet was an acid which could be found in the fourth stomach of calves and was used for digestion. When the rennet was added to the milk it curdled and formed into clumps. The workers in the factory would walk around with long wooden paddles and stir the vats. Some were newly curdling and were very easy to stir, others in later stages required quite a bit of muscle to stir because the curds were forming in large, heavy clumps. In the last vat the salt was added and some of the curds were strained out and sold, but the remainder would be pressed into huge round wooden molds. The molds were lined with cheesecloth so that the cheese wouldn’t stick when it was time to remove it.
At the rear of the old factory, double walls were built two feet thick, with sawdust packed inside as insulation to keep the cheese cool as it cured. After the cheese was strained and pressed into molds it was stored in the curing room. The whey, the liquid that was strained from the cheese, was stored in big tanks. In the old days the whey was returned to the farmers to use as feed, but later when tighter government regulations were introduced the whey was dumped. Each cheese was waxed, boxed, weighed, molded, inspected, cooled, turned and shipped. The cheese was regularly inspected by Government inspectors and the stock turns over every ten days. The cheese remained in the curing room until it was shipped.
Cheese making was an art form in Balderson and their Master Cheese Maker when I was a kid, was Omar Matte. Mr. Matte had begun making cheese when he was fifteen working for his father in St. Albert. By the 1960s he had been making cheese for 27 years. In those days, Mr. Matte would mold 120 tons of cheese per year and most was shipped to the Sanderson Grading Station in Oxford where it went on to foreign markets. Ten tons of cheese on average was sold locally in the Balderson area. Over 100 tons of cheese and 9,000 pounds of butter produced yearly by the mid 1960s and sold all over North America.
There were many Master Cheese Makers before him – Chris J. Bell of Perth, James Somerville of Boyd’s, Walter Partridge of the Scotch Line, James Prentice of Perth, Charles Gallery of Perth, Robert Lucas of Jasper and Percy George of Christie Lake.
Balderson Cheesemakers1881-1887 W. Brown
1888-1891 J. Milton 1888-1891
1892-1901 W.D. Simes
1902-1904 E.E. Haley
1905-1911 J.M. Scott
1912-1917 T.K. Whyte
1918-1921 M. Haley
1922-1929 A. Quinn
1930 G. Spencer
1931-1937 P. Kirkham
1937-1939 J.L. Prentice
1939-1941 C.J. Bell
1941-1942 J. Somerville
1943 W. Partridge
1944-1955 C. Gallery
1956-1958 R. Lucas
1959-1960 P. George
1961-1966 O. Matte
1966-1974 Y. Leroux
1975-1980 L. Lalonde
1980 N. Matte
As the years passed by, the cheese gained tremendous popularity, news of the product spread, and the little business was bought by a large company. After many decades the Balderson Cheese business has changed hands many times.
You can still find Balderson cheese today, and many types and grades of cheese available in all of the major supermarkets.
I smile whenever I see the Balderson name and think of the little hamlet outside of Perth. I remember our Sunday drives to the old cheese factory, and how they made the best curd in the world!
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional GenealogistsHonorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical SocietyAuthor 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”available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com(story is an excerpt from ‘Lanark County Kid: My Travels Up and Down the Third Line’ ISBN: 978-0-9877026-16)
March 19, 2023
Lanark County Dance Halls 1950s, 60s & 70s
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.
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
Westport Scott’s Ballroom
Don White: “The Mississippi River Boys started playing in White, in 1956 or 1957. The dances in White were every Saturday night from late April or early May, depending upon the weather, and running until the end of deer hunting. The season finished with the Deer Hunters Ball. Back then you couldn’t play past midnight on Saturday so the dance was from 9 to 12. I remember working the door (25 cents admission) starting in 1958. I began playing drums with the band in Lanark, on New Years Eve, 1958.”
Mississippi River Boys at the White Hall, Highway 511, mid- 1960s (below) photo: courtesy of Don White
Left to Right: Ed White, Don White, Doug White, George Fyfe, Walter Cameron, Eleanor White
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”
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional GenealogistsHonorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical SocietyAuthor 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”available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
(photos of Antler Lodge, used with permission – Graeme Hoatson Beattie)March 17, 2023
You May be Irish if…
1. You have the ‘gift of gab’. There is an ancient rock near Cork, Ireland at Blarney Castle and they say that anyone who kisses the stone will have the gift of gab. If you are truly of Irish descent, then there’s likely no pressing need to make the journey, as you surely already possess the talent of talking rings around most other people.
2. You are musical. Maybe you play an instrument or perhaps you just sing in the shower, but the gift of music is in your Irish blood and you will not be able to resist tapping your toe or strumming your fingers on the table when someone gets their fiddle out and plays a tune.
3. You have strong convictions. Whether the topic is religion, politics or your favourite sports team there will be no point in challenging your beliefs which you hold dearly, and you will argue about these beliefs passionately and convincingly.
4. You have a gift for writing and story-telling. You will be the one at the pub or social gathering that will keep the crowd entertained with your vivid and colourful tales. There may even be a bit of exaggeration thrown in for good measure, but it just makes your story all the more interesting.
5. You’ve got lovely skin and pleasing features. You may have porcelain, pale skin, or you may have freckles that outnumber the days of the year, but your features will be pleasantly proportioned and your eyes bright, with a genuine smile that lights up your face.
6. Your dinner is not complete without some spuds at the table. Whether it’s home-fries for breakfast, French fries for lunch, or baked, mashed or boiled for supper, the humble potato is a regular, healthy staple in your diet and you wouldn’t think of going a day without it.
7. You will likely have a few Irish names in your family tree because people of Irish descent are proud of their heritage and often pass down the names of their ancestors: Sean, Shane, Annie, Maggie, Michael, Patrick, Francis, Kelly, Bridget, Daniel, Aiden, Liam, Eileen, Irene, Brian, Barry, Collin, Ryan, Katie, Thomas, Matthew, Molly, William, Robert, Mark, Elizabeth, Peter, Sinead, Eva, Fay, Julia and so on…
8. You are better at swearing than most people. Partly because of your natural gift of gab and partly because of your quick wit, the swear-words seem to roll freely off of your tongue. You have even been known to make up your own, or stick a word in the middle for good measure, like “abso-bleedin’-lutely”.
9. Nothing brings out your poetic nature, natural ability to talk non-stop, or your talent for swearing like a few pints at the pub. A drink or two or three tends to make your exaggerations a bit more colourful, your storytelling even more fascinating, and your talent for music and dancing shines even brighter.
10. You are loyal. Your strong convictions and unshakable beliefs are the most visible when it comes to your family and friends. If someone insults your friend then they’ve likely got a fight on their hands that they won’t win. If someone says something unkind about your family then they will have a nasty surprise coming to them that they didn’t bargain for. You are fiercely loyal to all you hold dear.
So, what are the Irish really like? Perhaps the best description comes from the popular historian, Carl Wittke:
“The so-called Irish temperament is a mixture of flaming ego, hot temper, stubbornness, great personal charm and warmth, and a wit that shines through adversity. An irrepressible buoyancy, a vivacious spirit, a kindliness and tolerance for the common frailties of man and a feeling that ‘it is time enough to bid the devil good morning when you meet him’ are character traits which North Americans have associated with their Irish neighbors for more than a century.”
Whether you are of Irish descent or merely admire this nation known for its great writers, poets and story-tellers, I will leave you with a traditional Irish blessing and hope that you have the ‘luck o’ the Irish’ wherever life takes you! Sláinte (cheers!)
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional GenealogistsHonorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical SocietyAuthor 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”available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com(My ancestor, Tobias Stafford, left County Wexford, Ireland, in 1816, aboard the ship, Maria, and settled in Drummond Township, Lanark County. He married Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ McGarry, of Mullingar Parish, County Westmeath, Ireland at St. John’s Church, Perth, Ontario, on Feb. 10, 1824)
March 16, 2023
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 BachelorsThere 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)………………………………………………………….
112 Years of the St. Patrick Mission in Ferguson Falls – written in 1968One 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 IrelandThe 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 FallsThese members of the Quinn family are direct descendants of the pioneer Quinn family who donated the land for St. Patrick’s R.C. Church
(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 ChurchFerguson FallsFather 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
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 ElizabethMargaret 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 JamesTheresa 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
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.”
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 SettlementOriginally 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 NatureThe 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
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 LegendsThe 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 InnThe 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 FallsS.S. # 8 LanarkThe 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
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:
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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CommerceBy 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.
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:
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.
Hollinger -Nagle Wedding 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
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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.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional GenealogistsHonorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical SocietyAuthor 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”available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.comhttp://www.staffordwilson.comMarch 15, 2023
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
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” available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
March 13, 2023
Irish Names & Surnames Explained
Traditional Irish Naming Patterns
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 that Describe 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
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
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”
available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
March 11, 2023
Ferguson Falls in 1929
An article appeared in “The Ottawa Evening Citizen”, on Saturday, September 28, 1929, by George R. Wilson. Transcribed below, it gives us a view into the past, who was living there at that time, and some of their recollections.
“Ferguson’s Falls in Drummond Township, county of Lanark, 13 miles to the rear of Carleton Place, is a beautiful little hamlet which has seen better days. At the present time, the village is endeavoring to achieve a reputation as a summer resort and a fishing center, and succeeding pretty well.
But there was a time back in the 1860s when the Falls boasted a sawmill, a grist mill, and a tannery and other enterprises and looked forward t finding a place on the map. The two mills were operated by water power which was provided by a dam across the Mississippi River. By the way, we omitted to mention that Ferguson’s Falls is located on the Mississippi River.
Just how the place got the name of ‘falls’ is hard to understand as there never was any natural waterfall there. There always was a rapids, as far as can be learned, but the drop in the river was never, according to old inhabitants, sufficient to be honoured by the name of ‘falls.”
A Dam Was Built
About 1850, Robert Blair built a dam across the river and thus created an artificial ‘fall’. On the north bank of the stream he built a sawmill, and on the south bank a grist mill.
Blair’s dam in high water flooded the low lands up the river and the farmers naturally objected.
In the 1870s, fire visited one mill after the other. Then, the farmers above the dam got busy and induced to government to prevent Mr. Blair from rebuilding. Soon afterwards the government removed the dam and now the waters of the river have free flow.
Named for Military Officer
The site of Ferguson’s Falls appears to have been originally owned by one Captain Ferguson, a disbanded military officer, who received his grant back in the 1820s from the Perth military settlement office.
Ferguson’s Falls is on the highway between Perth and Renfrew and other points. The road between the Falls and Perth, a distance of 13 miles, was originally a “forced” road.
Seven Irishmen
Local tradition has a story of how seven Irishmen, all young men, in the early part of the 1800s, came from the St. Lawrence to Perth by the existing road, and then hewed a trail through the unbroken forest to the district just northwest of what is now Ferguson’s Falls.
These seven young Irishmen are said to have been the first settlers between Perth and Chief McNabb’s Scotch settlement around White Lake.
Mr. Thomas Holliger, who tells about these seven pioneer Irishmen, recalls the name of four of them as Quinn, Carberry, Hartney, and Neville. Descendants of these men are still in the locality.
(note: the Seven Irish Bachelors were: Patrick Quinn, John Quinn, James Carberry, William Scanlan, Terrence Doyle, John Cullen and James Power)
Busy Place Once
At one time Ferguson’s Falls boasted three hotels and a post office, which was kept by Robert Hick. Today there is no post office at the Falls. To reach a resident of the Falls by mail, one addresses him or her via R.R. No. 1, Lanark.
The Falls today has a small sawmill, but it is not operated by water-power. It is run by Louis Bedard.
Among the present residents of Ferguson’s Falls are Mrs. Gray, a widow, William McCaffrey, a retired harness maker, Alex Sheppard who runs a general store and blacksmith shop, William Dickenson who conducts a hotel, Charles Hollinger, Auctioneer and drover, Tom Command, Trapper, Thomas Hollinger, Farmer and owner of a number of summer cottages, Louis Bedard, sawmill. Hope we haven’t missed anybody.
The Falls boasts a fine cement county bridge
The marshy portion of the river just above the Falls has always produced a large crop of muskrats. They are still plentiful.”
note on William ‘Billy’ McCaffrey – he also owned the infamous local bar, known as The Stumble Inn. For more information on Billy’s pub:
Ferguson Falls and the Stumble Inn
Girl Was Drowned
Back in the 1860s, the Mississippi was a scene of a sad drowning. A Miss Kitty Felleter was drowned just east of the village. The boat upset while she was fishing. Miss Felleter and her brother, a bachelor, had lived together not far north of the village.
In the 1860s a lot of pork was packed at Ferguson’s Falls for use in the shanties. Mr. Charles Hollinger, grandfather of Thomas and Charles Hollinger, had an inspection office at the Falls, and the pork had to be passed by him for quality before it could be sent into the surrounding shanties. Mr. Hollinger also kept a hotel.
Road Was Only Trail
In the 1860s and 1870s the road between Perth, Ferguson’s Falls and Renfrew was still little more than a trail. Today it is a road to travel with a car.
Ferguson’s Falls is one of the most picturesque little spots in eastern Ontario.”
(article by George R. Wilson, Ottawa Evening Citizen, Sept. 28, 1929)
A Few Photos of Ferguson Falls, from August 2021
St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, established in 1856, built on land donated by the Quinn family.
photo: St. Patrick’s Church, Arlene Stafford-Wilson sitting on steps. Photo: Alexander Duhaney, Aug. 2021
Gravestone of Elizabeth McGarry Stafford, originally from County Westmeath, Ireland, and in the background, her g-g-great grandson, Alex Duhaney, patiently waiting, but perhaps not as interested in visiting yet another old cemetery as his genealogist mother, Arlene Stafford-Wilson.
close up – Elizabeth McGarry Stafford, native of Co. Westmeath, Ireland 1800-1886
For more stories on St. Patrick’s Church and some history of Ferguson Falls:
St. Patrick’s Church, Ferguson’s Falls, Lanark County
For stories on the Irish Wakes of Ferguson Falls:
Irish Wakes
Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
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”
available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
March 9, 2023
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
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”
available at local stores or email: lanarkcountybooks@gmail.com
