Roots Boots and Brick Yards

  One of the delights of childhood is curiosity and for parents this can mean answering a never ending stream of “why?”  Being involved in museum work or research perpetuates that childhood trait that should never be lost.  Wanting question answered keeps our minds open and our thoughts expanding whenever artifacts or documents come into our collection.   As the pieces fall into place, more of…

What Didn’t You Know? The New Town Hall August 1897

In August 30th of 1897 an article was published in the Ottawa Journal abut the new Carleton Place town hall and it was said that it was a building of which any town or city would be proud of. Of course in true fashion it was also included in the headlines that this new building might set a new row at the next election. 

Built on the south side of the Mississippi riverbanks the new town hall was…

Carleton Place Postcard– What Year Was This Taken?

    This postcard is for sale on Ebay and I am trying to figure out what year it was taken. That is definitely the older bridge. Are those people fishing under the bridge?

Carleton Place Town Hall Sued For Cupolas!

  Ever wonder about the cupolas on the Carleton Place Town Hall? Yes, those beautiful spherical cup shaped roofs that just enhance the structure of our beautiful town hall were nothing but trouble to the town and the builder.

In 1897 our town fathers became embroiled in a law suit for $3,000 over those cupolas. There seem to be different versions of the story, each just a tad different than the…

It Was Shark Week in Carleton Place on the Mississippi Bridge

It was the third week of June in 1898 and every single day for a week the townsfolk gathered on the Carleton Place bridge overlooking the Mississippi to catch a glimpse of something big in the water. Some said a shark had migrated into the Mississippi, but no one could say how a shark could do that. Each day the crowds assembled on the bridge to watch the movements of an extremely large fish that…

In May of 1965 the Carleton Place Ladies Auxiliary to the Chamber of Commerce had a fashion show at the Town Hall auditorium. The money raised from“Summer Holiday” fashions went to the Chamber of Commerce Swimming Project where hundreds of children are given swimming lessons in the summer.

Over 500 women attended, and the show was convened by Mrs. Vic Bennett. High styled outfits with low price…