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Elizabethtown Ontario

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Toll Roads – The Athens Reporter 1906

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The Athens Reporter- letter to the editor from 1906. The original newspapers are in the archives of the Heritage House Museum, Athens, Ontario

 The Toll Roads- April 25, 1906

(Letter to the editor)

Having recently driven over the road between Athens and Brockville, I feel moved to offer a few observations on the state of that particular highway. To find fault with the roads at this season, and after the kind of winter we have had, may look like fault finding with Providence. No such complaint is intended; we should rather be thankful that through the agencies of frost and rain the disgraceful ruts of the Brockville road have been broken up from the bottom. This upheaval will lead to a smoother road than has been; for when dry weather comes the loose material will pack together and form a comparatively even surface. It is time something happened to these ruts, and we should all be thankful that nature has come to our relief.

But the question is, what part are the toll road people going to take in this good work? Are they going to leave the road to take care of itself, as heretofore, or is it their intention to do the repairing demanded by common decency? There is perhaps no more ridiculous spectacle to be seen in the Province than that of travellers stopping at the toll gates between Athens and Brockville to pay toll. If at these gates travellers were halted and presented with some silver coins, here would be a reason for these gates; for as a matter of fact, people driving over this road should receive remuneration. The labourer is worthy of his hire.

The disgraceful state of this road calls attention again to the fact that it is time for the abolition of tolls between this village and Brockville. It is a notorious fact that toll-roads are seldom or never good roads. The gates are a constant source of annoyance to the public, and, in the opinion of the writer, the work of collecting toll in all weathers and at all hours from people in all sorts of humors must be anything but an agreeable occupation. The toll road, in fact, is almost entirely bad. It is an exceedingly expensive road, that is, expensive to the public. There are three charges against such a road: (1) the interest on the company’s investment (2) the profits of the gatekeepers, and (3) the cost of keeping the road in repair. The public has to “put up” for all three; whereas, if the road were taken out of the hands of the company, two of these sources of expense would be eliminated. Toll roads are also objectionable for the reason that they have a tendency, and by no means a slight tendency, to damage trade. The fact that a toll gate has to be passed is sufficient to keep a certain number of people at home who would otherwise come into town on business. This may seem an unwarranted statement, but it is true. It is the conviction of the writer that if there were any way of arriving at an estimate it would be found that the business of Brockville is damaged every year to the extent of hundreds of dollars through the existence of toll gates, and Athens in proportion. This shortage of business is made up in other places not affected by the gates, or, perhaps, it is not made up at all. Merchants, professional men, and the public generally suffer in consequence. A free circulation of traffic is necessary to prosperity, just as is the free circulation of blood is necessary to the health of the body, and anything that impedes the free movement of traffic and intercourse generally ought to be abolished.

The charges that might be brought against the toll road do not end here. It is time for a change. Toll roads are coning more and more to be regards as barbarous relics of by gone days. All over the Province they are being taken over by the local and county municipalities. Why should we in this district lag behind other municipalities in the march of progress and go down in history with the unenviable record of having been the last to abolish the toll road nuisance?

Signed: I.N. Beckstedt

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Tin Cap – News from the Village – 1925-1926

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The Athens Reporter- excerpts have been taken from this newspaper for the years – 1925 to 1926. The original newspapers are in the archives of the Heritage House Museum, Athens, Ontario

 Tin Cap – Feb 27th, 1925

Mrs. Leonard Elliott, Brockville, spent a few days last week visiting her aunt, Mrs. George Boyd.

Fred Wright, Miss Mollie O’Donnell and Miss Myrtle Lyons visited on Tuesday at William O’Donnell’s.

Mrs. Anson Gilroy was called to Hamilton last week by the death of her father, Aquila Hanson.

Mr. and Mrs. B.S. Johnston, Brockville, are visiting the form parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Johnston.

Roy Locke, Brockville is moving his household effects into his new home recently purchased from S. Barker.

Reeve Reuben Davis is in Toronto this week.

Tin Cap, Jan 25th, 1926

Harold Rowsome, recently of the Recorder and Times staff, Brockville, and a former resident of the Tincap, left last week for Ottawa where he has accepted a position in the Civil Service.

Mrs. Robert Marks is visiting in Smiths Falls

Basil Reed is visiting in Bishop’s Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Davis celebrated their 40th anniversary of their wedding last week by entertaining a number of friends. Telephone messages and congratulations were received from many distant friends to wish them many more years of happy married life.

W.W. Anderson, Ottawa, visited at Jonas Gilroy’s last week.

Miss Matilda Anderson has been quite ill at her home here.

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Glossville- News from the Village – 1905

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The Athens Reporter- excerpts have been taken from this newspaper for the year 1905. The original newspapers are in the archives of the Heritage House Museum, Athens, Ontario

 Glossville, Dec 6, 1905

Mr. Willie Good spent Sunday at Maitland.

Miss Maggie Johnston is home after spending a coupe of months in Brockville

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson of Kemptville spent last Sunday the guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Love.

Miss Hazel Breakell spent Sunday with her parents at Brockville.

Miss Edith Church spent Sunday here.

Miss Keitha Brown of Athens spent a week with Miss Eva Brown.

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Addison – News from the Village 1902 to 1927

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The Athens Reporter- excerpts have been taken from this newspaper for the years- 1902 to 1927. The original newspapers are in the archives of the Heritage House Museum, Athens, Ontario

 Addison, Sep 10 1902

Messrs. Frank and Fremont Blanchard are attending the Toronto Exhibition this week.

Mr. James Nevens of Easton’s Corners was a guest in our village for a few days last week.

Mr. John Wiltse has left to take a circuit with the Holiness Movement church at Avonmore, Ontario

Several of our local sports attended the fair at North Augusta on Friday last and reported a good time.

Mr. Charles Kincaid and lady, of Plum Hollow, passed through here last week en route to visit the Toronto Fair.

Mr. George Charlton of Mt. Pleasant has purchased the celebrated “Gray Eagle” from Mr. Herb Wiltse and is ready for the boys now.

The Rev. Mr. Lawson delivered the first Referendum sermon on Sabbath evening last. He is going into the campaign in full earnest and will not cease till the 4th of December next.

Mr.James Wiltse of Silver Brook is building a grand silo, which, when finished, will be second to none in this section. We wish there were more of such enterprising farmers as Mr. Wiltse in these parts.

Mr. Brown has been on the sick list for some weeks but was able to attend the North Augusta Fair on Friday last bringing home with him a very fancy driver. Any one wanting to deal should give him a call.

Addison – Dec 6 1905

An open fall has enabled the farmers to do a lot of plowing

Mr. Henry Muscle has moved into the brick house formerly occupied by Mrs. L.Godkin, who has moved into Brockville.

Mr. R. Barber of Montreal is visiting his mother, Mrs. C. Barber of this place.

Prof. W.T. Lewis has been retained at the hospital at Brockville for some time past, though nervous prostration.

Mr. A.A. Davis of Brockville passed through this place one day last week.

It seems almost strange that anyone should take upon himself the responsibility of prophesying as to the mildness or severity of the coming winter, since so many, a year ago, foretold a mild winter, founding their statements upon the fact that the muskrats had not built and houses etc. One of the most correct proofs of a severe winter is seen in the ears of corn having an ample covering of husks, which was the case this season. Nevertheless, as there are exceptions to all rules, we hope this is one, although it would seem that the elements have combined to frustrate the most sanguine sage regarding this matter.

 Addison – Nov 20th, 1924

Miss Maud Alguire was a weekend visitor at the home of Whilma and Helen Sturgeon.

Miss Opal McVeigh returned to her home here after a pleasant visit with friends in New Dublin.

Albert Drummond, Chantry, was a guest last week at the home of J. Patamore.

Mr. and Mrs. R. Hill and Mr. and Mrs. H. Watts attended the funeral of Mrs. Hill’s uncle, John Freeman at New Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. Arnold Loverin and Children, who have been spending a few weeks with relatives ere, have returned to their home in Finch.

Mrs. Omer Kilborn and infant son came to their home on Tuesday.

The November meeting of the Women’s Institute will be held in the Methodist hall, Addison on Wednesday November 26, Mrs. J.M. Percival will give and address on the preparation and serving of a Christmas dinner. Mrs. Delman Kilborn will tell of the Sins and Blessings of Christmas Giving.” Every member is asked to take part in the exhibition of useful and inexpensive Christmas gifts. The community is again reminded that the Institute library is at their disposal and books may be taken or returned every Saturday evening.

Rev W.F. Crawford, of the British and Foreign Bible Society, gave his illustrated lecture in the Methodist church, Greenbush, on Wednesday evening. A fairly good audience was present, and the lantern slides gave a splendid description of life in Turkey.

Addison – Feb 25, 1925

The Addison Women’s Institute will hold an open meeting in the church hall, Addison on the evening of Friday, Feb 27th at which E.F. Neff, of Athens, will show moving pictures and give an address on some subject of interest to agriculturalists. There will also be an oratorical contest for the boys and girls of the public schools of the community served by the Institute.  Good music is being provided and everybody is cordially invited to present.

Dwight Brayton, of Syracuse, N.Y., is spending a few days with his parents Mr. and Mts. G Brayton.

Rev. H.E. Warren, Athens gave a sermon on temperance in the Methodist church here on Sunday morning.

Miss Mary Bowen, Glen Tay, is at present the guest of her sister, Evelyn, at the Methodist parsonage.

Mrs. George Taplin returned home from Brockville on Saturday accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Meltz.

 Addison April 2, 1925

Mrs. R. Kelley spent a week in Delta, a guest at the home of her son Dr. J.M. Kelley.

Mrs. T. Brown spent a couple of days last week with friends in Brockville,

Miss Helen Male, Garretton spent the weekend at her home here.

Mr. and Mrs. F. Blanchard and R. Kelley attended the funeral of Mr. Topping in Athens last Thursday.

Miss Mary Wiltsie left on Saturday for Ogdensburg, where she has obtained a position.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Loverin and children after spending a week with friends here, returned to their home in Finch on Tuesday.

Mrs. Earle of Brockville, spent the week-end at the home of Mrs. George Booth and is at present a guest at the home of Mrs. I. Best.

Mrs. Herb Watts was a recent visitor at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. Mott, Redan.

Rev. D.D. Elliott attended the district meeting in Lansdowne on Tuesday.

Ernie Millar, who spent the past few weeks with friends here, left last week for Oshawa to visit before returning to his home in Davidson, Sask.

George Millar made a business trip last week to Kingston and Toronto.

The Addison and Greenbush W.M.S. met at the home of Mrs. E. Davis, Greenbush, on Wednesday afternoon. A good programme was prepared and carefully followed. The open Easter meeting will be held in the church at Addison on Easter Sunday evening.

Mrs. Snider who has spent some time with friends in the West, arrived here on Monday evening and is a guest at the home of her sister, Mrs. J. Best.

 Addison– July 1st, 1925

Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald and son, Allen, Picton were recent visitors at the home of Mrs. E.O. Howe

George Millar made a business trip to Kingston this week.

Albert Patterson, Brockville was a recent visitor at the home of his sister, Mrs. George Taplin.

Rev. D.D. Elliott, Mrs. Elliott and Evelyn spent the weekend with friends in Perth and Renfrew.

Mrs. E.O. Howe spent the weekend with friends in Brockville.

  1. Blanchard, Toronto, visited friends here on Wednesday.

Rev. D.D. Elliott, Mrs. Elliott and Evelyn leave for their new home at Point Fortune, Que., on Friday.

Rev. James Leach and family who are coming here from Bishop’s Mills will arrive this week and take up residence in the parsonage. Rev. Mr. Leach will preach his first sermon here in the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The members of the Orange Order will attend.

Miss Betty Riley is a guest at the home of her aunt, Mrs. V. Moulton.

 Addison, April 5, 1926

Mrs. John Best and Mrs. G.S.Booth have returned from Ottawa where they attended the funeral of their niece, Mrs. Will Forrest, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Earl, formerly of Addison, now of Smiths Falls. Friends are sorry to hear of her sudden death. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband and several small children. Sam Brown and daughter, Vivian, also attended the funeral.

All are pleased to hear that Mrs. J. W. Sturgeon is improving after her illness of scarlet fever.

Mrs. Ted Best, who has been spending the past week in Addison with Mrs. J. Best returned to Delta to be with her daughter, Mrs. J. Scotland.

Miss Wilma Wills is receiving treatment in the General hospital, Brockville.

Much sympathy is extended Mrs. H. Watts in the death of her sister, Mrs. R. Symington.

Mrs. J. Moulton who has been ill for the past month is improving.

Levi Monroe and Mrs. Frank Taplin are both able to be around again, much to the delight of their many friends.

Miss. Helen Male, Guelph, is spending her holidays with her parents.

Miss Margaret Caldwell, Brockville, is spending a few days with her friend Miss Irene Greenham.

Miss Cora Howe is assisting in the store of R. Campo, Athens.

Ivan Mullin is visiting his sister, Mrs. F. Spence, Athens.

 Addison, April 16th , 1927

The monthly meeting of the Women’s Institute will be held in the church hall on Wednesday evening, April 20th at eight o’clock. The hostess will be Mrs. E. Neddo and Mrs. S. Hannah, and the roll-call “A Garden Hint”. A paper on the “Care of shrubs and small fruits” will be read by Mrs. W.J. Sturgeon. There will be an exhibition of homemade quilts and comforters. An Easter programme is being prepared.

The Easter thank offering meeting of the Missionary Society was held in the United church on Good Friday afternoon.

J.B. Hall, having spent the past six weeks visiting relatives, returned to his home in Nairn Centre, Algoma.

 

Addison, May 29, 1930

Scene of Fatal Accident at Addison

A sad and extremely tragic accident occurred at Addison on Sunday afternoon about 3 o’clock when Russell Reynolds, aged 5 years, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Reynolds of that place was accidentally killed.

It seems the he was struck down by a motor car driven by Keith Gray, R.R. 4, Brockville, who was driving in northerly direction, at a rate of about 30 miles an hour, on the provincial highway no. 29

It appear that the child, in company with an older brother, Edwin Reynolds and two other children were walking along the highway, when in playing beside the road, young Russell suddenly jumped out on the roadway proper, in the path of the oncoming car. The driver of the vehicle, who was then about 10 feet from the child attempted to avoid striking the boy by swerving the car. This was unsuccessful, and the child was instantly killed when struck.

Much sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, and also the two surviving brothers and one sister. Of them George and Mary have been attending High School in the village.

James & Bay Sts pre 1950 WB6 Streets

Carnival Held on Lyn Rink is a Great Success

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From a local newspaper, date unknown:

 

Lyn, March 12 – A very successful carnival was held on the local ring on Friday evening which attracted a large number of skaters and spectators. Several contests were held and the valuable prizes which were donated by Brockville and Lyn stores were well worth trying for. The judges were Miss. Helen Purvis, Miss Anna Nelson, Mrs. J.C. McCready and Harris Hanna, who awarded the prizes to the following:

Oldest Skater- Walter Billings

Oldest skating couple – Mrs. Jock Stewart and Walter Billings.

Fastest skater, boy under 14 – Glen Darling

Fastest Skater boy over 14 – Ward Pettem, Louis Darling

Fastest skating girl – Miss Doris McNish

Best skating couple – Miss Rose Leader and Hurbert Leader

Best costume, girls – Mrs. Jock Stewart and Mrs. W. Coon

Best costume, men – Arthur Ladd

Best lady skater – Miss Esther Ladd

Fastest backward skating girl – Miss Dorothy Mott

Fastest backward skating boy – Cauley Ladd

Largest family on skates – Arthur Ladd

Fastest log sawyers – Donald Gibson and W. Smith completing the cut in three minutes and 55 seconds

Nail driving contest – Thomas McNish, six strokes

Prizes were donated by the following: C.E. Johnston Co., Arnold’s stationary store, J.H. Doyle, Smart’s hardware, Hugh Cameron, Cameron and Borthwick, Fullertons drug store, McDougal Brothers, Johnston’s Hardware, H.P. Conklin, H,B, Wright Co., J.C. McCrady, V.W. Coon’s bakery, Walter Billings, Walter Jarvis Gilmaur’s wholesale dealers. The valuable door prize has not yet been called for. The lucky ticket is 248 and the person holding this ticket should call at once at McCrady’s store and receive the prize.

(There was no indication of the newspaper or date of this article we would estimate that it was held in the 1920’s or 1930’s)

A Pretty St Lyn Carson Bk1P32

The Mills and Rills of Lyn

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By Wallace Havelock Robb

(article published around 1890, publication unknown)

 If I were to go on a trip to Europe, and someone were to ask me if I had seen my own country, what answer would I give? A month ago, if I had been asked this question, my answer should have been “Why, of course, for I have been in every province of Canada, have camped and toured and worked from Victoria, B.C. to Halifax. Know my country? I should say I do!” That has been my song for many a day, that I have seen my own country. If I had gone to Europe last month, that should have been my answer. Not so now!

Listen my friends: I’ve been down to Lyn! Oh, what a bonnie place is Lyn! If I were to go to Europe, or some other country no matter what my answer and self-satisfied pride might have been, say, a month ago, I very much fear I could answer only this, that I thought I knew my Canada like a book, but I have seen Lyn, and all my confidence is shaken Lyn has awakened me to the simple fact that Canada has not yet been found by me. How many other Lyns are there, and to which I have never been? Quaint little villages, off the beaten highway, serene, pure, gentle and oh, what shall I say? Very lovely indeed.

No, if I were to venture abroad and be asked how much I know of my own land, well, my answer is going to be, henceforth. “I’m not very sure about my knowledge of Canada, not very sure, but I’ve been down to Lyn.”  And they will not know what I mean and they will ask me, and I shall answer them somewhat like this: Did you ever hear of the small river Afron, the “Sweet Afton” of the poet Robert Burns “How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring hills, Far marked with the courses of clear winding rills!” Or again, in another verse, “How peasant thy banks and green valleys below, Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow.” You know these lines? Do you know, or can you picture the sweet and gentle scene of Burns’ day? Well, if Burns had passed through Lyn, Ontario, his poem, “Sweet Afton”, might have found its setting there.

Lyn is a quaint and lovely village near Brockville. But no! For shame! I am in error: Brockville is a town not far from the beautiful village of Lyn. But, perhaps, that is unfair to Brockville, for, after all, Brockville just hasn’t the natural endowment of beauty to be found at Lyn. The same thing is true, largely, of nearly all the lake or river front towns of Ontario, they haven’t the rolling countryside of the towns back a wee bit in the counties. And Lyn is a typical case, for it is set in a picturesque frame of hills and valleys and rhythmic watercourses. Lyn is an idyll ! It is a village unspoiled in an age of ruin through so-called improvement. It is a psalm in a world of noise and destruction. Its tranquil vales and placid, ambling waters are a rebuke to modern ways of men. It seems to have an atmosphere untouched by the rot and decay of modern hurry, and it knows not the panic of haste of today, that impatience with life which makes the builders poison their mortar so that disintegration starts in the foundation before the roof is finished. Lyn is a pastoral, a poem of peace and quaint beauty, a song of life, a melody in the wistful and yearning key of a shepherd piping ‘neath a tree in the meadow. Ah, yes, all this, and more: It is the soul of true life floating up from the valley on the wind, the fluting of Pan, as he muses on the rim of the river down in the glade where the stream meanders from the meadow over against the wooded hill.

Yes, we, Mrs. Robb and I, went down to Lyn. I gave a recital there. The trees are old, the houses look, each one, like home. There is a well-kept lawn, the tidy walk and friendly feeling. It is off the main route of travel.

And so, if I seem to have gone mad over Lyn, well, hold your horses a bit; don’t condemn me too hastily. Go down to Lyn yourself, and, I dare to say it, I’ll have company in my madness.

A.Root Mfg, Main St Lyn

Lyn’s Local Factories

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Lyn, October 21st, 1896 (The Recorder Newspaper)

Our industries seem to be running about full time. The Last Factory employing about ten hands in turning blocks of hard maple wood into lasts for the Quebec shoe factories to make their shoes on have been running steadily under A.E.Cumming, proprietor.

The Lyn Agricultural Works owned by Geo. P. McNish have established more than a county reputation among the farmers for his land rollers, cultivators, root cutters, etc. and his sales this season have been larger than ever.

The roller flour mills owned by Jas. Cumming are running night and day by water power with steam auxiliary turning out 300 bags of flour per day, taking a car load of wheat per day to keep them supplied. They have been running behind in their orders all summer and the present boom in wheat has increased that difficulty.

The Lyn Woollen Mills, run by steam power, have had an increase in their trade lately due, no doubt, to the excellent cloths and yarns turned out by Mr. R. Walker. “No Shoddy” is his motto and he is bound to win.

One of the latest industries to start here is that of Mr. Alba Root who manufactures wooden ware including Elm hub blocks, dry and liquid measures, curry combs, etc. Mr. Root started in a small way, and as he is a practical mechanic and oversees all his work, his business has increased. He sells his goods to the wholesale men of our Canadian cities.

The G. & C. Eyre Co. although mot actively manufacturing just now are still able t fill all orders for their several classes of wooden ware.

Grandfather clock

The Grandfather Clock

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Grandfather clock, also called longcase clock, tall pendulum clock enclosed in a wooden case that stands upon the floor and is typically 1.8 to 2.3 metres (6 to 7.5 feet) in height. The name grandfather clock was adopted after the song “Grandfather’s Clock,” written in 1876 by Henry Clay Work, became popular. The first grandfather clocks featured a Classical architectural appearance, but a variety of styles have enjoyed popularity over the years. One form of early pendulum clock was wall-mounted but, because of its heavy lead weights, probably difficult to secure. It is believed that the grandfather clock was developed to support these heavier clock mechanisms. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

The history of our clock is somewhat interesting:

This Grandfather Clock was built by Brockville resident John Oscar Adams Fenton (1856-1949) in 1930. He built it for his second cousin Dorothy Hayes Fenton as a gift for her 16th Birthday. The wooden case of the clock was built from old wooden church pews and church organ parts.

Because of the Great Depression, money was in short supply, thus the works and Westminster Chimes were installed later in 1937. The works and chimes were supplied by local jeweller, Allan Hayes.

The Grandfather Clock was donated to the Heritage Place Museum in 2017 by Donald Ruston UE, son of Dorothy (Fenton) Ruston.

 

 

 

 

Yonge Mills, Popular fishing ground 1905 McNish Coll p37

Fishing

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From the book “How Dear to My Heart” by Walter Kilborn Billings

 

I never seemed to have much luck at this sport. As a boy I could go down to the creek and over to the falls, where with a can of worms I could catch a dozen bullheads, which when cleaned and ready for the frying pan were about the size of sardines. In the spring, by walking along the bank of the creek, I could see nice big red-fin suckers basking in the sunlight, and once or twice, a two foot pike; but a bent pin on the end of a string was no way to catch them.

Ai Haffie of Lansdowne and his catch from the St. Lawrence River c 1930

I remember going with my Aunt Belle to the Brooks Farm just east of Butternut Bay, on the St. Lawrence River. As she wanted to go fishing we went down to the boathouse and got the boat into the water. I did not know much about rowing, but my aunt said we should not go fast to troll, and we didn’t. I usually bumped the oars together and pinched my fingers, but we got along very well. All at once she said, “Oh, I have a bite!” But it was a false alarm. In a few minutes she called again, “I have another bite,” but again no luck. It was hard for me to keep the boat on a straight course, but she warned me if she hooked a fish I was to keep on rowing.

 

Again she called, “I have got something this time!” I kept on rowing, but it was getting so exciting that I could hardly keep the boat out in deep water. All at once, about twenty feet behind the boat, the fish jumped and tried to shake the hook from its mouth, then went down under again. My aunt kept pulling in the line, and was just in the act of lifting the big fish over the edge of the boat when it gave a flop, its tail struck the side of the boat and the line broke. She leaned over the edge and saw the big fish swim away!

 

My aunt had become so excited that she was hysterical and just sat there and cried. We certainly had lost a big fish, as I had caught a glimpse of it as its head appeared above the water. As we had lost our tackle and our fish we went ashore and back to the house. For weeks she could hardly talk of anything but the big fish she had lost.

 

Mallorytown Landing 1904

Years later, my brother and I had a similar experience outside of Mallorytown Landing about the year 1933. We had hooked a big maskinonge, but just when we got it up beside the boat the line broke. This exciting event was witnessed by the occupants of another boat, and the item was printed in the local paper, where I found it among other articles a few weeks ago.

 

Jones’ Creek, below the old mill was the mecca of local fisherman, and many tales of big catches. Practical jokes played on unsuspecting fisherman always added zest to the stories told after one of these outings. One, as told by my cousin Burt Billings, seems worth repeating.

 

He and his cousin Herb Blair drove to the Mills one night, tramped along the bank to the big rock, where they proceeded to try their luck with worms for bait. Herb seemed the lucky one that night as he hauled in a dozen or more big bullheads. Burt’s luck was different. For an hour he sat there and did not get even a bite. Finally he called to Herb that he was going down near him, to try again. Of course Herb objected, saying if he came down there neither would get a bite, but Burt came just the same, and in a few minutes he hauled in a nice fish! A few minutes later he got another, while Herb’s luck changed. Burt kept on till he had a nice catch of fish and finally Herb said he was tired and was going home. Winding up his line and going back to gather up his fish, on a string, in the dark he could not find where he had placed them; finally he gave up and started for his horse. Burt, gathering up his catch, followed him and they drove home, Herb all the way bemoaning the loss of his fish.

 

Burt got out first and as Herb started on, Burt stopped him saying “Oh Herb I guess the joke is on you. It was your fish I was catching all the time and you can take them home. I just picked one from your lot each time I hauled that piece of stick from the water.”

 

Yonge Mills abt 1905

At one time at Yonge Mills there was a long channel or sluice-way; at the head of it you could take up the planks or gate and let the water pour down the passage to the pool below. In the spring the boys would go there, open the gate so that the fish would swim up this runway in droves; then, with a plank placed across this stream near the lower end and a large hoop net placed in the water and held by one of the boys, the rest of the fisherman would go up stream, shut off the water and catch the returning fish in the net.

 

One night my partner Bob, four other lads and I drove to the Mills. They had put the net in three or four times but as the season for suckers was about over had no luck. Finally they said “Bob, you hold the net and we will try again. We will take the poles and splash the water and surly some will go down.”

 

In the darkness with Bob squatting on the plank holding the hoop of the net the boys went up and started splashing. Finally they heard Bob yell, “Come on down quickly! The net must be full! I can hardly hold it. Hurry, Hurry” The lads rushed down, and all together they lifted the net from the water and dumped its contents on the grass but there was no sound of fish flopping. Bob lit a match and held it over the empty net. There were no fish there but the skeleton of a calf, which the boys had thrown into the stream above!

 

Yes we had fun in those days going fishing.

Mallorytown Landing Henry MacDonald’s Boat and Boat House c1910

 

Mallorytown Landing the front of Henry MacDonalds Boat House c1910

 

 

Jones Creek where it empties into the St. Lawrence River abt 1930
Billings, Walter K. WB5 Methodist

Log Canoes

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From the book “How Dear to My Heart” by Walter Kilborn Billings

 

The only log canoe that I can remember appeared first on the Lyn pond. An Indian had brought it down from the back lakes, portaging it from back of Temperance Lake, through the canals, over the dams, and finally pulled it up on the shore behind the Lyn post office. He later traded in the village for groceries, and one day when in the village the grocer asked me whether I would like to buy it. This I did, and drew it home to the farm on the milk wagon. As it was late in the fall I did not have a chance to try it our, but that winter I scraped and sandpapered the outside of the canoe. In the spring my mother gave me a collection of paint cans, each containing a small quantity of paint, which I poured all together and stirred well. The resulting colour did not prove very attractive, being a pinkish yellow. However, with great care I puttied all the cracks, then applied the paint, giving it two coats. I saved a small quantity of red paint and this I used to mark a band along the top edge. On the bow I painted the name “Daisy”, and it was ready for the water. One day when father was away I hitched the grey mare to the stone boat, loaded the canoe on and started to lead the horse down the hill to the creek. I had not put a bridle on her but was just leading her by the halter. As we went down around by the barn she got a glimpse of the canoe behind her, and started to run. I hung on as long as I could but finally had to let her go. She ran along the edge of the gravel pit and the canoe rolled off and over and over to the bottom of the hill. I finally caught the mare and got her back in the stable, then went down to examine my canoe. On its was down the hill it had struck a boulder which had opened up a crack in the bottom. Securing more putty I wedged and plastered the break as best I could, but had to wait for the putty to dry. When all was ready I dragged my canoe into the water and tried it. It did not leak very much, and another application of putty completed the job.

 

Anyone who has never tried to keep a log cane right side up would be surprised how easily it tips over; I got wet several times before mastering the art of paddling. I suggest that if you want to try you should get on a floating log, put your feet in the proper position sit down and see how long you can balance yourself ! We had a lot of fun that summer with the canoe. We could go swimming, get into the canoe, one of us at each end and then try to tip it over by leaning over the edge, the other boy leaning the opposite way, then the first one would straighten up and over would go the canoe before the other boy would have time to save himself, both usually getting wet.

 

That summer a few families of Indians came to the neighbourhood to pick strawberries for the farmers, one group living in the little house on our farm. One Sunday two young squaws from the house decided to go for a boat ride. One of them was soon to be married and had bought muslin for a dress. Mother had cut it out and sewed it on our machine, and it looked very neat on the Indian girl, but of course she must put it on for the trip in the canoe. There was only one paddle, and as we sat on the hill watching them, the girl with the paddle put the end of it towards the shore to push the canoe out; the end of it stuck in the mud and as she pulled to release it , it came loose sooner than she expected. Over the canoe went ! They were a sorry looking pair of squaws as they got on their feet and waded to shore, their long black hair hanging about their faces and down their shoulders ! They never tried the canoe again, and in a week or two went back to their homes in St. Regis.

 

The log canoe proved the source of a lot of fun that summer, and many children of the neighbourhood learned to handle it, which was of some benefit to them when later they paddled the lighter cedar canoes manufactured in the factories.

 

I do not remember what became of my canoe, but think it broke away and ws dashed to pieces by the flooded stream later that fall when it was carried down the lower rapids.

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Elizabethtown Township Map of 1861-62

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The original 1861-62 map was a large paper on cloth wall map showing all the townships I Leeds and Grenville County. We so happen to have one of these large maps in the museum. However in 1973 Mika Publishing in Belleville reproduced these maps by township in a book called: Historical Atlas of Leeds & Grenville, Ontario” Also included in this book are excerpts and illustrations from Thad. Leavitt’s book “History of Leeds and Grenville from 1749 to 1879” published in 1879.

We have reproduced a full view of this map, along with smaller sections of the map

Map of Elizabethtown Township

 

Concession 1 & 2 Eastern Side of Township 

 

Concession 2, 3 & 4 Eastern side of Township

 

Concession 5 & 6 Centre of Township

 

Concession 7 & 8 Centre of Township

 

Concessions 1,2 & 3 Western side of Township

 

Concessions 3 & 4 Western side of Township

 

Concessions 5, 6 & 7  Western Side of the Township

 

Concession 7, 8 & 9 on the Western side of the Township

 

Concessions 7,8,9,10 & 11 on the Western side of the Township

 

Concessions 7 & 8 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concession 5 & 6 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concession 4 & 5 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concession 2, 3 & 4 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concession 1 & 2 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concession 2, 3 & 4 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concession 4 & 5 on the Eastern side of the Township

 

Concession 5, 6 & 7 on the Eastern Side of the Township

 

Concession 7, 8 & 9 on the Eastern side of the Township

 

Concessions 9, 10 & 11 in the Centre of the Township

 

Concessions 7,8,9,10 & 11 in the North East Corner of the Township

 

Concessions 1, 2 & 3 in the South West Corner of the Township

 

 

 

The St Lawrence from Morrisrown, NY c1910 McNish Coll pg9

Anson McNish – Photographs from around the area

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Anson McNish was born in Lyn, Ontario, in 1878, the son of George McNish owner of the Lyn Agricultural Works and Almira Jane Fell.

Anson was a mechanic by trade, but also an Amateur Photographer. As an amateur photographer, Anson has given us some very fine detailed pictures with glimpses into his life and surroundings.

Anson married Antoinette (Nettie) Brookman, in Fultonville, NY on August 10, 1910. Together they had one daughter Florence Catherine who was born in 1913 and unfortunately died at the early age of 15 in 1928.

These photos are some of the very first photographs the Anson did. In these photos he shows us everyday life of his friends and family in and around the Lyn Area.

Thanks to Anson we have some great insight into this time period of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.

 

1-Yonge Mills, a popular fishing area- 1905

 

2-Old Stone Church at Yonge Mills

 

3-Presbyterian Church at Caintown

 

4-Presbyterian Church at Mallorytown, Ontario

 

5-Nunn’s Falls (Lyn Falls)

 

6-Market Square, Brockville

 

7-Fullerton’s On King St. East, Brockville

 

8-Morristown, NY across the St.Lawrence from Brockville, ONtario

 

9-Grain Elevator at Prescott, Ontario

 

10-St. Lawrence Skiffs on the St. Lawrence River

 

11-The Steamer Kingston, on the St Lawrence River

 

12-Camp Jolly, Charleston Lake

 

13-Pic Nic at Charleston Lake

 

14-A good day’s catch

 

15-Cat and Kittens

 

 

16-Pic Nic at Hudson’s Point on the St. Lawrence

 

Hanna, Gerald Lyn c1910 McNish Coll p19

Anson McNish – The Early Years- Lyn

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The Early Photography of Anson McNish

Anson McNish was born in Lyn, Ontario, in 1878, the son of George McNish owner of the Lyn Agricultural Works and Almira Jane Fell.

Anson was a mechanic by trade, but also an Amateur Photographer. As an amateur photographer, Anson has given us some very fine detailed pictures with glimpses into his life and surroundings.

Anson married Antoinette (Nettie) Brookman, in Fultonville, NY on August 10, 1910. Together they had one daughter Florence Catherine who was born in 1913 and unfortunately died at the early age of 15 in 1928.

These photos are some of the very first photographs the Anson did. In these photos he shows us everyday life of his friends and family in and around the Lyn Area.

Thanks to Anson we have some great insight into this time period of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.

 

1-Henry and Addie McNish on Main Street Lyn in 1894

 

2-Main St West, Lyn with the Methodist Church on the right and the Lyn School next to it

 

3-Main Street, Lyn looking to the East, the Blacksmith shop is the first building on the left

 

4-Main Street Lyn looking west on the left are Coon’s Bakery, Stewart’s Garage, Stores,  Taylor’s Drug Store and Stack’s Hotel

 

5-Original dam for the Lyn Pond on Main Street, the original mill is the white building on the right

 

6-Presbyterian Church on Perth St, Lyn

 

7-Presbyterian Church, Lyn – Sanctuary

 

8-Rev. Daley, Minister of the Presbyterian Church, Lyn in 1903

 

9-Old Red Saw Mill, Lyn

 

10-Blacksmith Shop, Main St, Lyn

 

11-Lyn Agricultural Works, on Main Street. Owned by George McNish. Anso worked here while he lived in Lyn

 

 

12-Gerald Hanna hauling a log to the mill, Main St., Lyn

 

13-On Perth St. looking east to Bay Street, Lyn

The Following Three Photographs taken by Anson McNish are the earliest pictures we have of the Village of Lyn taken from the Valley

14-Looking up to Lyn from the Valley, the Methodist Church steeple is on the left, the five story Mill is on the right

 

15-Looking across the Lyn Valley the Anglican Church can been on the hill on the right

 

16-Across the Lyn Valley, the mill is on the left

 

17-The Five Story Lyn Flour Mill

 

 

18-The Lyn Public School built in 1867

 

19-Lyn School Play. The second floor of the school was left open as one big room for meetings, plays etc.

 

20-The Lyn Mill Pond

 

21-The Lyn Mill Pond

 

22-Skating Party on the Lyn Mill Pond

 

23-Ice Harvest on the Lyn Mill Pond 1911

 

24-George McNish and dog Ted watering cows at the Mill Pond, directly across from St. John’s Hall
25-George McNish- Anson’s Father
26-Almira Jane Fell, Anson’s Mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27-Home of Henry McNish, west of Lyn

 

28-Henry and Stanley McNish

 

29-Inside of Henry McNish’s Home

 

30-Henry Manhard’s home, Lyn

 

31-Anson McNish family home on Perth Street, Lyn. Photo was taken by moonlight in December 1900 at 8 pm

 

32-Walking on Perth Street, Lyn

 

33-The McCready Farm Home, located on an abandoned side road west of the Lyn Road

 

34- Anglican Church Rectory across from the church in Lyn

 

35-Lyn Valley in the winter

 

36-Walking on the bridge over the creek on what is now the Lyn Valley Road

 

37-Gerald Hanna and Family

 

38-Gerald Hanna and Family

 

38-Gerald Hanna and Family

 

40-Harris, Stanley and Mabel Hanna

 

41-Mable Hanna

 

42-Harris Hanna 1894

 

43-Harris Hanna and Clarence Green

 

44-Edith and Sherwood Hanna 1894

 

45-Earnest Cumming

 

46-Boys with a dog sled, Main Street Lyn

 

47-Lloyd Hanna and Florence Boyd

 

 

48-James and Maggie Lee’s Home in Lyn

 

49-Albert and Alfred McCready, Lyn

 

50-Henry McNish-1905

 

51-McNish Family- 1905

 

52-Addie, Henry and Edith McNish

 

53-Pals in Lyn

 

54-Unfortunately this is a great photo without names

 

55-Another Group photo without names

 

56-Christmas at Elm Grove, Lyn in 1905

 

57-Christmas in 1906 at Springbrook, Lyn

 

58-Valentines Day Party, 1906 at the Cedars, Lyn

 

59-Friends on a fence

 

60-Farewell Gathering at G.A. Purvis, Lyn – 1907

 

61-Farewell Gathering at G.A.Purvis, Lyn- 1907

 

62-School Sled going to BCI in Brockville – 1906
Billings, Walter K. WB5 Methodist

The Sleigh Ride – 1885

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The Sleigh Ride 1885

By Walter K. Billings

It was about the middle of January. We had been nearly snowed under from a week’s storm –  snow, then rain that flooded the flats along the creek, and a sudden change to a very cold weather that froze the snow, making a glare sheet of ice from the Lyn Road down across the creek that was still level with its banks.

Sunday afternoon my cousin with his parents came up for a visit. We two were out in the yard, playing on the crust with the big hand sleigh and, looking across to Harper’s Hill, decided it would be a good chance to try a ride there. We walked up the road climbed the fence and got the sleigh in position then I lay down on my stomach and my cousin lay on my back Away we went ! The hill at the top was very steep, the sleigh gained speed and in seconds we were on the glare ice of the flat, then across the creek, up the bank and …. Woods. My cousin seeing the danger had thrown himself clear but I had no chance; the force of the collision had knocked me out for a minute or two. We finally got back across the creek, where my cousin laid me on the sleigh and began the long pull back to the house. We finally got to the warmth of the barn where I lay down on the straw in the feed floor, in front of the cattle for an hour. When I returned to the house, where my uncle was waiting to go home, I complained of a headache and got sent to bed. Next morning I felt better but never told mother what had happened to me, as I knew that she would say it was good enough for me, when I had gone sleigh riding on Sunday.

Driving along the Lyn Road I often look down the hill. The line fence has been moved and passes closed to the clump of trees we hit that Sunday long ago. The sand and gravel have been taken away to the city so that there is no more fun on Harper’s Hill. But the memory of the boyhood escapade still lives.

This story is taken from the book “How Dear to My Heart” by Walter Kilborn Billings, published in 1954.