43) Clayton’s Humble Beginnings
The first two families of settlers in the Union Hall area, Benjamin Dockerel and Alexander Leary, arrived in March of 1821. Clayton Village was founded a couple of years later in 1824 as a small rural hamlet in Lanark County. By 1866 the population was about 200. In 1871, Clayton included about 20 businesses with a hotel, tannery, carding mill, wool cloth mill, cooperage, blacksmiths, shoemakers, wagon makers, general merchants and a doctor. Approximately 30 minutes from Ottawa, today Clayton continues to bustle with people.
44) Lights! Camera! Action!
Did you know that Mississippi Mills is considered a popular location for filming movies? Over the past four years, six movies have been filmed here, created by award-winning directors and actors, and featuring intriguing titles like Clara’s Deadly Secret, The Rooftop Christmas Tree, Awakening the Zodiac, and Love on a Limb. In 2016, The Mob Entertainment filmed Love on a Limb in Mississippi Mills, starring Ashley Williams, Trevor Donovan, and Marilu Henner, and directed by award-winning director Mel Damski. Set in a small town, Love on a Limb tells the story of Aimie Rourke (Williams) who learns her town’s iconic maple tree is about to be cut down.
45) Local Connections to The Battle of New Orleans
Pakenham village was renamed in 1840, after Major General Sir Edward Pakenham. Major Pakenham was killed in the famous Battle of New Orleans. There is a British version of Johnny Horton’s song The Battle of New Orleans in which he sings “In 1814 we took a little trip along with Colonel Pakenham up the Mississipp, we took a little bacon and we took a little beans and we met the blooming Rebels in a town called New Orleans.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
46) Vinyl Cafe in Almonte
CBC’s remarkable storyteller Stuart McLean passed away this week (01/15/17). He will be remembered fondly by many Mississippi Mills residents who had a chance to hear him live in July 2013.Two episodes of his popular radio show Vinyl Café were recorded in the Ron Caron Auditorium of the Almonte Old Town Hall. In cooperation with CBC; Mississippi Mills & The Millstone News partnered to run a local story writing contest.
Hear Stuart’s impression of Almonte: http://www.cbc.ca/
More about our story writing contest: https://millstonenews.com/2013/
47) Auld Kirk Cemetary
The first burial in Auld Kirk 8th line Cemetery in October 1836 was 4 year old Andrew Cannon. He was the son of a pioneer physician of Ramsay Township, Dr. William Cannon, surgeon Royal Navy.
48) Carry a Big Stick
Pappy Moulton was the first care-taker of the Old Post Office in Almonte. He lived in an apartment on the top floor. He had been a stone mason but was injured in an accident in Carleton Place, when a scaffold broke and he fell with a large stone. It was necessary to amputate his leg in an operation performed in Almonte in his family’s home on Church Street. On recovery, he was fitted with an artificial leg, and given the job of caretaker in the Old Post Office. It is said he had a terrific time keeping the dogs out of the Post Office when folks called for the mail. He could enforce his will with the heavy stick he carried.
49) More than a Century of Lawn Bowling in Almonte
The Almonte Lawn Bowling Club celebrated its 100th – or 102nd – anniversary on Friday, July 5, 2013. The club, which was started in 1911, held a tournament and a ceremony to celebrate 100 years of lawn bowling, even though the club was officially 102 years old. Cliff Bennett, president of the club, said that he was preparing to celebrate the club’s 80th birthday in 2013 but discovered through research that the 80 years actually referred to the club’s current location; the club had existed for an additional 22 years at a different spot.
This list wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers and history buffs who have contributed information. Special thanks to Jeff Mills, Donna Lowry, Margie Argue, Rose Mary Sarsfield, Renate Seiler, Marilyn Snedden, The North Lanark Historic Society, The Naismith Basketball Foundation, The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Neil & Lucy Carleton, Fern Martin, John McMulkin & many others. We are very close to having all of our 365 but have room for a few more. If you have something to contribute please email it to tmaclaren@mississippimills.ca.
