Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News August 2023

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Unforgettable family adventure starts in our own backyard

Imagine this…

Cruising through the Rideau system on a 32-foot Carver cruiser, down to Ottawa, then on to Montreal, up the St. Lawrence to Kingston, and then back to Westport. A lovely summer way to spend time, you’re probably thinking.

Then imagine it like this — same route, same 650 km. distance but with five children ranging in age from 2 ½ to 10.

Scott and Stacy Blair, along with Olive, 10, Henry, 8, Penny, 6, and twin 2 1/2-year-old boys Harvey and Archie, did it the second way.

Some readers will shake their heads in bemusement; Stacy, 38, and Scott, 35, on the other hand, felt it was a great adventure — “busy, busy, but good,” Stacy grins.

She and Scott grew up with boats and on the water; they’re aware of both the hazards and delights.

The two worked Rideau canal locks for summer jobs as teenagers; Stacy later worked in the large old stone building in Smiths Falls with engineers, giving her a “huge appreciation

for heritage engineering” (she’s a structural engineer by trade). Scott runs his own construction company, Scott Blair Construction. He opened in 2009 and has five or six employees.

Looking back, Stacy admits, again with a grin and a laugh…”I always thought I’d fall in love with a sailor, but I came home for a co-op and fell in love with a boy I knew in high school…”

They found a boat on Kijiji. “It was older, in perfect shape and the people who owned it felt we were the right fit for their boat.”

‘Mahalo’ wintered in Portland at Bayview. They’re pondering another name…maybe “The Last Child,” Stacy says, a grin in her voice.

And on June 28, the adventure began, the day after school let out. “We’d never done the system by boat, so wanted to do the canal anyway…” she says.

Merrickville was their first stop, then Hartwells Lock near Ottawa, then on to Ottawa.

“It was cool to go through Ottawa,” Stacy remembers, “with Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier” as backdrops.

A little bit of information here according to Stacy:

Ottawa has a drop of 80 feet over eight chambers, so 10 feet per lock. “We were the only boat and there were hundreds of tourists so there must be thousands of

pictures of our boat going through,” she grins.

“You go directly from one to the other, down a level, then down to the next level.

“There are over 45 locks in

the Rideau system. Smiths Falls is 26 feet, the biggest single drop in one chamber; it used to be a flight of three but was combined so there wouldn’t be a swing-bridge

over Beckwith.”

For some interesting facts on how a lock works, go to www.rideaufriends.com/ lockworks/lock-facts.html

Continues on page 6

Smiths Falls Police Chief Mark MacGillivray readies

Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths Falls Police Chief Mark MacGillivray recently announced his upcoming retirement. He has served the community for 36 years. MacGillivray will stay on as chief and continue to work until the end of the year.

On the Police Service’s Facebook page, Chief MacGillivray wrote:

“I am so very grateful to this community that took

for retirement

me in as a young man in 1987 at the age of 20 in my little apartment on Beckwith St above Vandusen Jewellers overlooking the Friday night activities of the Rideau and the Russell Hotels.

I made this town my home for the last 36 years and raised my beautiful family here.

I am forever grateful for the support of our community and so very proud of the men and women I have had the privilege of serving with both past and present.

I will continue to serve until the end of the year. I look forward to my years ahead in the town I call home.

Thank you so much Smiths Falls!”

There has been no announcement yet as to who will step into MacGillivray’s role as Police Chief. This month, the Smiths Falls Police Service just welcomed two newly graduated recruits, Travis Robidoux and Karling Fraser, to the local force.

Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths

Travis Robidoux, Chief MacGillivray, and Karling Fraser. Photo credit: Shared from Smiths Falls Police Service Facebook page.

Scott, Olive, Penny, Henry, Stacy, Harvey and Archie at mooring anchor back home on the Upper Rideau. Photo credit: Scott and Stacy Blair.

Publisher Patricia Krotki

pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Reporters

Kathy Botham

Sally Smith

Janelle Labelle

Brian Turner

Photography

Kathy Botham

Page Two

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Outdoor artisan show on Labour Day weekend, Maberly 40 ARTISTS ALONG A RIVERBANK

Regional - submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Celebrating its 17th year, the Sundance Artisan Show is an outdoor art show featuring 40 artists in a beautiful riverbank setting in Maberly, Ontario. The show takes place across all three days of Labour Day weekend.

Peppered across two acres of forest, field, and riverfront, will be a diverse group of artisans specializing in various art forms: pottery, wood, sheet metal, stained glass, artisan soaps, fibre art, jewelry, clothing, blown glass, and many more. The artists have been working hard over the year, and are again ready to present to you their wonderful creations. The setting is ideal for relaxing while shopping for the perfect gift for that special someone. Feel free to grab a chair, and enjoy sitting by the beautiful Fall River with old mill ruins.

Parking and entrance are free. Donations welcome.

The event will be open all three days of the September long weekend (Sept 2,3,4).

Hours: Sat. & Sun. 10am5pm; Mon. 10am-2pm. Sundance is located at 126 Maberly Elphin Rd, Maberly, ON (at the intersection of HWY 7 and County Rd 36).

Further details can be found at www.sundancestudio.ca

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle.

TOP: Sundance Artisan Show (booth). MIDDLE LEFT: Glass Addict (flower stained glass). MIDDLE RIGHT: Jessica Godin (landscape painting). BOTTOM LEFT: Hoeck Pottery (pottery). BOTTOM CENTRE: Glass Addict (peacock stained glass).

BOTTOM RIGHT: Mar’s Lil Shop (artisan soap). Photo credits: Submitted.

community

“Absolutely beautiful” plants abloom in Smiths Falls

Smiths Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca

If you have been admiring Smiths Falls’ beautiful appearance this summer, you aren’t alone. The gorgeous flowers and finished main thoroughfare in the downtown core are drawing admiration by tourists and locals alike.

During a Committee of the Whole meeting on July 25, Chief Administration Officer Malcolm Morris took a few moments to mention the beautiful downtown foliage, and to acknowledge the skills and effort of two local companies in making it possible.

“I think everyone will agree the flowers this year are magnificent downtown.”

“A big thanks goes out to Gemmell’s Garden Centre, they did the hanging baskets and the potted plants; they look tropical, they’re just absolutely beautiful.”

“Green Acres did the node beds along Beckwith Street. There’s a lot of planning and preparation; those flowers don’t just happen, that [work] starts

back in the wintertime.”

“As well, Green Acres replaced 6 trees along Beckwith St; five of them were replaced in the Phase 1 section, one in Phase 2. They’re now growing as they should; hopefully that will fill out the canopy on Beckwith Street.”

Gemmell’s Garden Centre and Green Acres Greenhouses and Landscaping are local companies that are dedicated to quality plant cultivation.

“They’ve both done a fantastic job, I just want to acknowledge the work that they’ve done,” said CAO Morris.

There are certainly plenty of beautiful photo opportunities around town, and shutterbugs might be interested to know that the town of Smiths Falls is currently accepting photo submissions for next year’s calendar. You can submit up to 10 photos at www.smithsfalls.ca/photocontest, and the contest will run until September 5. Winning photos will be published in next year’s town calendar, and winners will receive a $50 gift card of Downtown Dollars.

Long Service Awards recognize committed team

Regioanl - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca

More than 80 staff and physicians were recently honoured at Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital, Almonte General Hospital, Fairview Manor and Lanark County Paramedic Service at the annual Long Service Award ceremonies. Awards were presented for work milestones ranging from 5 years to 45 years.

The two longest-serving staff members who were honoured are both Registered Practical Nurses: Cathy Doe in Almonte for 30 years of service and Patricia Watchorn in Carleton Place for 45 years of service. In Almonte, Dr. Graeme McKillop was the longest serving physician, honoured for 20 years of service. In Carleton Place, it was Dr. Scott Higham, celebrating 40 years of service.

“We are very grateful for the dedicated care that those honoured in these ceremonies provide to our patients and residents every day,” noted Mary Wilson Trider, President and CEO.

LEFT: In Almonte, CEO Mary Wilson Trider presented a 30-year certificate to Cathy Doe (left) and a 20-year certificate to Dr. Graeme McKillop (right).

TOP RIGHT: CEO Mary Wilson Trider (right) presented a 40-year certificate to Dr. Scott Higham (middle).

BOTTOM RIGHT: CEO Mary Wilson Trider (right) and Manager Hannah Larkin (middle) presented a 45-year certificate to Patricia Watchorn.

Beautiful downtown Smiths Falls. Photo credit: Submitted.

Even garbage cans bring back memories opinion:

By Sally Smith

He was most apologetic. He told me the minute I came in from walking the dog.

“I whacked the bottom and it fell out. It was full of earth and it needed cleaning, so I turned it upside down and whacked it.”

“Oooh,” I wailed. “Not the garbage can! It’s been with me for 30-35 years,” I blubbered.

He hugged me, knowing how much that garbage can meant… a little discombobulated himself at my reaction. “I hope the fragility of old age is not catching,” he thought quietly, with his inside voice. “I must treat her more gently.”

The garbage can was long and tall, half my height. And being 5’8” that makes the can almost 3’ tall.

We stuffed a lot into it over the years — mostly scraps, sometimes plant stuff. When we moved it from cottage to cottage on the island, we filled it with towels, cans, dishes, then heaved it into Maggie’s Maid, a big, old twowheeled manure cart (that was never used for manure), trundled it between cottages, unloaded the garbage can and set it up in its new location.

She was pretty solid, weathered the cold and wet and heat.

Local police win gold medals at World Police and Fire games

I suppose even plastic deteriorates, though.

Could she be fixed?

I took her outside, stuck my head in and saw the hole was REALLY big. He hadn’t just whacked it, he’d WHACKED it!

Wail again. That big white plastic can used to sit in the perfect corner in the back room; the niche was made for it…and now it was empty.

There was nothing to do but buy another.

I did… at Walmart… with a tippy lid. It’s white, about the same size, tall enough — but it’s not ‘the’ garbage can. Sigh…

Tyler Brett, Detective Constable with the Smiths Falls Police Service, recently represented Perth Combat Club in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) martial arts at the World Police and Fire games.

The games are a celebra-

tion of firefighters and law enforcement world-wide, and this year in Winnipeg, over 8,500 participants came to compete from 50 countries across the world.

The WPF 2023 games were held from July 28August 6.

Deputy Chief Jodi Empey also competed, winning gold in Women's Free Relay

and Mixed Medley. She also won silver in Backstroke, and bronze in Freestyle. Sergeant Brent Pellett also competed, winning gold in 10km Cross Country Over 40 Heavyweight division. Congratulations to Detective Constable Brett, Deputy Chief Empey, and Sergeant Pellett!

Photo credits: Sally Smith.

Perth - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Two-time gold-winning medalist who represented Perth’s only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club (perthcombatclub) on the world stage in Winnipeg. Detective Constable Tyler Brett (centre) of the Smiths Falls Police Service. Photo credit: Shared by the Town of Perth [https://www.facebook.com/ townofperth].

Beer, Wine and Spirits

Arbru Solar Brewery

Brian Preston | The Travelling Sommelier | brianpreston@hotmail.com

Canada’s first 100% solar-powered brewery opened in 2022 in Front of Escott, a small community near Mallorytown located between Kingston and Brockville in Eastern Ontario. The brewer, Phil Audet, and his business partner, Stacie Stephenson, took home the New Business of the Year Award sponsored by the Township of Front of Yonge in April 2023. "In this area, we pay a lot for power if we were on the grid. Probably about 30 cents a kilowatt hour, so it's more efficient to go solar because the payback is quicker than it would be, say, in the city," Audet said. “I wanted to open a craft brewery for a number of years, and wanted to do something different and combine my passion for beer and solar togeth-

By Brian Turner

Located in the heart of Perth’s beautiful heritage downtown on Gore Street, recently launched Billings and Company is offering a relatively new experience to this area: a bottle shop with an impressive selection of hand-selected Canadian and international wines, beers, and spirits seldom, if ever, found at the LCBO. And if that’s all that Billings and Company offered, I’d be more than happy to continue this column with praises on their selection, service, and pricing, but, as they say on the infomercials, there’s more. In the case of this café, it’s so much more.

The name over the door pays tribute to the original storekeeper of the building, Mark Billings, who in 1848 became the very first occupant of 43 Gore St. E, a brand new stone building. Billings operated a hat and furriers shop there until 1858.

Today visitors are greeted with a bright welcoming interior with a great variety of seating for everyone from individuals to couples to families. What surprises many first-timers is the extensive food menu with everything from small plates that are big on flavor to hot and cold sandwiches to Pinzas. Pinzas are pizza-like creations made with hand-punched dough composed of soy, rice and wheat flours which makes them a seriously tasty alternative to traditional pizza and

er, and that became Arbru,” said Audet. While Phil tends to the beers, Stacie looks after the events with open-mic nights, special outdoor dome lighting and the menu side of the house.

They not only have craft beers on tap and in 473ml cans, but they also have 750ml bottles of Cranberry Saison and Imperial Chocolate Stout at $17.00. They also serve Wood-Fired Pizza: Margherita, Quattro Fromaggi, Pepperoni, Meat Lovers, Buffalo Chicken, and Cheese Pizza (GF).

Their beers include Session Lager, 4.3% abv, an unfiltered, light, session lager; Lo Lager, 4.2% abv, a lower alcohol light lager; Summer Blonde, 5% abv, a crisp and refreshing beer with a hint of citrus at the end; West Coast IPA, 4.5% abv, giving you more of that refreshing

citrus profile; Neipa, an unfiltered juicy, tropical beer with citrusy notes of grapefruit; Belgian Wheat, 5% abv, unfiltered with notes of coriander, orange peel, hints of fruit, and this is one of my favourites. The beers range from $3.95 to $4.95 and there are some others to try, so do swing by and maybe even stay for a pizza!

They are open Wednesday: 12-6pm, Thursday: 12-7pm, Friday: 12-8pm, Saturday 12-8pm, Sunday 12-7pm and their phone number is 613-799-3245. They are located at 71 Quabbin Rd, Mallorytown. Make an afternoon of it and take a leisurely drive along the St. Lawrence River enjoying the scenery with some stops for shopping. Be sure to stop in at Arbru for a pint and pizza!

they won’t leave you feeling weighed down.

Billings and Company uses the term ‘elevated café’ when describing their establishment and it’s an accurate description.

From their grilled Halloumi skewers to their pesto chicken salad baguette to the Fun Guy Pinza, the menu is far above traditional comfort food and pub grub. About the only things that aren’t elevated are their prices. Today’s inflation-driven economy has been particularly hard on the food service market and kudos to Billings for finding a way to keep fresh new tastes on their menu without breaking any banks. And the bottle shop portion of the café keeps up the friendly price points with the average price of around $22. During my visit, I tried one of their breakfast sandwiches and a drip coffee and wasn’t disappointed. Thick sliced toast with a perfectly baked egg and ultra delicious bacon went perfectly with a soupbowl sized cup of java. Seeing that they open at 9 am, coffee breaks, lunches, and afternoon repasts for area employees and travelers just took a giant leap ahead.

For a reasonable corking fee, you have the option of choosing a bottle from the shop area to enjoy on site, or, of course you can choose a local draught beer or glass of wine from the menu.

And those can’t-be-passedby Pinzas are available uncooked and frozen for you to create your own elevated pizza night at home, accompanied by just the right bottle of wine.

Billings and Company is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm, till 10 pm on Fridays, on Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm. You can check out their menu, wine, beer, and spirit collection at billingsandcompany.ca and even order bottles online. Their phone number is 613-267-7994.

If you’re looking for an exciting alternative to the same old hum-drum dining or sipping routine, Billings and Company is your destination.

Photo credit: Shared by Arbru Solar Brewery [https://www.facebook.com/arbrubeer]

Photo credits: Brian Turner

Unforgettable family adventure starts in our own backyard

Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Continued from page 1

Once through Ottawa they headed to Montreal. There were three huge locks, she remembers, heading out of Montreal to the St. Lawrence. She says, a bit wistfully, they were going “the wrong way around against the current” travelling at about 6 knots per hour; if they’d done their trip the other way, the speed might have picked up to about 8 knots per hour. But, she shrugs and says a bit stoically “we had to stop a lot more and fill up with gas.”

Locks on the St. Lawrence were “huge. The Seaway caters to big cargo ships.” So, as a small boat as theirs was in comparison to the cargo vessels, it took a while to get through the locks.

There were two set times in the morning and two set times in the afternoon for leisure craft to go through. Boaters had to go online and book arrival time either in the a.m. or p.m. “We usually hit the p.m. locks and it took us three days to get through three locks.” She laughs a bit saying next trip there’ll be more research before setting out.

How did the kids fare?

Pretty well, Stacy thinks.

Olive looked after front lines, handed the rope to the lock staff, hooked the line, pulled it in. And once moored, she’d loop the line like a chain.

Stacy did back lines with one of the twins. Henry helped Olive sometimes, and sometimes the two sat with Scott as he was driving, learning as they watched.

Penny spent time downstairs drawing, colouring, learning words, very independent, a middle child; the boys, on the other hand, Stacy laughs “were all over, from the front, back to the back, up, down… I did a lot of following,” she rolls her eyes a bit.

Scott was the captain. “I do open water,” she adds. “He’s the docker. I was more on child care…mainly watching the boys.”

And was there a tether rope on the kids?

Nope, Stacy grins.

“The older three are responsible, the twins were the wild card.” There were parts on the boat where they could have fallen through the railing, she says, “but we tied ropes to make rails.

“No one fell overboard,” she adds.

Everyone was “good about life jackets. They got to the point of putting them on as soon as they woke up. The boys snapped

up themselves…but by end of the day they were ready to take them off.”

Did you sleep in them? “No. We locked doors so no one could sneak out at night,” she laughs a bit.

She adds that the two oldest were good swimmers without life jackets, while Penny was a good swimmer with a life jacket, and the “two boys float around in the water with their jackets.”

There was also a paddle board “so we could anchor out and play…and a whole bunch of noodles.”

One unfortunate day saw Scott spending time in the water, too. “We had just

come out of the Ottawa locks, and ended up sucking in a blanket. It wrapped around the prop, but we managed to limp into the Rockliffe Marina on one engine. Scott had to go underwater and cut it off.”

She shivered a bit saying she could see all sorts of stuff in the water, questioning if towns are still emptying into lakes and rivers. Would you do it again?

You bet, she says. There are plans in the work for next summer — the TrentSevern system.

And she has more plans. There’s the Oswego Canal in the United States, or across Lake Ontario, through the Erie Canal, into New York City harbour, if they wanted to.

The last question (which is often the first question) is why? Was it a wish, a

dream, a challenge…?

“All of the above,” Stacy says.

“We like exposing our kids to adventure and letting them see what’s in their own backyard. And we want to have the learning experience with them. If only we could be there when the kids give a talk on what they did over the summer — boats and locks and water, oh my!

Stacy driving the boat outside of Montreal. Photo credit: Scott and Stacy Blair.

Henry and Scott look down on Olive, Penny, Stacy, Archie and Harvey as they cruise along the Ottawa section of the Rideau Canal above Ottawa Locks. Photo credit: Scott and Stacy Blair.

High Frequency Rail project rolling closer to reality

Smiths Falls - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca

During the July 25 Committee of the Whole meeting in Smiths Falls, CAO Malcolm Morris shared an exciting update from the High Frequency Rail project (HFR). The HFR is a proposed railway line between Toronto and Quebec City, over 1,000km long. It will have tracks dedicated to its use alone, which would mean increased efficiency as there would be no waiting for freight or other trains.

“The last time we reported, the folks at the HFR office had issued an RFQ (Request for Qualified bidders,

or proponents),” Morris said, “Now they have given the go-ahead to three qualified bidders to do an RFP (Request for Proposal).”

This undertaking is a massive project, linking multiple major cities and smaller towns.

“The alignment, we expect, will go through Smiths Falls, and that will likely require significant infrastructure upgrades,” Morris explained. He added that he and the mayor and other town staff are working closely with the HFR office, to sort out logistics.

Morris underlined the fact that this is a preliminary step, still quite far ahead of

any shovels in the ground. “I expect the RFP will go out in September, and will probably close at year-end. It will likely be late winter or spring before they choose a proponent,” he commented. “The real work gets traction once they award the contract to a proponent and that’s when we’ll fully engage with the successful proponent.”

Smiths Falls has long had a rich history with railways, and is currently the home of the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, the Station Theatre, and a VIA rail stop.

The HFR project identifies itself as “Canada’s largest infrastructure project in generations.”

Carrie Wynne

opinion: Am I the only one?

From Sci-Fi to reality: How AI is shaping the future of technology

education. The upside is labour savings and productivity. You are going to be able to access a wide range of services at a much cheaper price. AI-powered systems can analyze vast amounts of medical data, aiding in diagnosis and treatment decisions.

The AI revolution is coming and get ready, because five years from now things are going to be very different. Embracing this transformative technology while addressing ethical concerns will be the key to harnessing its full potential and creating a future where AI works hand in hand with humanity, improving our lives in countless ways.

The potential of AI is immense. Everyone will have access to higher levels of human intelligence. There are going to be AI assistants, tutors, therapists, teachers, etc. and it will significantly augment

The legal profession will be totally disrupted as well. Reviewing contracts, for example, will be done using AI and will bring the cost down to zero. AI is going to revolutionize our world and remake every area of our life. From healthcare to transportation, education to entertainment, our future is set to be profoundly impacted by AI. It is poised to reshape industries, enhance efficiency, and empower individuals.

What will AI do to our overall brain function? Remember when social media made our kids more depressed, anxious, and obese? Kids will also be shaped by it for good or

bad. If students don’t learn essential skills, will they just become zombies? Only time will tell. AI is way more sophisticated than we are being led to believe. Will it be a chaotic crisis? Probably. We should be taking our rose-coloured glasses off because AI could go off the rails. Am I the only one? Elon Musk says that we should be carefully shielding AI before we open the floodgates. I’m both excited about the potential but also terrified of the unintended consequences.

Balancing the positive potential and mitigating the potential problems of AI will require careful planning, regulation, and ethical considerations to ensure that AI technologies contribute positively to society and benefit humanity.

The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ management, staff or writers.

Photo credit: VIA Rail Canada [https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/projects-infrastructure/high-frequency-rail]

Smiths Falls History & Mystery: J. M. O. Cromwell - Surveyor

by Ted Outerbridge

Last summer, an old, round, rusty iron bar was uncovered on our front lawn. The survey marker had been hammered into the ground to mark the corner of our property: Lot 5, Plan 13884. Being a magician by trade, I enjoy solving mysteries. This type of Standard Iron Bar (SIB) is no longer made to be round. The current standard is that a 1-inch square, solid iron bar is installed at property corners to permanently mark boundary locations. They are usually inscribed with a unique number, which identifies the surveyor who planted the bar in the ground. I conducted some research and discovered that in the spring of 1875, Joseph Miller Oliver Cromwell must have stood on what is now the front lawn of the Keyhole House.

Cromwell had been hired to survey and draw the part of the village of Smiths Falls, which lies on the west side of Brockville Street, south of the Rideau Canal. At the time, highlights included the Ward burial ground at the corner of Breakenridge (now Aberdeen) and Jessie streets, and John B. Ward’s five-acre estate lot. This property would move into the possession of Doctor John McCallum, and later, the Forrest Davidson family. Cromwell had been contracted by William Merrick Ward, son of Abel Russell Ward, who was Smiths Falls’ first settler in 1826 or 1827.

Last week, I learned of a house built in the 1860s, whose first owner had been a surveyor by the name of Cromwell. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end! This house, at the corner of Wilson and Mary Street in Perth, was just 20 minutes from the Keyhole House in Smiths Falls. It must have been the same surveyor, I thought, as I dived deeper into my research. A visit to Matheson House, the home of the Perth Museum, yielded an article about Cromwell, titled An Authority on Bounds and Limits by Ron W. Shaw. Google led me to an article written in The Ontario Land Surveyor by Charles Fairhall.

I also discovered the story of the Cromwell family researched and written by Kerry Abel “Carleton University” which was fascinating. Joseph’s 1897 obituary in the Perth Courier inspired a visit to his spectacular monument at Elmwood Cemetery. Here are some highlights from the life of a man who stood on our front lawn 148 years ago, surveying the Village of Smiths Falls.

Joseph Miller Oliver Cromwell was the third child born to a “respected and prosperous” carpenter and his wife in Road, Somersetshire, England, on January 1, 1819. Sadly, both his parents had died by the time he was seven. Joseph and his sister Anne were left well provided for by their parents’ estate. They were taken in by an uncle believed to be William Cromwell. He was Joseph Senior’s younger brother, who worked as a cloth-maker.

William emigrated to Upper Canada around 1828. He settled near Perth with

his wife, two daughters, and the two orphans. William then abandoned Joseph and Anne and left for the United States, apparently with their inheritance. Anne married James Glenn in 1834. Joseph had a brief and unpleasant career as a farm labourer. He worked for Ebenezer Wilson, a man with “very strong opinions” and a high level of “intolerance.” Later, Joseph relocated to live at the Glenn farm on the outskirts of Perth, while he attended Perth Grammar School.

Joseph excelled in mathematics and his teacher encouraged him to write the land surveyors’ exam, which he aced. He articled himself to Perth-based surveyor Josias Richey. By October 1, 1846, he was a qualified Provincial Surveyor, and would form a partnership with Richey. Joseph became one of the very first members of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors, as his single-digit registration number of 9 can attest.

During the mid-1800s, a second generation of Lanark County settlers were clearing land at a rapid rate. This resulted in larger, more prosperous, and more valuable farms. At the same time, Ottawa was expanding to the north. Many of the original surveys in the area had been performed three decades prior by Ruben Sherwood. All Sherwood had to work with was a compass and a team of unqualified assistants. At the time, the courts were experiencing an abundance of boundary dispute cases, which resulted in some wealthy lawyers and surveyors. Cromwell’s skills were so highly respected that many agreed to resolve disputes based on his surveys alone, and bypass the courts. “It is reported that his evidence in respect to boundaries was never controverted, also that his surveyed lines were not disputed.” Cromwell enjoyed a lucrative career. Notices in the Ottawa Citizen confirm that he provided services there from 1853 onwards. He also trained and employed a generation of provincial surveyors.

In 1856, with his business thriving, a 37-year-old Joseph married 26-yearold Mary Watson (18311898). The couple had six children, but would outlive four of them. Cromwell served two terms as a Perth Town Councillor from 1871-1873. In 1898, he was offered the position of Surveyor-General of Canada, which he declined. Joseph Miller Oliver Cromwell died a wealthy and highly respected man on October

1886 Plan of the Town of Smiths Falls by J. M. O. Cromwell. Photo credit: Smiths Falls Digital Archive.

19, 1897, at the age of 77. Eight months later, Mary died in June 1898.

Joseph and Mary Cromwell are buried together with their daughters at Elmwood Cemetery in Perth, located on land formerly owned by Cromwell. His survey

transit, manufactured circa 1890 by Hearn & Harrison of Montreal, has been preserved in the collection of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors.

Falls heritage home built in 1892. They are also being swept away by local history & mystery. You can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok @thekeyholehouse or email ted@tedouterbridge.com.

J. M. O. Cromwell. Photo credit: Charles Fairhall