Stories of Elmwood

By the early 1860’s the Perth Courier was replete with complaints about the two cemeteries in Perth. The Craig Street Cemetery (Old Burying Grounds) was in serious condition; its trees falling down, the fences in need of repair, the grounds unlevelled and grass growing wild. Originally four acres on the edge of the new settlement, the Town had rapidly expanded, surrounding the burying ground. Owned by the Town and divided into sections for each of the local churches, poor re

John Armour Jr. (1813-1899) moved from Dalhousie Township to farm in Burgess Township c1844. From 1859 he was a Burgess Township Councillor for at least 20 years and a Director of the South Lanark Agriculture Society for many years. Then in 1875 (at age 62) he made a trip ‘home’ to Scotland where he collected a legacy/inheritance. There is no public details or any information about the amount but it was apparently pretty substantial. The plots and size of the monument reflec

A prominent business family in the early community, perhaps the most famous member of Robert Douglas's family is not interred here. Caroline Cox Douglas was better known as "Mrs. John Haggart" and is interred in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. Ron Shaw, writing about John Haggart , noted, "On May 26, 1861, 25-year-old John G. Haggart married 19-year-old Caroline Douglas at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Perth. His bride was the daughter of Robert Douglas (1818-1886) and Ca

Industrialist Thomas Alfred Code, established Codes Custom Wool Mill with a range of processes, including: carding, spinning, fulling, shearing, pressing, and colouring of yarns in 1882. In 1896, its name was changed to the Tay Knitting Mill, and it produced yarn, hosiery, socks, gloves, sporting-goods, sweaters, and mitts. Another change came in 1899, when a felt-making process was introduced and the mill was renamed Code Felt. Linda Seccaspina has provided an Interesting gl

The Perth Courier records the many diverse ventures of David Hogg Sr. (1807-1883) and his family. Beginning in 1834 he owned and developed everything from the making of fine furniture (some of which is on display at the Perth Museum) to being the town's undertaker. He founded what today is Blair & Son Funeral Home, both businesses he would continue with his son. David Hogg Sr. is also listed in the financial records of the early settlement as being the Bailiff, the High Const

Among the many "firsts" stories from the area, the story of the early telephone network, which connected Dr. Kennedy's home on D'Arcy Street to his office and clinic on Foster Street, is particularly intriguing. The monument is surmounted by a plaque honouring the work of Rev. Thomas Henderson who was also integral in development of telephone communications throughout the area. Perhaps the definitive article on this fascinating story is Early Adopters: Perth's First Telephon

The earliest map of the graveyard contains a section of many small graves allocated on the west side. The original statutes required every graveyard company to provide a section where people who were indigent or who had no provisions for burial could be interred without cost. These graves were largely unmarked. Perth had a large building just on the outskirts of town. Before the construction of this building the only alternative place to house indigent residents was in the co

Returning to "West Avenue" the marker on the eastern side reads simply "Kellock" Depending on the season and grass growth you can often see the ground name plaques of family members in addition to the other monuments for the family. Several well know buildings in downtown Perth are known as "The Kellock Block" identifying where the family's businesses were location. Many would recognize one of their buildings as the former location of the Perth Courier, now a retail space. W

You will have to look carefully to find the monument to the Marks Brothers Theatrical Company since you will be approaching it from behind and it is on one of the inner paths. They were known as "The Canadian Kings of Repertoire" and for nearly 56 years toured the world, returning to their cottage on Christie Lake and to the Balderson Theatre in downtown Perth to recoup and prepare for another season. The seven brothers were: Robert (R. W.), Thomas (Tom), Joseph (Joe), Ernest

The sudden death of respected barrister Joseph MacKenzie Rogers shocked the community in 1908. The announcement of his passing was greeted with the immediate lowering of the flag flying over the Town Hall. Born and educated in Belleville Ontario he moved to Perth to be part of the law firm of Edward Elliot. When Elliot.became a judge, Rogers had continued the practice alone. In 1894 when he was joined by Mr. J.A.Stewart. Rogers was recognized for his service by being name Kin

Glenn H. Crain passed away in hospital in Perth in the presence of his family on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008. He was the Founder of Crain & Schooley, former Mayor of the Town of Perth, a long time director and member of the Perth Industrial Development Committee and the Links O'Tay Golf Club). He was integral in the maintenance and refurbishing of so many of Perth's heritage properties. In 1977 he acquired the property known as "Shaws of Perth." Adept at changing its wares to

A "nuts-and-bolts" family history (literally!) In 1878 Robert Lillie manufactured nuts and bolts in the foundry on the corner of Gore and North Street but moved to a new building in 1884 at the end of Lewis Street on the Tay. In 1895, Chrystal Springs Brewery opened there and then closed in 1902. Between 1902 and 1944 Lillie's building was home to General Electric Co., Superior Polish Manufactures, Denning Canadian Fence. The markers for the family memorialize his father, Wil

Arriving in the settlement in July of 1817, the Dictionary of Canadian Biography reports, "Unpopular as a preacher and of a prickly disposition, he was unable to find a congregation and was obliged to work as an itinerant relief preacher. After months of constant traveling he decided in 1816, despite his wife’s protests, to accept the Colonial Office’s proposal of a land grant and a £100 salary to serve as minister to the government-assisted Scottish settlers at Perth, Upper

There are many stories surrounding Judge John Glass Malloch (1806-1873), who lived in "Victoria Hall" (now part of our hospital), some of which are downright spooky. Malloch built the home in 1858, considered one of the finest private residences then in existence in the eastern portion of Upper Canada. Built of dressed limestone, this seventeen room mansion, with stately and well proportioned apartments, plate glass windows, staircases of solid walnut, handsome marble mantel

The Meighen family was for decades one of the prominent business families of the area. The corner of Gore and Foster Streets has remained the hub of business in our community and A. Meighen & Brothers Gent’s Furnishings (men’s clothing) was at the center of it. The large department store would house the local telephone exchange. The directory of 1898 lists the names of the generations of the Meighen family who were part of the expansive family business ventures. The family as

Member of Parliament, lawyer, entrepreneur: his wife ensured that he would be forever memorialized in the beautiful John A. Stewart Park that is an integral part of downtown Perth. The Oct. 13, 1922 issue of The Perth Courier said about John Stewart: “A life-long resident of Perth, has gone to his reward and an aching void is left behind. He was taken ill on June 16th and entered the Hospital on July 19th. Mrs. Stewart was at the bed-side when the end came. Although not unexp

Two monuments dominate the cemetery in this section. The first is the memorial to Alexander Kippen. Surrounding the memorial is the original place to inter cremated remains. Local author and historian Ron Shaw has documented the story of Alexander Kippen in great detail in his article DEATH AT BATOCHE . Shaw's article begins by stating, "The first Perth native to die in military action, Lieutenant Alexander Walker Kippen of the Dominion Land Surveyors’ Intelligence Corps, was

In Perth there were many families that were prominent in both the early years of settlement, and remained prominent literally through to contemporary times. The "Shaw" family would certainly be one of those names. Business owners, lawyers, real estate impresarios: it is impossible to document the totality of their involvement to more than just the Perth area. Perhaps of special interest however is Flora Madeline Shaw, Internationally recognized pioneer of nursing and nursing

John A. McLaren (1831-1901) was literally a dynasty in the area. First to manufacture ‘the Mickey’ – liquor in a 12 ounce bottle that could be refilled, Perth native John McLaren made his fortune distilling alcohol. The Perth Courier called him the “keenest businessman and largest individual taxpayer”. Wealthy, powerful, shrewd and benevolent: his health declined quickly over five days in December causing business associates, employees, friends, family and the merely curious

On your right is another veterans' grave marking the passing of a person who never returned. Fred served in the Huron Militia, Seaforth, Ontario and upon moving to Perth with his family, served in the Lanark Renfrew Scottish Regiment. He joined the RCAF in Ottawa, March 15, 1941, service #R95743. He received his training at Manning Pool, Toronto, Trenton, Winnipeg and received his wings at Mountain View on December 6, 1941. On January 21, 1942 he was promoted to Flight Sergea