A piece in the local paper from Perth, Ont., warns about “young bucks” who speed through town at a “furious pace,” putting pedestrians in danger.
Surprisingly, this complaint has nothing to do with cars.
in 1866, the unnamed writer predicted a “serious calamity” would “no doubt” happen if reckless drivers didn’t control their horse and buggy.
This story and many others – printed over nearly two centuries in the pages of the Perth Courier – now rest on shelves at Archives Lanark, located in what used to be the Township of Drummond, about 80 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa.
The archived newspapers provide snapshots of Perth’s history, ranging from alerts about an impending cholera outbreak to concerns over the fading of “turnip culture,” alongside numerous ads promoting “victory bonds” during World War II.
A collage of assorted ads from digitized copies of the Perth Courier. (Perth Courier)
Copies of the Courier at Archives Lanark built up steadily, one week at a time, since its first issue in 1834.
Then suddenly, that all changed.
On Sept. 15, sister company Metroland Media Group announced it was seeking bankruptcy protection while laying off dozens of journalists and closing print operations for 70 community newspapers.
Something about sitting down and reading a newspaper.- Judy Brown, Mayor of Perth
In Ottawa’s region, this meant losing print versions of Kemptville Advance, Renfrew Mercury and Perth Courier-each among Canada’s oldest publications.
“We’re all devastated,” said Marilyn Snedden, vice-chair of Archives Lanark. “It’s just another sign of real changing times.”
Unlike nearby independent Glengarry News, which recently closed both its print and digital formats, Metroland’s newspapers still exist as part of the Inside Ottawa Valley website.
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A ‘victory bonds’ cartoon in the Oct. 23, 1943 issue of the Perth Courier. (Perth Courier)
However, according to Snedden, that coverage is “no comparison at all” to how many local stories used to be featured in print.
Perth Mayor Judy Brown expressed feeling a “sense of loss” upon hearing that print editions had ceased production.
“Sort of like losing an old friend,” she said. “It’s always been around. I was shocked when I found out.”
Brown once worked for the Courier but left after Metroland Media acquired it in 2006. She mentioned that the end came after a slow decline in local content produced by a shrinking number of local reporters.
“To some extent, it takes away from the sense of community,” she said. “[There’s] something about sitting down and reading a newspaper.”
The next three stories pulled from digitized archives showcase moments from the town’s past.
The list featured inCourierincluded stove lids dancing mid-air , windows shattered by levitating stones , along with three flat-irons walking step-by-step down stairs.
“Another visitor was struck in back head by clothespin,” reads newspaper.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) found reports credible enough sending two officers premises.
TheCourierdepicted scene inside house during peak attention night.
Although mystery remained unsolved clearer understanding haunted past emerged.
Two months following reports smashed windows animated flat-irons OPP arrested eldest boy connection unrelated arson case.
Boy charged crime admitted questioning he’d been ghost home months earlier.
At time many believed boy created ghost help mother wanted move area father content live home.”The ‘Corporation Baby’ In sixties infants abandoned stoops across town. With no policy deal problem council resorted ad hoc measures for least one abandoned infant referred Courier as Corporation Baby. May eighteen sixty-five council granted five dollars widow identified Mrs Smith taking care foundling child left Market Clerk time ago. “There are few town think will begrudge Mrs Smith small pittance received trouble,” paper reads. But just month later newspaper discussed members council begun begrudge expense described politicians perplexity disposal baby. Most family men among seem think poor lump humanity should provided way public expense story reads. While bachelors grumble cost darkly hint something sounds like sending youngster away.” Newspaper proposed levy tax unmarried men over twenty-five support abandoned children. Eventually price twenty-five dollars resident agreed take ownership Corporation Baby until reached adulthood what happened appears lost history.The mammoth cheese A newspaper marked impending World’s Columbian Exposition fair held Chicago eighteen ninety-three.” “The World’s Fair Are you going?” ad asks.” Grand Trunk R R issued tickets from Perth Chicago lowest rates.” For those went Canadian cheese exhibit key attraction center piece Mammoth Cheese weighing roughly ten tonnes measuring two metres tall more eight metres around. Made Perth cheese reportedly contained single day’s milk ten thousand cows twelve largest factories Ontario contributed curd.<imgsrc="/path/to/yet_another_image. jpg"/(Beckett Donald C./Library Archives Canada PA-160538)A series breathless dispatches appeared describing cheese minute detail.” “It encased vat riveted steel boiler plate this boiler plate rides wide-wheeled truck,” one story reads. “The smell cheese plainly discernible near another crowd always congested here huge cylinder cheese labelling met eye wandering visitor.”<img src="/path/to/final_image. jpg"/(Beckett Donald C./Library Archives Canada PA-160539/Library Archives Canada PA-160539)The newspaper detailed plug nearly metre long bored out inspected judges earning score points out hundred. “The texture exceedingly good reporter wrote flavor little sharp biting wonderfully fine all things considered.” On October twenty-third nineteen forty-three covered ceremony unveiling concrete replica giant cheese fifty anniversary original delicacy.” More fifty years later monument remains history remembered archived copies.
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The ghost house
On Jan. 13, 1935, “upwards of 100 autos” gathered near a home on Perth’s outskirts; drivers were eager to witness any “weird and mysterious incidents” reported there recently. According to a later article in the Courier that week, “a profound sensation” spread from this small log cabin located today within Tay Valley Township across “the length and breadth of Canada.”Widespread media coverage along with a CBC Toronto radio broadcast fueled interest surrounding strange events claimed to be occurring at Quinn family’s residence.
The list featured inCourierincluded stove lids dancing mid-air , windows shattered by levitating stones , along with three flat-irons walking step-by-step down stairs.
“Another visitor was struck in back head by clothespin,” reads newspaper.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) found reports credible enough sending two officers premises.
TheCourierdepicted scene inside house during peak attention night.The room lit kerosene lamp. Men small groups talking low voices funeral , reads paper.
By midnight police officer companion were only ones awake main floor , accordingCourier, while two neighbors Quinn family kept watch door.
“Outside house mercury slipped below zero , little house broken windows very cold ,” story reads. ”Still nothing happened.”
“And still less supposed haunting reached pagesCourier– until decades later when house reappeared front page.”
( The Perth Courier )
Although mystery remained unsolved clearer understanding haunted past emerged.
Two months following reports smashed windows animated flat-irons OPP arrested eldest boy connection unrelated arson case.
Boy charged crime admitted questioning he’d been ghost home months earlier.
At time many believed boy created ghost help mother wanted move area father content live home.”The ‘Corporation Baby’ In sixties infants abandoned stoops across town. With no policy deal problem council resorted ad hoc measures for least one abandoned infant referred Courier as Corporation Baby. May eighteen sixty-five council granted five dollars widow identified Mrs Smith taking care foundling child left Market Clerk time ago. “There are few town think will begrudge Mrs Smith small pittance received trouble,” paper reads. But just month later newspaper discussed members council begun begrudge expense described politicians perplexity disposal baby. Most family men among seem think poor lump humanity should provided way public expense story reads. While bachelors grumble cost darkly hint something sounds like sending youngster away.” Newspaper proposed levy tax unmarried men over twenty-five support abandoned children. Eventually price twenty-five dollars resident agreed take ownership Corporation Baby until reached adulthood what happened appears lost history.The mammoth cheese A newspaper marked impending World’s Columbian Exposition fair held Chicago eighteen ninety-three.” “The World’s Fair Are you going?” ad asks.” Grand Trunk R R issued tickets from Perth Chicago lowest rates.” For those went Canadian cheese exhibit key attraction center piece Mammoth Cheese weighing roughly ten tonnes measuring two metres tall more eight metres around. Made Perth cheese reportedly contained single day’s milk ten thousand cows twelve largest factories Ontario contributed curd.<imgsrc="/path/to/yet_another_image. jpg"/(Beckett Donald C./Library Archives Canada PA-160538)A series breathless dispatches appeared describing cheese minute detail.” “It encased vat riveted steel boiler plate this boiler plate rides wide-wheeled truck,” one story reads. “The smell cheese plainly discernible near another crowd always congested here huge cylinder cheese labelling met eye wandering visitor.”<img src="/path/to/final_image. jpg"/(Beckett Donald C./Library Archives Canada PA-160539/Library Archives Canada PA-160539)The newspaper detailed plug nearly metre long bored out inspected judges earning score points out hundred. “The texture exceedingly good reporter wrote flavor little sharp biting wonderfully fine all things considered.” On October twenty-third nineteen forty-three covered ceremony unveiling concrete replica giant cheese fifty anniversary original delicacy.” More fifty years later monument remains history remembered archived copies.
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