Perth Courier’s Legacy Ends After Nearly 200 Years

A piece in the local newspaper of Perth, Ont., warns about “young bucks” who speed through town at a “furious pace,” putting pedestrians in danger.

The concern, strange as it may sound, has nothing to do with cars.

in 1866, the anonymous article predicted that a “serious calamity” would “no doubt” happen if reckless drivers couldn’t control their horse and buggy.

The story and countless others – featured over almost two centuries in the pages of the Perth Courier – now rest on shelves at Archives Lanark, located in the offices of the former Township of Drummond, about 80 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa.

These archived newspapers provide snapshots of Perth’s history, from alerts about an approaching cholera outbreak to complaints about the decline of “turnip culture,” along with a flurry of 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 had built up over time, week by week, since its first publication in 1834.

Then, just a few weeks ago, that came to an end.

On Sept. 15, sister company Metroland Media Group announced it was seeking bankruptcy protection and laying off dozens of journalists while shutting down print operations at 70 community newspapers.

Something about sitting down and reading a newspaper.- Judy Brown, Mayor of Perth

In the Ottawa area, this meant losing physical copies of the Kemptville Advance, Renfrew Mercury and Perth Courier-each among Canada’s oldest newspapers.

“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 editions, Metroland newspapers still exist as part of the Inside Ottawa Valley website.

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 printed.

Perth Mayor Judy Brown mentioned she felt a “sense of loss” when she heard that print edition had ended.

“Sort of like losing an old friend,” she said. “It’s always been around. I was shocked when I found out.”

Brown worked for the Courier but left after Metroland Media acquired it in 2006. She noted that this ending comes after a gradual decline in local content written by fewer 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 following three stories drawn from the Courier’s digitized archives offer a peek into the town’s history.

The ghost house

On Jan. 13, 1935, “upwards of 100 autos” flocked to a house near Perth’s outskirts; drivers were eager to witness any “weird and mysterious incidents” reported there recently.

According to an article later that week in the Courier , “a profound sensation” had spread from the small log cabin located in what’s now Tay Valley Township throughout “the length and breadth of Canada.”

Widespread media coverage plus a CBC Toronto radio broadcast generated interest around strange happenings claimed to occur at Quinn family home.

The list mentioned in th e C ourier included stove lids floating through th e air , windows shattered by levitating stones , and three flat-irons walking step-by-step down stairs.

“Another visitor was struck in th e back o f th e head by a clothespin,” th e newspaper reads.

Ontario Provincial Police ( OPP ) deemed reports credible enough for two officers to visit th e site.

Th e C ourier described conditions during peak attention at th e house one night.

“Th e room was lit by kerosene lamp. Th e men were gathered into small groups talking quietly like they were attending funeral,” th e paper states.

By around midnight , only one officer along with his companion remained awake on main floor while two neighbors o f Quinn family kept watch outside door.

“Outside house mercury dropped below zero , making little house with broken windows feel very cold,” story reads. “Still nothing happened.”

And so little more about supposed haunting reached pages o f C ourier – until decades later when house returned again on front page.

On J an.6 ,1972, the newspaper reported former Quinn house had been destroyed due fire surrounded by mystery.

Although mystery surrounding who did it stayed unsolved by then clearer understanding emerged regarding haunted past.

The OPP arrested eldest Quinn boy months after smashed windows & animated flat-irons reports connected unrelated arson case.

“At time many people felt boy created ‘ghost’ help mother wanted leave area,” paper stated,“while father content lived home.”

The ‘Corporation Baby’

In years ’60s infants often abandoned stoops across town.

With no clear policy address problem council resorted ad hoc measures dealing abandoned infant referred as ‘Corporation Baby.’

In May ’65 council granted $5 widow known Mrs. Smith care ‘foundling child left Market Clerk time ago.’

‘There are few town think begrudge Mrs. Smith small amount received trouble,’ paper states.”

But just month later newspaper discussed some council members beginning begrudge expense described politicians perplexity disposal baby.'</PM

Most families seemed believe poor little lump humanity should provided somehow public expense,’ story says.’ While bachelors grumble cost hint sending youngster away.'</ PM

Newspaper suggested tax unmarried men age over twenty-five support abandoned children.’Eventually resident agreed take ownership Corporation Baby price $25 until reaching adulthood. What happened her appears lost history..The mammoth cheese“Newspaper marked impending World’s Columbian Exposition fair held Chicago,’ read ad asks.”Are you going?”Grand Trunk R. R. issue tickets lowest rates.”“For those attended key attraction Canadian cheese exhibit centerpiece: Mammoth Cheese weighing ten tonnes measuring meters tall eight around.'””Made city contained day’s milk cows. Twelve largest factories Ontario contributed curd.”‘”Series dispatches appeared describing detail. Couriers tell encased riveted steel boiler plate rides wide-wheeled truck. Reads another smell plainly discernible nearby crowd congested eye huge cylinder met wanderer’s eye.”Newspaper described plug bored meter long inspected judges earned score points hundred.’Texture exceedingly good,’ reporter wrote,’ flavor sharp biting wonderfully fine considering.’</ PM”On October twenty-three nineteen forty-three covered ceremony unveiling concrete replica giant cheese fifty anniversary original delicacy.”

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