THE CABOOSE

NEWSLETTER OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY (CTHS)

ISSN 1203-147X Volume XIX Number 3 January 2008

President s ramblings (by Randall Ash)

Another new year is upon us and that means a new folder on my computer to hold the coming year s issues of The

Caboose. It s been five years since I started working with Jeannie to produce this fine newsletter. Building on the solid

foundation left to us by Bob Serr, Jeannie and those residents who shared their stories and photos with us have

created a historical legacy of which all Cumberland Township residents can be proud. As my term as President of the

Society nears an end, I look back on all that we ve achieved the past few years: growing membership, engaging

speakers at our well-attended bi-monthly general meetings, the CTHS website, Murder in Navan, Memories of

Cumberland, Dale s Cemetery Reference Book, the clean-up and digitization of parts of our history collection, The

Caboose, and more. And while all members have played a part in the on-going success of the Society, be it through

membership dues, attendance at meetings, and/or participation on Society

projects, we owe much of our success to the Executive. Their dedication, energy,

Our Society

foresight and enthusiasm have taken the Society from somewhat humble

The Cumberland Township

beginnings to what we have today a vibrant, productive institution that is

Historical Society (CTHS) was

essential to keeping the memories of Cumberland alive today and for future

founded in 1986. We are a

generations. Best wishes for 2008! Bonne ann e et meilleurs souhaits pour 2008!

non-profit, volunteer and

community-based

organization whose goal is to

preserve Cumberland

Township history.

Our newsletter

The Caboose is published six

times each year by the

Cumberland Township

Historical Society.

Our Executive

Randall Ash, President and

newsletter production

Jeannie Smith, Secretary-

Treasurer and Newsletter

Editor

Verna Cotton, Director

Dan Brazeau, Director

Jean-Fran ois Beaulieu

Director Tom Smith (right) and

Dorothy-Jane Smith, George Lowe

Director (above). Logging in

Bob Kendall, Director the winter time in the

Our address and local history Bearbrook bush.

room

Cumberland Branch

Ottawa Public Library

Local History Room

1599 Tenth Line Road

Ottawa, ON K1E 3E8

Next meeting of the CTHS

Our World Wide Web address

The next meeting of the CTHS will be held on Wednesday, March 5t h, 7:00

www.cths.ca

pm at the Ottawa Regional Police Station on St. Joseph Blvd & Tenth Line

Road. Our guest speaker, Verna Kinsella, will present Trains in Vars. Be sure

to bring a friend along. Light refreshments, as always, will be served.

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Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

Society calendar Membership renewal for the 2008/09

For more information on these and

season is due by March 31st. Just $15

other upcoming 2008/09 events, please

for membership includes bi-monthly

contact a member of the executive committee or

visit our website at www.cths.ca.

presentations and six issues of The

Ottawa Women's Canadian Club Luncheon.

Caboose.

Chateau Laurier. Thursday, January 17th at

12:15 pm. Gilles Seguin will be the guest

Jan. 17th speaker on 'Ottawa Museums.' Tickets $40.

Can you name these men?

Phone Margie Marlatt @ 613-***-**** or

Monique Bertrand @613- 737-6075.

(See page 4)

CTHS General Meeting. Boardroom of Police

Station, Tenth Line & Old Montreal Roads

Mar. 5th

7:00 pm, Verna Kinsella presents

Trains in Vars.

Check for events at the Cumberland Museum:

www.Ottawa.ca/residents/heritage/museums/Cumb

erland

Contact us

If you have questions or suggestions regarding any

aspect of the Society including The Caboose, our

local history room or anything else of interest to you

or to the Society, you may contact any member of

the executive by phone or by email:

Randall Ash, President (833-3207)

abptei@r.postjobfree.com

Jean-Fran ois Beaulieu, Director

(841-0424) abptei@r.postjobfree.com

Continued from page 3

Jeannie Smith, Secretary-Treasurer and Some previous winners of The Edith Wilson Prize

Newsletter Editor (833-2877) were:

abptei@r.postjobfree.com

Carol Ann Foley won in 1955. (Gary Nuttall-son of

q

Verna Cotton, Director (835-2490) Clara (Wagner) & Gordon Nuttall came 2nd)

Norman Minogue, son of Kay (McIntosh) & Fergus

q

Dan Brazeau, Director 613-***-****)

Minogue

abptei@r.postjobfree.com

Betty Somerville, daughter of Violet Mennie & John

q

Dorothy-Jane Smith, Director (225-3554) Somerville

Donald MacRae, son of Helen (Cook) & William

q

Bob Kendall, 613-***-****)

MacRae

abptei@r.postjobfree.com

Debra Hansen Wright, daughter of Edna

q

(Galloway) Grant & George Hansen

Cairine Wilson, daughter of Angus and Alice

q

The Caboose in colour! Wilson

Debbie Minion Davidson, daughter of Isabel

q

(Stackhouse) & Victor Minion

If you have access to a colour printer, you can print

Ralph MacEachern, son of Grace (Morin) & Bob

q

out a full colour copy of our newsletter The MacEachern

Caboose by visiting our website www.cths.ca and Brian, Terry and Mark Beaton, sons of Wilma

q

clicking on Publications. You will find all past issues (Merrifield) & Ken Beaton

created by Bob Serr, Randall Ash and Jeannie Smith Mary Jane Alexander Garvock, daughter of

q

Wendall & Elizabeth (Cram) Alexander, and their

since 1998.

son David Alexander

Pamela Smith, daughter of Marsden & Mary

q

(Wurtele) Smith

Brian Jones, son of Leslie & Ivy Jones

q

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Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

Mary Smith, daughter of Ken Smith (1921-2007) and

Edith Wilson Award May Hewens (1923-2003), granddaughter of Julia

McGonigle Smith (1896-1977), enjoyed her school

Edith Victoria Wilson, born Feb.29, 1872, was the years at SS#5 and claims that her teachers, brothers

youngest child of William Wilson & Mary McElroy. Her

Ivan and Orla Presley, provided her with a solid basis

siblings were: George, Charles, Norman, Reginald, upon which to further her education. After attending

Fred and Catherine (Edwards).Edith owned the Lisgar Collegiate Institute, Mary worked for Canadian

Dunning house on the corner of Old Montreal Road

Standards Association as an Assistant to the

and Peter Harkness Street, now owned by Jean

Administrative Officer. In 1969/70, Mary graduated,

(Dunning Hanson) Harkness. Edith Wilson rented t his first in her class, from the Salvation Army Grace

house to Peter Harkness Sr., OPP Constable of this Hospital RNA Program. Mary worked as a nurse part

area in the thirties and forties. She sold the house to

time while raising her children. Education has always

Irene and Corine Tucker of Rockland and they sold it been held in high esteem by Mary and she took the

to Peter Harkness Jr. who was CBE School Trustee for Ward Clerk-Receptionist course at Algonquin

many years. Edith died on Sept. 28, 1951 and in her

College. In 1991, Mary began working full time as

will she specified that a scholarship be created, The

Operating Room Booking Clerk for all surgeries at the

Edith Wilson Prize . It was to be awarded to the Grace Hospital. When the Grace closed, Mary was

student who attained top marks at SS#5 transferred to the Riverside Hospital where she

Cumberland.

booked all of the Ophthalmology surgeries until her

Edith Wilson was the younger retirement.

sister of Norman (father of Angus)

I never thought about or dreamed I would win the

who was married to Senator

Edith Wilson Prize but it carried forth my learning from

Cairine Wilson (1885-1962). Prime

4H and CGIT-that always do the best you are

Minister Mackenzie King capable of doing -whatever the challenge. It would

appointed Cairine Wilson, the first

be interesting to know what careers other winners of

woman, to the Senate in 1930. The

the Edith Wilson Prize went on to pursue in their lives. I

daughter of Liberal Senator Robert

know we ve had a lot of very talented and scholarly

Mackay, Cairine Wilson was well

individuals graduate from Cumberland. Also, where is

connected in the Liberal Party.

the Edith Wilson Prize now and if a school were to

Canadian prime ministers Sir Wilfrid Laurier and

open again in Cumberland Village, would this prize

Mackenzie King were friends of the

come back to the village school ? (Mary Wilkie)

family. Norman Wilson (1876-

1956) was Liberal Member of

Parliament for Russell before I remember that the prize was about $500.00, and

their marriagein 1909. Norman that seemed like a huge amount to me back then. I

and Cairine Wilson had eight know I had the highest standing in grade 8 and Linda

children. Merrill came in second place. She somehow knew

before it was announced, and for many years I kept

Edith s sister, Catherine, was

a handwritten note she had handed to me

married to Senator W. C. Edwards of

congratulating me and telling me I had come in first.

Rockland. Her older brother George died

I often wonder what became of Linda. As you may

at age 43 from typhoid fever in 1905, and his remains

recall, they lived on the river in a house directly west

were transported from Ottawa to Cumberland on

of the Catholic church. I remember the cerem ony

Senator Edwards' boat, the Nokomis, for burial in

took place in Mrs. Moffatt's Grade 3-4 classroom, and

Dale s Cemetery.

I believe my teacher in Grade 8 was Mrs. Sybil Durrell.

I was amazed that I had won the scholarship the

Cumberland, Ontario July 25, 1956

year I left public school. Some twenty years later, I

Dear Mary went on to work as correspondence secretary for the

Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker. (Debbie Wright)

The school board congratulates you

on winning the Edith Wilson First Prize for

(continued on bottom of page 2)

general proficiency this year. We wish

you every success as you continue your

studies and we know you will continue to

The CTHS graciously thanks the City of Ottawa for

bring honour to Cumberland. Enclosed

providing an annual grant of $1500. This money

you will find your cheque for $116.67.

enables the S ociety to continue to publish and

Yours truly,

distribute The Caboose.

Mrs. H. D. (Blanche) MacMillan

Sec. Treas. Cumberland Township School Area No. 2

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Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

Winter scene from the Lowe family album (above). The

Taylor sisters in the great outdoors (right). Lyman

Deavy, Dent Fitzpatrick, Fred Ferguson, Archie

MacMillan and Harry Watters pose on the snow

(below).

Answer to question

on page 2: Andy

Guibord, Dave

Farmer, Bob Morin,

Sam St. Louis,

Glen Smith

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Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

Vars Hockey Team 1910. Champions R. C. H. A.

Front L-R: Bill Kennedy, Jack Stuart, Elair Geurtin, H. Wright

Back L-R: George Shaw, Dr. Campbell, L. Merkley, C. Merkley, Kenny Dewar.

Two men at the very back: Albert Sparks, Sec.; W. G. Gauley, Pres.

Vars Hockey Team 1912

Front: Pat Clarey Goalie-Jack Stuart

Back L-R; Bert Asselin, Harry Rickerd, Harold Halpenny, Switzer,

Harold McDonald, Bill Fallis

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Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

The Lowe Family

The door opened to reveal Marilyn Lowe whose

kind smile and cheerful words made the old

farmhouse welcoming. It was as if time had drifted

back to years long ago. The kitchen was cozy and

the country d cor provided an ambience of love,

peace and goodwill. In 1956, Garrett Lowe brought

his bride from Metcalfe, Marilyn Ena Esther

McCooeye, to live in this house where he was born in

1937. Marilyn and Garrett Lowe have made this

dwelling a wonderful home for their own children,

Kim, Kelly, Marjorie, Vickie, Eleanor, Garry and

William, as well as a safe abode for foster children.

Page Lowe. Hazel Walsh, Bertha Lowe, Ethel Walsh.

Garrett and his cousins, Marilyn Trudel, daughter of

What s the latest news? 1925

George Lowe, and Norman Fraser, son of Bertha

Lowe, sat comfortably on the wooden chairs and

When George Lowe Sr. died in 1941, Page took over

reminisced about the good old times spent at

the original Lowe farm to the east on Clayton Road.

Grandpa Lowe s farm. Marilyn brought out boxes of

This was the farm settled by Nathaniel Lowe and

faded pictures of family members and these were

Mary Ann Hoit after they emigrated from Moate,

quickly identified by the Lowe cousins.

near Athlone, Ireland. The family was known as the

Nathaniel Lowe (born Oct. 3, 1829) married Maryann Lowes of the Cross Roads in County Westmeath.

Hoit (born Nov 19, 1834) on July 2, 1856. Their children Times were hard for Grace when she became a

were: young widow with a farm to run. Garrett ran the farm

Thomas William (June 14, 1857-Oct 24, 1873)

and his young wife, Marilyn, insured with strength and

Joanna (March 19, 1859-July 21, 1928)

determination from her Scottish-born mother,

Hiram Albert (March 1, 1861-Jan 20, 1934)

Margaret Parton McCooeye, raised her children

Nathaniel Page (April 1, 1863-Feb 27, 1929)

along-side her mother-in-law Grace and made the

Walter Stephen (April 6, 1865-June 11, 1872)

house truly a home sweet home .

Robert Hoit (born May 7, 1867)

During the early part of the 20th century, the call to

George Garrett (Aug 12, 1869-July 2, 1944)

the lumber camps rang out to farmers. Page Lowe

Lourinda Emma (Oct 21, 1872-March 14, 1928)

left his comfortable dwelling from early December to

Edith Alice Mary (Aug 13, 1876-Dec 16, 1953)

the spring break-up to become a teamster for the

married a Boyd from Carlsbad

lumber camps around Deux Rivieres and Mattawa.

Wilson (Dec 15, 1878-March 22, 1879)

With the winter weather settling in and the cows not

producing milk, there was nothing much to keep

George Garrett Lowe married Mary Ann Wilson (April

men occupied on farms, and money was always

16, 1868-Feb 4, 1941, from Russell) on May 17, 1893.

scare, so the men went to the bush. Teams of horses

Their children were:

were driven onto trains at Vars or Leonard and

Nathaniel W. Page (July 2, 1895-Aug. 30, 1949)

freighted to towns near the camps. Page, and his

Wellington George (Jan. 17, 19-July 20, 1972,)

brothers Percy and George, hauled logs out of the

Walter Percy (Aug. 16, 1898-Dec 27, 1962)

bush with their sturdy teams while their womenfolk

Martha Blanche (April 25 -Oct 3 1986)

kept the home fires going. Winters were long but the

Alma Jane (March 27, 1902-Sept 19, 1905)

people were resourceful. Life was hard, very physical

Thomas Albert (Dec 7, 1903-Jan 4, 1990)

and exhausting but good hearty farm food and

Mary Joanna (Sept 24, 1905-Jan 19, 1985)

unbroken sleep in warm feather beds, revived

Bertha Ann (June 2, 1907-May 19, 2000)

everyone.

Nathaniel W. Page Lowe married Grace Dashney George, father of Marilyn Trudel, moved out west,

from Rockdale Road Navan, Nov 16, 1929. Grace s where he met and married Eleanor Thompson, in

brother Tom was father to Ted Dashney (married to 1938. The couple returned to the area and farmed

Mary Dunning Dashney). Page and Grace Lowe s on the Morrison place on Forced Road, then bought

children are: twins Wilson Nathaniel and Alma Grace, Village View on the northeast corners of Frank

and Garrett Donald. Kenny and Devine Roads in Vars and farmed there

until 1965. George moved to a farm in North Russell,

Page Lowe built the farmhouse in 1927-28 on land

then retired from farming and lived with his son Frank

that he had taken over from Steven Lowe, a 200

in Almonte.

acre block once owned by the Thompson family.

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Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

Capital Coach on Scott Street in Lebreton Flats and

drove the high school kids from the southern area of

the township to Ottawa. He then got three contracts

to drive elementary children to school and in 1967,

Garrett, Marilyn and Verna Kinsella transported

students to Navan using buses that he had

purchased. Small bus operators competed with

larger companies, so Garrett sold his buses, and

drove for Travelways.

In 1969, the couple began to take in foster

children. Nearly sixty children have had the nurturing

care of Marilyn and Garrett. With Marilyn s motherly

love and Garrett s calm patience, many youngsters

received an excellent foundation and new

beginning to their troubled lives. The Lowes still

provide a safe

George Lowe and Family

haven for

children who

Joanna Lowe remained single and looked after her

are in need of

father George Garrett until his death in 1941 then she

foster parents.

moved to Sudbury to live with her sister Bertha, who

was married to mineworker Maynard Fraser, parents Garrett has

of Norman Lowe Fraser. Maynard, born in 1901, was a given a

first cousin to Les Armstrong. Norm, a retired medical tremendous

doctor who lives in North Gower, spent a few summer amount of time

weeks at Grandpa Page s farm and recalls seeing to sports in

soldiers board the troop trains at Leonard and Vars in Cumberland

WW2. Bertha Lowe Fraser was an excellent Township. He

seamstress who dressed in the latest style of clothing. coached the

She taught Sunday school, Francis Coburn was one Navan Flyers in Grace Dashney and Page Lowe

of the pupils, and was a great cook. Her quilts were hockey. Many a

creations of design and colour and blanketed the fight was battled on the ice of the old Navan Arena

beds of her children Norman, Ivan and Harold Fraser. and sometimes the players would have to stop their

game to settle a fight amongst spectators in the

Percy moved to Temagami and became an

stands! As President of the Carleton-Russell Hockey

engineer on the boats. He and wife Mazel Morrison

League for 10 years, Garrett got lots of experience

are buried in Cobalt. Blanche married Wilfrid Young

and went on to coach the Navan Flyers. Then he

from New Liskeard.

became the equipment manager for the Gloucester

Page and Grace s Rangers, who as part of Central Junior Hockey

twins moved from League, played in Pembroke, Hawkesbury, Brockville,

the Bearbrook area. Smiths Falls, Cornwall, Kanata and Ottawa. Garrett

Wilson farmed until coached Bearbrook area ball players and was

1959, then drove a President of the Carleton-Russell Fastball League for

truck for a while 15 years.

before moving to a

Garrett worked for Cumberland Township for 25

farm in North Russell

years managing the arenas and looking after Parks

and Alma married

and Recreation. Navan Arena was Garrett s second

Eric Roy and lives in

home and he always welcomed people with a

PEI.

cheerful smile.

Garrett and

Faith, hope and love form the basis of Marilyn and

Marilyn Lowe are a

Garrett s lives. Their church-life at Bearbrook

very humble couple

Anglican, is of utmost importance. Garrett has been

who have given

the caretaker of the cemetery since 1964. The family

much to

Wedding of Bertha Lowe

name Lowe may have come from the French word

Cumberland

and Maynard Fraser

for water l eau, and is very appropriate, for Marilyn s

Township. As well as operating a dairy farm, the

and Garrett s energy continues to flow and make

Lowes operated school buses. In 1961, Garrett got his

Cumberland Township a better place.

license to drive a bus and worked for Ed Inglis at

Page 7

Winter 2008 CTHS The Caboose

Marilyn and Garrett Lowe in 2004 when they were awarded for 35 years of service to the

Children s Aid.

Lucky Lads! John Haddad, Glen Smith, Lee Ryan and Pete Lalonde won

$100,000 on 6/49 Encore on December, 9, 2007.

Page 8

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