Flashbacks from our past

Before the Second World War, young Manor Park was bush and open countryside in Gloucester Township. Apart from a few ‘Rockcliffe Annexe’ homes scattered along an unpaved Base Line Rd., it was ‘out in the sticks’ without municipal services.

The October 10, 1947 Evening Citizen heralded the area as “100 Acres of Natural Beauty. Our First Co-ordinated Community Taking Place – The Fantastic Tale of Manor Park Village”. The article boasted of “modern” construction with four houses completed per day until the first 100 were ready, each with “fuel-efficient furnaces, copper plumbing, built-in baths with showers and winter air conditioning.”

However, the following recollections of early “settlers” (as first residents were known) and highlights from early Village publications suggest this “fantastic” tale was too good to be true and reveal a decidedly frontier mentality and a pioneering spirit.

Mud

When asked what word best described Manor Park Village in 1947 (and four years later on), settlers said “MUD”–no paved roads, no grass, no shrubs, no trees. Add to that, no mail or bus service and 10 to a telephone party line.

Horses (Chronicle May 1949)

“… galloping horses from nearby stables are causing an annoyance around the Village. Our [Community Association] executive has written to the stables . . . asking them to keep riders out of here . . . it is risky business for our children having horses trotting through the Village much less galloping.”

The situation was eventually remedied.

“The Chronicle assures you that Gloucester Township has just passed a Bylaw making it an offence to ride a horse faster than a walk while in our Village area.”

Street signs (Chronicle June 1949)

With a small budget, an association committee ordered 14 fence posts and 1-inch plywood sheets. Members hand-cut 28 sign panels, sent these for lettering and then designed a wrought iron bracket for forging. So great was the need for street signs, when the brackets arrived in January, they put the markers up in the dead of winter.

Volunteer Fire Brigade (Chronicle Christmas 1949)

“Last year about 40 men underwent training in the use of Village equipment . . . sufficient to play a vital role in combatting a blaze despite the fact that the [1928 Chevrolet] fire truck had been out of commission for some time.”

Dunvegan Ditch Digging (This Week April 5, 1950)

Members of the Dunvegan Ditch-Digging and Waterworks Engineering Society are trying to drain water but the original cutline described them as “mapping a plan for an aquatic meet”. Photo archives. Continuing the original photo caption: “… The society said it was dickering with Works Commissioner Alphonse Fournier for a contract to re-line the bottom of the Ottawa River with surplus mud from their present operations.”

Mail Delivery (Chronicle June 1950)

Village mail was addressed c/o the Forbes Post Office at Montreal & Base Line Rds. and either picked up in person (via bus) or trundled round the Village by its proprietor, “Larry the Postman”. Just as Larry’s contract ended, the Post Office Department confirmed the required number of Village homes were occupied–a uniformed mailman would soon deliver mail daily.

Malakoff becomes St. Laurent

Prior to 1951 (while part of Gloucester Township), a Cyrville residents’ petition changed the name of Malakoff Ave., north of Montreal Rd. (formerly Base Line Rd.) to St. Laurent Blvd.

Thanks to Andrew Sommerfeld for archival photo restoration work.

Read more reflections on the Chronicle‘s history from Jim Kenward, Marion Robertson and Douglas Cornish.