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 Stephen Brathwaite introdueces a wise-cracking Gen. Juan Almonte, who'll be part of Almonte's 125th anniversay celebrations. -- Photo by Tom Van Dusen, SUN |
A little more than a month ago, a stranger arrived in town by taxi from Ottawa International Airport and began inquiring about the connection with Gen. Juan Almonte ... with the "e" pronounced "ay" and not left silent as in the name of the town.
"He came without letting anybody know in advance and eventually was taken to the Blue Heron B&B," said Al Lunney, mayor of Mississippi Mills, which contains Almonte. "The Blue Heron owners were able to put the man in touch with the right people."
The "right people" included Lunney, who joined the stranger for brunch. The man turned out to be Mexican psychiatrist Dr. Cesar Campos-Farfan, who has written books about Gen. Almonte and visits places that bear his name.
"Cesar turned out to be a wonderful man," said Blue Heron owner Pat Willard who, coincidentally, had just returned from Mexico. "He was fascinated by our 1850s log house and the local history."
It's just one more anecdote that raises the eternal question: Why was a community in Eastern Ontario named after a Mexican general?
It's a question likely to be on the lips of visitors more than ever this year as Almonte recognizes its 125th anniversary, a milestone marked April 12 with a proclamation issued by the mayor who urged residents to rejoice -- and not just for a day or two.
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The proclamation intoned as follows: "We do hereby call on all inhabitants of the locality herein to join in notice of the anniversary of the establishment of this body corporate by way of celebrations herein established by and about One Hundred and Twenty Five Days of Almonte commencing this 9th day of June, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Five, and ending the 11th day of October of the same year."
Ironically, Almonte doesn't officially exist anymore. Along with Pakenham and surrounding rural areas, it was swallowed up seven years ago by the new Mississippi Mills. The once independent town is now a mere electoral ward.
Still, it'll be a hell of a 125-day party and everyone is invited. During the festivities, visitors will be able to spend a commemorative coin to be released June 9. It'll be taken as legal tender in town until the end of the year.
As Lunney pointed out, Almonte is already home to several successful summer festivals which, when woven together, will form the backdrop of "125 days of Almonte."
OPENING CEREMONIES
Starting June 9 with official opening ceremonies and winding up Oct. 9 with Harvest Ball, anniversary celebrations will include -- to name a few -- such stalwart events as Riveredge, Busfusion, Canada Day, Celtfest, the Almonte Fair, Gospelfest, the Firefighters' Challenge, North Lanark Highland Games, Fibrefest, and Naismith 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
Let's not forget that one of Almonte's many claims to fame is birthplace in 1861 of James Naismith, who went on to find fame if not fortune in the U.S. as the inventor of basketball.
A heritage weekend, the Puppets Up Festival, dances and barbecues are among new events being added to the already packed slate. A head start on the official 125 days will take place May 21-23 with the Almonte Reunion Regatta.
Almonte is also home to master puppeteer Noreen Young who, along with her brother Stephen Brathwaite, will be kept busy much of the summer recalling Gen. Almonte in the form of a pint-sized, wise-cracking re-creation of the original character.
DESPERATION
Which brings us back to the question: Why Almonte, or Almont-ay? Not to insult Campos-Farfan, but it was out of desperation, really.
After a few false starts, the first permanent dwelling was built in what is now downtown Almonte in 1821 by Daniel Shipman. The following year, he completed an unfinished sawmill and then built a gristmill. The expanding community was first known as Shepherd's Falls after David Shepherd, who initiated the sawmill. That soon changed to Shipman's Mills.
A big economic boost came in 1857 when James Rosamond transferred his textile operations from Carleton Place. Rosamond's mill is now a prominent museum.
Just before that, the town had become Almonte, ending years of controversy over an appropriate name, with Ramsayville, Victoria, Victoriaville and Waterford among possibilities.
When Waterford was rejected by the Post Office because it was already taken, a public meeting held June 22, 1855, decided on Almonte in honour of a great diplomat and military leader who at the time was Mexico's ambassador to Washington. Incorporation came Sept. 25, 1880.
Want to hear more, including speculation as to what exactly appealed to early residents about Gen. Almonte? Then stop by the Blue Heron overlooking the Mighty Mississippi where three Canadiana-decorated rooms go for $80-$85 per couple per night, including full breakfast.