Almonte, Ontario
| Almonte | |
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| — Community — | |
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|
  Almonte
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| Coordinates: 45°13′35″N 76°11′40″W / 45.22629°N 76.19452°WCoordinates: 45°13′35″N 76°11′40″W / 45.22629°N 76.19452°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| County | Lanark |
| Area | |
| - Land | 4.94 km2 (1.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 4,649 |
| - Density | 941.1/km2 (2,437.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC) |
| Postal code span | K0A 1A0 |
| Area code(s) | 613 |
| Telephone exchange | |
Almonte (pronounced "AL-mont" as opposed to the original Spanish pronunciation of "al-MON-tay") is a Canadian exurb and former mill town located in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada, in Lanark County. Formerly a separate municipality, Almonte is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills, which was created on January 1, 1998 by the merging of Almonte with Ramsay and Pakenham townships. [1] Almonte is located 46 kilometres (29 mi) south-west of downtown Ottawa, at latitude 45.15, longtitude 75.12. Its population as of 2009 is about 5,000.
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History
Almonte's first settler was David Shepherd, who in 1819 was given 200 acres (0.81 km2) by the Crown to build and operate a mill. The site became known as Shepherd's Falls. That name was never official, however, as Shepherd sold his patent after his mill burned down. The buyer of the patent, Daniel Shipman, rebuilt the mill and the settlement became known as Shipman's Mills in 1820. [2]
The majority of Almonte's early settlers were Irish or Scottish. By the mid-1800s the town could boast thirty stores and forty other businesses. A textile town almost from the start, by the late 1800s it was the home of seven busy woolen mills. During this time of rapid expansion the town changed its name from Shipman's Mills to Ramsayville, and then to Waterford. When in 1855 the newly-created Canadian post office pointed out there was already a Waterford in Ontario, the town needed yet another name change. [3]
Relations between the United States and Great Britain had been antagonistic since the War of 1812. Border skirmishes between Mexico and the United States increased this antagonism. Mexican general General Juan Almonte had fought in these skirmishes, and by 1853 had become Mexico's ambassador to the United States.
Since the people of Waterford mistrusted the U.S., and General Almonte had resisted the U.S., they decided to honour Mexico and the general by renaming the town Almonte. This makes Almonte the only town in Ontario—probably in Canada—named after a Mexican general. The name change appears to have happened in 1856, though the post office didn't record the new name until 1859. [4]
After the last textile mill closed in the early 1980s, Almonte no longer had a dominant industry. It has since turned its attention towards tourism. It offers museums and several historical spots, such as the home of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and the Naismith Museum & Hall of Fame.
Almonte retains much of its 19th century architecture. One notable example is the old Post Office, designed in 1889 by Thomas Fuller (architect).
Almonte train wreck, 1942
On December 27, 1942, a troop train rear-ended a passenger train standing in the station at Almonte. Thirty-nine people were killed and more than 150 were injured. Here are some personal recollections of the wreck. [5]
Almonte today
Festivals
Almonte is home to several festivals and events, including Puppets Up!, the North Lanark Highland Games, Naismith 3-on-3 Basketball Festival, Sunday afternoon tea dances, and Almonte Celtfest.
Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival
The Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival is held annually in Almonte.
The Festival attracts puppet performers from various parts of the world. The 2009 Festival included acts from Canada, the U.S. and Iceland [6]. The Festival also features a range of buskers, musicians, clowns, magicians and dancers.
Schools
Almonte has three elementary schools: R. Tait McKenzie Public School, Naismith Memorial Public School and Holy Name of Mary Catholic School. Almonte and District High School serves the town of Almonte and much of the surrounding rural area. The Almonte campus of the T.R. Leger School provides adult education and literacy classes.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River which runs through Almonte has no connection with the U.S. river of the same name.
References
- ^ County of Lanark website Lanark County: Local Municipalities, last retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Wheatley, Gerry. "David Shepherd was Almonte's first settler", The Almonte Gazette, Almonte, February 26, 1992
- ^ Cosentino, Frank. Almonte: the life of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, p.p.4-5, General Store Publishing, 2000
- ^ Cosentino, Frank. Almonte: the life of Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, p.p.4-5, General Store Publishing, 2000
- ^ "Troop special plows into local at Almonte", Globe and Mail, December 28, 1942, pg.1
- ^ Puppets Up website, 2009
External links
- Almonte website
- Downtown Almonte website
- Town map, 1863 (JPEG)
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