Perth, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Perth is a town
in the eastern
portion of Southern
Ontario
, Canada
(pop. 6,003 in 2001). It is located on the Tay River
, 83 km southwest of Ottawa
, and is the seat of Lanark County
.
. Many of the first settlers were military veterans on half pay, while others were military veterans from France
, Germany
, Poland
. Italy
, Scotland
or Ireland
who were offered land in return for their service. The Rev. William Bell, who arrived in June 1817, noted in his diaries that the settlement was more European than the Scottish settlement described to him. A wave of Scottish and Irish immigrants quickly followed. Many of the Scottish immigrants were stonemasons; their work can be seen in many area buildings and in the locks of the Rideau Canal
.
The first secretary/stores-keeper (and eventually postmaster and superintendent) of the settlement was Daniel Daverne, brought up from the Quarter Masters General Department in Kingston, Ontario
to assume these positions.
Perth is home to Canada's oldest pioneer burial ground, St. Paul's United Church Cemetery, formerly The Old Methodist Burying Ground. This cemetery is at the south-east end of the Last Duel Park on Robinson Street. The Craig Street Cemetery, sometimes referred to as the "Old Burying Grounds" also contains many historic graves and saw use from 1820-1873.
The Town's motto is "Pro Rege, Lege et Grege" which was adopted in 1980 along with a new crest. The previous motto, "Festina lente sed certo", and original town crest appears on the uniforms of the Perth Citizen's Band http://www.perthband.ca. Founded in 1850, this band continues a tradition of community music with numerous concerts each season.
Near the town is the home of world show jumping
champion Ian Millar
and Millar Brooke Farm where his great horse Big Ben
(1976–1999) is buried. The town has erected a bronze life-sized statue of the horse and Ian Millar, in John A. Stewart Park, across from the Code's Mill building.
This town was the site of the last fatal duel
in Upper Canada. Robert Lyon, a law student, was killed on June 13, 1833 after fighting over a woman (Elizabeth Hughes) with a former friend, John Wilson.
Perth is also the site of the first installation of a telephone other than Bell's experimental installations. A town dentist, Dr. J. F. Kennedy, a friend of Alexander Graham Bell
, installed a direct telephone connection between his home and office. By 1887, there were 19 telephones in Perth, with a switchboard in Dr. Kennedy's office.
In 2010 Perth held the historic "Kilt Run" in which 1067 kilt-clad runners crossed the finish line. Recently the race was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "largest run while runners are wearing kilts". Another race was run July 2, 2011 with 1094 entrants.
In 1893 a 22,000 pound cheese
known as the 'Mammoth Cheese' was produced in Perth to be exhibited in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exposition
to promote Canadian Cheese around the world.http://www.urbanmarket.com/all-about-perth/past/mammoth.htmlhttp://www.town.perth.on.ca/files/%7B23F58C8F-0414-438E-8C41-7639D2FE5041%7DMAMMOTH%20CHEESE.pdf.
The heritage downtown core of today's Perth consists of boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants, including crafts, antiques and flea market, and summer Farmers' and Craft Markets. Most of these operate out of the century old stone buildings in town. The drugstore on Foster Street in the downtown core (now called Perth Pharmasave, formerly Girdwood's Drug Store) is the oldest continually operating pharmacy in Canada. The Perth Courier is the second-oldest weekly newspaper in Canada. It was independently owned for 155 years until sold in 2006 to a larger publisher. The Links O'Tay Golf course, walking distance from the downtown core, began its trek through golfing history in 1890 and is now Canada's oldest continuously operating golf course. The Perth Citizens Band, still giving concerts on the band stand behind City Hall, is a tradition dating back over 150 years. The band is Canada's oldest active town band. The Perth Citizens Band played "The Maple Leaf Forever" as the Mammoth Cheese departed to the Chicago World's Fair
in 1893. The bandstand has been behind the Town Hall since it was moved there in 1901 and free summer concerts have taken place there ever since.
An interesting feature of the downtown core is the Crystal Palace, constructed from the discarded remnants of the glass street enclosures that used to be on Rideau Street in nearby Ottawa. This structure houses the Perth Farmers' and Craft Markets on summer Saturdays.
Perth is also home to the summer theatre company, the Classic Theatre Festival (www.classictheatre.ca), presenting classic hits from the Golden Age of Broadway and the London Stage at the centrally located Studio Theatre.
An interactive GIS Map of the town of Perth is available on the Town of Perth Site:
GIS Map of Perth
The Tay River
splits into two main channels for much of its course through Perth. Much of downtown Perth, including the town hall, are on the island formed by the two channels.
Population:
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 2904 (total: 3110)
Mother tongue:
.
Both high schools in Perth also offer a variety of other sports, such as basketball, football, soccer and track.
, Scotland
, United Kingdom
Perth
, Western Australia
, Australia
Perth
, Tasmania
, Australia
Perth
, North Dakota
, United States
Asago
, Hyogo prefecture
, Japan
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the eastern
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
portion of Southern
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(pop. 6,003 in 2001). It is located on the Tay River
Tay River (Ontario)
The Tay River is a river in Eastern Ontario which empties into the Rideau River.This river starts in Bobs Lake and flows through Christie Lake. The river then travels through Glen Tay, continuing to Perth. The river splits into two main channels as it flows through downtown Perth. The two...
, 83 km southwest of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, and is the seat of Lanark County
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
.
History
The town was established as a military settlement in 1816, shortly after the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Many of the first settlers were military veterans on half pay, while others were military veterans from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
or Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
who were offered land in return for their service. The Rev. William Bell, who arrived in June 1817, noted in his diaries that the settlement was more European than the Scottish settlement described to him. A wave of Scottish and Irish immigrants quickly followed. Many of the Scottish immigrants were stonemasons; their work can be seen in many area buildings and in the locks of the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
.
The first secretary/stores-keeper (and eventually postmaster and superintendent) of the settlement was Daniel Daverne, brought up from the Quarter Masters General Department in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
to assume these positions.
Perth is home to Canada's oldest pioneer burial ground, St. Paul's United Church Cemetery, formerly The Old Methodist Burying Ground. This cemetery is at the south-east end of the Last Duel Park on Robinson Street. The Craig Street Cemetery, sometimes referred to as the "Old Burying Grounds" also contains many historic graves and saw use from 1820-1873.
The Town's motto is "Pro Rege, Lege et Grege" which was adopted in 1980 along with a new crest. The previous motto, "Festina lente sed certo", and original town crest appears on the uniforms of the Perth Citizen's Band http://www.perthband.ca. Founded in 1850, this band continues a tradition of community music with numerous concerts each season.
Near the town is the home of world show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
champion Ian Millar
Ian Millar
Ian Millar, CM is a Canadian show jumping world champion and Olympic silver medalist. Due to his longevity and accomplishments, he is often nicknamed "Captain Canada" in his sport. He is tied with Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl for most Olympic appearances .-Biography:Millar was born in Halifax,...
and Millar Brooke Farm where his great horse Big Ben
Big Ben (horse)
Big Ben was a world champion show jumping horse.-Birth and Acquisition by Ian Millar:First named "Winston", Big Ben was born at the van Hooydonk Farm in Kalmthout . Although his dam was only 15 hh, Big Ben grew to be a very large horse of 17.3 hands high...
(1976–1999) is buried. The town has erected a bronze life-sized statue of the horse and Ian Millar, in John A. Stewart Park, across from the Code's Mill building.
This town was the site of the last fatal duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
in Upper Canada. Robert Lyon, a law student, was killed on June 13, 1833 after fighting over a woman (Elizabeth Hughes) with a former friend, John Wilson.
Perth is also the site of the first installation of a telephone other than Bell's experimental installations. A town dentist, Dr. J. F. Kennedy, a friend of Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
, installed a direct telephone connection between his home and office. By 1887, there were 19 telephones in Perth, with a switchboard in Dr. Kennedy's office.
In 2010 Perth held the historic "Kilt Run" in which 1067 kilt-clad runners crossed the finish line. Recently the race was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "largest run while runners are wearing kilts". Another race was run July 2, 2011 with 1094 entrants.
In 1893 a 22,000 pound cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
known as the 'Mammoth Cheese' was produced in Perth to be exhibited in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
to promote Canadian Cheese around the world.http://www.urbanmarket.com/all-about-perth/past/mammoth.htmlhttp://www.town.perth.on.ca/files/%7B23F58C8F-0414-438E-8C41-7639D2FE5041%7DMAMMOTH%20CHEESE.pdf.
Sites and attractions
Chicago World's Fair
Chicago World's Fair may refer to:*World's Columbian Exposition of 1893*Century of Progress Exposition of 1933...
in 1893. The bandstand has been behind the Town Hall since it was moved there in 1901 and free summer concerts have taken place there ever since.
An interesting feature of the downtown core is the Crystal Palace, constructed from the discarded remnants of the glass street enclosures that used to be on Rideau Street in nearby Ottawa. This structure houses the Perth Farmers' and Craft Markets on summer Saturdays.
Perth is also home to the summer theatre company, the Classic Theatre Festival (www.classictheatre.ca), presenting classic hits from the Golden Age of Broadway and the London Stage at the centrally located Studio Theatre.
An interactive GIS Map of the town of Perth is available on the Town of Perth Site:
GIS Map of Perth
The Tay River
Tay River (Ontario)
The Tay River is a river in Eastern Ontario which empties into the Rideau River.This river starts in Bobs Lake and flows through Christie Lake. The river then travels through Glen Tay, continuing to Perth. The river splits into two main channels as it flows through downtown Perth. The two...
splits into two main channels for much of its course through Perth. Much of downtown Perth, including the town hall, are on the island formed by the two channels.
Demographics
- Population in 2006: 5907 (2001 to 2006 population change: -1.6 %)
- Population in 2001: 6003
- Population in 1996: 5886 (or 5902 when adjusted for 2001 boundaries)
- Population in 1991: 5576
Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 2904 (total: 3110)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 94.1 %
- French as first language: 2.3 %
- English and French as first language: 0.2 %
- Other as first language: 3.4 %
Sports
Hockey is very popular in Perth as it has been home to senior and junior teams. Currently, Perth is represented by the Blue Wings in the Eastern Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League. Perth was home to a professional baseball team for two years (1936–37) as part of the Canadian-American LeagueCanadian-American League
This article refers to the original incarnation of the Can-Am League, which operated between 1936 and 1951. For the modern league, see Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball...
.
Both high schools in Perth also offer a variety of other sports, such as basketball, football, soccer and track.
Schools
- Queen Elizabeth Elementary School
- Stewart Elementary School
- Perth District Collegiate Institute
- St. John Elementary School
- St. John Catholic High School
- Algonquin College Heritage Institute
- Montessori School http://www.perthchildrenshouse.ca/
Notable people from Perth
- Herbert Taylor ReadeHerbert Taylor ReadeHerbert Taylor Reade VC CB , was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was 28 years old, and a Surgeon in the 61st Regiment , British Army...
, an assistant surgeon with the 61st Regiment, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the siege of Delhi in 1850. - William Richard MotherwellWilliam Richard MotherwellWilliam Richard Motherwell, PC was a provincial and federal Canadian politician.-Biography:Born in Perth, Canada West....
, Former Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture and Federal Minister of Agriculture - Les DouglasLes DouglasLeslie Gordon Douglas was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 52 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings. Born in Perth, Ontario, he would win one Stanley Cup with the Wings in 1943.- References :*...
, former NHL player and winner of the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. - Floyd SmithFloyd SmithRonald Floyd Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres and who coached for 4 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres...
, former NHL player and coach - Gord SmithGord SmithGordon John "Truck" Smith is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He is the older brother of former New York Islanders goaltender Billy Smith....
, former NHL player - Billy SmithBilly Smith (ice hockey)William John Smith, better known as Billy Smith, is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender and is best known for winning four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders and being the first goalie to be credited with a goal....
, Hall of Fame NHL Goaltender - Ian MillarIan MillarIan Millar, CM is a Canadian show jumping world champion and Olympic silver medalist. Due to his longevity and accomplishments, he is often nicknamed "Captain Canada" in his sport. He is tied with Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl for most Olympic appearances .-Biography:Millar was born in Halifax,...
, Olympic equestrian gold-medalist and prolific show-jumper - Mike BrownMike Brown (swimmer)Mike Brown is a Canadian swimmer. He started swimming at age seven and is a student at the University of Calgary. His best finish at a world championships was at the 2005 championships in Montreal, Canada when he finished 2nd in the 200 m breaststroke. Brown won gold at the Commonwealth Games...
, Olympian, Swimming - Sultana FrizellSultana FrizellSultana Frizell is a Canadian track and field athlete competing in the hammer throw. Frizell currently trains under the guidance of Anatoliy Bondarchuk in Kamloops, British Columbia. She competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.-Career:Frizell started her athletic career in figure skating...
, Olympian Hammerthrower - Nick Tritton, Olympian Judo
- Crispin LipscombCrispin LipscombCrispin Lipscomb is a Canadian snowboarder, specializing in the halfpipe event. Lipscomb made his World Cup debut in December 2002 at Whistler, and made his first podium later that season, with a bronze at Serre Chevalier. His first World Cup victory came in 2006, at Furano...
, Olympian Snowboarding - Robert MacLellan, Special Olympian Snowshoeing
Local media
- CHLK-FMCHLK-FMCHLK-FM is a Canadian radio station offering a soft adult contemporary music format with a focus on local/regional news programming at 88.1 FM in Perth, Ontario...
Lake 88.1 FM Radio http://lake88.ca - The Perth Courier Canada's second-oldest weekly newspaper
Sister cities
PerthPerth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Perth
Perth, Tasmania
Perth is a town in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 20 km south of Launceston, on the Midland Highway. The town has a population of 1,984 and is averaging a 1% increase per year . Perth is part of the Northern Midlands Council. Federal Lyons MHR Dick Adams also has an office...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Perth
Perth, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 13 people, 4 households, and 2 families residing in the city. The population density was 98.6 people per square mile . There were 6 housing units at an average density of 45.5 per square mile...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Asago
Asago, Hyogo
Asago was a town located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The town was founded on March 31, 1954 from the merger of the former villages of Yamaguchi and Nakagawa....
, Hyogo prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
External links
- Official town site
- Downtown Heritage Perth
- all about Perth - past,present,future
- Explore Perth
- The Perth Town Crier's Web Site - contains history, news and photos of the area