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The history of Appleton's hotels in not well documented. It appears that Appleton had at least two hotels on the East side of the River. One was opposite the cheese factory and the other was opposite the general store. The hotels provided a place for the mill owners to entertain salesmen, a place for travellers to sleep, and served as the local watering hole.In his book, Historical Sketches of Appleton, Jack Brown makes several mentions of Appleton hotels included:
In 1871 a Mr. Michael Brennan was Appleton's hotel keeper.
In 1897 Mr. Baker changed the name of his hotel from Appleton House to Bay View House.
In 1904 Mr. Thomas C. Arthur sold the hotel to a Mr. Wellington Spearman.
Divided down the centre by the Mississippi River, the community of Appleton has always depended on a bridge to fully connect the community. Over the years a variety of bridges have been constructed in Appleton.
In 1899 tragedy struck when the bridge gave way and killed two men. By 1900 a new bridge had been constructed and was in use. Appleton's current bridge was built in the 1950s and is almost unanimously considered an eyesore among the local residents.
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Bridge over Mississippi River at Appleton, OntarioEarly 20th Century
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.87.2)
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1947 Appleton Women's Institute Quilt1947
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.11.1)
Donated by the Appleton Womens Institute
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In 1944, twenty-four women of Appleton joined forces to create the Appleton Women's Institute. With the Women's Institute motto "For Home and Country" the Appleton Women's Institute quickly set out to help the local community and the nation.During the War years, the women took up war work and Red Cross work making quilts, knitting garments, sewing items, preparing supplies and raising money for our Canadian troops and allies in England. After the War the Women's Institute returned to a local focus sponsoring school events, running educational trips, offering home economics/health courses and fundraising.
In 1946 began compiling a Tweedsmuir Village History of Appleton - recording Appleton's pioneer history and current events. The end result is an amazing wealth of information on local farms, businesses, churches and the community in general.
The Women's Institute continues to play an important role in communities across Canada.
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Former Chinchilla farm operated by John Clarke13 November 2012
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.91.51)
Photographer: Sarah Bennett
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Appleton has been home to a variety of businesses including a chinchilla farm. Raised for the fashion industry, chinchilla pelts make beautiful coats and accessories. After serving in WWII, John Clarke and his wife Edith moved to Appleton and started raising chinchillas.Mr. Clarke came to be renowned across Canada and the United States for his expertise in Chinchilla Farming. In addition to raising Chinchilla's, Mrs. Clarke also raised chickens and sold her eggs to the Carleton Place CO-OP after careful candle inspection.
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Former Methodist United Church in Appleton13 November 2012
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.91.24 )
Photographer: Sarah Bennett
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Appleton was once home to two Churches: Methodist and Presbyterian. Now only one of the churches stands a reminder of Appleton's Past. The former stone Church (Methodist/United) is still in excellent condition and is being used as a residence.The Appleton Presbyterian Church was built in c.1875 on land donated by Andrew Wilson (Pt. West half Lot 3 Concession 10). In 1925 the Church was closed and the congregation joined either the Presbyterian Church in Almonte or joined the newly formed United Church of Canada which operated in the former Methodist Church. The Presbyterian Church was demolished in 1931.
The Appleton Methodist Church was built on property donated by Joseph Teskey on the East side of the Mississippi River (Pt. West half Lot 4 Concession 10). The Church was originally constructed as a frame building painted white in 1868. This frame structure burned down in 1887 and was rebuilt as a stone church in c. 1889. Robert Teskey was given the honor of laying the corner stone for the new stone church.
In 1925 the Methodist Church of Canada and the part of the Presbyterian Church of Canada united to form the United Church of Canada. In Appleton, this change resulted in the closure of the Presbyterian Church and the opening of St. Andrew's United Church in the former Methodist Church. Appleton's United Church operated until 1962 and the congregation moved to Almonte.
Roman Catholics in the community of Appleton have always travelled to Almonte for mass or attended Bible Readings at local homes.
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Methodist Church AppletonAppleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.55.145.123)
Donated by Sheila Babb and Ann E. Love
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Appleton General Store, Late 1940sLate 1940s
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Trisha Stewart
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The history of Appleton's general stores and post office are interwoven. Albert Teskey, brother of mill owners Robert and Joseph, was the first to open a general store in Appleton. He was also the first postmaster in the village. Albert served as postmaster from 1857 to 1883.In 1857 the Post Office came to "Teskeyville", but since another community was already operating under that name, the community was renamed "Appleton". Throughout Appleton's history the owner of the general store was also quite often the postmaster.
The general store always sold a variety of items. In A History of the Appleton School, S.S. No. 11 Ramsay, Laura O'Brien Russell remembers that when John A. McGregor operated the store (1899-1931) he sold: yard goods (cloth), bananas, lanterns, harness parts, wash tubs, copper boilers, smoked hams, round of cheese sold in chunks, candies, bull's eyes, licorice pipes, sour balls & suckers.
Owners of general stores in Appleton:
Albert Teskey (1857-c.1883)
Arthur (1860-1883)
Thomas C. Arthur (1883-1892)
Wesley West (1892-1899)
John A. McGregor (1899-1931)
David McNeely(1931-1937)
Robert M. Baird (1931-1939)
William Russell Lyons (1939-c.1949)
W.A. Gambell (c.1950-c.1960)
Kathleen Neil (1961-1970?)
Postmasters in Appleton:
Albert Teskey (1857-1883)
Thomas C. Arthur (1883-1888)
John M. Munro (1888-1889)
William Garvin (1889-1912)
Mrs. Susan Garvin (1912-1913)
John A. McGregor (1913-1931)
David McNeely (1931-1937)
Robert M. Baird (1937-1939)
William Russell Lyons (1939-1946)
Mrs. Jessie J. Lyons (1946-1949)
Mrs. Mildred Gambell (1950-1953)
Mrs. Violet Gladish (1954-1955)
Mrs. Slades Dowdall (1955)
Mrs. Mildred Gambell (1955-1960)
Mrs. Kathleen Neil (1961-1970)
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Lyons General Store Appleton. Photo by Malak Karsh1945-1946
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.79.12.2)
Photographer: Malak Karsh
Donated by Eleanor Wright & Irene Dunn Thompson
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Appleton Post Office (Lyons General Store Appleton) c.1945-1946. Photo by Malak Karsh1945-1946
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.79.12.1)
Photographer: Malak Karsh
Donated by Eleanor Wright & Irene Dunn Thompson
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Former General Store Appleton. The W.R. Lyons sign is still visible under the W.A. Gambell sign13 November 2012
Appleton, Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North Lanark Regional Museum (2012.91.05)
Photographer: Sarah Bennett
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