History of Lanark Eighty five years ago the Village of Lanark came into existence. A band of Scottish emigrants hailing from Glasgow arrived at the eminence overlooking the valley of the Clyde in the month of September, 1820, and viewed for the first time their new Canadian home. These hardy progenitors were mostly weavers and spinners in the old land, who, at a time when the industry in which they were engaged suffered from general depression, were induced under the British Government's colonization scheme to leave their native heath and seek homes in Canada. This was but a part of the great tide of emigration which, beginning at the termination of the American War of 1812-15, continued unabated for a decade. It was no trifling impulse that led these people to separate themselves from the ties and associations of Auld Scotia but rather the resolute determination of men and women bound by tradition and national sentiment to the principle of "glorious" independence. To them pioneering was an experiment fraught with trials and experiences to which they were unaccustomed. Years of factory life where the daily routine consisted of a close application to the affairs of threads and looms and evenings spent on the Trongate, Argyle and Jamaica streets, meeting and bowing to numerous "kent" faces was a far cry back from the strenuous work of wrestling with pine trees and maples, and nights endured in gloomy forests. And as the stout ship Commerce lay tied up to the quay at Greenock that grey drizzling June morning ready to cast adrift and bear this band away to the new land it cannot be wondered at if they felt certain misgivings as to the outcome of their venture. Nor has time dimmed the perspective of that parting scene. We see them grouped in circles of families and acquaintances, in the sheds, saying goodbye. "Auld Lang Syne" is sung in the "Glesca" fashion and as no others on earth can. There is perhaps the slightest trace of emotion in some of the voices when they sing "we'll meet again some ither nicht," but it is only for a moment and then the chorus reels grandly in conclusion, "for auld lang syne." And among the many matters demanding attention is that of their future religious observances. A Scotchman without his "kirk" is like a ship wanting a rudder. So a petition is framed, signed and handed to the "meenister" there to see them off, that just so soon as the new colony is established and a suitable living assured the church authorities at home are to send out a clergyman. The voyage across the seas is long and tempestuous so that the voyageurs experienced a sense of great relief when they set foot upon the new shores. LANARK AT LAST. A rough road from Perth to Lanark allowed the use of wagons. It may be surmised however that this roadway was not up to the standard that we now recognize; in fact the emigrants expressed their disapproval of the King's highway in strong broad Scotch. "It's no fenzies bus yir on noo, Tam, and this no Sauchiehall Street !" exclaimed Jems, as the wheel jolted over a boulder for the thousandth time. But all things come to an end, the settlers were left to move for themselves upon arrival at Lummix -- as it was then christened and has been ever since known by many -- the wagons returned to Perth relieved of their human freight and effects. "Whit is yon, Tam ?" enquired Jems as he gazed out upon the world of pine and tamarack that rolled away in a vast green mass before them. "Whit is yon ?" He pointed in the direction of a hut built of bushes, on the farther side of the stream. "I dinna ken," ventured Jems, "but it looks maist awfy like a Robinson Crusoe hoose an' ah shuldna wunner if a body in goat skin robes shuld come oot ot." Just then a tall military gentleman emerged from the hut engaging their attention, crossed the river on a log that served for a dry passage, advanced along the trail and approached the newcomers. This was Brevet-Major Marshall who had been sent out by the Government to superintend the new settlement on the banks of the Clyde. Other parties had arrived during the summer, coming over on the ships Brock and Prompt and these, including families which were later destined to play an important part in the history of Lanark Village, had proceeded on to the Townships of Dalhousie, Lanark and Darling. "THIS IS LANARK." The feelings of our forefathers on coming to this, their destination, can be well imagined. The embryo Lanark Village was only known by a placard on a tree which stood as nearly as can now be determined on the middle of the present main street between Caldwell's store and the Clyde Hotel, bearing the words, "This is Lanark." On every side was a forest of pine; the little "burn" gleaming among the trees was an unimportant waterway compared with the Clyde of Bonnie Scotland. This however was where our stout-hearted pioneers had to begin their new life and they entered into the work with spirit and zeal. THE PIONEER HOMESTEADERS. Major Marshall proved a wise and competent official. The allotment of lands progressed without friction and in a short time work had been begun on new possessions. James Hall, Alex. Ferguson, Robert James, James Timmson, A. Blackwood, Peter McLaren, Captain Matthew Leech, James Lindsay, James Thomson and Wm. Gordon were among the first establishing homes in Lanark. The British Government had given these men grants of land, each 200 acres, and in addition a bonus in money to carry them through the early stages of their undertaking. Implements were also provided but these were heavy, cumbrous tools and one [was??] a hardy man indeed who today would wield the hoe of 1820. Grindstones were a necessary article of the settler's equipment but these were furnished on the group system -- one grindstone to a group of perhaps a dozen families. Lanark's first grindstone did almost hourly service at its stand at Bower's Rapids. Here our weavers slowly acquired the art of grinding to a keen edge although it was impossible to get the shapely bit and well balanced head our choppers demand today on account of the clumsy pattern of the Government axes. The fall of 1820 saw a number of houses erected to form a nucleus of the village but as much haste had to be exercised constructing these, in order to make them endurably comfortable for the winter, their exteriors did not present a pleasing type of architecture. Moreover, a Glasgow weaver is not the person one would engage to build a house. The niceties of carpentry are not part of his education and it must not be wondered at if a door or window were set out of plumb.
|
