S.S.#2 TARBUTT AND LAIRD SCHOOLThe first school was built on the corner of NE 1/4 Section P Laird Township, it was built of logs by John Armstrong for $240 and was accepted by the school board August 2, 1884. The first Board meeting was held on November 9, 1883 withContinue Reading
S.S.#3 LAIRD Early documents relating to this school cannot be located. None-the-less it is known that this school section was formed in 1897 by the Municipal council. The first trustees elected were D. Blair, D. Forrest, and T. Lidstone. A construction contract was let to Levi Mick and Dan McIverContinue Reading
S.S.#4 UNION SCHOOL, LAIRD AND MACDONALD 1915-1962This school was commonly known as the Bar River School. It was built in 1915 on land purchased from G.H. Lapish in Section 4 of Laird township. The school was built of brick veneer at a contract price of $1,950. Funding sources for thisContinue Reading
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The history of the Presbyterian Church in the township is interesting. Previous to the erection of a Presbyterian church in Laird those of that faith met with the Presbyterians at MacLennan – a long and arduous trip by wagon. The MacLennan congregation had become divided through disagreementsContinue Reading
The Lapish Family“Drop The Anchor, Boys!” Mrs. Elizabeth Lapish Ordered, And Hence Became The First Settlers Of Laird TownshipThomas Lapish had come to Sault Ste. Marie as early as 1865. His aunt, Maria Lapish Hetherington, was housekeeper to Colonel John Prince, and as a landowner in that locality, sheContinue Reading
THE EVOY FAMILYThey Were Both Lay-Preachers And Blacksmiths, And Set About “Cutting Hay In The Meadow” Because he could see a dim future for his family in Marlborough Township, Carleton County, John Evoy applied for and was granted land in Laird Township, namely 309 acres in Section 3. In theContinue Reading
THE FREMLIN FAMILYResilience Prevailed And They Bounced Back From All Disasters Fate Handed ThemIt was late in the fall of 1879 that the Fremlin family arrived at the wharf at Marksville on St. Joseph’s Island from Collingwood. William David Fremlin was born to “comfortable circumstances” in England, and was untrainedContinue Reading
THE TOMLINSON FAMILYCommunity Spirit With Farming, Township Clerk, School Board, And Even Bell CanadaCaptain Nicholas Tomlinson came from England by boat with his brother who settled in Southern Ontario. Captain Nicholas settled in Laird, the deed stating the date 1883. Thomas Matthew, son to Nicholas and Martha, was born inContinue Reading
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA The event of Church Union was a topic of controversy for many, however, and with the decision made the Bar River Methodist Church became a part of the United Church of Canada, with Mr. Peter Renner as pulpit supply. Rev. Crawford Tate was the firstContinue Reading
THE METHODIST CHURCHThe Methodist cause had its beginnings at Bar River in the home of John Evoy who was a lay preacher. Mr. Evoy had conducted church meetings and preached sermons in his former home area, and had strong religious convictions and invited his neighbours to come to his homeContinue Reading