Perth, Ontario

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Perth is a town in eastern 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. Its centre is located at 44 degrees, 53 minutes, 59.97 seconds N, 76 degrees, 14 minutes, 59.99 seconds W; or in Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 18 at GR 401300 E, 4972600 N, or more simply VQ 013726.

History

The town was established as a military settlement in 1816, shortly after the War of 1812. Many of the first settlers were military veterans on half pay, while others were immigrants from Scotland or Ireland. Many of the Scottish immigrants were stonemasons; their work can be seen in many area buildings and in the locks of the Rideau Canal.

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, across from the Code's Mill building.

This town was the site of the last fatal duel in the province. Robert Lyon, a law student, was killed on June 13 1833 after an argument 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 and 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.

Sites and attractions

Historic downtown Perth

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 building on the Tay Basin is the location of the new Crystal Palace Market where primarily local artisans offer crafts on Saturdays.

The heritage downtown core of today's Perth now boasts of over 80 unique stores, boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants, including crafts, antiques and flea market, and summer Farmers' Market, for the visitor looking for alternatives to the big city shopping malls. 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 Link's of 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's Band, still giving concerts in 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 accompanied the Mammoth Cheese to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.

At the edge of town there is an interesting Round Garden for the blind. On a circular walkway, raised beds have signs in English, French and Braille. Attention is paid to the senses other than sight. The Perth Farmers' Market that used to operate at the downtown Crystal Palace, is now operating in the Market Square, off Gore Street, just beside the Town Hall. Perth is the winner of multiple awards including the "Prettiest town in Ontario" and the Prince of Wales Award for architectural preservation. In the summer of 2006, Canada AM selected Perth as one of four unique communities from across Canada to feature on their Breakfast show.

PDF versions of a visitors guide to Downtown Heritage Perth is available for printing at: Your Quick Guide to the Merchants of Downtown Perth

An interactive GIS Map of the town of Perth is available on the Town of Perth Site: GIS Map of Perth

According to the 2001 Statistics Canada Census:

% Change (1996-2001): 1.7
Dwellings: 2,953
Area (km2.): 10.36
Density (persons per km2.): 579.2

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 League. Football is also very popular as both respected high school have varsity teams.

Schools

Notable People from Perth

Herbert Taylor Reade, an assistant surgeon with the 61st Regiment, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the siege of Delhi in 1850.
Marks Brothers, who were billed as the Canadian Kings of Repertoire and the most remarkable theatrical family in Canadian history.
Ian Millar, Olympic equestrian gold-medalist and prolific show-jumper
Billy Smith, Hall of Fame NHL Goaltender
NHLer Floyd Smith
Mike Brown, Olympian, Swimming
Nathan McLaren, one of Canada's top rudimental drummers
Les Douglas, former NHLer and winner of the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings.
Gord Smith, former NHLer

Local Media

Lake 88 88.1 FM Radio
The Perth Courier Canada's second-oldest weekly newspaper

Sister Cities

Scotland Perth, Scotland

External links

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