Once again today, dear Reader, I was reminded of the ineffable natural beauty of Lanark County (our local seat) and nearby Renfrew County (the erstwhile lumber towns which many years go indirectly afforded Almonte the facility of the national railway connection for its own thriving woollen industry).  On my way out of Almonte today to Arnprior I passed along a roadway which easily competes with my beloved Appleton Side Road about which I have so often expatiated.

The gripping country roadway of which I speak begins in the heart of Almonte at the intersection of Ottawa Street and Martin St N. To my eternal embarrassment – after having lived and worked in the Town of Almonte for almost 50 years – I have no idea of the etymology or chronology of Martin Street. Never do I recall having heard a mention of the surname or proper name Martin in the context of the history of the town. I can however observe that the first house in which I lived upon my arrival in Almonte in June of 1976 was that of Rev. and Mrs. George Bickley on Martin St S mere steps from the shore of the Mississippi River where I would take my Yellow Labrador pet (nicknamed “Lanny” for his purebred registered name Lanark Drummond Beckwith of Rosedale – the latter being the name of the kennel at the east end of Ottawa, the former being names of townships in the County of Lanark). Rev. Bickley was then the minister of St. Paul’s Anglican Church at the corner of Clyde and Brougham Streets where he and his wife lived in the adjoining rectory along the Mississippi River.

Martin S N (which I believe is also called County Road 17) passes the high school and soon becomes a direct country road through enormous picturesque farmland towards the Village of Blakeney (or what I never fail to recall – as was told to me by the late Raymond A. Jamieson QC – was initially named the Village of Rosebank, a name I much prefer). Martin St N through the farmland is likely the 10th Concession line of the county (which explains its ponderously acute formation – unlike the Quarter Sessions Roads built for convenience and accessibility rather than pure definition of boundary).

Martin St N – once having led to the Village of Blakeney – turns onto the Blakeney Road (an equally idyllic country road) which twists along what I presume to be an outer boundary of adjoining Township of Pakenham then joins Panmure Road which is probably one of the first maintained division roads between Lots in the lower Concessions of the Township of West Carleton (now part of the City of Ottawa).

Panmure Road – which I suspect has recently been repaved – is now one of the best kept secrets of the area.  As the road approaches the remote Ottawa River, the land begins an unanticipated trajectory downhill. Once again the surrounding farmlands are extensive – to the point of causing one to gasp at the suddenly unfamiliar breadth of landscape. The corner of Panmure Road and Upper Dwyer Hill Road was for many years the resource of freshly harvested vegetables by the family of Graham Hudson (lately deceased). Graham was one of the finest people whom I have had the pleasure to know. Both he and his relative – Alf Hudson – were leading members of Mississippi Masonic Lodge No. 147.

Application for Admission made by Alfred Moorhouse Hudson, age 25 years, Farmer, of Township of Fitzroy in the County of Carleton on September 7, 1923.

On March 7, 1974:
V. Wor. Bro. Alfred M. Hudson was called forward and received a Fifty Year Lapel Button presented by Bro. Tripp. V. Wor. Bro. Hudson was congratulated on his fifty years service as a Mason, to Mississippi Lodge and to Grand Lodge. He replied in a very suitable manner, mentioning many men with whom he had been associated during his years in the Craft. He said that men were attracted to Masonry by the example of men they knew to be Masons. Wor. Bro. Allan McIntosh expressed his personal appreciation to V. Wor. Bro. Hudson for his help and advice during the past few years.

November 4, 1955:
Application from Mr. Stuart Graham Hudson age 22 years occupation Farmer, residence R.R. No. 1, Kinburn. Wor. Bro. Hudson has continued to this day to be very active in Lodge affairs and has on numerous occasions skilfully supervised the installation of the Master Elect. On his initiation, the Master in the Chair was Vy. Wor. Bro. Alf Hudson (uncle); and, on the side benches were Bro. Stuart Hudson (father) and Bro. George Graham (grandfather). When Wor. Bro. Graham Hudson was honoured by the residents of West Carleton in recent years, the subject of his active membership in the Craft was a source of constant reference and many quips.

Panmure Road connects to Hwy#417 parallel the Ottawa River into the County of Renfrew to my particular destination in the Town of Arnprior. Though Hwy#417 is a 4-lane highway (with an authorized speed limit of 110 Km/h) it is nonetheless an uncommonly pleasant highway as it intersects expansive farmlands and crosses the winding Mississippi River. The views are nothing short of spectacular.