When I arrived in Almonte in June of 1976 I rented a house from Rev. and Mrs. George Bickley who then resided in the manse of St. Paul’s Anglican Church where Rev. Bickley was the minister. The first house I bought in 1978 was a very small house. Otherwise there are few remarkable features of it I now recall. One however lingers. That was a handmade bespoke stained glass window. It too was relatively small, say 1½ feet square, with an ancient pine frame. The glasswork was made by Robert Pauly who I believe then had the further distinction of living in the Village of Clayton. I do not remember how I was introduced to the artist but I clearly recollect that in addition to appreciating his talent I enjoyed dealing with him. He stood out as they say. He was animated and up-lifting. The small window was located slightly above eye-level on the eastern exterior wall of the living room. As you might well conclude, it invited the early morning sunshine and profited in due course from the exuberance of the thriving stained glass. The little window (it was almost a porthole) opened and closed, with a brass hinge to secure it.
