reflections
LADD'S MILLS
 
This is the farm which we class as Ladd 1 Homestead on the outskirts of Coaticook, known as Ladd's Mills
 
A short Historical Sketch by May Ladd Drew born Sept. 8 1890
My Grandfather, Zoroaster [ Zoroz ] was born in Plainfield, NH on April 24, 1800. With his nine children, he moved to Quebec, Canada, settling in the township of Barnston, that part that was later called Ladd's Mills. His tenth child, my father Ira M. Ladd was born on the farm between Coaticook and Ladd's Mills, where the Golf Links are now located. Later they lived on a farm once owned by the late Henry Snow, Sr. The railroad was being built and she boarded the men who worked on it. At that time, my grandfather owned in and around what was later called Ladd's Mills. Later he moved to the place where he died in 1884. The Red School House yard joined Zoroaster's yard and at one time was a part of his daughter's property, Mrs. Adeline Ladd Jenkins. My Father, Ira M. Ladd, Zoroaster's tenth child was born in 1853. In Coaticook, Ira Ladd married Mary Winslow [Minnie} from Island Pond, Vermont, on April 21st, 1881. They had four children. Wilbur who died in the First World War. John who carried on the Home Farm for some years went to live in New Hampshire, I, May Ladd Drew am the third child. For nineteen years, my husband, my children and I lived in the house where Zoroaster and his wife died, and where my Aunt Adeline Ladd Jenkins had lived for many years. My brother, Loren, is in Crofton, BC Aunt Adeline can be remembered for her lovely flower garden, her beautiful black hors, Zulu and her luxurious carriage with the fringe on top. My father, Ira Ladd, built a dam on the brook near his house. His farm was very near the house where his father and mother and sister, Adeline Ladd Jenkins lived, just down the hill and over the bridge, on the left. After building the dam which made a pond that was once twenty feet deep, he built a grist mill that ran by water power. He also had a circular saw and a jig-saw. There was a small mill at the head of the pond which was built by Levi Belknap. He also built the house near the pond and close to the road which was afterwards known the Dupuis House. I don't know just at what date the Post Office was started and the locality called Ladd's Mills. My father kept the Post Office till he died in 1894. I think that he and my mother gave the place the name Ladd's Mills. After my father's death in 1894, my mother, with occasional help, kept the post office till the rural route came through. There was a cheese factory in Ladd's Mills years ago. My brother Loren and I often went there to get curds on our way to school. Later it became a creamery and was last owned by A. L. Dupuis of Coaticook. There was also an old shop near the bridge where Ed and Fred Bryan made washing machines. My mother hand one of the machines. They were mounted on springs, and had to be pushed back and forth to clean the clothes. Ladd's Mills was a nice neighbourhood in which there were parties in the houses and in the summer picnics in my mother's grove. There was a ball team too, where games were enjoyed on the flat hill tops in front of the grove. Now there is nothing to show that there was a little settlement there, but the name remains on the road which runs from Coaticook up through to Dixville. It is called the Ladd's Mills road. There is one other road that is marked on the map. It branches off from the main road and is called the Grady road. Mr. Thomas Grady, Sr. came many years ago from Kinnears Mills and settled on what is now called the Grady road. His grand-children who were born on the home place are now scattered. Edna, Mrs. Elliott of Sawyerville; Helen, Mrs. Huntley of Boston, Mass; Gordon of Sherbrooke; Ross of Edmonton, Alberta; Austin of Dixville; Murray of Coaticook; and Alton of Rock Island. Mrs. Alex Grady, the loved teacher who taught the school for many years will long be remembered.
Old Residents of Ladd's Mills
Listed by May Ladd Drew at the age of 75 which puts this as 1965
William Bryan Sr.
Will Bryan, Jr.
Ed Bryan
Rufus Poole Harry Paxton and Family
Wright Davis Sr.
Wright Davis Jr. And Family Ed Davis and Family
Major Molony, retired soldier from India and Family
Frank Molony
Willie Brooke and Family
George Johann and Family
Mr. And Mrs. Falconer, Sr.
Raymond Falconer and Family
Charles Lapointe and Family
Mr. Cote’
Charles Melrose and Family
Mr. Crevier
Mr. Bergeron
John Bradley
Tom Sage and Family
Edward Sage and Family
Mr. Jenkins Ladd
Harry Cartwright and Family
Mr. Paradis
Mr. Caron
Mr. Dupuis
Mr. Dube
Ed Hill and Family now the Fournier place
Dave Bishop
Geene Bishop
Tobials Green
Henry Green
Bill Green [present resident]
James Thompson and Family
Charles Ladd and Granddaughter, Flora
Mr. Riendeau
Mr. Boivin
Mr. Leadbeater
Fritz Huntoon
Phillippe Dupuis
 
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