- 1951, Thursday September 6, The Almonte Gazette front page
Traffic Accident Injuries Claim Second Victim in Town Fire Chief
Almonte lost one of its most popular and dynamic citizens, Wednesday evening, when Harry H. Houston died in the Rosamond Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries received in a traffic accident on highway 44, Saturday afternoon, August 25th. He was in his 58th year. As recorded in last week's paper, Mrs Houston was riding with her husband in a light truck bound for Ottawa Exhibition when another vehicle of the same kind drove across the highway bound from Carp to Stittsville. It was driven by Ray Bell of the last mentioned village. The two machines collided and all three people were injured. Mr and Mrs Houston were brought to the local hospital where the latter died early Monday morning, Aug 27th. Her funeral was held on the following Wednesday. At first it was believed by attending physicians that Mr Houston had a good chance for recovery, barring complications. But as the week wore toward a close his condition took a turn for the worse. He spent a poor week-end and keen anxiety arose among those closely in touch with him. He did not improve with the result that death ensued Wednesday evening. It is believed that shock of his wife's death and the mental depression it caused took all the fight out of the grieving husband and made him an easier prey to the injures he had received. Harold Henry Houston was born in Almonte, a son of the late Robert Houston and his wife, Annie Prince. He was educated in the local schools and was a life long resident of the town except for the period he served Overseas in the First World War. As a young man he learned the plumbing and heating business, serving his apprenticeship under J.H. Martin, and for many years he was a valued employee of Taylor Hardwares Limited. He was active service with the 52nd Battery Field Artillery from 1914 to 1918 and saw much of the stubborn fighting in France. On his return home, he went back with Taylor's and continued with them until he set up business for himself some 15 years ago. Twenty years ago, the late Mr Houston succeeded Mr J.H. Martin as fire chief for the town. He enthusiasm for this branch of the civic service was boundless and there is no record of all the trips he made day and night in his own car to houses where an incipient fire had broken out which he felt he could quell without turning in a general alarm. He got along well with the men of the brigade ? not always an easy task ? and his work was most efficient. It was nothing for him to turn in an annual report to the Council showing practically no damage. He used to say the town was lucky in this connection but the property owners really owed much to his vigilance. In his early days, Harry played lacrosse and hockey and as he grew older the less strenuous games such as curling and softball commanded his attention. He was a charter member of the local branch of the Canadian Legion and he took an interest in veteran's affairs. He only made one plunge into municipal politics and that was soon after he came back from Overseas, when he ran for councillor and headed the polls. He must not have cared for public life as he served only one term. He was a member of Almonte United Church and in politics was a Conservative. Surviving are three sons ? Gordon of Ottawa and Donald and Douglas of Almonte. There are also three sisters and five brothers, namely, Annie (Mrs Chris Johnson) Arnprior; Bella (Mrs Hiram Hudson) Arnprior; Mrs Jean Armstrong, Carleton Place; Jack, Alex, Robert, George and Charles of Almonte. One sister, Mary, died many years ago. The funeral will be held from the family residence William Street, Saturday afternoon, to the Auld Kirk Cemetery at 2.30 p.m. There will be a service at the house half an hour earlier. The death of Mr Houston, one of Almonte's most familiar figures, always hurrying to do some job or to get to the scene of a fire, leaves a void in the life of the community which only those who live here can fully appreciate. The double tragedy that descended on the family so suddenly has aroused widespread sympathy for the three sons, the brothers and sisters.
1951, Thursday September 13, The Almonte Gazette front page
Mile Long Cortege Marks Funeral Of Former Fire Chief
The funeral of the late Harry Houston, wellknown businessman and fire chief of Almonte, on Saturday afternoon from the family residence, William Street, to the Auld Kirk Cemetery, was one of the largest ever held in Almonte. his comrades of the local branch of the Canadian Legion and members of fire brigades from Almonte and many other branches in the Eastern Ontario Fire Fighters' Association marched in a body. It is estimated the cortege was at least a mile long. As stated in last week's paper, Mr Houston died on Wednesday night in the Rosamond Memorial Hospital as a result of injuries he sustained in a traffic accident on his way to Ottawa on Saturday afternoon, Aug 25. His wife, who was riding with him, died early Monday morning following the crash which occurred on Highway 44 near Carp. In addition to three sons, three sisters and five brothers whose names were mentioned in the obituary. Mr Houston leaves a granddaughter, Norma Jean, of Ottawa. Services were conducted at the home and the grave side by Rev H.C. Wolfraim, pastor of Almonte United Church. Pallbearers were six of the local firemen, namely, Deputy Chief Durward Washburn and Messrs John Lyons, John Lamaistre, Thos Blakeley, Kenneth Horton and George Julian.
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1893 - 1951 (58 years)
