From Left to Right CP Library CEO Meriah Caswell, CP Manager of Recreation and Culture Joanne Henderson, CP and Beckwith Museum Curator Jennifer Irwin, and CP Councillor Linda Seccaspin (Brian Turner Photo)
On Friday, May 30th, the Carleton Place Library unveiled a plaque honouring Charles Leslie McFarlane, the ghost author of 21 of the famous Hardy Boys mystery novels.
McFarlane was a well known journalist, screenwriter, and filmmaker born in Carleton Place in 1902.
His son, famed Hockey Night in Canada commentator Brian McFarlane reported his father earned a paltry $85 per book written (about $2,000 today).
The monies were used, according to Brian’s recollection of what his father told him, in order to buy coal for the family home furnace.
Brian wrote that his dad never read the books after writing them.
Library CEO Meriah Caswell paid tribute to McFarlane’s work.
The plaque was installed beside the walkway into the library with plans and room for future honourees. Caswell noted the importance of supporting local authors and their works.
The Hardy Boys’ series have been read by tens of millions of children in over 20 different languages around the world.
Story by Brian Turner
