Elora, Ontario

Ahrens’ mother, Isabella Laird, was raised in Elora. Her family emigrated from Scotland in 1841 and were among the first settlers of the area. Many of her siblings remained in the vicinity during Ahrens’ childhood, so he visited the area frequently.

Once, while playing a game of chicken with other boys along the gorge, he leaned out too far over a cliff, fell into the river, and broke a couple of ribs. A place called Lover's Leap is mentioned in his writings, though it is unlikely he would have survived a fall from that spot.

Ahrens’ uncle, Joseph Laird, was a potter in Elora; it’s likely that Carl learned the craft from him. Elbert Hubbard later hired Ahrens as the head of the pottery department for the Roycroft art community in East Aurora, New York. Ahrens also taught pottery at Chautauqua in upstate New York.

Images From Elora

Grand River flowing through the limestone gorge in Elora — The Grand River, as seen from inside the gorge. Ahrens often canoed this river in his youth.

Chris and Kim seated on rocks beside the Grand River — Kim Bullock and her cousin, Chris Keith, by the Grand River.

Elora downtown buildings reflected in calm water — Elora downtown

Historic storefronts along an Elora old town street — Elora old town

Three visitors seated on a log inside the Elora Gorge — Kim Bullock (left) with friends inside Elora Gorge.

Lover's Leap rock formation above the river in Elora — Lover's Leap

River winding through the wooded Elora Gorge — Elora Gorge river overlook

Tall cedar trees along a quiet path in Elora — Cedar grove in Elora

Elora, Ontario

Elora and Carl Ahrens

Images From Elora

Images from Elora gallery