This captivating image of the interior of Lyon’s General Store in Appleton was taken by Malak Karsh, brother of the famed portrait photographer, Yousuf Karsh. Malak Karsh spent a week in Appleton in either 1945 or 1946, taking the opportunity to document Appleton’s mills and community with his beautiful photographs. During this week, Karsh stayed with the Hutchinson family, and as a thank-you, Karsh gifted an album of photographs to the family. This treasured album contained select images of Appleton Karsh had taken during his stay, like this one of Lyon’s General Store. A copy of this album was given to two local residents, who recently donated it to the museum, providing an unparalleled glimpse into Appleton’s thriving community in the mid-1940s.
Among his notable achievements, Malak Karsh became a celebrated photographer of the Ottawa region, even getting one of his photographs featured on the back of the one-dollar bill. He was also one of the founders of the Canadian Tulip Festival, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996.
