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Archived newsletters
SPRING 2009 Spring has arrived! And so should this newsletter... about 2 months ago. It’s been a busy winter and now we are on the cusp of another season at the museum. I’ve received many notes after my first newsletter and I want to thank everyone who made suggestions. It's hard to believe another year has come and gone and we are well into January of 2009. Although many think that I drew the short straw in the fall, truth be told it's an honour for me to take the torch from Jim Brownell as the new editor of the LVHS newsletter. You could say I was anxious to DIVE into the role! My only hope is that everyone reading the newsletter will remember that I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be, a writer. Therefore I am relying on lots of submissions from members near and far.
DECEMBER PRE-CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON MEETING The December meeting of the Lost Villages Historical Society will take the form of a luncheon, on Monday, December 5, 2008, at 12:00 noon, in Christ Anglican Church Hall, Long Sault (corner of Mille Roches Road and Bethune Street). This is a Potluck Luncheon, and we encourage you to bring along a favourite dish, along with a relative or friend. Please call Sherry MacDonald at 613-534-4182 or Jane Craig at 613-534-8831, to reserve your spot. It is important that you call, as organizers do have to set up places in the hall. We are asking members and friends to bring along non-perishable food items, to be added to the Christmas food-baskets for the needy, that are being prepared by our local fire departments. LAST NEWSLETTER EDITED BY JIM BROWNELL With this newsletter, Jim Brownell would like to say "goodbye" to members and friends who have enjoyed the newsletters, over the years. When Jim co-chaired "Celebration 30", in 1988, with the late Fran Laflamme, he decided to produce a newsletter for the Historical Society. For many years, monthly newsletters were produced, then, when he was elected as Member of Provincial Parliament, they became bi-monthly. During the past year, because of work commitments, these newsletters have become sporadic. Lost Villages Historical Society Member, John Earle, has agreed to author and edit future newsletters. We thank John for taking up this task, and, after twenty years, Jim Brownell thanks all those who contributed ideas and stories for past newsletters. Please continue to support John, with news stories and reports. BITS AND PIECES -We thank historical society member Barbara Bell for the beautiful wreath she crafted for the Remembrance ceremony, held at the cenotaph at the Lost Villages Museum, on Sunday, November 9, 2008. Vice-President Tim Gault laid the wreath on behalf of the Lost Villages Historical Society. -On Friday, September 19, 2008, during the 17-day "Following the Glens" tour to England, France, Belgium and Holland, historical society members David Hill and Jim Brownell visited the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, in France, where 36 Glens are buried. While there, they visited the gravesites of Matthew Laflamme, brother of historical society members RoseMarie Laflamme and the late Fran Laflamme, formerly of Wales, Ontario; and Roger Barker, brother of Wallace (Wally) Barker of Long Sault, formerly of Sheek's Island. -We thank members Doug Bedford and Alan Rafuse for their work in removing the Lost Villages "village markers", for another season. This was the eleventh time for this annual task, and we thank Doug and Alan. -President Jane Craig has been our regular contact with Ontario Power Generation, as they plan for their new Cornwall Energy and Information Centre, to be built near the Robert H. Saunders Generating Station, in Cornwall. Construction of this new centre should commence in 2009. The following message was received by the Lost Villages Historical Society. "The Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the Thompson Rosemount Group (TRG) and Holman Exhibits wish to thank everyone for their invaluable support and participation in our planning process and by providing us with important information for the individual stakeholder exhibits. Your involvement and support definitely helped to achieve the goals we were searching for, and thus enabled us to move forward into the next project phase." -We thank Historical Society member Jim Craig for all his work with the Lost Villages Historical Society. At every activity and event, Jim rolls up his sleeves, and he gives 110%. A "special" thanks from President Jane, too!! -Changes to the Constitution of the Lost Villages Historical Society are being envisioned and formulated. A discussion on these changes is expected, at the Pre-Christmas luncheon meeting, on December 8th. -We wish Alan Rafuse well, in his move from one apartment to the other, at Marie-De-Le-Ferre, Cornwall. In recent weeks, we have missed Alan's presence at the Lost Villages Museum, but we know he has been busy on another front. We thank Alan for his wonderful work with so many visitors, at the museum site. -There will not be an "Advent Christmas Service" at the Sandtown Advent Christian Church, Lost Villages Museum, this year. Because of major structural work that will be required with the main floor beam, under the church, activities have been curtailed, for the present time. Work is underway to determine the best way to replace the main beam. -On October 4, 2008, the Anglican Church "Primates World Relief Day" annual fundraising event was held from the Lost Villages Museum. Participants from Lancaster to Morrisburg gathered at the Lost Villages Museum, to participate in a Car Rally or Bus Tour. $880.00 was collected from this event, and we appreciate the help of all Historical Society members who assisted, during this very busy day. Besides the above stated event, there were two weddings at the Sandtown Advent Christian Church. This is when volunteerism truly shows, and we thank those who stepped to the plate, to assist on this busy day. -Congratulations to Historical Society members, Clive and Frances Marin, on the release of their new Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry History, "A Chronicle of Our Life and Times", now available for sale at all branches of the SDG Library Branches, for $59.85. This hard-covered book is described in the following way by the United Counties of SDG, the sponsors of the book project. "A remarkable modern history of one of Canada's most culturally rich areas. This work not only covers the culture of the region, but also records events that relate to agriculture, government, industry, labour, environment, religion, education, sports and recreation, and includes a chronological record of events in 76 different communities from Dalkeith to Iroquois." -Shannon Harbers was the recipient of the 2008 Lost Villages Historical Society Bursary, at Rothwell-Osnabruck School, Ingleside. In a note from Shannon on October 13th, she writes, "Thank you for the monetary gift that you have provided in order to help with the expense of post-secondary education. I am currently enrolled at the University of Guelph and your generosity is greatly appreciated." -On July 19, 2008, Treasurer Vale Brownell received a cheque in the amount of $100.00 from author Maggie Wheeler and tour guide Mary Lynn Alguire. Both Maggie and Mary Lynn are members of the Lost Villages Historical Society. The donation came from the first "Farran Mackenzie History/Mystery Bus Tour. Over forty passengers travelled the Seaway Valley on a scenic and historic, three-hour tour, showcasing scenes from Maggie's three novels, "A Violent End", "The Brother of Sleep" and "All Mortal Things". Following the first successful bus tour, a second tour was organized for August 9, 2008. -At the October meeting of the Historical Society, member John Earle reported that the TV/VCR, in the store, at the Lost Villages Museum, was broken and unable to be fixed. John purchased a new unit, and donated it to the Lost Villages Museum. -Many will remember the beautiful harp melodies that came from the parlour of the Stuart house, during its official opening on July 1st. Carol Culhane's fingers were on the harp, and we thank her for taking fingers to pen, and providing a $200.00 cheque to the Lost Villages Historical Society. This money is to be used for a sign for Maple Grove or one of the other hamlets. -We thank Scotiabank for the recent donation of $1000.00, received through the "Former Employees" Grant Program. President Jane Craig, a former Scotiabank employee, was able to apply for this grant. Thanks, Jane! -Murray MacGregor has agreed to donate and install a "whistle post", made of concrete, from the New York Central Railroad. It is painted white, with black lettering. These posts were located along railroad tracks, to indicate to the train engineers to blow their whistles. Connie Winters, Long Sault, has been asked to dig a hole to the depth of three feet, so that the post may be mounted, and allow it to rise three feet above the ground. This artifact will fit perfectly near the Moulinette train station, at the museum site, and it is believed that a second post, from the Aultsville area, may be in existence. This is being investigated. -We thank historical society member, John VanBaal, for his work in arranging our website, so that it fits on the new rectangular screens, on laptops. -Charter member George Hickey donated two old documents, he had framed, that had been found in an old trunk. One documented related to the history of the area, dated June 1, 1836, from the Cornwall Observer. This document was an "extra" from that newspaper. The other document was an old list of government supplies. These documents will hang in the Stuart house. -As an activity at the October meeting of the Lost Villages Historical Society, member David Hill showed some items that he had acquired from Larry Corlyon, son of the late Harold Corlyon, formerly of Ingleside. Harold had moved to Wales, Ontario, in 1942, and lived in Dr. Moodie's house. David had a camera from 1930, a projector dated to the mid-thirties, two 16 mm tapes (Tom Mix and Charlie Chaplin), and a few other items. Harold had done much filming of people from Wales, from 1943 to 1955. At the October meeting, members watched part of the film, which has since been put on DVD. -Andrew Boisvenue, a student at Algonquin College, aboisvenue@rogers.com, writes, "My name is Andrew Boisvenue and I am in the Applied Museum Studies program at Algonquin College in Ottawa. As a part of a special project some classmates and I are creating a General Store exhibition (circa 1920/30) for the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. I was wondering if it would be possible for you to share any information you have on General Stores from that era. Anything you could send us would be much appreciated. Thank you." -From an email from a new resident in Long Sault, Historical Society member Jim Brownell was able to provide Frank Grenier with two pictures from his home's Moulinette site, and historical information. The house was built by the Ault family, but was being used as a tourist home, with cabins, by Mr. and Mrs. Allan Fetterly, at the time of the Hydro and Seaway projects. Mr. Grenier writes, "While reading your website, I was really surprised to find an old picture of our current house under the Moulinette section. I was wondering if you would have any information about the history of our Long Sault dwelling...it's currently located at 13 St. Laurent Avenue. I've attached the picture in question and a (very small) recent picture. I would also like to thank you for making all this amazing information available online!" -Many historical society members will remember Erin Emmell's work, as a summer student, at the Lost Villages Museum. Erin was recently married at the Sandtown Advent Christian Church, and the following note was addressed to Jane Craig and members of the Lost Villages Historical Society. "Sandtown Church was the perfect setting for our wedding! From my time as your student and Martin's proposal on the "old road" on the 50th anniversary to the flooding, the setting could not have been more meaningful to us. I am sure that Fran Laflamme, my godmother, was smiling down on us that day... Thank you so much. Martin and Erin Aube" -On Thursday, November 13, 2009, MPP Jim Brownell and members of the Ontario Heritage Trust were joined by members of the Lost Villages Historical Society for the first ceremony for the Premiers' Gravesite Recognition Program, at St. Andrew's West. Lost Villages Historical Society president Jane Craig and society members, Catherine Brownell, Judy Neville, David Hill, and Art Buckland, witnessed the unveiling of a plaque and the raising of the Ontario flag, over the gravesite of Ontario's first Premier, John Sandfield Macdonald. This was the first of eighteen ceremonies that will be held throughout Ontario, during the months ahead. -We are grateful for the "In Memorium" donations that the Harold Hollister family requested, at the time of his death on November 3, 2008. We thank the family for remembering the Lost Villages Historical Society, and thank donors for their generosity. LONGUE SAULT PUBLIC SCHOOL BIKE-A-THON Once again, a very successful Bike-a-thon fundraiser was held in support of Longue Sault Public School and the Lost Villages Museum. $750.00 was contributed to the Lost Villages Historical Society. The student with the highest pledges was Justin O'Neil, and he, and other grade winners were rewarded by the Historical Society, for their efforts. Seth Grant was the top collector in the Grades 1 to 3 group; Tyler Troutman from Grades 4 to 6; and Sophie McPhail from Grades 7 and 8. All students who collected for the bike-a-thon had names entered into a raffle for a bicycle. The winner was Lauren Thomas. We thank the students and staff for another bike-a-thon to the Lost Villages Museum. As well, we thank all members of the Historical Society who assisted on the day of the bike-a-thon. The barbecue, at the museum site, was enjoyed by all. MILLE ROCHES POST OFFICE The following message was received from Adrian Keppel, Dundrennan, Scotland. His email is peroryn@btopenworld.com. Any help for Mr. Keppel, may be directed to his email address. "I've been asked by Stamp Magazine in Britain to write an article on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Now, being a Dutchman living in Britain, I must confess I had hardly ever heard of this seaway, so I started browsing to find information. I soon came across the lost villages and thought that might be a good counterpart for all the jubilations of the opening of the seaway. It must have been quite an ordeal for those that had to experience all that! I remember as a child reading a book about a village being "sacrificed" for I think a water supply reserve, and the images I conjured up then are still vivid now! But anyway, the idea is that I would like to include images of a cover with a cancellation with a post office name from one of the lost villages. It is after all a stamp magazine! And that's how, by chance, I ended up on your website. So I hope you can help me! First of all, I've seen this wonderful photograph of the Gowers in their Mille Roches post office. I would love to be able to include this photograph in my article. Could you tell me whether that would be allowed (I would always have something like "Photograph courtesy of etc" included), whether there is a copyright on the picture, whether that would cost me anything, and whether it is possible to get a good digital image of it (at least 300dpi)? Second, I already have a postcard cancelled in Aultsville, but if it would be possible for me to use abovementioned photograph, I would love to have a card or envelope with a Mille Roches cancel. Would maybe one of your members be able to help me there! I do hope you can help me out a bit or, if not, can direct me towards others who may be able to help me.". STUART HOUSE FURNISHINGS We thank historical society member Wayne Morgan for alerting us to an omission of details regarding some donated items from his family. We thank Wayne for helping us with this accuracy, and for his words of encouragement, in his email to President Jane. "Congratulations on the opening of the Stuart House. We were very pleased to see our contribution of the blue parlour set, coffee table, cushions, floor lamps and hand made doilies. Our grandparents, Frank and Emma Fetterly and Agnes and John Morgan, would be very pleased. It has been brought to our attention that there is an omission as to who donated the items. In addition to Frank and Wayne, it should also include our sister Julia. It will be appreciated if Julia's name could be added. Many thanks and keep up the wonderful work." GRANDPA WAS THERE FOR SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD'S FUNERAL The following newspaper article was sent to Alan Rafuse, from his sister and historical society member Patricia, living in Calgary. The author of the article, Carl Stephenson, Calgary, is the grandson of James Peter Stephenson, mentioned in the article. This article is from "INBOX, Your Space, Your Time". "Re: "Classic Front Pages," May 7. (Ed. 2008) Your page from the Glengarry Herald on June 11, 1891, carried an article on the death of Sir John A. Macdonald. My grandfather, James Peter Stephenson (1872-1973), was a sailor on the paddlewheeler between Montreal and Toronto. My grandfather later became a captain on the cruise ships plying the lower St. Lawrence and running the rapids in the river between Montreal and Prescott, Ont. He served 44 years, rising from deckhand to captain. In June 1891, according to grandpa, who was almost 19, the Algerian pulled into Kingston harbour to find the city in darkness. On docking, they were told Macdonald had died June 6 in Ottawa. The Algerian completed its run to Montreal and stopped again in Kingston on the way upriver. Funeral services had been held in Ottawa on June 7 in St. Alban's Anglican Church and after lying in state in Ottawa, Macdonald's body was taken on a special CPR train to his hometown of Kingston where it lay in state at city hall. On June 11, the Algerian crew in their best uniforms marched to St. Mary's Cathedral for the farewell and, with hundreds of others followed the body to Cataraqui Cemetery where Sir John A. was buried with his parents, Helen and Hugh Macdonald, his first wife, his two sisters and his long-dead infant son. My grandfather lived 100 years and six months. He had a great sense of humour and was popular with passengers and crews, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren." Carl Stephenson, Calgary" ST. LAWRENCE RIVER CHARTS Rosemary Rutley, Recording Secretary, received the following request from Mr. Louis Charbonneau, 918, chemin du lac St-Louis, Ville de Lery, Quebec, J6N 1A7, Telephone 1-450-692-6982, Email: voileevasion@yahoo.ca. " I sailed the St. Lawrence River, from Montreal up to Lake Ontario, aboard sailboats before the Seaway in the years 1953 to 1955. Regrettably, I did not keep the charts that were used at the time. I am looking for contacts to be able to consult them. Navigation, at the time, required the ascent of several locks and many other things like shooting the rapids. Many stories, like a cargo aground in the Long Sault Rapids in 1955, with a cable across the river, like sailors being electrocuted in the former canal...and so on." Mr. Louis Charbonneau has tried the Canadian Department of Transportation, and websites. He has not been successful, and is hoping that the Lost Villages Historical Society and members may be able to help. A $10,000.00 GIFT FROM THE NICKLE FAMILY FOUNDATION We are indebted to a new member of the Lost Villages Historical Society, Mary Ann Buchner Aylesworth, for her support and encouragement to the Lost Villages Historical Society. It was through her good work that the Lost Villages Historical Society was the recipient of a gift of $10,000.00, from her family's (husband's family) foundation. The following message was received from the Executive Director of the Nickle Family Foundation, Mr. David F. Peever. "Recently, we asked members of our extended family to identify an organization whose work they particularly value. The Lost Villages Historical Society was one so identified. As such, our Board of Directors has asked me to forward the enclosed cheque in the amount of $10,000.00, as a one-time gift in support of this wonderful undertaking." The Lost Villages Historical Society truly appreciated this generosity from the Nickle Family Foundation, and we thank Mary Ann for her proactive support of the society's aims and objectives. JUNE COVILLE SEEKING MILLE ROCHES MEMORIES This letter was received from Mrs. June Coville, Box 157. Beardmore, Ontario. P0T 1G0. "I am writing in regards to the village of Mille Roches, Ontario. My sisters and I visited the museum, this past summer, and saw pictures of the school we attended and the United Church where Rev. Dawes was the minister. We belonged to a girls' group where he would play the piano and could he play, and we'd all sing. It was wonderful. My dad, Gordon Molson, sang in the men’s' choir, and three of my sisters, in the girls' choir. We lived there from about 1938 to 1944, right across the corner from Manson's Store. The house belonged to Mr. Dewar, a large house, as we had a large family. Dad had a big garden and we kept a couple of pigs. In everything we saw there, we couldn't find anything linking us to the town. I would like to have a school record and Sunday School record. I hope you can be of some help to me. Our names are Eileen, June and Shirley Molson, and our sisters, born there, were Sharon, Violet and one died at five days old and was buried there. There were twin brothers born in Cornwall, Robert and Rodger. Again, I hope you can help me." CELEBRATION 50 "THANK YOU" Lorraine and Ron Eaman, Cornwall, sent us the following note, on July 2, 2008, regarding "Celebration 50". "We so much enjoyed the past five days of activities and wish to thank each of you for your many hours of volunteering to provide this for us. Each day provided many memories and visiting with many people from the 50's. We especially enjoyed the Story Telling and the Ghost Walk stories. Please convey our thanks to each person as they were excellent, playing their character. With your caring attitudes and expertise, you achieved 100+ results. Life is composed of two parts.. that which is past.. a dream; and that which is to come... a wish." Thank you for your kind words, Lorraine and Ron. IN SEARCH OF MOULINETTE The following email was recently received from George Suffidy, following his kayak expedition in the Moulinette Island/Moulinette area. Members Rosemary Rutley, John VanBaal, and Tim Gault have been in contact with Mr. Suffidy. Should any members have further information, please contact George Suffidy at gsuffidy@rogers.com. The following was the email received: "Last weekend a friend and I kayaked the shoreline opposite Moulinette Island in search of the lost village of Moulinette. Old Highway 2, as it dipped into the water crossing to exit onto Moulinette Island was easy to locate. However, we were unsuccessful in finding any building foundations downstream of this, although we passed over what we believe were manmade rock beds. Has anyone reduced the locations of the lost villages into latitude and longitude coordinates that can be input to a GPS? If you have this data for any of the villages, I would appreciate receiving it. That way, next time no misses!!" Tim Gault writes: "The village of Moulinette was located at the intersection of old Hwy2 and the Moulinette Road. That is, of course not the current Moulinette Road in Long Sault. The original Moulinette Road is about a mile east of Long Sault and is currently known as the Avonmore Road or County Road 15. It ends at the new Hwy2 but continues south as the entrance to Lakeview Park. If you enter there and continue south to the shoreline, Moulinette would have been only a very short distance beyond. There is still a piece of the old Hwy2 to the east of this, at the Girl Guide and Sea Cadet camps beside the Lost Villages Museum. I hope that this is of some help..." George Suffidy responds: "Thank you for the information you have provided to me. John Vanbaal also provided some coordinates and information, while cautioning that it may be difficult to identify submerged artifacts from the surface. After we crossed from Moulinette Island and stopped for lunch at the end of the bypass on the opposite shore, we explored the shore line further east, going past Lakeview Park and as far as the stone causeway/wall with the big yellow sign cautioning that a dam is downstream. I had entered the southern edge of Moulinette Island as a waypoint into my GPS, and the return, straight line distance from this sign to the waypoint was over seven kilometres. So, we definitely passed by the location of Moulinette. We saw a short section of road rise out of and run parallel to the river, then return into it. It may be the section of road you mention. You have given us some more information for our next venture out in the area. As I said to John, I commend your group's work in keeping the memories and history of this part of the St. Lawrence River Valley alive and accessible. IN MEMORIAM HUNTER, Miles Duncan - The members of the Lost Villages Historical Society were saddened to learn of the passing of Miles Hunter at the Cornwall Community Hospital on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the age of 82 years. We extend sympathy to his beloved wife, Isabel, a charter member of the Lost Villages Historical Society. Miles Hunter was the loved father of Brenda Duprau (Bill) of Napanee; Robert Hunter (Donna) of Val Desmonts, Quebec; Peggy Doyle (Ashleigh) of Stirling, Alberta; Michael Hunter (Debbie) of Guelph; Ken Hunter (Jeanine) of Landsdowne; and Paul Hunter (Brenda) of Kingston. Miles was the dear brother of Nancy Rutley (Lyle) of Long Sault, also a member of the Lost Villages Historical Society. He is sadly missed by 23 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren and predeceased by his parents Thomas and Mary Ann (Cameron) Hunter and one son Don (Rosemary Hunter) of Orangeville. A service in celebration of Miles Hunter's life was held in Trinity United Church, Ingleside, on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. with the. Reverend Doug Carnegie officiating. A committal service followed at Finch Community Cemetery. HOLLISTER, Harold - We were saddened to learn of the passing of historical society member Harold Hollister, at Bancroft, Ontario, on Monday, November 3, 2008, at the age 80 years. Harold Lindsay Hollister was the beloved husband of Annie (MacQuarrie) Hollister, and the loved father of John Hollister (Tracey) of Chesterville, Lindsay Hollister (Jennifer) of Kitchener, Kathryn Hollister-Lobe (Noel) of Bancroft, and Owen Hollister (Andrea) of Ingleside, Pamela MacQuarrie-Higden (Bill) of Yellowknife. He was the dear brother of Robert Hollister of Cornwall. He was predeceased by his parents Albert and Mildred (Donnelly) Hollister; one grandson Owen James and two brothers Guy and Kenneth Hollister. The funeral was held on Thursday, November 6th, from the Brownlee Funeral Home MacDougall Chapel & Reception Centre with a service in celebration of Harold's life at St. Matthew's Presbyterian Church, Ingleside, with burial in St. Lawrence Valley Union Cemetery. MEMBERSHIPS If you find a sticker, on the front page of your newsletter, it indicates that your membership is overdue, A strong membership is important, and we appreciate your support and encouragement. Please take some time to renew. Mail to the address shown on the newsletter banner. The membership fees are; Individual-$10.00; Family-$15.00 ; Sustaining (Life)-$50.00.
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