The museum consists of ten heritage buildings, communities in the former townships of Cornwall and Osnabruck, which were dismantled and then flooded in July 1958 for the St. Lawrence Seaway and Hydro Electric project being implemented. The Lost Villages Historical Society. Long Sault, Ontario
our history was changed forever when the Lost Villages were submerged in 1958:
Ancient lands of the Mohawk People—obliterated.
Locales where United Empire Loyalists forged a new future—lost.
Fertile farmland, abundant orchards, old growth forests—drowned.
An 1813 battlefield, where the Battle of Crysler’s Farm was waged—submerged.
The thundering and once-famous Long Sault Rapids—silenced.
Loved ones at rest in their graves, including my grandmother’s “mama,” whom she lost to tuberculosis at age 14—never to be visited again.
This was posted to Facebook by William Jossa. I lived most of my younger life in what was Port Union, or the West Rouge community.
Yes, most of the fertile land encompassing West Rouge proper was used for agriculture. Crops, orchards and a bit of mix-farming (with livestock) was commonplace.
While most of the undeveloped property in the “Rouge Hills” portion of West Rouge was owned by the C. White Company since the 1920’s; it would only make sense that they would lease out productive land to farmers, prior to redevelopment.
I’ve attached a sepia photograph of West Rouge (from the winter of 1956) where you can see the worked farmland. I also placed six markers of interest for your consideration.
Our archive showcases over 200 Ontario diarists from 1800 to 1960. Discover and Meet the Diarists are good places to get acquainted with these people from the past. Learn how to unlock the riches within their daily entries and escape into the past. You can read and Search through typed nineteenth-century diaries. Help us Transcribe other handwritten ones online to make these valuable sources accessible to all.
Hosts an event, "Tools of the Trades" show and sale. The oldest continually operating antique tool show and sale in Canada. Currently run by John Pirie.
"The emphasis is on, but not limited to, hand tools for wood and metal working. The increasing interest in traditional woodworking and premium quality hand tools, has led to the recent resurgence of the high end, small scale hand tool makers. Several of these makers are in attendance at the show to present and discuss their offerings".
