THE LOST VILLAGES OF THE ST LAWRENCE SEAWAY

[@less9759]

Such memories come flooding back! We were on a farm 20km north of the river but my grandmother and grandfather had a beautiful small house on the main street of Aultsville. I was born in that house and spent so many happy days in it and that beautiful one street village on the river. Aultsville was the most peaceful, picturesque and beautiful village you could imagine. I was only 7 or 8 years old when these wonderful times happened in my life. My father was a lock master at Farrans point and later at Iroquois so I got to see these close up. in 1958 a car load of us went to the Long Sault rapids on the day they exploded the temporary dikes and flooded the entire area. It was actually a much slower fill than you would imagine. You can still actually drive down the original road towards Aultsville to where the road simply enters the river and disappears. If you go over the area in a boat or canoe you could still see the streets and some of the foundations. These memories are so vivid.

[@joananne7802]

I had the privilege of living in Ingleside from 1967 to 1973. We moved in 1973 to southwestern Ontario because of my father’s work. I was age 8 going on 9 years old. Now that I’m 59/60 years old I’m realizing how much living there shaped me. I have never been part of the get-rich mentality and I’ve kind of stuck out in that sense. I didn’t hear anybody talk about the trauma, and I was a child after all, but I’m realizing how much it was there without ever being spoken. As I’m researching my ancestry, I’ve discovered relatives who started out in Cornwall and the area including The Lost Villages. This is fascinating as in my life our relatives were always in southwestern Ontario. My great-grandfather had a daughter who passed away as an infant, and she was buried at Moulinette. Later, my great-aunt was born and was named after her. So now not only did I live in Ingleside as a child but now I’m finding relatives buried in the Lost Villages. When we lived there we had no idea and now I'm discovering just how many people we are related to in south Stormont County. I adore Joan McEwen as she was my music teacher at Rothwell. I have fond memories of choir with her. When the water was low, my parents used to take my brother and me to the road that led to Aultsville which could be seen above the water, and impress upon us the history and the flooding.

[@deborahpowersm2997]

I came across this by accident. Sad to say l’m Canadian and never knew this, ( l was born 1959) l always thought the St. Lawrence Seaway was always there from the time Canada was explored and settled. Thank you for the history lesson. So sad that 6 villages and the people lost their homes and everything just disappeared forever under the water. I have lived in England for many years. 🇨🇦🇬🇧

[@carlosh.5201]

Proves that most Canadians don't know their own history. Also it's not taught in the school system at all.

[@dfirth224]

St. Lawrence Seaway project was started during WWII but not finished until 1959. it's progress. Ocean going ships were blocked by rapids at Quebec City.

[@carlosh.5201]

@@dfirth224but ships were still coming to the Port of Montreal. How do you explain that?

[@suezaple4950]

This is so very very sad Those poor people and the government isnt much better today 2024, They do what they want and when they want .

[@FleshWound42]

The town folks of the lost villages wanted to create a museum, and donated much of their antiquated equipment and Upper Canada Village was conceived.

[@dfirth224]

The audio on this is terrible. You need a patch cable from the audio out on the projector. Did you record the video image with your smartphone?

[@a123phi5]

That's odd. I often have trouble with audio on videos, but this one was fine.

[@Kanook99]

Displacing people and killing the thriving sturgeon industry in the area.

[@susanbellefeuille]

thanks for this site

[@wierdsmabob]

Thankyou.