South Glengarry, Ontario
Encyclopedia
South Glengarry is a township
in eastern Ontario
, Canada
on the St. Lawrence River in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
The township was created on 1 January 1998, by amalgamating the townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster with the independent village of Lancaster.
in Upper Canada
in the 1780s. This area was first settled by United Empire Loyalists
. The development of this area was encouraged by Sir John Johnson
, a wealthy landowner loyal to Britain
, who was forced to abandon his land holdings in New York State during the American Revolution
.
Johnson built a house in Williamstown near the end of the 18th century, The Manor House, which is now a Canadian National Historic Site. A grist mill and saw mill, now gone, were also built on the same location. Williamstown also contains the oldest log house in Ontario which was built in 1784. Occupants over the years have included the Reverend John Bethune, the great-great-grandfather of Doctor Norman Bethune
, and David Thompson
, Canadian explorer.
Some of the main partners of the North West Company
, including Hugh McGillis, lived in this area.
Alexander McMartin
, the first person born in Upper Canada
to serve in the Legislative Assembly
, was from Martintown.
The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame is located in Williamstown.
Williamstown is also home to Canada's oldest continuing annual fair, which celebrates its bicentennial in 2012.
The Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum is also located in Williamstown.
South Glengarry is the location of four National Historic Sites of Canada: the Bethune-Thompson House, the Glengarry Cairn, the Sir John Johnson House, and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church.
St. Raphael's Catholic Church was built commencing 1821 under the authority of Alexander Macdonell
later Bishop of Regiolopolis (now Kingston
, Ontario). This is one of the oldest churches in what was then the colony of Upper Canada
. In late 1970, the church interiors, roof and tower were destroyed by fire, but the ruins were preserved. In 1996, a smaller church with the same name was built, attached to the ruins .
of the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League
play out of the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown.
Ran McDonald
was born in Cashion's Glen and played in the PCHA reaching the height of is career in the 1919 Stanley Cup Finals
.
:
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in eastern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on the St. Lawrence River in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
The township was created on 1 January 1998, by amalgamating the townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster with the independent village of Lancaster.
Communities
The township comprises the communities of Avondale, Bainsville, Bayview Estates, Bridge End, Brown House Corner, Camerons Point, Cashions Glen, Curry Hill, Dalhousie Mills, Glen Brook, Glendale Subdivision, Glen Falloch, Glen Nevis, Glen Norman, Glenroy, Glen Walter, Green Valley, Lancaster, Lancaster Heights, Loon Island, MacGillivrays Bridge, Martintown, Munroes Mills, North Branch, North Lancaster, North Lancaster Station, Pine Hill, Redwood Estates, South Lancaster, Summerstown, Summerstown Station, St. Raphaels, Tyotown, and Williamstown.History
Charlottenburgh and Lancaster were two of the original eight "Royal Townships" established along the Saint Lawrence RiverSaint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in the 1780s. This area was first settled by United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
. The development of this area was encouraged by Sir John Johnson
John Johnson (Loyalist)
Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet of New York was a Loyalist leader during the American Revolution, a politician in Canada and a wealthy landowner. He was the son of Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet, who had been the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the province and accumulated much land...
, a wealthy landowner loyal to Britain
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, who was forced to abandon his land holdings in New York State during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Johnson built a house in Williamstown near the end of the 18th century, The Manor House, which is now a Canadian National Historic Site. A grist mill and saw mill, now gone, were also built on the same location. Williamstown also contains the oldest log house in Ontario which was built in 1784. Occupants over the years have included the Reverend John Bethune, the great-great-grandfather of Doctor Norman Bethune
Norman Bethune
Henry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, and David Thompson
David Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
, Canadian explorer.
Some of the main partners of the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
, including Hugh McGillis, lived in this area.
Alexander McMartin
Alexander McMartin
Alexander McMartin was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada. He was the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in its Legislative Assembly....
, the first person born in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
to serve in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
, was from Martintown.
The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame is located in Williamstown.
Williamstown is also home to Canada's oldest continuing annual fair, which celebrates its bicentennial in 2012.
The Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum is also located in Williamstown.
South Glengarry is the location of four National Historic Sites of Canada: the Bethune-Thompson House, the Glengarry Cairn, the Sir John Johnson House, and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church.
St. Raphael's Catholic Church was built commencing 1821 under the authority of Alexander Macdonell
Alexander Macdonell (bishop)
Bishop Alexander Macdonell was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada.-Early years:...
later Bishop of Regiolopolis (now Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Ontario). This is one of the oldest churches in what was then the colony of Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. In late 1970, the church interiors, roof and tower were destroyed by fire, but the ruins were preserved. In 1996, a smaller church with the same name was built, attached to the ruins .
Sport
The Char-Lan RebelsChar-Lan Rebels
The Char-Lan Rebels are a Junior "B" ice hockey team based out of Williamstown, Ontario. They play out of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League....
of the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League
Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League
The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league operating in Eastern Ontario. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. The 22 member team of the league compete for the D. Arnold Carson Memorial Trophy.-History:The EOJHL...
play out of the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown.
Ran McDonald
Ran McDonald
Ranald "Ran" J. McDonald was a professional ice hockey player who played 152 games in various professional and amateur leagues, including the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...
was born in Cashion's Glen and played in the PCHA reaching the height of is career in the 1919 Stanley Cup Finals
1919 Stanley Cup Finals
Seattle dominated Montreal under PCHA rules, scoring two in the first, three in the second and a further two in the third. Corbeau of Montreal was injured but finished the game and continued to play in the series as a substitute.-Game two:...
.
Demographics
According to the Canada 2006 CensusCanada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
:
- Population: 12,880
- % Change (2001–2006): 1.4
- Dwellings: 5,277
- Area (km2): 604.92
- Density (persons per km2): 21.3