South Glengarry, Ontario

South Glengarry
Township (lower-tier)
Township of South Glengarry

Lancaster
South Glengarry
Coordinates: 45°12′N 74°35′W / 45.200°N 74.583°WCoordinates: 45°12′N 74°35′W / 45.200°N 74.583°W
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
County Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Settled 1785
Incorporated 1792 (Royal Townships)
Incorporated 1998 (South Glengarry)
Government
  Type Township
  Mayor Ian McLeod
  Federal riding Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
  Prov. riding Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Area[1]
  Land 605.30 km2 (233.71 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 13,162
  Density 21.7/km2 (56/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code FSA K0C
Area code(s) 613
Website southglengarry.com

South Glengarry is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada on the Saint 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 River 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.

From the late 18th century to the early 19th century, the area was almost entirely settled by Scottish emigrants from all over the Scottish Highlands due to the Highland Clearances. Specifically, the Inverness-shire area of Scotland. Canadian Gaelic / Scottish Gaelic had been spoken in Glengarry County since its first settlement in 1784.

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 (1751–1815), 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.

Ruins of St. Raphael's Church

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 celebrated its bicentennial in 2012. It is also quite possibly North America's oldest annual fair although this distinction has yet to be authenticated.

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,[2] the Glengarry Cairn,[3] the Sir John Johnson House,[4] and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church.[5]

St. Raphael's Catholic Church was built commencing 1821 under the authority of Alexander Macdonell later Bishop of Regiopolis (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 1973, a smaller church with the same name was built, attached to the ruins .

Sport

The Char-Lan Rebels of the Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League play out of the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown.

Notable Persons

Sir John Johnson, one of the original landowners and developers of the area. Constructed The Manor House in Williamstown, now a Canadian National Historic Site.

James Leroy (1947-1979), nationally recognized songwriter, performer and recording artist; spent his childhood and adolescence in Martintown.

Alexander Macdonell, later Bishop of Regiolopolis (now Kingston, Ontario).

Ran McDonald, hockey player, born in Cashion's Glen and played in the PCHA reaching the height of his career in the 1919 Stanley Cup Finals.

Hugh McGillis, partner in the North West Company

Alexander McMartin, from Martintown; first person born in Upper Canada to serve in the Legislative Assembly.

David Thompson, resident of Williamstown; Canadian explorer.

Demographics

Culture

Canadian author Hugh Hood mentions Williamstown in his short story "Getting to Williamstown," first published in 1928.

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Glengarry, Ontario.