Edwardsburgh/Cardinal

Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
Township (lower-tier)
Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
Old grist mill, Spencerville
Edwardsburgh/ Cardinal
Coordinates: 44°50′N 75°30′W / 44.833°N 75.500°W / 44.833; -75.500Coordinates: 44°50′N 75°30′W / 44.833°N 75.500°W / 44.833; -75.500
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Leeds and Grenville
Amalgamated	2001
Government
• Type	Township
• Mayor	Patrick Sayeau
• Federal riding	Leeds—Grenville
• Prov. riding	Leeds—Grenville
Area[1]
• Land	312.34 km2 (120.60 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	6,959
• Density	22.3/km2 (58/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code FSA	K0E
Area code(s)	613
Website	www.twpec.ca

Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is a township in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville of eastern Ontario, Canada. Edwardsburgh township was first surveyed in 1783, and incorporated in 1850.^[2] The township was formerly a part of the historical Grenville County before it merged with Leeds County to form the United Counties in the 19th century.

The Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal was formed on January 1, 2001, through the amalgamation of Edwardsburgh Township with the Village of Cardinal.

It is a historical community with many old homes and buildings; including one-room school houses, grist mills, and churches. It is situated along the St. Lawrence River Seaway and extends back into rural hamlets. Both Highway 416 and Highway 401 pass through the township, as well as the South Nation River.^[3]

The township's main population centres are Cardinal, Johnstown, and Spencerville.

Geography

Edwardsburgh/Cardinal's southern boundary is the St. Lawrence River's shore. To the west, the township ends at the boundary for Augusta Township and to the east is the neighbouring county of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. To the north of the township is the township of North Grenville. The township covers an area of 312 km². The township belongs to the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence lowlands region.^[4]

Despite the township's proximity to the St. Lawrence River, only ten percent of the area's water drains into the St. Lawrence, and ninety percent drains into the South Nation River. The flow of the South Nation river through this area is described as very sluggish with poor drainage, due to the fact there is little drop in elevation along the river; this leads to the formation of bogs and swamps, and also makes the area prone to seasonal flooding.^[5] The north-west section of the township is known as the Groveton Bog, and to the east is known as the Hellgate Swamp.^[6] The soils in the area range from sandy and dry, to dark and acidic closer to the swamp areas.

Topography

The majority of the township is covered in only a very thin layer of soil, in spite of this, there are very few rock outcrops in the area. The only notable outcrop within the township is along the St. Lawrence river in New Wexford. None of the bedrock in the township contains phosphates, metalliferous ores, mica or anything else of notable value; the sands in the area are also of little value as they are too silty and fine to be used as building material. There is, however, a high concentration of stones in much of the local soil, making it suitable for gravel.^[7] The area had a few limestone quarries, but the output of these quarries were small and only used locally.

Up until the 18th century, the land was covered with thick, mature, mixed forests.^[8] The original forest was almost completely cleared throughout the years and the forest that stands today is mostly secondary growth over previously cleared land. The forests in the area presently contain numerous types of deciduous oak, birch, ash and maple trees. The common coniferous trees in the area include many types of pine and cedar as well as balsam fir and white spruce. In the darker, acidic soils around the bogs and swamps there are tamarack trees, as well as juniper and black spruce.^[8] Wild grape, Virginia creeper, and other woody vines are native to the area.

History

Prehistoric era

According to archaeologists, the earliest human activity in the area surrounding Edwardsburgh/Cardinal can be traced back to approximately 11,000 years ago, after the retreat of a glacier first made the land inhabitable; this era is known as the Paleo-Indian period.

Numerous stone arrowheads have been excavated within the region and can be traced to the Clovis people, as well as the Plano people.^[9] Although no habitation sites have been discovered within the township boundaries, it is suggested that these cultures must have hunted in the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal area during this time. The Clovis arrows found within the region vary greatly, and reflect thousands of years of the Clovis people's progression and a changing environment. The earlier weapons were short dart-points, while two to three thousand years later, the Clovis people were mostly carving stone spear-points.^[10] This is indicative of an increase in larger game animals migrating into the area.^[11] There is little evidence of these cultures ever existing, as their footprint on the land was virtually invisible, and the population density during this period was very low. No human remains have survived from this time period making it impossible to determine the physical appearance of the cultures.^[12]

The period following the Paleo-Indian Period was known as the Archaic Period. From 5000-1000BC The eastern Ontario region was dominated by the Laurentian Archaic people, who were direct descendants of the Plano people.^[13] This culture was far more sophisticated than its ancestors; a result of a warmer climate and the emergence of modern flora and fauna. Current archaeological findings cannot show us any evidence as to how the culture housed or sheltered themselves. Although their diet consisted of mostly fish and plants, the Laurentians were also big game hunters of deer, elk, and even bear. In contrast to their ancestors who used rough, chipped stone tools, the Laurentians are known to have used polished stone tools for hunting and woodworking.^[14] Excavations of human remains revealed they were a violent culture; humans remains from this period have been found to be decapitated, have skull fractures or stone projectiles embedded into the bones.^[15] These excavations also suggested that the Laurentian Archaic people were a ritualized culture as some of their dead were sprinkled with red ochre and a wide range of goods, which also presumably represented status within the culture.^[16] Some of the goods and artifacts found buried alongside the Laurentians were not native to the area, meaning they must have traded goods frequently with other people. It is likely that the decapitated or otherwise brutalized remains are those of outside traders who threatened or attacked the Laurentian Archaic people.^[17]

Later history

In 1673, the French, working with native tribes from the area, built a storehouse on Old Breeches River, now known as Johnstown Creek.^[18] This storehouse was used to hold supplies en route to upriver trading posts such as Fort Frontenac (Now, Kingston) until 1758. In 1759, The French settlers built Fort de Lévis on Chimney Island, in the St. Lawrence River just off of Johnstown, between it and Ogdensburg.

Education

History

In the late 1700s, most of the Loyalists upon their arrival to the area were farmers, and did not see formal education as a valuable or important thing. In 1787, three years after their arrival, more privileged Loyalists began to petition for a school to be built in each district, to teach mathematics, arithmetic, English and Latin.^[19] Finally, in the early 1800s, the government of Upper Canada passed The Common School Act of 1816, which allowed for a common school to be built in every district where at least 20 students would attend.^[20] It would then be the township's responsibility to divide itself into School Sections based upon the locations of the congregated pupils.^[21] The Act distributed grants of £25 to schools that met the requirements to pay for a teacher's salary. Although this Act showed promise for the township, the Act did not supply funds for building materials or labour for schools to built, thus few schools managed to be established early on.^[19]

In the 1840s, further school related Acts were passed that led to vast improvement of the Common School education system in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. By 1845, the superintendent for the Edwardsburgh district recorded 20 schools operating in the area with 755 children registered as students.^[22] In the 1850s, the township began to consider building Separate Schools in lieu of Common Schools, however these schools more expensive for the township to open due to a higher taxation on separate schools. When another Act went into effect in the mid-1850s, the common and separate schools levelled in price, as the double taxation on separate schools ended.^[23] This led to the first separate school being erected in 1855.

In total, about 28 single-room separate schools were registered in the township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. The separate schools were phased out after bigger, newer schools were built in the larger villages and pupils started being transported there instead. Many of the structures are still standing and have been converted into private homes. The following is a list of some of these schools and their names:^[24]

S.S #1, New Wexford S.S #3, North Channel S.S #4, Cardinal S.S #5, The Second

S.S #6, Brouseville S.S #7, Clover Hill S.S #8, Crystal Rock S.S #9, Mainsville

S.S #10, Pittston S.S #11, Glen Smail S.S #12, Garryowen S.S #13, Shanly

S.S #14, Ventnor S.S #15, Spencerville S.S #16, Groveton S.S #17, Campbell's Corners

S.S #18, Knowles school S.S #20, Cedar Grove S.S #23, Hyndman S.S #25, Edwardsburgh

S.S #26, The Island S.S #27, Dobbie's school

Present day

Currently, the township's schools belong to the Upper Canada District School Board.^[25] There are only three schools still operating within the township boundaries: Benson Public School in Cardinal, South-Edwardsburgh Public School in Johnstown, and Centennial '67 Public School in Spencerville.^[26] All of these schools are elementary schools; for high school, students have the option of either South Grenville District high school in Prescott, or North Grenville District high school in Kemptville, both of which are located in close proximity to the township.^[27] For Catholic schools, students from Edwardsburgh/Cardinal may attend St. Mark Catholic School in Prescott or St. Mary-St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg; as these are the closest elementary schools to the township under the Catholic District School Board.^[28][29] The closest Catholic high school to the township is St. Michael Catholic High School located in Kemptville.^[30] Elementary students also have the option of attending St. Lawrence Academy, located in Prescott, which is a private school that focuses on Christian values.^[31] The nearest post-secondary school to the township is the St. Lawrence College campus located in Brockville.^[32] For adult schools and continuing education, residents of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal have the option of attending a T.R Leger School campus located in Prescott.^[33]

In 2011 according to the National Household Survey, of 5,060 adults (persons over 25 years of age) in the township, 53.8% had obtained some form of post-secondary education; 13.8% having a university degree, and an additional 27.4% having a college diploma, and 12.5% having a trades certificate. 27.1% of the township's adult population reported a high school diploma being the highest level of education attainment, and 19.3% reported having neither a high school nor a post-secondary diploma or degree.^[34] Within Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, the percentage of seniors (ages 65+) with post-secondary credentials was 42.4% and the percentage of seniors without any credentials was 40.3%. The percentage of adults (ages 25–44) with post-secondary credentials was about 20% higher, at 62.5%; the percentage of adults without post-secondary credentials was significantly lower than the percentage of seniors, with only 10.4% having not attained any certifications.^[34]

Most common field of study for the adult population with post-secondary certification in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal

Field of Study	# of Individuals	% of Population
Business, management, or marketing	480	17.6%
Health professions/related programs	340	12.5%
Construction trades	295	10.8%
Mechanic and repair technologies	230	8.5%
Engineering technologies or related fields	155	5.7%[34]

Cardinal

Cardinal is a small village located in the township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. Prior to being incorporated in 1878, the village was referred to by numerous names, including: Edwardsburgh, Point Cardinal, Munro's Point, Elgin, and Port Elgin. Situated along the Saint Lawrence River, between the towns of Iroquois to the east and Johnstown to the west, Cardinal has approximately one thousand residents. During the late 1700s, Hugh Munro acquired land at the site which would later become Cardinal. Upon seeing the Galops rapids, Munro saw potential for water power, which could become profitable. According to General Simcoe's documents, by 1794 Munro had established a saw and grist mill on his property. By 1864, Cardinal's business concerns included the McLatchie foundry and the Canada Starch Works.^[35]

History

Up to 500 years ago, early natives briefly settled beside the St Lawrence River's rapids in Cardinal.^[36] Later, French settlers arrived and are thought to have given the rapids their original name, "Galoop" which meant "galloping waters". The original survey of the township divided it into 200-acre lots, some of which were later sub-divided in half. The village of Cardinal, modern-day, covers what were then lots #3 through #8.^[37] Captain Hugh Munro, who came to upper Canada and joined the Loyalists in 1777, incurred serious debts after many unforeseen circumstances; which forced him to seek a way to make money.^[38] After the death of his Major, Munro was held responsible for paying off his debts; which were the result of having to supply the soldiers with their necessities. Munro's debt was worsened upon his return to Quebec after being injured in Saratoga; during the battle he provisioned his troops, and was later saddled with the bill. Due to the nature in which these debt were acquired, Munro petitioned for government compensation; it is believed he was granted the land along the rapids and mill rights as a result.^[39] Once Munro had established the mills, more small businesses were created in the area upon seeing his success. Before the creation of the Galop Canal, some of the first settlers earned their income by guiding and hauling boats through the hard to navigate Galops Rapids.^[40] A large dock was built for a thriving timber business; timber was shipped on rafts to Montreal, and later by train. Coal was also supplied to trains out of Cardinal. As a result of the growing population, there were two general stores and a post office erected; as well as a sawmill owned by Henry Armstrong which began to supply lumber for more homes to be built. A primitive road which lead from Montreal to Kingston was made and ran through Cardinal; this resulted in stage houses and inns being built in the village for travellers.^[40]

By the mid 1800s, Cardinal (then, Edwardsburgh) was a steadily growing village with a population of 150. The completion of the Galop Canal and the railway lead to great progression within the community, as it not only created jobs but also allowed local businesses to expand.^[41] By this time, Cardinal was now had a school, churches, a cemetery, a cloth factory, a post office,^[42] as well as many thriving small businesses such as a blacksmith, gunsmith, shoemaker and carpenter. This period was also the beginning of Canada Starch Works.

Shipwrecks

The St. Lawrence river in Cardinal is home to two sunken ships which are popular dive sites for tourists and locals. Both shipwrecks are also visible from land, as the water is shallow enough that both ships are partially exposed above the water. The Conestoga was an iron-clad, wooden steam freighter built in Cleveland in the 19th century, and launched on July 6th 1878. The ship was around 250 metres in length with a speed of 8 knots (15km/h). The Conestoga was awaiting passage through lock 28 at the Galop Canal on May 22nd 1922, when a fire broke out in the engine room. All passengers managed to escape and the ships cargo was also salvaged, however the ship itself was flushed downstream from the locks where it eventually sank about 75 feet from the shoreline.^[43] The Conestoga rests at a depth of only 22-25 feet, with the top portion of the steeple engine protruding above the river. According to divers, the wooden portions of the Conestoga site are well preserved, however the top portions of metal are badly ice-damaged and rusted, and are quickly deteriorating. Looters and “wreck-stripping” has apparently caused significant damage to the site, and a blade from the Conestoga's 14 foot propeller was broken off by a dynamite blast during a salvage attempt gone wrong.^[44]

The Weehawk was launched out of Camden, New Jersey, on December 12th 1926, where it operated as a ferry along the New England coast for many years. The Weehawk was 45 metres long and could carry around 500 passengers as well as around 30 cars. Eventually the boat was moved to the lock at Galop canal in the 1960s, where it was purchased along with its sister ship by a local welder who had the intention of disassembling them both and selling the metal as scrap. A family tragedy prevented the welder from ever completing the deconstruction of both ships and the abandoned Weehawk eventually sank to the bottom of the canal. All that remains of the ship is half of its hull which is tipped over onto its side, with part of its skeleton sticking out above the water.^[45]

Two less popular dive sites are also commonly associated with the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal township, the S/S Ralph T. Holcomb, and the Fleur Marie. Apparently just east of Cardinal, the hull of the S/S Ralph T. Holcomb lies in the old canal bank. This ship was purchased by the Canada Starch Company for hauling coal sometime in the early 1900s before it was sunk.^[46] The Fleur Marie was built in Quebec in 1850 and was later left abandoned at the docks in Prescott. The abandoned ship was considered an eyesore amongst locals and eventually caught fire, leading to the ship to be scuttled in 50 feet of water off the shore of Windmill Point in 1883, where it still currently sits.^[47] Although the Fleur Marie is associated with the area, it is actually located within American waters.^[48]

Galop Canal

The Galop Canal was opened in 1846 and was used until the 1950s. The canal allowed ships to bypass the rapids of the St. Lawrence River near Cardinal and Iroquois. Construction began in 1844, and was done without machinery, but instead by use of hand tools such as axes, wheelbarrows, and shovels.^[49] The men worked for around 14 hours and were paid 50 cents each day.^[50] In 1897 new locks were built along the canal. Some parts of the canal reached 243 metres in length and were the longest in Canada at the time.^[51] In the 1950s the St. Lawrence Seaway was created and new locks were built in Iroquois for large, ocean-going ships. Present day, Galop Canal is a popular location amongst locals for swimming and picnics, as well as diving. The wreck of the Weehawk is located in Lock 27 at Galop Canal; divers are able to view this site and drift with the current of the St. Lawrence River to the nearby Conestoga dive site.

Hamlets, small villages, and other communities

The township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is dotted with many old, rural hamlets and communities, most of which date back to the early 1800s. Most of these hamlets are tiny and only ever had a few farms and less than twenty businesses. The communities of Brouseville, New Wexford, Crystal Rock, Ventnor, Hyndman, Mainsville, Groveton, Campbell's Corners, McCarley's Corners, The Island, McReynolds, Pittston, Van Allens, Glen Smail and Shanly are all a part of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. Each hamlet usually had its own schoolhouse, cheese factory, and churches; many had their own general stores, burial grounds, as well as grist or saw mills.

Brouseville

Brouseville, Ontario^[52] is a small rural hamlet located approximately four miles north of Cardinal.^[53] The central location of the hamlet is the intersection of Brouseville Road^[54] and County Road 22 (Shanly Road). To the direct west of Brouseville is Mainsville, and to the north is Pittston. Brouseville extends easterly to the township boundary; Kain Road is considered to be the southern boundary of the hamlet. Until 1872, the community was known as Bolton's Corners.^[55] The hamlet renamed itself after of Dr. William H. Brouse^[56] of Prescott, Ontario, who travelled throughout the area with horse and buggy to visit patients as a physician. In the year 1872, Brouse had succeeded in taking over the South Grenville seat in the federal election, running as a liberal candidate; his win, and his popularity amongst the community lead to the decision to rename the hamlet in his honour.

In 1872, Brouseville could be described as a thriving community with quite a few businesses in operation. At the time, Brouseville was home to a hotel, a jewellery store, four grocery stores, a pump shop, blacksmith, as well as a carriage repair shop.^[57] In 1874, the hamlet opened a post office.^[58] Around this time, Brouseville also boasted a horse racing track, owned by William Anderson, who also raised thoroughbred horses and offered training there until 1900.^[59] Arguably the most notable bit of history surrounding Brouseville is its relationship to Frank James, brother of outlaw Jesse James. After the death of his brother Jesse, Frank briefly hid from American authorities in nearby Mallorytown, before surrendering himself and spending time in prison. Upon his release, Frank James, allegedly deciding to retire from crime, began a hobby in horse trading. His new hobby lead to an established relationship with William Anderson and his thoroughbreds.^[59] He is reported to have stayed over night here on more than one occasion with both the Wallace and Anderson families.^[60]

A notable piece of architecture to the area was an octagon house that once stood on Byers Road. The house was believed to have been built by a "Mr. Wright" in 1873, following the fad of octagonal houses built in the United States.^[61] The house remained abandoned for many years after being purchased by the Land Bank and despite numerous efforts, failed to become a preserved heritage building. On Halloween night, (October 31) 1995, the house was destroyed by fire and later completely demolished.

Campbell's Corners

Campbell’s Corners, Ontario is the name given to the area surrounding the intersection of County Road 44 with Hyndman Road, located slightly northeast of the hamlet of Groveton.^[62] The intersection was formerly referred to as Watson’s Corners in the 19th century, after one of the first families to settle there. The Watson family owned a large portion of land and ran a successful farming operation. Around 1885, John Watson leased part of his land to farmers from the Groveton area, with the agreement they would immediately set up a cheese factory, ready for operations by the 1886 season.^[63] The cheese factory was referred to as the Groveton Cheese factory and remained in operation until the 1930s. It is unclear when or why the name change occurred, but the area is now described as Campbell’s Corners.^[64]

Crystal Rock (Limekiln)

Crystal Rock is located on County Road 44 (formally part of Ontario Highway 16).^[65] The land was first surveyed by Edward Jessup in 1784. There are many old stone homes in Crystal Rock, most notable, and well preserved, being the old schoolhouse.

In the early 1840s, a log schoolhouse was built and named Limekiln School. It was built on the southern portion of a piece of property owned by Joseph Dyer, which was also the location of a lime kiln. In the early years, the school was used as a church on Sundays and after school hours. In 1870, the structure was replaced by a stone schoolhouse, and a new woodshed and toilets were built on the premises. In 1909, the entire property had to be cleaned, as unsanitary conditions within the new buildings had been attributed to the deaths of some pupils. The new schoolhouse was registered as S.S. #8 in the township of Edwardsburgh.^[66] The school officially closed in 1961, when it was purchased by the St. James Anglican Church and briefly used as a Parish Hall, until being converted into a private residence.^[67]

From 1884—1924, there was a cheese factory located on lot #24 in the community of Crystal Rock. The factory was known as Thompson's No. 5. presumably after one of its builders, William Thompson. After 1904, the factory also made butter. The factory's operations were seasonal, as it was shut down every winter, reopening in April.^[68]

Unlike every other small, former community in the area, Crystal Rock never had its own graveyard, due to the fact the ground was too shallow in the area to accommodate one.

Thelma Cameron

Artist and author Thelma Cameron (October 20, 1918 – December 19, 2009)^[69] lived in Crystal Rock for most of her life. In the 1970s she turned her home in Crystal Rock into the Crystal Rock Art Room, which was a gallery for her original works. At the time of her death she had self-published three books including an autobiography and two local histories, one of which was about Crystal Rock. It was published in 1994 and titled Crystal Rock History (Its Rocky Twists and Turns).^[70] One of Cameron's paintings was presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the Town of Prescott in the 1980s during her visit to Fort Wellington.^[71]

Glen Smail

The hamlet of Glen Smail,^[72] Ontario,^[73] is located approximately two miles south of Spencerville, ^[74]encompassing the land around Glen Smail Road^[75] and County Road 44.^[76] The settlement began around a large hill located on County Road 44, known in the 1800s as Cowdrey's Hill; as the first settler is believed to be George Washington Cowdrey^[77] in 1818. The following year, Andrew Hunter and his wife immigrated to the area from Scotland, followed later by their children and their families, leading to the community being briefly referred to as Hunter's Settlement.^[78] In 1832, William Smail, who came from a prominent Scottish family, purchased a large amount of land in the area, before marrying into the Hunter family. Shortly after, the settlement changed its name to Glen Smail.^[78] The land in the area has changed significantly since the first settlement; Cowdrey's hill, which later became MacIntosh hill, is located approximately where Pittston Road meets County Road 44. By the 1900s, Glen Smail had a population of around 100 people.^[79]

By the mid 1800s, family farms were thriving and many small businesses began to appear within the settlement. A general store was run out of the home of Andrew Hunter, which sold commodities such as whisky, rum, eggs and tea.^[80] Members of the Smail family operated a steam-powered saw mill, which was the only of its kind at the time within the township, and could operate year-round.^[80] By the end of the 1800s, more businesses opened, including a shoe shop, post office, and a blacksmith and carriage shop.^[79] The sawmill ceased operations in the 1880s and was converted into a cheese factory. The local cooper, George Amell, supplied boxes to the factory, and his son collected milk from local farmers and drew it to the factory by horse and carriage. In 1906, the factory became known as the William Edgar Cheese Factory. The factory ceased operations in the late 1920s, and the building was later moved to Shanly to be used as a general store.^[79] A lime kiln was also used in the area for a period of time, providing some farmers an extra source of income.^[79]

In 1837, the first school was opened in Glen Smail, located on what is now County Road 44. This school was known as S.S. #11. Much like the other early schools, it was primitive, built from logs, and lacked basic teaching apparatuses such as blackboards.^[81] By the mid-1800s, the building was unsurprisingly in very poor condition and replaced in 1864. The new school was built from stone further south from the first school, on the same road. The school saw 100 years of use, as it was closed in 1964.^[81] Today, the building still stand and was converted into a private residence.^[82] According to old school records, a separate school was built around 1861 located around a kilometre south of S.S. #11 which operated for around four years, however little references to this school exist today. In 1959, a Roman Catholic separate school was built on donated land.^[83] Four years after opening, two rooms were added onto the building to accommodate the number of student attending; around 95 pupils were enrolled at the school's peak. The school was called St. Mary's School and officially closed in 1979. In 1982, the building was purchased by the Edwardsburgh Lions Club and was turned into a community building.^[83]

Present day, many of the old stone homes still remain and are occupied. The Hunter family farm has stayed within the family for over a century, as well as the Bush family home. The stone house facing Pittston Road on County Road 44 sits upon what was once Cowdrey's hill. The house was once called Welsh House after Robert Welsh who resided there around the 1840s with his wife, a daughter of Andrew Hunter. The hill became known as McIntosh hill after a prominent figure in the area, Dr. P. A. MacIntosh, purchased the property in 1910.^[84] On Pittston Road, there are remains of an upscale home that once stood there, built to a specific plan from seventeenth century Britain targeted to those of high social status. The home was built in 1832 by the Hunter family, and was reportedly once used as a cooperage. The home was destroyed by fire in the 1970s.^[80]

Groveton

Groveton, Ontario,^[85] is a hamlet located north of Spencerville along County Road 44.^[86] The hamlet grew around the intersection of County Road 44 and Buckwheat Road which becomes Groveton Road immediately after the intersection.^[87] According to records compiled by the Ventnor Women's Institute, in the beginning of the 1800s the area was covered in large white pines. The forest was completely cleared and the trees were hauled to Johnstown, to then be shipped to Quebec City and later used as masts for British naval ships.^[88]

Hyndman (Grant's Mills)

From 1800 until the 1890s, Hyndman was called Grant's Mills. In 1800, Lewis Grant moved to Edwardsburgh Township to claim land which was entitled to his father.^[89] Grant then built a dam, and then a grist mill on the South Nation River. It was the only mill of its kind at the time on the river between Montreal and Kingston. After Lewis Grant's death, his son Daniel sold the mill to Joseph Hyndman, who operated the mill until 1901. The name change of Grant's Mills occurred in the 1890s after postal service came to the community. Mail arrived addressed to Hyndman, the name of the postmaster,^[90] and from then on the community became referred to as Hyndman. The only building still standing on Grant's property from the Grant's Mills period is a stone house built by Daniel Grant.

The population of Grant's Mills was listed in the Dominion Directory in the 19th century as around 50 persons in the years 1871 and 1895.^[91]

Mainsville

Mainsville,^[92] Ontario,^[93] is a rural hamlet located west of Brouseville at the intersection of Brouseville Road and Wynands Road.^[94] In the mid 19th century the community was referred to as Main's Corners and Raney's Corners, as both the Main and Raney families owned the properties immediately surrounding the main intersection, and had established farms and businesses there.^[95] By the 1870s, the hamlet was recorded as Mainsville on both church and school records.^[95] By the 1900s, Mainsville had a schoolhouse, blacksmith, a post office,^[96] a harness shop, two general stores and both Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Later, land was also purchased for a cemetery,^[97] and a cheese factory was built.^[98]

New Wexford

New Wexford, Ontario is a small hamlet located just east of the town of Prescott, Ontario, between Prescott and Johnstown.^[99] The hamlet is located along the St. Lawrence River banks, and Ontario Highway 2.^[100] By the time Prescott became an established town and the War of 1812 had ended, The King's Highway (Ontario Highway 2) had become a rapidly improving, main corridor between Montreal and Kingston. This showed much potential for the people who held the land at the outskirts of Prescott. Eventually, by the 1850s, the railway had advanced through Prescott and the surrounding area, which generated further amongst the landowners to form a community.^[101]

Pittston

Pittston, Ontario^[102] is located on the banks of the South Branch of the South Nation River;^[103] north of Cardinal, Ontario, between Brouseville and Shanly.^[104] Its main intersection is the crossing of Shanly Road and Pittston Road. The community was named after William Pitt, who built the first general store here in the 1800s.^[105] Currently, the village is home to a KOA camp ground.^[106]

Between 1799 and 1807 the area was divided into lots and approximately half the land was distributed as Crown grants. Initially, specific lots were granted to four men: John Dennison, John McBane, Thomas Fraser and James Froom; however the properties changed hands many times. Eventually in the 1840s the community began to flourish, there was a significant increase in permanent settlements and more Crown land from the surrounding area was purchased. Around this time the settlement was referred to as Riddell's Settlement, as the Riddell family owned 450 acres of land, and headed six households in the community.^[105] By the mid-1800s the community boasted two general stores, an orange lodge, a schoolhouse, cheese factory, saw mill, and a church.^[107]

The Island

The Island, Ontario,^[108] is the name given to the small hamlet located along Dukelow Road, west of Spencerville. In the 19th century, Dukelow Road was only a primitive trail through the woods which flooded from both ends in the spring months, almost creating a temporary island. This is what lead to the area being referred to as "The Island”.^[109] By 1862, four families had set up homesteads here with small farming operations. Up until this time, the children living in The Island and the surrounding area attended school in either Roebuck or Spencerville as there was no schoolhouse in the community. With the population of the settlement increasing, in 1863 the township council designated The Island as its own school section, #26. A log schoolhouse was built shortly after, which was used until 1901 when it was then replaced by a more practical stone structure. During the evenings, the schoolhouse was used as a meeting place for a variety of social gatherings. Most notably, the Union Literary Club operated out of the schoolhouse starting in 1909.^[110] This club was exclusive to residents of the Island and the surrounding land were permitted to attend, and a password was needed at the door for entry into their meetings. Members of the literary club were expected to pay a fee of ten cents twice a year to maintain their membership. The Union Literary Club frequently had musical entertainment during their meetings, as well as public speakers and formal debates. After the school was closed, the building was later sold and converted into a private home.^[111]

During the early 1900s, the Island was a popular gathering spot for locals to participate in organized sports. A recurring patch of flat ice in a nearby field was designated the “Island Arena”, and teams from other communities would gather for games of hockey, refereed by local farmers. The results of these community hockey games were often reported in the local papers.^[112] The Island consisted of mainly farmers, and there were no businesses recorded in the community apart from a sawmill which operated during the 1920s for some time. Mail was delivered to the community by horse and buggy starting in 1916 and lasting until around the 1940s; the community never had a formal post office and mail was delivered house by house. Present day, the Island consists of a few family homes; most of the farms are no longer in operation.^[113]

Ventnor (Adams)

Ventnor, Ontario^[114] is a small village located north-east of Spencerville. The village was first called Adams after the last name of its first landowners, but was changed shortly after due to the fact there was already a town of Adams, Ontario at the time.

Sometime before 1795 Gideon and Joel Adams,^[115] who were sons of Loyalist Doctor Samuel Adams, were granted a large portion of land within the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal boundaries. One of the properties included the rights to build a dam and mill on the land. Provincial Archive maps indicate that by 1828 there was a mill on the property, built on the South Nation River which flowed through the land.^[116]

In the mid-1800s land was purchased from Alexander Adams to become a public cemetery. The cemetery became known as Adams cemetery, and remained so even after the name of the village was changed to Ventnor.^[117] One of the earliest known stones in this cemetery was erected in 1869.^[118]

There is a small burying ground off of Connell Road in Ventnor. This cemetery was originally for the Stitt family, but also has plots from the Connell family. The earliest transcribed headstone in the cemetery is dated from 1837.

In the 1960s, there were two general stores, (one with a post office), two churches, an Institute Hall, a one-room school house (S.S. #14) and a poultry egg-producing facility. The egg-producing facility relocated from the village, and the other buildings have been converted to homes or no longer exist.

The last descendant of Samuel Adams (Stuart Adams Irving) moved from the village in 2015. Mary Lou Brown-Fry, another direct descendant of Dr. Sam's, lives on the Connell Rd. which leads to Ventnor. She was born and raised in Ventnor.

Former communities and villages

Newport, Rooney's Corners, The Front, The Second, Garryowen, Clover Hill, Spencerville West, Domville Station, Kelly's Settlement and Prescott Junction (also called Junctionville) were communities that were once located within the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal boundaries but are either no longer labelled on maps, or have no remaining structures. Most were barely established communities containing mostly family farms and a few businesses.

Clover Hill

Clover Hill, Ontario,^[119] was a small community located north-west of Cardinal. The community got its name from the large hill surrounded by a large field of clover, which the community was built around.^[120] In 1797, the land was first surveyed and then given to Loyalist men, including Gideon Adams and Captain Hugh Munro; Loyalist officers held on to the land here for a few years before selling it off to settlers looking to farm and cultivate the land. By the mid 1800s much of the land in Clover Hill was cultivated; many successful farms were established and new homes were built. Census records indicate that some residents also earned an income with construction jobs during the construction of the Galop Canal.^[120]

During the 19th century, many residents of Clover Hill ran successful sugar bushes, and supported themselves through mixed farming. From spring until fall, milk was a large focus in the community, as the Spotswood Cheese Factory operated in the community, which depended on a steady supply of milk from most of the farmers living here. Although the exact dates of operation are unclear for this cheese factory, it can be confirmed it was opened sometime prior to 1851.^[121] In the early 1900s, a sawmill operated in the area providing the community with lumber, as well as supplying CNR with railway ties. As transportation began to improve mid-century, most locals began to buy lumber elsewhere and business declined; despite of this, the sawmill remained open and in operation by its original owner until the 1980s.^[122] After the owner’s house burned down around 1985, the sawmill ceased operations; one of the original barns on the property was converted into the Johnstown Snowmobile Club.^[123]

Prior to the school section division, Clover Hill had a small, log schoolhouse to serve the local children. The first primitive school was only open for a couple months out of the year, and sometimes went an entire school year without opening at all, due to low enrolment.^[124] By 1876, Clover Hill finally had a large enough population to support a more permanent schoolhouse and become its own school section, and a parcel of land was sold by a local farmer to become the new school yard. The school section was designated S.S. #7, and a stone schoolhouse was built on top of the community’s landmark hill.^[125] Like most schoolhouses at that time, it was frequently used after hours as a community hall, and was located in the geographical centre of the community making it the most convenient meeting place. The Clover Hill school closed around 1939, as there were less than ten children of school age remaining in the settlement. After the closure, the few students left had to find transportation to the nearest schoolhouse, located in Mainsville. The Clover Hill schoolhouse is no longer standing.^[126]

The construction of the Ontario Highway 401, in conjunction with government expropriation, ultimately led to the community's dissolve.^[127] Most of the structures that once made up Clover Hill have been completely demolished, including the schoolhouse, the sawmill and many farms and houses. Most of the land which made up the community is still owned by the Canadian government to this day after being purchased in the 1970s by the land bank. Only a handful of the original stone houses built there still remain; one of which is the former home of pioneers William and Margaret Bush, who are buried in front of the house.^[128]

Domville Station

Domville Station was the name given to a small community which would have been located just north of New Wexford and Prescott Junction, at the western border of the township.^[129] The community had no real businesses apart from a small clapboard train station along the Bytown and Prescott railway; however residents felt a need to distinguish their community as the low, swampy land made the rest of the township inaccessible by road many months of the year. The small population of people who lived in the Domville Station area relied on the neighbouring township of Augusta, and the village of Domville for their services, which lent the community and train station its name.^[129] The Domville train station, built in 1854, was located where the Bytown and Prescott railway line met Hands Road. The building was around 10 feet by 20 feet and painted red; it was considered a flag station as it did not have a station master, instead, a cylinder outside of the building contained a flag which one would use to flag down a passing train. Inside the building were two long benches and a stove, which were used by travellers to relax and cook meals between stops.^[129] Most of the families who occupied the community were farmers; until the around the time of the First World War, the main cash crops for farmers here were hops.^[130] Today, Hands Fireworks Inc., a pyrotechnics company, occupies land that was once a prominent Domville Station farm at the end of Hands Road.^[131]

Around 1844, Domville Station became its own school section, #18, and a log schoolhouse was built on what is now Glen Smail road.^[132] By the 1850s, the majority of children of school age in School Section #18 were enrolled at the school with only 2 children not enrolled, however attendance records show the average daily attendance was only 58 students out of the 90 enrolled during winter months, and around 48 students in the summer.^[132] In 1874, the lot in which the school stood on was purchased by a man named Johnathan Youkers, who sold a half acre of land back to the school board trustees. In the following year, a new, stone schoolhouse was built and called S.S. #18 Knowles School, after a local resident named Robert Knowles who lived in close proximity to the new school.^[132] Attendance decreased so greatly in the early 1900s that the school was closed for a period of time, and children had to commute to Domville daily for school. In 1946, S.S. #18 was reopened with 8 students enrolled, and later, in the 1950s, more land was donated to the school to enlarge the playground. The school shut down permanently in 1963 as students began to be transported by bus to Spencerville for their education. The Knowles schoolhouse was eventually converted into a private residence as it remains today.^[132]

Garryowen

Garryowen, Ontario, is a small rural hamlet located directly south of the hamlet of Ventnor. Adams Road, leading south out of Ventnor, becomes Armstrong Road after it intersects with County Road 21. Garryowen's centre is situated about half-way down Armstrong Road where it intersects Rock Street. The stone home at the junction of Rock Street and Armstrong Road was formerly the one-room school house (S.S. #12).

The settlement was founded by mostly Irish and Scottish immigrants, who named their community after the Garryowen air.^[133] In the early 19th century, quarries began to appear in the area due to its abundance of limestone; the rock was close to the surface and therefore easy to extract.^[134] At this time, the stone was crushed and used to improve the local roads. In the 1860s, settlers began to create quarries on their farms; realizing it was a valuable resource, they began building houses and businesses as well as shipping the stone to nearby villages.^[133] Although the area is still referred to as Garryowen by locals, the hamlet is not currently labelled on Google Maps.

Kelly's Settlement

Kelly’s Settlement was a name which was briefly used to describe a community located between Crystal Rock and Johnstown Ontario, along what is now County Road 44. The small community was centred around the intersection of County Road 44 and Newman Road, where a popular inn built by James Kelly operated in the 1850s.^[135] The closest neighbours of the inn worked from their homes as weavers and shoemakers for the settlement and nearby communities. According to oral history, a tavern also operated within Kelly’s Settlement for some time in the mid 19th century.^[136] There is very little evidence of the settlement ever existing, and very little reference made to the settlement in township records. The most recent reference is from 1864, when the township hired a man named Philip McGuiggan to construct a bridge at “Kelly’s Settlement on the Johnstown Road.” for $39; Johnstown Road being the former name for County Road 44.^[137]

Newport

Newport, Ontario was a planned town located between Johnstown and New Wexford which never ended up becoming fully established. According to some records, the town was also sometimes referred to as New Jerusalem.^[138] The proposed village was to be where the current of the Battle of the Windmill historical site is located, often referred to as Windmill Point. The Crown originally granted the land to two Loyalists, John Dulmage and Thomas McIlmoyle, who sold the land to a farmer named Joseph Bass in 1809. Bass held onto the land for five years before selling it off to Solomn Snyder in 1814.^[139] Snyder divided 27 and a half acres of his water front property into town lots, declaring this was to become a new town called Newport, Ontario. At the time, the King's Highway (Ontario Highway 2) would have run parallel to the shoreline past the windmill. At its peak, Newport had around ten stone buildings or structures including the windmill, all of which would've been located on what is now Windmill Road. These structures included a stone, one-room schoolhouse, which was called S.S #3 North Channel School, a three-story stone building which contained both a tavern and general store, as well as a storehouse and two-storey carriage barn. The remainder of the structures here were family homes.

In 1838, the village was attacked by a group of American invaders from Ogdensburg attempting to "free" Prescott of perceived British oppression; known as the Battle of the Windmill. Although the Americans were ultimately defeated, the town of Newport experienced great loss. During the battle, two civilian lives were lost; a mother and her two children had been hiding in their cellar after their home was seized, with the intention of fleeing at dusk. When the trio exited the cellar, they were immediately spotted by the invading Americans who held their fire, however when they arrived close to the Canadian lines, shots were fired. All three were hit; the mother and her four-year-old son died on the battlefield, while the seventeen-year-old daughter, despite being shot through her jaw, managed to crawl to safety.^[140] After the battle, the bodies of fifty American men were buried in a mass grave near the battle site. Most of the buildings that once stood as Newport were burned or destroyed by both cannon and gun fire during the battle, and were not rebuilt.

In 1873, the windmill was converted into a lighthouse, and the village of Newport began to fade into obscurity. The village was never registered and little mention was ever made of it even existing, apart from a popular lighthouse keeper using the name "Newport" to occasionally specify the location of his lighthouse in the late 1800s.^[139] In 1920, the area became a designated National Historic Site and is currently owned and maintained by Parks Canada. The ruins of one of the original stone farm houses remained at the site until the 1980s, when it was completely demolished.^[139] Present day, only the windmill and one of the original homes that made up the town of Newport remain standing. The home is known as Joseph Bass house, and is one of the oldest homes still standing in the township; it also served as a tavern and general store. According to a Prescott Journal article from 1898, the house was used during battle as a place to keep the injured and dead. Damage from cannon blasts can still be seen on the exterior of the house, which is currently a private residence.^[141][142]

Prescott Junction (Junctionville)

In 1868, land was surveyed about half a mile north of New Wexford, Ontario, just east of Prescott; 17 lots were laid out to become a new town-site, which was to be called "Junctionville". The name Junctionville was only used briefly; by 1871 the village was referred to as Prescott Junction in newspapers and business directories.^[143] The town had triangular boundaries, which at the time were the Grand Trunk Line, the By-town and Prescott Line, and Reynolds Street.^[144] According to Lovell's Directory, by 1871 the village was thriving, two hotels were in operation, Beaufort's Inn and the Ottawa Hotel; as well as a Grand Trunk Railway station,^[145] Canadian Express Co. office, Montreal Telegraph Co. office, and housing to accommodate 50 people.^[143]

By 1884, the Grand Trunk Railway closed its station at Prescott Junction; eventually the Canadian Pacific Railway took control of the area's railways, and the village was used for coal storage yards.^[146] Today, there is little trace of the small town ever existing; homes were either burned or demolished, with only some foundations remaining. Much of the area where the village used to be is entirely overgrown with weeds and barely visible, and some of the village's area was taken over by the Prescott Golf Course for expansion. The most noticeable piece of architecture left over from the village, which stood until around the 1980s, was a wooden footbridge which crossed over the former By-town and Prescott Line.^[147] The bridge was known locally as Hangman's Bridge, leading some locals to associate the bridge with actual hangings; however there is no evidence of this to be found. It is more likely that the bridge got its name due to the simple wood construction vaguely resembling gallows.^[148]

Rooney's Corners

Rooney's Corners was the name given to the area surrounding what are now Cedar Grove Road and Rooney Road. Where the community centre once stood is now the junction of the 401 and Ontario Highway 16; as well as Angelo's Truck Stop and the aforementioned roads. Highway development dissected most of the land and much was sold off to the government Land Bank around the 1970s.^[149] The community once had its own cheese factory, general store, schoolhouse and sawmill. The community's name was taken from the surname of the owner's of the general store, Edward and Rosanna Rooney; although the store closed around the 1930s, the area kept its name.

In 1856 a stone schoolhouse was built on Cedar Grove road, it is believed this was this was the first separate school to be opened in the township.^[150] In its first year, around 70 pupils were enrolled at the school, ages five through sixteen years old; the subjects taught were spelling, grammar, arithmetic, and reading. It is recorded that the first teacher, named Michael Scanlon, was paid a yearly salary of 36 pounds, 15 shillings. Into the 20th century, poor conditions required the school to be given a special yearly grant of $20 from the township, and was eventually shut down around 1907.^[150] Prior to this schoolhouse, there was a log school which served as a union school, having pupils from both Augusta township and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal enrolled.

By 1871, a sawmill was operating in the area owned by the Chapman family; often called Chapman's mill, it was situated on a small creek located off of Cedar Grove road. The mill also operated as a carding mill for a period of time, and in later years, the mill was converted to a steam-powered sawmill which supplied the community with slab lumber and shingles.^[151] Around the early 1900s, Wentworth Chapman was crippled in an accident involving escaped horses, which occurred at the mill. Shortly after this, the mill ceased operations and later was destroyed by fire, along with the Chapman family's farm. Until the 1990s, the chimney belonging to Chapman's mill which survived the fire remained in its original location; it was a 75-foot-tall stone structure with a 6 square-foot base.^[151]

The Second

The Second, was the name given to the area around Froom Road and Scott Road, once known as the Second Concession, located north of Cardinal, Ontario.^[152] The two roads are connected by a sharp turn, resembling a V-shape from above; this is due to the road being made parallel to the St. Lawrence River shoreline by almost exactly one mile for lot division. As a result of the irregular shape of the Second Concession, the lots surveyed for the community were also irregular shapes and sizes; some lots being much smaller than the lots along other concession lines, and others being quite larger.^[153] Locally, the community was, and occasionally still is, referred to as "the Broken Second".^[153] The earliest written record containing a reference to the community is in a map drawn in 1792; this map was drawn by W. Chewitt, who was the land surveyor for the area, appointed by John Graves Simcoe. According to a similar map from 1795, one of the lots along the Second belonged to Thomas Gooseberry, who was one of only three Black Loyalists of Jessup's Corps to be disbanded in the entire area; by 1801, however his name had not appeared in any censuses, indicating he never settled here.^[153]

By the mid-1800s, census data indicated that the majority of settlers living here were mixed farmers, with two men having successful businesses as shoemakers; there was also a cheese factory here. By 1871, the population of the area had increased, and more farms appeared to be in operation. The community produced milk (which supplied the cheese factory) and butter, as well as beef and pork; the farmers also grew potatoes, wheat and oats. Many farms also generated income by bee-keeping, and establishing apple orchards.^[154] The first school to be built along The Second was a log building built in 1843; shortly after, a stone schoolhouse was built on the opposite side of the road, called S.S #5, which operated for over a century.^[154] In 1950, a new school was built for the community, called Wylie's School. This new school still had only one classroom, but was a much more modern, brick building, with indoor bathrooms and electricity; which previous schools lacked. Wylie's school was in operation until 1969, when students began using the bus to commute to Cardinal schools.^[155] The community was further dissolved when the Ontario Highway 401 was built, which divided farms and properties.

Spencerville West

Spencerville West was the name given to the community located slightly north-west of Spencerville;^[156] the community extended west from the abandoned CPR tracks (one mile west of Spencerville) to the township border.^[157] The designation of the community Spencerville West was first used by Spencerville United Church groups to more accurately define its congregation. The land in the area was settled by the mid–19th century, as the South Nation River branches off through the centre of the community, making ideal farm land.^[157]

Cemeteries

Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is home to many small cemeteries and private family burial plots,^[158] most of which are over a century old. It is believed there are potentially many small family plots from the late 18th, and early 19th centuries that remain unknown within the township,^[159] as mortality rates in this time were much higher and early settlers needed to bury their dead quickly and easily; most people at this time were buried on the family property. Grave robbing was also an issue faced by early settlers, as fresh bodies could be sold for profit to those looking to practice medicine; burying the bodies of loved ones close to the homestead decreased the likelihood of anyone being tempted to steal the body.^[160] No grave markers were likely placed on these graves; any markers that would have been used in these times would likely have not survived two centuries.^[161] The oldest legible stone in the area can be found at North Channel Cemetery.^[162] The grave and stone belong to Jerusha Plumley, who was buried here in 1801.^[163] One of the earliest known burials in the area took place in the same cemetery a few years prior, in 1796.^[164] The grave is that of John McIlmoyle Sr., and though the dates were recorded the stone marker is no longer there.^[165]

Private Cemeteries

There are around six private cemeteries located in the township on record; these cemeteries are from the mid-to-late 19th century and are small family plots that were erected on former homesteads. These small cemeteries are located on private property and therefore not accessible to the public.^[166] Along what was formerly The Front, the family of John Driver(d.1896) are buried along with Henry Bolton (d.1856), who was once a fairly prominent local figure; the burying place is known as Driver Cemetery.^[167] On the outskirts of Spencerville near Connell Road, there are two old family cemeteries in close proximity; one is a family plot for the Connell family, and the other the Stitt family. The stones in these family plots date from as far back as 1837.^[168] The Holmes Cemetery located near Pittston is a fairly large family plot, with over ten members of the Holmes family interred here.^[169] Many of the Holmes family stones are too decayed to read however the earliest confirmed interment was in 1849, and the most recent in 1910.^[170] The Kane Cemetery was located in Groveton on property originally owned by Isaac Wilson, and was the burying place of three of his relatives; including his mother, and two of his adult children who died as a result of a fever epidemic in 1850.^[171] In 1880, the grandson of Isaac Wilson built a small fence around the cemetery however the stone markers were later moved to Adams cemetery in Ventnor where they remain today.^[172] Near Clover Hill, A pioneer man named William Bush and his wife are buried on what was once their homestead.^[173]

Vaults

The township is also home to a few cemetery vaults, 4 of which still stand. Also known as dead houses, these stone vaults were used to store bodies in cold-climate areas until the ground could be excavated for burial.^[174] The Shanly cemetery vault is located in close proximity to the hamlet's cemetery. This vault is in poor condition but still stands; it is estimated to have been built around 1876, the same time the Shanly cemetery was erected. There are two vaults located in Spencerville, the Spencerville Funeral Home vault and the Connell vault. The Connell vault is located just outside the village, on the Connell family's property. It was built in 1912 as a private family vault and remains a private structure today. The Spencerville Funeral Home vault is located on County Road 44 just south of the village. The vault was built in 1892, and according to The Prescott Journal in an article published August, 24th 1893, the vault was built at a cost of $600 and had every modern convenience of the time in regards to vaults. As of 2008, the vault was owned by the Grant Brown Funeral Home of Spencerville and was still in use.^[175] St. Paul's Cemetery vault is located within St. Paul's Cemetery on the outskirts of Cardinal. It is believed this vault was built using stones salvaged from the St. Paul's Anglican church when it was dismantled in 1872.^[175] This vault was still in use as of 2008.

Demographics

According to 2011 census data, individuals aged 65 or older accounted for 17.6% of the population of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal; working aged individuals (those aged 15–64) accounted for 67.0% of the population. 15.4% of the total population were classified as children, and were ages 0 through 14 years. When compared to national percentages, the percentage of persons aged 65 or older in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal was nearly 3% higher than the overall percentage for Canada, while the percentage of children and working-aged individuals were both lower by approximately 1%.^[176] Comparing census data from 2006 and 2011, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal saw a population increase of 4%, and over one hundred new private dwellings were built.

Immigration, diversity and language

National Household Survey data from 2011 indicates that 4.1% of the population of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal were foreign-born immigrants, while 95.8% were Canadian-born non-immigrants; there were no non-permanent residents identified within in the township.^[34] None of the immigrants identified were considered to be recent immigrants, meaning they immigrated here prior to 2006. The most common countries of origin reported were the United Kingdom and the United States, with the United Kingdom accounting for 29.8% of the immigrant population, and the United States accounting for 19.3%.^[34]

According to the 2011 NHS data, 1% of the township's population were considered to be visible minorities; an estimated 70 individuals. The largest visible minority group in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal was Black. In contrast, the percentage of visible minorities living in Ontario was 25.9% of the population, with the largest minority group being of South Asian or Chinese descent.^[34] The three most frequently reported ethnic origins of the township's population were either solely, or a combination of Canadian, English, and/or Irish.

In 2011 in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, 92.0% of the population spoke only English as a mother tongue; 4.5% of the population reported French, and 2.9% a non-official language, as a mother tongue. 97.6% of the population reportedly spoke mostly English while at home. The most common non-official language mother-tongue was Dutch, which accounted for 27.9% of the non-official language speaking population. In comparison, the most commonly reported non-official mother-tongue in Ontario was reportedly Italian.^[176]

Percentages of non-official languages spoken as a mother-tongue in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal.

Mother Tongue	Number of Individuals	% Amongst Non-official Language population	Percentage Amongst Total Population
Dutch	60	27.9%	0.9%
German	55	25.6%	0.8%
Polish	15	7.0%	0.2%
Greek	10	4.7%	0.1%
Punjabi	10	4.7%	0.1%[176]

Religious demographics

Upon the Loyalists first arrival in 1784, there was already two missionaries belonging to the Roman Catholic church in what would later be Upper Canada. Shortly after settlement, the British appointed chaplains to attend to the needs of both Anglican and Presbyterian Loyalists. Later on, Methodism was introduced to the area by ancestral German Protestants. These four religious denominations maintained strong influence in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal into the modern age.

Religious Affiliation	Count	Percentage
Roman Catholic	1,755	25.3%
United church	1,525	22.0%
Anglican	1,050	15.2%
No religious affiliation	1,285	18.5%[34]

In 2011, 81.5% of the population of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal associated themselves with a religion, according to NHS data. The most common religion stated was Roman Catholic.^[34]

Canada census – Edwardsburgh/Cardinal community profile   2011 2006 2001 Population: Land area: Population density: Median age: Total private dwellings: Median household income: 6959 (4.0% from 2006) 312.34 km2 (120.60 sq mi) 22.3/km2 (58/sq mi) 2986 6689 (0.2% from 2001) 311.83 km2 (120.40 sq mi) 21.5/km2 (56/sq mi) 42.8 (M: 42.2, F: 43.4) 2846 $56,192 6674 (-0.6% from 1996) 312.00 km2 (120.46 sq mi) 21.4/km2 (55/sq mi) 39.8 (M: 39.9, F: 39.8) 2799 $49,312 References: 2011[177] 2006[178] 2001[179]

Notable people

• Gideon Adams (1755–1834), political figure
• Leo Boivin (born 1932), NHL player
• Rusty Crawford (1885–1971), NHL player
• Todd Gill (born 1965), NHL player
• Peter Hoy (born 1966), Major League Baseball player
• George Perry Graham (1859–1943), political figure
• Bill Little ( born 1938) NCAA hockey player

See also

• List of townships in Ontario
• Johnstown, Ontario
• Spencerville, Ontario
• Shanly, Ontario
• Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge
• Battle of the Windmill
• Grenville County
• Augusta Township

References

External links

• Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal

	North Grenville	North Dundas	South Dundas
	Augusta
		Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
	Prescott		Saint Lawrence River Ogdensburg, Lisbon