Patrimoine

In addition to the 40+ new plaques that make up the Historic Walking Tour, there are dozens of Historic Plaques in Cornwall and the surrounding townships that commemorate historic events, people or key buildings.

In Cornwall there are 14 historic plaques. These plaques are typically large metal signs with distinct colour patterns: blue and gold (Ontario) and red and gold (Canada)

Ontario Historical Plaques

Cornwall Grammar School

Location: 437 Sydney Street in Cornwall at the entrance of the Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School

Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School traces its beginning to an educational institution founded by John Strachan in 1803. Strachan, an Anglican priest, opened a private school in his home where he hoped to educate young men to take on leading roles in society. In 1806 he built a schoolhouse that became one of the first provincially funded district grammar schools one year later. Many of Upper Canada’s elite received their education under Strachan’s respected and progressive tutelage. After he left for York (now Toronto) in 1812, various masters ran the Cornwall Grammar School. With provincial educational reform in 1871, it became Cornwall High School and began a new life as a modern secondary institution, becoming a collegiate in 1925, and adding vocational courses in 1938.

Founding of Cornwall

Location: In Lamoureux Park, at the foot of Augustus Street.

During the 1780s, disbanded loyalist soldiers and their families began to settle at the site of Cornwall, then called New Johnstown. The construction of the Cornwall Canal between 1834 and 1842 accelerated the community’s development into an industrial centre.

Captain Samuel Anderson 1736-1836

Location: On the north side of Montreal Road just East of Dunbar Avenue.

A veteran of the Seven Years War and the American Revolution, Anderson was one of the earliest settlers at the site of present-day Cornwall. In Upper Canada he served as a justice of the peace and as the first judge of the Eastern District.

District Court House and Gaol 1833

Location: On the grounds of the court house, Pitt and Water Streets.

The centre block of this court house complex was constructed in 1833 as the judicial headquarters of the Eastern District. The building replaced an earlier frame structure dating from 1802. Renovations have significantly altered the appearance of the court house over the years.

French Presence in Cornwall

Location: On the grounds of l’Eglise de la Nativite de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie, 300 Montreal Rd.

Industrial expansion in Cornwall in the late 1870s led to an influx of workers and tradespeople from Quebec. Over the years, Cornwall’s Franco-Ontarian community has asserted its cultural distinctiveness and paid particular attention to French education and preservation of the French language.

Glengarry Fencibles

Location: In front of the armouries, 515 Fourth Street East

Raised from the Highland settlers in the Cornwall area, the regiment distinguished itself during the War of 1812 at Ogdensburg, Lundy’s Lane and Fort Erie.

Reverend John Strachan in Cornwall

Location: On the grounds of Trinity Church, a building dedicated to his memory, 105 Second Street West.

A renowned clergyman and teacher, Strachan (1778-1867) came to Upper Canada from Scotland in 1799. He built the first Anglican church in that community and established a school for boys. In 1812, he moved to York (Toronto)

Submerged Communities of the St. Lawrence

Location: In Lakeside Park, County Rd 2, west of Cornwall

The construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the creation of Lake St. Lawrence necessitated the flooding of several villages along the riverfront in 1958. Some buildings were relocated and new communities such as Long Sault and Ingleside were established.

The Flying Frenchmen – Édouard “Newsy” Lalonde

Location: Cornwall Civic Complex.

Professional hockey was in its infancy in the autumn of 1909 when the promoters behind the National Hockey Association, forerunner of the National Hockey League, created the Montreal Canadiens team to attract French-Canadian spectators. Belleville-born Jean-Baptiste “Jack” Laviolette was hired as the playing-manager and captain. Laviolette signed Cornwall’s Édouard “Newsy” Lalonde to play forward and recruited his friend Didier “Cannonball” Pitre from the Renfrew Creamery Kings (‘Renfrew Millionaires’) as a defenceman. This trio of francophone…

Colonel Darby Bergin, 1826-1896

Location: Precious Blood Parish Cemetery, 18318 County Rd 2 in Glen Walter.

Bergin was born in York (Toronto) and received his medical degree from McGill College in Montreal. He practised medicine in Cornwall, where he also assisted at a local typhus hospital. He later worked with the Mohawks of Akwesasne during a devastating smallpox outbreak. Bergin was elected Member of Parliament in 1872. He was a passionate and early advocate for rural affairs, public health and social justice. His innovative efforts and political appeals to improve workplace conditions and reduce the hours of work for women and children influenced future successful labour reform in Canada. A lifelong supporter of the militia, he was the first commanding officer of the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion. In 1885, he became Canada’s first Surgeon General, laying the groundwork for the creation of a permanent medical corps. A promoter of local industry, he played an important role in the expansion of the Cornwall Canal and founded the Ontario Pacific Railway. After his death, Bergin was honoured with one of the largest public funerals ever held in Eastern Ontario.

Federal Historic Plaques

Bishop Strachan

Cornwall Canal

Inverarden

Right Reverend John Strachan 1778-1867

United Empire Loyalists

The Provincial Plaque Program

The Ontario Heritage Trust’s Provincial Plaque Program commemorates provincially significant people, places and events in Ontario’s history. Since 1956, over 1,279 provincial plaques have been unveiled. The Provincial Plaque Program is the Trust’s oldest and perhaps best-known activity. The plaques enliven Ontario’s history, sharing stories of the people, places and events that have helped to shape the province.

In 1995, the Cornwall Public Library celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 1997, the library underwent a large transition when it moved into the former post office building. This move ended years of overcrowding and gave the public a locale in the heart of the city. It also gave life to a historic building making it a great place to learn and have fun. Members can take out books, movies, music, and also have access to the Internet. The library often holds fun, educational events for the whole family.

There are many historical documents stored in the library, and it is often used as a resource for local ancestry research.

Address: 25 Second Street East, Cornwall, ON

Phone: 613-932-4796

More info

Take some time to explore the historic Cotton Mill District. Once home to the areas manufacturing industry it is now being renovated to house restaurants, office space, condos and retail. Artifacts of the original structures are still present. You can even see a plaque dedicated to the first electric light bulb installed by Thomas Edison himself.

A Timeline of Cornwall’s Cotton Mill Industry

Cornwall Manufacturing Company

– 1868   Started by George Stephen & Hugh Allan

– 1870   Suffers a fire

– 1871   Is rebuilt

– 1902 Closes its doors

– 1903 Becomes the Dundas Mill as part of Canadian Coloured Cottons Limited

Stormont Cotton Manufacturing Company

– 1870   Started by the Gault Bros.

– 1874   Suffer a fire

– 1880 Becomes Canadian Cotton Limited, Stormont Mill

Canadian Cotton Manufacturing Company

– 1874   Started by Smith, MacKay, Rosemount, Harvey, MacInnes

– 1882 Becomes Canadian Cottons Limited, Canada Mill

Canadian Cottons Limited

– 1880 Acquired the Stormont Cotton Manufacturing Company, Stormont Mill

– 1881 Stormont Mill – acquired more land & built new plant

– 1882 Acquired the Canadian Cotton Manufacturing Company, Canada Mill

– 1882 Canada Mill – Weave Shed added

– 1884 Weave Shed is electrified

– 1892 Canada Mill is now part of Canadian Coloured Cotton Mills Company

– 1903 Stormont Mill is now part of Canadian Coloured Cotton Mills Company

Canadian Coloured Cottons Limited

– 1892 Purchases the Canadian Cotton Manufacturing Company, Canada Mill

– 1903 Brings together the Dundas, Canada and Stormont Mills on December 30

– 1936 Rayon Workers Industrial Union is formed at Canadian Coloured Cottons Limited

– 1937 Officially recognizes the United Textile Workers of America

– 1937 Arthur Laverty organises the Cornwall Textile Workers Union at Canadian Coloured Cottons Limited and Powdrell and Alexander Curtain Factory

– 1948 Purchases Powdrell and Alexander, renaming it Glengarry Textiles

– 1959 Three factories closed; two became the property of CIDL.

– 1961 Stormont Mill is raised by fire on Hallowe’en night (October 31)

– 1978 Dundas Mill is partly demolished

– 1992 Canada Mill is occupied by various smaller companies

In 1970 a fire consumed the church of St. Raphael’s, one of the earliest Roman Catholic churches in English-speaking Canada. Fortunately the outer walls were spared and today its impressive scale and fine masonry work continue to attract the tourists to the site. The Ruins were declared a National Historic Site in 1999.

Visitors are welcome to tour the site. Gates are open during the day in the summer months with a curator on duty in July and August.

Admission: FREE (donations are gratefully accepted)

More info

Newly built in 2010, the Visitor Centre is a state-of-the-art LEED-certified building and provides an interactive, historical look at the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project. Learn about one of the most significant developments of the area and the enormous impact the project has had on communities in the area. Discover the generation of electricity and the American eel and take in the beautiful view of the Moses-Saunders Dam from the balcony of this beautiful visitor’s centre. Conveniently, the famous Waterfront Trail travels right by the Visitor Centre, making it easily accessible on foot or bicycle.

The parking lot hosts electronic vehicles charging stations.

Admission: FREE

Address: 2500B Second Street West, Cornwall, ON

Phone: 613-932-4563

Email: powervisitorcentre@opg.com

More info

Opened in 1962, the Glengarry Pioneer Museum pays homage to the pioneer Scottish settlements of the Glengarry area with several nineteenth century log heritage buildings, artifacts, photographs and more.

More info

The historic village of Williamstown, Ontario, is home to the Glengarry, Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum, which preserves and interprets the history of the United Empire Loyalist migration to Glengarry County and of the Glengarry partners of the North West Company.

The museum tells the story of Sir John Johnson and the Loyalist followers who helped settle the region during the American revolution in 1784.

More info

The historical sites located in the village of St. Andrews West include the magnificent St. Andrews Church and the pioneer cemetery across the road. The cemetery is where explorer Simon Fraser and Ontario’s first premier, John Sandfield Macdonald, are buried.

The Cornwall township Historical Society have undertaken a number of projects including the restoration of the stone wall around the old Pioneer Cemetery in St. Andrews, building a replica of the original wooden log church built about 1784 and restoring some of the old monuments in the Pioneer Cemetery.

Every year, the Ontario Heritage Trust works with communities across the province to open the doors, gates and courtyards of their unique and most fascinating cultural sites so you can explore the stories inside.

In 2020, Cornwall’s Doors Open event will be held on Saturday, August 15th and Sunday August 16 with numerous historical sites taking part.

Roam amongst over 50 life-sized reproductions of creatures that wandered the earth millions of years ago at Morrisburg’s Prehistoric World.  This interactive family friendly park allows visitors to step into the past and see what it would have been like to live with the dinosaurs.  From the tiniest lizard to the ferocious Tyrannosaurus Rex Prehistoric world has them all and you can even take pictures with them.

More info