Home > The Lost Villages
The Lost Villages are ten communities in the Canadian province of Ontario, in the township of South Stormont near Cornwall, which were permanently submerged by the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958.The flooding was expected and planned for. In the weeks and months leading up to the inundation, families and businesses in the affected communities were moved to the new planned communities of Long Sault and Ingleside. These negotiations were controversial, however, as many residents of the communities felt that market value compensation was insufficient since the Seaway plan had already depressed property values in the region.
The town of Iroquois was also flooded, but was relocated 1.5 kilometres north rather than being abandoned. Another community, Morrisburg, was partially inundated as well, but the area to be flooded was moved to higher ground within the same townsite.
At 8 a.m. on July 1, 1958, a large cofferdam was blown up, allowing the flooding to begin. Four days later, all of the former townsites were fully underwater. Parts of the New York shoreline were flooded by the project as well, but no communities were lost on the American side of the river.
A museum in Ault Park near Long Sault is devoted to the Lost Villages, including several historic buildings salvaged from the communities. Other buildings from the villages were moved to the site of Upper Canada VillageUpper Canada Village is a heritage park in Morrisburg, Ontario, which depicts a 19th century village in Upper Canada. Construction on the park began in 1958 as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway project. The Seaway required the permanent flooding of ten comm in Morrisburg. The flooded area also includes Crysler's FarmThe Battle of Crysler's Farm was a battle of the War of 1812 on November 11, 1813. American General James Wilkinson planned to attack Montreal, leaving with a fleet from Sacketts Harbor on October 17. General Wade Hampton was supposed to accompany Wilkins, where a major battle was fought during the War of 1812The North American War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom is one of several wars associated with that year. It is more normally known in British texts as the British-American War to distinguish it from Napoleon's war against Russia w. A monument commemorating the battle was also moved from Chrysler's Farm to Upper Canada Village.
In some locations, a few remnants of sidewalks and building foundations can be still be seen under the water, or even on the shoreline when water levels are sufficiently low.
1 The Lost Villages
- AultsvilleAultsville is a ghost town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of Ontario's Lost Villages, which were permanently flooded by the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958. Families and businesses in Aultsville were moved to the new town of In
- Dickinson's LandingDickinson's Landing is a ghost town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of Ontario's Lost Villages, which were permanently flooded by the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958. Families and businesses in Dickinson's Landing were moved to
- Farran's PointFarran's Point is a ghost town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of Ontario's Lost Villages, which were permanently flooded by the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958. Families and businesses in Farran's Point were moved to the new to
- Maple GroveMaple Grove is a ghost town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of Ontario's Lost Villages, which were permanently flooded by the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958. Families and businesses in Maple Grove were moved to the new town of
- Mille RochesMille Roches is a ghost town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of Ontario's Lost Villages, which were permanently flooded by the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958. Families and businesses in Mille Roches were moved to the new town o
- Moulinette
- Santa Cruz
- Sheek's Island
- Wales
- Woodlands
