South Glengarry, Ontario

South Glengarry
—  Township  —
Lancaster
South Glengarry
Coordinates: 45°12′00″N 74°35′00″W / 45.2°N 74.5833333°W / 45.2; -74.5833333Coordinates: 45°12′00″N 74°35′00″W / 45.2°N 74.5833333°W / 45.2; -74.5833333
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Settled	1785
Incorporated	1792 (Royal Townships)
Incorporated	1998 (South Glengarry)
Government
– Type	Township
– Mayor	Jim McDonell
– Governing Body	South Glengarry Council
Area
– Land	604.91 km2 (233.6 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
– Total	12,880
– Density	21.3/km2 (55.2/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC−5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC−4)
Postal code span	K0C
Area code(s)	613
Website	[1]

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.

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.

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.

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 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,^[1] the Glengarry Cairn,^[2] the Sir John Johnson House,^[3] and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church.^[4]

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 .

Sport

The Char-Lan Rebels 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.

Demographics

According to the Canada 2006 Census:

• Population: 12,880
• % Change (2001–2006): 1.4
• Dwellings: 5,277
• Area (km²): 604.92
• Density (persons per km²): 21.3

Culture

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

References

1. ^ Bethune-Thompson House / White House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
2. ^ Glengarry Cairn, Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada
3. ^ Sir John Johnson House. Canadian Register of Historic Places.
4. ^ Ruin of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church. Canadian Register of Historic Places.

External links

• Township of South Glengarry
• Glengarry County