Campervans and the Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence River

On June 26, 1959, Queen Elizabeth II and US President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially opened the St. Lawrence Seaway. This monumental project created a route for ocean-going ships to reach North America’s heartland and produced electricity for Ontario’s growing industrial base. But it came at the cost of flooding ten Canadian communities, 20,000 hectares of prime farmland, and the relocation of 6,500 residents, their homes, businesses, and grave sites.

Photograph of a Map Displayed at the Lost Villages Museum

The Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence River

Our Camping Odyssey

For over twenty years, my wife Linda and I have embarked on a nomadic adventure, traversing the landscapes of Canada, the USA, and Mexico. Our journey through the breathtaking vistas is not just about the scenery but also about unravelling the rich history of the places we visit.

Today, we are seeing a revival of the 1960s-style campervan culture, a culture we have become a part of with our beloved 1995 Pleasure-Way campervan. This agile and efficient mode of travel is challenging the dominance of larger RVs, breathing new life into modern nomadic lifestyles.

Inundation Day

In Cornwall, Ontario, July 1, 1958 (one year before the seaway’s official opening) is remembered locally as “Inundation Day.” The day that the new hydropower dam held back the mighty St. Lawrence River, and the new Lake St. Lawrence began to rise, submerging the villages of:

• • • Aultsville
    • Farran’s Point
    • Woodlands
    • Dickinson’s Landing
    • Wales
    • Moulinette
    • Mille Roches
    • Sheek’s Island
    • Santa Cruz
    • Maple Grove

The Attraction of Van Life

Campervan flexibility, lower running costs, and the rise of off-grid camping organizations like Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome have significantly boosted van camping. Whether professionally built or built by DIY enthusiasts, campervans cater to a growing range of adventurers.

The Sign at the Entrance to Woodlands Campground

Discovering the Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence River

During our travels, Long Sault Ontario Provincial Park and the causeway linking the new islands formed by the rising levels of Lake St. Lawrence rank as one of our most memorable RV stops. We better understood its rich history by exploring the area around the causeway by bike and van. The historical attractions include the St. Lawrence River Lost Villages Museum at Ault Park and the Upper Canada Reenactment Village at Morrisburg. These are not just ordinary museums. They are living testaments to the resilience and spirit of the early settlers, offering a unique and immersive experience.

Ault Park Museum

The History of These Villages

In the 1780s, United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolutionary War settled this land on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River. Many received land grants from the English King.

Between 1955 and 1957, in preparation for the new St. Lawrence Seaway, 6,500 residents, many descendants of the early settlers, were forced to move to the new townships of Ingleside and Long Sault. This involved the relocation of the old King’s Highway, railway tracks, railway stations, homes, schools, businesses, churches, and grave sites.

Inside the Ault Park Museum, a Relocated and Restored Church

The Lost Villages Remembered

The Lost Village Historical Society Museum and Upper Canada Village commemorate the sacrifices made by people from the submerged villages in the name of progress. The Museum is not a single building but a collection of historically correct buildings, a symbolic microcosm of the villages lost. These buildings were salvaged from the banks of the St. Lawrence River before the inundation, moved and restored to the Ault Park Museum site.

During summer, the buildings are open for self-guided tours. In winter, you can wander the snowy pathways and reflect on the early settlers’ hardships.

The McLeod Log House is a typical 18th-century home that was moved log by log and rebuilt at the Museum. Steel numbers nailed to the logs to help with rebuilding can still be seen alongside the dovetail joints on the horizontal beams to the right of the photograph below.

The McLeod Log House

United Empire Loyalist homes were moved in one piece on low loaders and towed by truck to their new location.

Dr. Stuart House

We explored the relocated homes and delved into the history of figures like Dr. Stuart and Captain Jeremiah French, both United Empire Loyalists and veterans of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York. With snow covering your boots in winter, it is easy to imagine the harsh living conditions the 18th-century settlers faced.

Dr. Stuart’s home, built in 1810, was still in the family five generations later when they donated it to the Lost Village Museum in 2003. It is now restored and re-sided from the original primitive insulation.

The Stuart House at the Museum in 2024 – Built in 1810

Captain Jeremiah French-Robertson House

The story of Captain Jeremiah French is told in the Museum. While St. Lawrence Seaway Project moved the French-Robertson House to Upper Canada Village in 1955.

Taken prisoner during the American Revolutionary War, Captain Jeremiah French was then released on parole on the condition that he would not take up arms against the American rebels. After his release, Captain French travelled north to New York and then Canada to seek a new beginning. With a land grant from the King of England for his wartime loyalty to the crown, he settled in the hamlet of Maple Grove in 1784.

French built his home at the mouth of what is now known as Robertson Creek, a picturesque spot by the St. Lawrence River. His house was constructed in a community effort with the help of other settlers, symbolizing resilience and hope for the future after their wartime experiences. His home became a gathering place, witness to countless stories of hardship and triumph. In 1792, French sold his house to his son-in-law, George Robertson. Thus, the house gained its name as the French-Robertson House.

The War Memorial

The war memorial at the center of the Ault Park Museum commemorates the men and women from the area communities who gave their lives for freedom. The Lost Village Museum also remembers these same communities, which were lost to the 1958 planned flooding.

A Place to Meditate – The War Memorial of The Lost Village Museum

The Road Ahead

The legacy of Dr. Stuart and Captain Jeremiah French mirrors the adventurous spirit we embrace in our campervan journey. As we continue our travels, the echoes of the Lost Villages remind us that every journey is about connecting with the past, embracing the present, and looking forward to the future.

We highly recommend visiting the Lost Villages Museum for those inspired by history and the open road. Here, you can immerse yourself in the stories of early settlers, gaining a deeper understanding of their lives and challenges. It’s a place that preserves history and inspires future adventures.

A Modern Bridge Spans a North American River Looking Forward to Future Adventures

Contact Information

1. Lost Villages Museum: Located in Ault Park on Fran Laflamme Drive, 3km east of Long Sault, Ontario. Lost Villages Historical Society

2. Upper Canada Village: 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada, K0C 1X0. Upper Canada Village

3. Long Sault Provincial Park: Parks of the St. Lawrence

PS Take a scenic drive or RV road trip and explore the 11-kilometre parkway’s many viewpoints, the surrounding history, and stellar views of the mighty St. Lawrence River.