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Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg

Morrisburg is a village along the St. Lawrence River in the Municipality of South Dundas, located in Eastern Ontario between Brockville and Cornwall. The community is located in the Seaway Region and is accessible by King's Highway 401 and King's Highway Two. As of 2021, Morrisburg had a population of 2398 people.[1]

Morrisburg is home to Upper Canada Village; one of Canada's largest living history sites. The village has two elementary schools – St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School and Morrisburg Public School– and one adult learning program – TR Ledger School of Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education. The village features seven parks, a golf course, a beach, a playhouse, an arena, stores, and restaurants. The main streets of Morrisburg include Main Street, 5th Street and Ottawa Street. Morrisburg is a waterfront community comprised of residential areas surrounded by rural land.

History

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In 1784, United Empire Loyalist settlers settled in Dundas County.[2] Dundas county was divided into Williamsburg, Matilda, Mountain, and Winchester townships in 1787.[3] Morrisburg was formerly considered a portion of Williamsburg, called West Williamsburg.[4]

On November 11, 1813, the Battle of Crysler's Farm was fought during the War of 1812 on the fields of farmer John Crysler near West Williamsburg (Morrisburg), on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the British were victorious against an American army, ending their plans to attack Montréal.[5]

In 1838, a commission was created to investigate ways to improve navigation on the St. Lawrence River. Brockville, Ontario, politician Sir James Morris, as a commissioner, was crucial in promoting the plan and building of the Williamsburg Canals on the St. Lawrence River. In 1851, West Williamsburg was renamed Morrisburg in honour of James Morris, who was named the first Postmaster General of the United Province of Canada. Between 1844 and 1856, the canals were constructed on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River as part of the Great Lakes Navigation System. The development of West Williamsburg was spurred by the building of the canals. [6]

The construction of The Grand Trunk Railway began in 1854 and reached Morrisburg in 1855.[7][8]On October 17, 1860 Morrisburg was incorporated as a village and had a growing manufacturing base consisting of a gristmill, a carding mill and a fanning mill. The same year, Morrisburg's first newspaper called The Morrisburg Banner was established. In 1863, The newspaper The Dundas Courier was founded by H.C Kennedy.[9] In 1866, Morrisburg had a population of 1,400, three hotels, a schoolhouse, many churches, several elegant private residences, and flourishing commercial and industrial businesses.[10] In 1899, The Dundas Courier Newspaper changed name to The Morrisburg Leader, which is still the name of the newspaper today.[11] In 1901, a Hydroelectric power plant was built on the St. Lawrence River, costing $35,000. Around 2,800 lights were used at this time, and rates were inexpensive. [12]

On July 31, 1953, twenty people were killed in Morrisburg, Ontario, when a Colonial Coach Lines passenger bus collided with a stopped truck on the side of Highway Two. The bus veered off the roadway and into the canal system of Williamsburg. Seventeen individuals were able to escape the vehicle as it sunk in around six meters of water.[13]

During the 1950s, portions of Morrisburg were relocated because of expected flooding caused by the St. Lawrence Seaway project, which would occur between 1954 and 1959. [14] The St. Lawrence Seaway Project allowed deep-draft ocean boats access to the industrial and agricultural heartlands of North America. It created a 3,766-kilometer canal from Duluth, Minnesota, to the Atlantic Ocean by clearing a channel in a 299-kilometre section of the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Lake Ontario.[15] Over 80 homes were moved, and the downtown business district was demolished and relocated to a shopping plaza. The Canadian National Railway line was moved 1.1 kilometres north of its original location. Much of the former railbed was used in the reconstruction of Ontario Highway 2. Buildings and other artifacts were moved and assembled to create Upper Canada Village. [16] Upper Canada Village was founded in 1961 to replicate 19th-century community that might have existed along the St Lawrence River.[17]

In 1976, stuntman Kenny Powers performed "The Morrisburg Superjump", which recieved widespread media attention. Powers attempted to jump across the St. Lawrence River in a rocket-powered, winged Lincoln Continental off a specially built ramp west of Morrisburg and land one mile away on Ogden Island. The vehicle broke apart, flipped over, and crashed into the river below. Powers survived but was hospitalized with critical injuries.[18]

A notable incident in the history of high-speed rail in Canada occurred near Morrisburg in 1979, when a UAC TurboTrain operated by Via Rail on westbound service from Montréal to Toronto caught fire after developing an oil leak. The train was evacuated, and a third of it was destroyed in the fire.[19]

In 1997, Morrisburg was amalgamated with the Village of Iroquois, along with Matilda and Williamsburg Townships, into the Township of South Dundas.[20]

Timeline

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  • 1784 - "Dundas County" was first settled by individuals of European background in 1784[21]
  • 1787- Township of Williamsburg is established - Morrisburg was known as "West Williamsburg"[22]
  • 1813 - The Battle of Crysler’s Farm
  • 1838 - A commission was established to research improving navigation on the St. Lawrence River
  • 1844-1856 - Construction of canals on the north side of the St. Lawrence River
  • 1851 - West Williamsburg is granted a post office and renamed Morrisburg
  • 1854 - Construction of the Grand Trunk Railway began[23]
  • 1855 - The Grand Trunk Railway reached Morrisburg[24]
  • 1860 - Morrisburg is incorporated as a village and first newspaper called The Morrisburg Banner is published
  • 1862 - Newspaper called The Dundas Courier is published
  • 1864 - Morrisburg’s first secondary school – Morrisburg Collegiate Institute - was established
  • 1880 - Construction of a music hall in Morrisburg[25]
  • 1899 - The Dundas Courier Newspaper changes name to The Morrisburg Leader
  • 1901 - A Hydroelectric Powerplant is constructed
  • 1925 - Morrisburg Collegiate Institute is destroyed by a fire
  • 1925 - New Morrisburg Collegiate Institute is built
  • 1950s - Portions of Morrisburg are relocated because of expected flooding which would occur with the St. Lawrence Seaway Project
  • 1953 - Bus plunges into Williamsburg Canal killing 20 people
  • 1954-1959 - St. Lawrence Seaway Project
  • 1961 - Upper Canada Village is founded
  • 1967 - Morrisburg Collegiate Institute closes
  • 1971 - Morrisburg’s first annual Tubie race[26]
  • 1976 - Stuntman Kenny Powers attempts "The Morrisburg Superjump"
  • 1979 - Turbo Train catches fire near Morrisburg
  • 1997 - Morrisburg is amalgamated into the Township of South Dundas

Notable People

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  • John Crysler (24 July 1770 – 1 January 1852) was a prominent merchant and politician in Upper Canada.[27]The battle of Crysler Farm was fought on farmland owned by John Crysler in 1813.
  • James Morris (1 November 1798 – 23 September 1865) was a Canadian West businessman, banker, and political figure. As a Reformer, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. As a member of the Legislative Council, Morris subsequently served as the Speaker of the Legislative Council. Morris was also a member of the Executive Council of the province.[28]The village of Morrisburg was named after James Morris in 1851.
  • Kenneth Marion Powers (9 July 1947 – 28 February 2009) was an American stuntman who attempted "The Morrisburg Superjump" in 1976.[29]

Media

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Newspapers

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The Morrisburg Leader is a weekly newspaper that has served South Dundas for over 155 years[30]

Sports

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The Morrisburg Lions are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Morrisburg, Ontario. In the 2015-16 season, they became members of the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL). The Morrisburg Jr. Lions Hockey Club has contributed to the history of Junior B Lions in Morrisburg for close to 50 years.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". Statistics Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 308). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "Morrisburg". The Lost Villages Historical Society. The Lost Villages Historical Society. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Dale, Ronald. "Battle of Crysler's Farm National Historic Site of Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Morrisburg". The Lost Villages Historical Society. The Lost Villages Historical Society. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  7. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 69). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 363). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 364). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 367). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 292). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 371). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ^ James-abra, Erin. "Motor Vehicle Disasters in Canada". The Canadian Encylopedia.
  14. ^ Raue, Barbara (November 10 2016). Morrisburg Ontario in Colour Photos: Saving Our History One Photo at a Time. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 5. ISBN 1539714632. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Camu, Pierre. "St. Lawrence Seaway". Britanica. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  16. ^ Raue, Barbara (November 10 2016). Morrisburg Ontario in Colour Photos: Saving Our History One Photo at a Time. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 5. ISBN 1539714632. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Taylor, C.J. "Upper Canada Village". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  18. ^ Morgan, James. "The "Mad Canadian" and the Morrisburg Superjump". North Country Public Radio. North Country Public Radio. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  19. ^ Bateman, Chris (December 9, 2015). "Remembering the ill-fated CN Turbo train". Spacing Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "South Dundas, we are one". The Leader. The Morrisburg Leader Ltd. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  21. ^ "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ^ "Morrisburg". The Lost Villages Historical Society. The Lost Villages Historical Society. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  23. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 69). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": (cite pg 363). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ^ Smyth Carter, J. (1905). "The Story of Dundas: Being a History of the County of Dundas from 1784 to 1904": 368. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ^ Gibb, W (August 4, 2022). "Triumphant return of Tubie Weekend". The Morrisburg Leader. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  27. ^ Shepard, C. J. "CRYSLER, JOHN". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  28. ^ Cornell, P. G. "MORRIS, JAMES". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  29. ^ Morgan, James. "The "Mad Canadian" and the Morrisburg Superjump". North Country Public Radio. North Country Public Radio. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  30. ^ "About". The Leader. The Morriburg Leader Ltd. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  31. ^ Casselman, Kevin. "Who we are". Morrisburg Lions. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
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