“Our institutions, our bridges, are named
know that in 1950, the big stink in
after politicians,” says Tom Esliger. “It is
Hawkesbury was that 77 of 87 merchants did
correct and proper that we recognize the real
business as usual on Good Friday? At the
pioneers.”
same time, there were concerns about the
The Grenville-sur-la-Rouge resident made
future of the local baseball team. You can just
the comment during the recent dedication of
imagine the hard-boiled hack who pounded
a pictorial tribute to some “real pioneers,”
out those stories on a manual typewriter,
James McEvoy, and his wife, Bridget Kelly,
with a cigarette dangling from his mouth and
who arrived from King’s County, Ireland in
a fedora perched on his head.
the 1840s, and raised eight children on a 200-
But, we digressed, did we not?
The spirit of the pioneers
acre farm in what was then Grenville
While research is usually a solitary and
Township.
obscure pursuit, history comes to the attention
History buffs, Tom and Claudette Esliger,
the most popular leisure time pursuits in
roads, lakes after pioneer families. If it is
of the general public sporadically, usually
who live on McEvoy Road, and Normand
the world.
ever built, the new town hall could have a
when an anniversary rolls around.
Délisle are the Grenville-sur-la-Rouge
This trend may reflect a lot of factors –
spot where the municipality’s history could
For example, this year, the Roman Catholic
heritage committee.
parish in L’Orignal is celebrating its 175 th
the population is aging, the winters are
be highlighted.
In a way, they are blazing trails
getting longer, more people are computer
There are plans to research the Campbell
anniversary. As is customary, a committee is
themselves, initiating a grass-roots
and Internet savvy, research is addictive.
clan while Normand Délisle continues to
preparing a book recounting the salient
movement that will eventually lead to a
The search for insight into our ancestors
collect more information on the Dwyers.
chapters of the village’s story. Plus, in 2012,
greater and wider appreciation of the lives of
can be a form of escapism. The world has
He came to know the Dwyer family, who
St-Bernardin will be commemorating the
those who came before us.
changed so much over the last few decades.
lived near the Rouge River from 1828 to
centennial of the foundation of its parish.
The trio’s first concrete accomplishment
These words are being produced on a piece
1966, when he began restoring the family’s
Let us take a brief stroll down memory
is the salute to the McEvoys, whose photos
of technology which will become obsolete
abandoned log home years ago. He came
lane, all the way back to 1674. That was when
now hang in the Pointe-au-Chêne library.
tomorrow.
across all sorts of photos, letters and cards
François Provost, from the West Indies Co.,
But this will not be the group’s last
Consider that cassettes, bulky portable
that had been left behind.
received a seigneurie of about 23,000 acres at
achievement as it strives to preserve the
phones and record players are antiques.
In 2009, he was one of a handful of people
Pointe-à-L’Orignac on the Ottawa River,
area’s rich, and often neglected, past.
They are so 1980. Now consider how much
who put together an exhibition recounting
according to the L’Orignal and Longueuil
You may recognize Esliger’s name. A few
life has evolved since 1880.
the histories of long-established families in
heritage committee. When, in 1791, the British
years back, he was one of the people who
We panic when we hear that we may be
Grenville-sur-la-Rouge. About 150 people
government separated the land in Lower
fought tooth and nail to convince Grenville-
getting 15 centimetres of snow.
came from far and wide to pore over
Canada and Upper Canada, the seigneurie
sur-la-Rouge to recognize McEvoy Road as a
Imagine what it was like for the pioneers,
documents and photographs of the Dwyer,
was suddenly located in the new province of
municipal route. That experience no doubt
who arrived here and began carving out
McTague, Hall, McEvoy, McGill and
Upper Canada designated for the English
coloured his perception of politicians.
new lives in the wilderness, without the
McAndrew families.
immigrants to Canada. In 1796, an American,
Esliger has now begun lobbying the
benefit of the Weather Channel.
The response gave impetus to the history
Nathaniel Hazard Treadwell, bought the
municipality to support the heritage
A digger can easily get lost in the past,
buffs to keep digging, sometimes literally.
seigneurie and later moved with his wife and
committee’s mission. It would behoove the
whether it is accessed through cyberspace
The Esligers are not easily fazed. When they
children to what is now L’Orignal. Of course,
municipality to name public places, streets,
and new-fangled search engines, or through
discovered an ancient headstone that was
he encountered the usual obstacles. He ran
the more tactile and sensation-satisfying
broken and covered in moss, they got a
into zoning problems. The government of
old-fashioned paper trace.
shovel and brushes and revealed the grave
Ontario was not quick to accept regulations
Discover
A computer mouse is efficient but cold.
marker.
that had been enacted when the land was in
While going through a stack is a hands-
Of course, the Grenville-sur-la-Rouge
Québec. Then there was a war, Treadwell
on and time-consuming task, nothing can
group of three is not alone.
your
was deemed to be an “alien enemy” and his
match the smell and feel of old newsprint –
There are countless numbers of history
land was confiscated.
which always must be handled with care.
lovers around the globe who are constantly
Anyway, there are legions of fascinating
roots
Yes, it is easy to lose focus and get
using every research tool available to learn
folks to be discovered. And it is indeed correct
distracted when you come across old issues
more about the past. Geneaological research
and proper that we remember these real
newsroom@eap.on.ca
that dealt with old issues. Hey! Did you
is rivalling bird-watching and gardening as
pioneers.
H AWKESBURY
PERDEZ 20 jusqu’à d’ici Pâques Résultats garantis. † livres
Conférence forestière Boisé 2011 Le samedi 2 avril 2011 de 8 h 30 à 15 h 30 Complexe J.R. Brisson Casselman
People interested in discovering
« Grâce à Herbal Magic, je sens que j’ai retrouvé ma vie! Je suis heureuse, j’ai confiance en moi et j’ai retrouvé goût à la vie! »
their roots are invited to drop by La
Seigneurie, Centre de généalogie et
d’histoire, February 26, from 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
Nancy a perdu 191 livres et 179 pouces. et 22 tailles de vêtements*
Volunteers will be on hand at the
centre, located at the Hawkesbury
Public Library, to greet visitors and
Vous aimeriez connaître l’état des forêts dans la région de Prescott-Russell, ou encore en savoir davantage sur les avantages économiques, les plans d’aménagement, l’impact du changement climatique sur nos forêts ou sur les crédits de carbone? Vous désirez connaître le rôle de la forêt urbaine dans la protection du couvert forestier? Eh bien, si ces sujets retiennent votre attention, cette conférence forestière s’adresse à vous! Frais d’inscription : 10 $ à l’avance ou 15 $ payable à l’entrée (donne droit au repas et à une trousse d’information). Vous inscrire avant le 20 mars 2011 auprès de l’Intendance environnementale de Prescott- Russell, C.P. 430, 31, rue St-Paul, Alfred, ON, K0B 1A0, par téléphone au 613 679-0936 ou par courriel à l’adresse suivante : suzanne.lafrance@ontario.ca.
to assist them in the use of
genealogical documents. A door prize
will be drawn.
Visitors who wish to do so will
have the opportunity to join the
society while members are invited to
renew their membership.
DE VRAIS ALIMENTS CONSEILLERS PERSONNELS PRODUITS NATURELS Un système bien pensé pour une perte de poids qui dure :
Each year during February, the
Ontario Ministry of Tourism and
Culture encourages communities to
250, rue Main Est, Hawkesbury, ON Tél. : 613 632-9282 • Télec. : 613 632-0791
celebrate our heritage by organizing
local events.
* Notre clientèle est variée, tout comme ses résultats. †Voir les détails en magasin. Certaines conditions s’appliquent. © 2011 Herbal Magic. Tous droits réservés.
herbalmagic.ca
Tournament
CLINIQUE DE VÉRIFICATION DU TAUX DE CHOLESTÉROL ET DE SUCRE CHOLESTEROL & BLOOD SUGAR MEASUREMENT CLINIC Lieu/Where : Pharmacie Lise St-Denis Pharmacy 400, avenue Spence Ave. Hawkesbury, Ontario 613 632-8839 Date : Mercredi 23 février - Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Heure/Time : 9 h à 13 h / 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. BIENVENUE À TOUTES ET À TOUS! • WELCOME ALL! FRAIS/FEE Test de cholestérol / Cholesterol test : $3 Glycémie / Blood sugar test : $2 Infirmière disponible sur les lieux pour consultation. Registered nurse available on site for additional information.
newsroom@eap.on.ca
H AWKESBURY
The 27th edition of the Hawkesbury
Industrial Hockey Tournament will be
held from March 4 to 6 at the Robert
Hartley Sports Complex.
The tournament is open to all
businesses and industries in Prescott-
Russell and the surrounding regions.
Teams will be playing in one of four
divisions: Pierre Lauzon (local
businesses); Luc Turpin (regional
businesses); André Pilon (public services)
and Denise Lauzon (women’s division).
To register, contact Luc Turpin at
613 632-9632; André Pilon at 613 632-
4552 (cell: 613 676-0189); or the
tournament president, Pierre Lauzon at
613 636-0378 (cell : 613 677-1095). Each
year, hundreds of hockey enthusiasts
come together at the sportsplex to play
for glory.
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