Canals, Rivers and Seaways - Cardinal's History Explored

Canals, Rivers and Seaways - Cardinal's History Explored. . , The St. Lawrence has always been a busy waterway. Birch bark canoes carried First Nations warriors on trade and conquest missions to the interior. French explorers and missionaries travelled in similar fashion but fur traders and settlers, needing greater capacity, converted to the bateaux. By 1760, when the last armed conflict between Britain and France was fought at nearby Chimney Island, practically all goods were transferred by bateaux., The rapids that stood between Montreal and Pointe au Cardinale presented a challenge to them all! Even the Durham boats introduced by Loyalist settlers were not equal to the challenge of supplying the many and varied needs of an influx of settlers after the American Revolution and the building of a series of canals took precedence., Capt. Hugh Munro of Jessup's Rangers built the first canal across his own point of land to circumvent the local "galloping waters" of the Galops Rapids. In doing so, he not only facilitated river traffic but by using the headwaters of the rapids to power his grist and saw mills, he laid the foundation for the village of Cardinal., As Upper Canada grew, steamboats were introduced and one of the first, the "Ontario" plied its trade between Prescott and Dickerson's Landing by 1817. Government legislated the building of a series of canals and locks along the St. Lawrence and in 1844 a second canal was dug. It was a mile and a half long terminating at a lift lock just west of Canada Starch. Propeller driven boats like the "Persia" and the "Oceanic" brought passengers all the way to St. Catherine's., Larger and faster ships required larger canals and this third canal was begun in 1897. Even with the use of steam shovels, "ditching" cranes and donkey engines, the canal took four years to complete. The canal was thought to be a masterpiece for the times, with its limestone blocked walls and a 14 foot draft allowing easy passage for canallers such as "the Casco" and passenger steamers like the "S. S. Rapids Prince". South of the canal, Cardinal had virtually become an island and a swing bridge was built to access the village., The building of the St. Lawrence Seaway ended the need for Cardinal's canals. This Mega-project of the 20^th century was conducted on an International scale when both Canada and United States of America decided to deepen the waters of the St. Lawrence river allowing ocean going vessels access to the Great Lakes. An Upper Causeway replaced the swing bridge in 1966., The Lower Causeway allows easy access to the Point where stands the Legion and Town Park where residents and tourists alike spend time swimming, walking, scuba diving, ice fishing and boating, among many other activities., [Photo captions, clockwise from bottom left, read] , . Canada Starch Co., . 'Old Canal' Completed in 1846, . Steamship Shooting Rapids, . 'New Canal' Completed in 1901, . Birdseye View Early 1900, . Canal Construction, . Ship Mooring, . Canaler Entering East [?], . Swing Bridge