Picture courtesy of fortwiki.com
the foot of Blockhouse Island Parkway, south of Water Street, Brockville
Commemoration
On this island, originally known as Hospital Island, stood the sheds erected to house emigrants who were victims of cholera in the great epidemic of 1832. Many persons died here, including Doctor Robert Gilmour, a native of Scotland and president of the first Board of Health in Upper Canada, who was stricken while attending the sick. During the rebellion of 1837-38, a blockhouse was erected here for the defence of Brockville. It was destroyed by fire in 1860.
Background
Cholera came to Canada with British immigrants. Just as countries did when COVID19 first appeared, individuals towns and cities in Canada attempted to isolate themselves. And just like COVID, this failed. So health measures were brought in. In some places this led to protests, civil disobedience and riots. Plus ca change, plus la meme choses!
Blockhouses were common defensive structures built in many places in Upper Canada in the first half of the 19th century. A good example can be seen in Merrickville, north of Brockville.