In Avenmore Beach park at the end of Avonmore Road where it meets Highway 2. The plaque is amongst some trees to the west (right) of the driveway not far from the road.
Commemoration
Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway required the flooding of 20,000 acres along the Canadian shoreline between Iroquois and Cornwall. Some of these lands had been settled by loyalists in the 1780s. Between 1955 and 1957, 6,500 residents were relocated many of them to the new communities of Ingleside and Long Sault. Work crews moved buildings to new sites and re-routed highways and railway tracks. Iroquois and part of Morrisburg were rebuilt on higher ground. On “Inundation Day”, July 1, 1958, the rising waters of Lake St. Lawrence slowly submerged the villages of Aultsville, Farran’s Point, Woodlands, Dickinson’s Landing, Wales, Moulinettte, Mille Roches and a farming community oh Sheek’s Island.
Background
The St. Lawrence Seaway was built between 1954 and 1959. It was a joint project between the governments of Canada and the United States. It remains one of the most significant shipping routes in the world. However, all progress has its costs. In this case the costs were nine communities between Cornwall and Morrisburg that were deliberately flooded as part of the construction. Specifically, it was the Robert H. Saunders/Robert M. Moses Power Dam that resulted in the flooding here. 6,500 people and 500 buildings had to be relocated. Some of the buildings can now be seen at Upper Canada Village. The flooding began on July 1 (Canada Day), 1958 at 8:00 AM.
The villages were founded by United Empire Loyalist as well as German and English settlers. They were:
As well, the existing village of Iroquois was moved 1 mile (1.6 km.) north of its original location. Morrisburg lost its Main Street to the flooding. More information can be found at the Lost Villages Museum not far from the plaque at 16361 Fran Laflamme Drive, Long Sault, Ontario.
The Lost Villages Museum has a number of the buildings. It is located just east of the plaque on the south side of Highway 2. At some point, the plaque is to be moved to the museum site.
Note the fact that the seaway was built jointly by Canada and the United States. How far we have come from the establishment of Ontario by refugees from the creation of the U.S. to a point where we cooperate on major infrastructure projects. Projects that were worked out by two countries who were allies in the Second World War under the command of a general who would become president of he United States - Dwight D. Eisenhower.