Calendar of Events

June 2013
	S	M	T	W	T	F	S
							1
	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	23	24	25	26	27	28	29
	30

Fast Links

Search

Fran�ais

History of the City of Clarence-Rockland

Rockland

The Clarence region began growing in 1840 with the development of the road to l'Orignal-Bytown. Before then, farmers relentlessly cleared wooded space to be able to cultivate land, their only survival mean. In 1868, a young entrepreneur, William Cameron Edwards, decided to establish a woodmill at the McCaul point. The opening of the railroad followed in 1888 to allow wood and merchandise to be transported.

In 1889, the mission served by the priest Caron from Clarence-Creek became a parish. The first priest of the new parish was Sim�on Hudon, native of Qu�bec City. The first school opened in 1875 while the first high-school opened in 1905.

Construction of a second railroad in 1908 linking Ottawa and Hawkesbury greatly promoted population. In effect, for .75 cents (return) people could go to Ottawa to run errands and return in the same day. The woodmill owned by W. C. Edwards closed its doors in 1926, as a result of the economic turmoil following the First World War. A large part of the population moved to the Quebec province to find employment in the woodmills in Hull and Gatineau. The economic recovery began in 1939 with the start of the Second World War. The return of soldiers after the war brought an increase in population. Construction of homes increased rapidly creating a need for expanded water services, electricity and a sewer system implemented in 1964.

Clarence Creek

In 1853, the first pionners of the village arrived from Saint-Augustin, Quebec. They bought land for agricultural purposes. The first chapel was built in 1859. In 1865, the village consisted of approximately 200 families. At that time, the railroad linked Limoges (South Indian) to Rockland and greatly promoted economic development thus allowing for transportation of wheat which was abundant.

The parish had its first Chapel in May 1859. In 1881, the parish of Clarence Creek included all of the Township of Clarence.

The post office was established on March 1^st 1867 under the name of Clarence Creek. The name was changed to Lafontaine on September 1^st 1935 and to Clarence Creek on June 16^th 1936.

Bourget

The Brook was the original name of the village and was changed to Bourget in 1910.

During the years 1855 to 1863 villagers had to walk twelve miles to go to Church. In 1885 the people from the Brook started the construction of their own chapel.

In 1860, residents built a school that could service between 25 and 30 children in the area. In 1885, the school became public and was later expanded. After a few years, the school served as a community hall then it became a carpenter�s shop. Today, the building is occupied by a restaurant.

The Grey Nuns of Ottawa arrived in Bourget on August 15^th 1903. In 1918 they took charge of the new school�s administration until 1930. On September 16^th 1930, the Grey Nuns took possession of their convent and still own it as of today.

Agriculture was Bourget�s most important industry. The village had a few industries and commercial enterprises. Before owning its first cheese factory, the village of Bourget had a butter production factory which burned down not long after its construction.

The post office opened its doors on May 1^st 1880 under the name the �The Brook� and was changed to the Bourget post office on July 1^st 1910. Whenever weather permitted, the local mail was delivered from Clarence Creek twice a week.

In 1880, businessmen had to purchase their merchandise in Thurso and at South Indian, which were approximately twelve miles from the village.

In 1888, telephone services were available from Bourget to Rockland.

In 1897, the Canadian Pacific company appeared and by 1898, trains traveled on a daily basis from Ottawa to Montreal.

Electricity was available in the parish in 1937.

St-Pascal-Baylon

Until June 1^st 1909, the village of St-Pascal-Baylon was called �The Lake� because of a small lake in the area. The name of St-Pascal-Baylon comes from the Patron Pascal Parent, one of the pioneers of this area.

The Church and the Presbytery were built between October 11^th 1908 and December 2^nd 1909. The Church burned down on June 20^th 1943.

The post office opened its doors on July 1^st 1886 under the name �The Lake� and it adopted the village name on June 1^st 1909.

Hammond

Located along the Canadian Pacific railroad, the village was built at the end of the XIXth century. This region was separated between Bourget, Clarence and Sarsfield.

While waiting for the construction of a church in 1912, religious services were held in a chapel which was later transformed into a school and then, into a parish hall.

The blaze of June 13^th 1914 is an historic event which burned a large portion of the village. Strong winds sent flames towards nearby homes which were destroyed. A severe draught, which lasted many weeks, activated the fire. A field of black soil was also the target of flames and burned for almost a month.

Once the village was rebuilt, it was again the target of flames in September 1941. The flames engulfed the village. Every man in the village was a volunteer firefighter and it�s because of their hard work and persistence that the village was saved.

Four elementary schools, two separate bilingual and two public, were available to the children of the parish.

The post office was established on the 1^st of December 1895.

Cheney

(to come)

Information above is taken from the following documents:

V. Laporte, S. B�land, La petite histoire de Rockland, 1982
L. Brault, Histoire des Comt�s Unis de Prescott et de Russell, 1965