Note:
Arthur Watt's Blacksmith Shop (on the map which is dated 1879) was located at Greenbank 
and Jockvale Roads - where the Golf Driving Range is today. The Samuel Collins
house is the stone home being restored at the southern entrance to the Chapman's 
Mills subdivision near Woodroffe Avenue and Highway 16.

October 20, 2002:


March 27, 2003:
Hello:

I was doing some investigation on a RC church, St. Andrew, which at one time
existed on Jockvale Road.  I came across the Bytown or Bust website and
noticed a map named Long Island Locks, Chapman's Mills and Dawson's Chapel.
Would the location of Dawson's Chapel be close to where St. Andrew was, or
was going to be?
Any info you could forward to me on St. Andrew church would be appreciated.

Thanks
S. Bosquet

______________________________________

M. Bosquet:

Thanks for your e-mail.

I'm not sure about St. Andrew's. Dawson's Chapel (that's all I've ever heard it called)
was located at the end of what is todays Woodroffe Avenue, where the Jock River enters 
the Rideau River. Before Woodroffe Avenue existed, Jockvale Road terminated at this
location. St. Andrew's is usually associated with Scottish names, and I believe that 
the Priest, Father Dawson, was Scottish.

I'd be interested in verifying that Dawson's Chapel was called St. Andrew's.

Before there was a diocese in Ottawa, I think that this area was served by the Kingston
diocese after 1826, and before 1826, was served by missionaries from Montreal.

The Montreal missionaries established churches along the fur trade and timber trade routes,
usually at the junction of two rivers - at Buckingham, Hull, Fitzroy Harbour (or Quyon), and 
at Fort Coulonge. I think I read somewhere that the first RC church in Bytown was located in
a house on Bank Street, in Uppertown, from about 1826 to 1832. This church may also have been
called St. Andrew's. In 1832, a wooden church was built where Notre Dame is today, on 
Sussex Street. This church was temporarily called St. James.

I'd like to find out more about Dawson's Chapel. Maybe someone has some information for us.

... Al
March 28, 2003:

Al:
 
The City Beyond, by Dr. Bruce Elliott contains information 
about Rev. Dawson on page 61-63.
 
I know when I read the Parish Records of St Patrick, Ottawa City it was 
first called St Andrews R.C.. According to register  in 1875 it became St. Patrick's, 
Ottawa City.
 
Somewhere I read that Rev Dawson holdings where the chapel was located was to be made 
into a park for the people of Nepean.
Kathy Adamson
_____________________
also posted on March 27, 2003:

Al and Kathy:
Thanks for the info.
The reason I am interested in old St. Andrew's is that effective Dec 1 2002,
a new RC Parish has been started in Barrhaven, and when we were deciding on
the name, our pastor Fr. Bill Penny, mentioned that he knew of someone who
had piece of the original alter (or some other relic) from St. Andrew church
that used to be on Jockvale Road...and that he would donate it to our Parish
if we named the new Parish St. Andrew.  For this (and other reasons, of
course), the parishoners chose the name St. Andrew for our new Parish.  This
is what got me interested in finding out info about the old St. Andrew.  The
person who has a piece of the old alter I believe is Father Tom Riopelle
(spelling?) who is currently at St. Patrick's Fallowfield.  I haven't spoken
with him yet, but he may be a source of info.

Serge

Surnames: Watt, Houlahan Clarke Dawson, Brophy Berrigan / Bergin Barrhaven Kilroe
Chapman Collins Powell
 The dam at Long Island.

 View of the Rideau River from the top of the Long Island dam.


 The Samuel Collins House

April 1, 2005:
Thanks to Mile Epp for the following:
Hi all,
 
The St. Patricks 125th anniversary book does not mention a register. 
I don't have time to transcribe the small chapter right now, here are some quick excerpts. 
 
-Father Dawson was born in Red Haven, Banffshire, Scotland in 1810 and ordained in 1835
 
-His small chapel on the banks of the Jock River was called St. Margaret's of Jockvale
 
-It was 37' x 21' with a sacristy 11' x 13'
 
-There were 16 pews with a seating capacity of 80, plus a dozen chairs and two benches
 
-There were 45 families who had three miles to travel to the church. Five families 
from Blacks Rapids, nine from Gloucester and 10 from Manotick (this must have come 
from some kind of registry?)
 
-Father Dawson died on December 29th, 1884 at 85.
 
-He left the chapel and 30 acres to the diocese. By his will the land was to be 
used as a playgoround and could not be sold
 
-Father Sloan from St.Patricks - Fallowfield was sent by the Bishop to inspect 
and recommended that it be abandoned. It was later sold, with the old chapel being 
used to store hay, etc.
 
It goes on about the distribution of his personal and Chapel belongings, but nothing 
of a registry. You would think that with 45 families attending for several decades 
that there must have been weddings, etc.
 
"The Kennedy Story" has similar information, adding that it was rented before 
sold and that Father Dawson is buried at St. Patrick's - Fallowfield.
 
The 1879 map shows this church.
 
Let me know what you find out.
 
Take care, 
... Mike


March 31, 2008:
Map of the Village of Long Island, Ontario in 1879
Source: McGill University Digital Maps


May 22, 2008:

Source: Sarah B. Craig, Hello Nepean, page 61.

Cornelius Driscoll and his family, along with many of the people living at Long Island,
attended St. Brigid's Church on the Rideau River south of Manotick. They could travel by
boat to church every Sunday. It was a short paddle to the bridge at Manotick where the
"Long Reach" begins. The Long Reach is a path of unobstructed boating from Long Island 
south to Burritt's Rapids. There are no waterfalls or locks through this stretch.
... Al
 May 27, 2008:

The Steamship Wanakewan at Long Island Locks, 1920's
Source: Gloucester Roots, edited and compiled by Lois Kemp

Names for search engine: Michael Egan (captain), Mrs. James Rowat, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Harris and 
Mel Rowat (youngster)

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