Morrisburg Historical Society Archives

Every community has a memory, and in Morrisburg that memory is kept by the local Historical Society and its Archives. Morrisburg is a village in the municipality of South Dundas, Ontario, on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River, about halfway between Cornwall and Brockville. It is best known to travellers as the gateway to Upper Canada Village, but behind the living-history museum lies the longer, more intimate story of the families, farms and businesses that made up the town, and that story is what the archives exist to preserve.

The area was settled by United Empire Loyalists after the American Revolution, and its history reaches back through farming and river trade, the War of 1812, and the building of canals along the St. Lawrence to carry shipping around the rapids. A land battle took place at Crysler's Farm in November 1813, and the battlefield memorial is a short drive away. The biggest change came in 1958, when the St. Lawrence Seaway raised the river and flooded the neighbouring villages that became known as the Lost Villages, forcing families to relocate and reshaping the shoreline. Local archives are the places where photographs, letters, maps and recollections of that period are kept.

For research purposes, the Morrisburg Historical Society Archives, like others of its kind, typically hold community records, old photographs, family papers, newspapers, maps, scrapbooks and objects donated by residents. They are useful to genealogists tracing ancestors in Dundas County, to students working on projects and to anyone curious about how a river town changed over time. Because such archives are often run by volunteers, access is usually by appointment, and it is wise to contact the society before visiting. Details of holdings, opening times and research arrangements are best confirmed directly, as public information is limited.

Visitors will find the archives work alongside the village's other heritage attractions. Upper Canada Village recreates the rural life of the 1860s, and the waterfront parks along the river look across to the Seaway. A short walk along Morrisburg's main street brings you past older houses and shopfronts that reflect the town's 19th-century growth.

Travellers interested in family history or in the human side of the Seaway story will get the most from a visit, and a stop pairs naturally with a day at Upper Canada Village. Bring any family names and dates you wish to research.