History of the Galop Canal

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History of the Galop Canal & South Dundas

The Galop Canal Revitalization Project aims to restore and revitalize the Galop Canal and area. The Galop Canal is an integral part of Iroquois and South Dundas history. In this section, you will find information about the history of the village and Galop Canal locks.

The St. Lawrence Seaway project & Iroquois

The construction of the new St. Lawrence Seaway changed the nature of the St. Lawrence River itself, as well as life for residents who lived on the banks. The river before the Seaway can be described as a bottleneck; the river narrowed and became much more fast-moving as a result of rapids.

These power stations required a head-pond in order to function properly, which led to the creation of Lake St. Lawrence.

A combination of the need to create a viable shipping route and a head-pond for the hydroelectric power stations led to the flooding of 10 villages on the Canadian side of the project. These villages are called ‘the Lost Villages,’ and they include Aultsville, Dickinson’s Landing, Farran’s Point, Maple Grove, Mille Roches, Moulinette, Santa Cruz, Sheek’s Island, Wales and Woodlands.

Click on the map above to see a full view of the lost villages.

The villages of Morrisburg and Iroquois still exist today, although substantial portions of each were relocated to accommodate the Seaway Project. All of the affected villages existed in the counties of Stormont and South Dundas.

Iroquois is home to three sets of canal locks. The first set of locks was constructed in conjunction with the Galop canal around 1845.

The canal was improved, and new locks were built, in 1897. At 800 feet in length, these new locks were the cause of much fanfare—they were the longest locks in Canada at that time.

The final locks were built for the new St. Lawrence Seaway in 1954. These new locks are distinctive because they increased the depth capacity from 14 feet to 27 feet deep. This meant that roughly twice as much cargo could be shipped to and from the Great Lakes.

Iroquois was relocated 1 mile north of its pre-Seaway location. Construction for the upheaval began to mixed reactions in August, 1954. Most Iroquois residents, however, adopted an optimistic attitude—along with the slogan, “We have to go, but watch us grow!!!”

The creation of a new town of Iroquois meant that new homes had to be built for residents. Ontario Hydro adopted the policy of reimbursing residents for their homes and property, or, more creatively, moving homes to new foundations in the new village. Some buildings from Iroquois, Morrisburg, and other relocated towns and villages were moved to Upper Canada Village, a historic site that has turned into a popular tourist destination in South Dundas.

It was late summer, 1955, before the first house was moved from the old site to the new town of Iroquois. That house sits on what is now called Caldwell Drive. Another site where many houses were moved from the old site is Victoria Street, in the west end of town. Elizabeth Drive and Lakeview Drive, however, were reserved exclusively for new homes.

The new town also required new schools, as existing schools could not be moved and were demolished. Iroquois High School and Iroquois Public School were demolished in 1957, and three new schools were opened. Seaway District High School and Iroquois Public School were opened in fall, 1957. St. Cecelia’s Separate School also opened for Catholic pupils in 1957.

Iroquois unveiled a new shopping plaza in May, 1957. The new plaza was a far cry from the shops that lined Iroquois waterfront streets in the old village. The plaza, however, was considered the most modern in Eastern Ontario when it opened. It was the central site for celebrations of the Iroquois centennial throughout the summer of 1957. The plaza was also the site of a 1959 visit by Queen Elizabeth.

After the relocation of the old Village of Iroquois, the opening of the new locks, and a visit by the Queen, residents of the new Village of Iroquois set about the business of making their new town home—getting used to new schools and offices, as well as new homes. Much time has passed since the historic events of the 1950’s, but the dedication and interests of local residents and tourists alike has helped Iroquois—and South Dundas—continue to thrive and prosper.