Burchell, Louise et al. Edwardsburgh Township History. Brockville: Henderson Printing, 1995.

 

 

Cardinal History Book Committee. The History of Cardinal. Prescott: St. Lawrence Publishing, 1999.

·         Chapter 1 details the founding of Cardinal (or Munro’s Point as it was known in 1790 when Hugh Munro first settled on lot 5 and built a saw and grist mill) Cardinal was also known as Edwardsburgh in the 1800s.

·         Pg 12. The Military History of Cardinall.  Briefly covers the War of 1812, the Fenian Raids, the Riel Rebellions, WWI, WWII – both the World Wars saw the swing bridge and locks guarded as a precaution.

·         Pg. 21 – because of the swift river current, the canal became the town`s swimming hole

·         Pg 63 – navigation of the St. Lawrence.  Briefly covers timber rafts.  Includes a history of the Conestoga, which sank off Cardinal and can still be seen protruding from the water today. 

·         Pg. 68 – Rivers and Canals: The first canal was built around the outside of the village in 1844. The second canal was built in the 1890`s, which made the village an island.  Describes building the first canal in the 1840s without the assistance of machinery.  This system of canals was originally known as the Williamsburg Canals.  They measured 100 feet long, by 25 wide, with a depth of 9 feet. 

·         Pg 104 – outlines the history of Casco – Canada Starch Co.

 

A History of Cardinal. 1967.

 

·         An older edition of the book listed above, however, it contains many interesting pictures of the building of the Galop Canal.

·         (p.32) Henry Lewis profited quite well from the towing industry, employing as many as 3 or 4 yoke of oxen at Edwardsburgh

·         (p.44) Many people cut their own ice from the river and canals, probably a community affair where neighbours shared water access and horses etc.

·         (p.83) Edwardsburg Starch Company (Benson and Aspden) made use of water power and cordwood, close to the canal

 

Graves, Donald. Guns Across the River: the Battle of the Windmill.  Prescott: the Friends of Windmill Point, 2001. 

·         Graves takes a nuanced look at the Battle of the Windmill.  Among other things, he contends that the actual number of rebel Canadian numbered 7 or 8 (one of whom was mentally unstable).  Most of the rebel attackers were from an American terrorist group called the Patriot Hunters.  He also contends that the rebel’s leader, Nils von Schoultz, was liar and although brave, was not a particularly good soldier. 

·         Canada was fortunate that it was defended by the British in the 1830’s or it may have lost much more territory to the Americans, as Mexico did. 

·         Prologue notes that Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s maternal grandfather was William Lyon MacKenzie, while is paternal grandfather was Bombardier John King of the Royal Artillery, who fought at the battle.  

·         Includes an interesting depiction of Bill Johnston, including a note he wrote to Governor General Durham upon learning that a price had been put on his head for the burning of the Sir Robert Peel. 

·         Contends that the Patriot Hunters were told of false tales of British oppression in Canada. 

·         Von Schoultz is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kingston

 

Calvin. D. A Saga of the St. Lawrence: Timber and Shipping Throughout the Generations. Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1945. (Also available at Queen’s and the Marine Museum Library)

·         Describes the importance of the St. Lawrence in safely transporting timber that was needed for British war ships, in particular white pine that was needed for the masts. 

·         Details D.D. Calvin’s foresting ventures on Garden Island and along the St. Lawrence. 

·         Pg 63 – details timber rafting on the St. Lawrence.  Mentions some of the techniques used to build the rafts.  Each trip would take between 2-4 weeks from Garden Island to Quebec City. 

·         Rafting died when towing became the preferred way to ship wood to Quebec. 

·         Pg 77 – Raftmen: were likely French, some Indians who were the ‘rank-and-file’ members of the crew.  Drinking was a problem on the rafts.  The Indians were given names upon reporting to work for the summer, such as Louis Deer, Jim Ice, James Beaver etc.

·         Pg 109 describes the shift towards towing lumber behind steamships. 

·         Pg 145 describes the village that was a established on Garden Is.  The first part of this chapters talks of an outsider’s description of the Island.  A strange land were men speak of a different language (presumably French and Native dialects). 

·         Pg 151 describes the ship building industry that took place on the island.