1

Mary Ellen Boudreau's article in the Eganville Leader
1955
Mackey Station area, Ontario

2

In Her article "Dam's flood changed the face of the Upper Ottawa Valley" published in the Eganville Leader, the late Mary Ellen Boudreau reveals the sentiments of many who were directly affected by the des Joachims Hydro Project,

The Photographs which follow bring visual awareness to what were heretofore only place names of lands now beneath the waters of the Upper Ottawa.

3

"DAM'S FLOOD CHANGED THE FACE OF THE UPPER OTTAWA VALLEY"
by Mary Ellen Boudreau

They knew it was coming. They had heard about it for years. Some even stopped making repairs to their homes and buildings. Yet when the giant Des Joachims Generating Station actually got underway, no one was prepared for the disruption it would cause in their lives.

"My roots are down there" (in the village of Mackey now under 80 feet of water) said a former resident "It was heart breaking. Just like something torn away".

"It's hard not to be able to go back" said another, "not to be able to retrace the steps of my youth the partridge hunting along the deep ravines of Mackey Creek, the fishing in French's Lake...."

The hamlets of Mackey, Stonecliffe and Deux Rivieres were profoundly affected by the Ontario Hydro mega-project. Churches moved, railway centres moved, schools and post offices moved. The face of the whole 30-some mile corridor changed, and changed dramatically.

Community life changed. Some moved to higher ground. Some moved away. Neighbors lost neighbors and friends lost friends. The past was swept away. Only memories of former homesteads and haunts remained. It was the end of an era in the upper Townships of Renfrew County. Few remember it as a good time.

Compensation for the move was considered to be fair by some, inadequate by others. No dollars, it seems, could replace the loss of home.

Some changes were acknowledged to be improvements. At Deux Rivieres, a new frame public school replaced a 75 year old log structure. At Stonecliffe a large new cement block and plaster church was built to replace the two small frame ones of Mackey and Stonecliffe, although many Mackey residents grumbled at the loss of "their* church.

Waterway were changed with the enlargement of the Ottawa, the disappearance of rapids, and the creation of a lake head of some three miles in width at Mackey Bay. Water travel for boaters became easy, for timber floaters more simple as logs were now boomed and towed by a tug.

And an important plus was the opportunity for many local people, some of whom had returned from World War II, to find employment in the vast project of clearing lands to be flooded and the construction of the massive dam.

Coming as a bride of 1948 to a Mackey of no electricity and no phones from Canada's Capital was a major change but soon the bustling activity of the hamlet of Rolphton became a vital part of life.

The housing project, known as The Colony, was the scene of action. Here were young couples with young children like us. Here was a hospital, a recreation centre with bowling lanes, a dance hall. Boy Scout and Girl Guide rooms, a commissary. Here were bridge players. Here were food fests and crazy fun house parties. Here were regular dances, which always included a 10:30pm floorshow/skit for which we practiced for months. Dances which saw us hide a jug under the table with which to spike our soda drinks as licensed parties had not yet come to be. Here, as well as in downtown Mackey, developed friendships for a lifetime.

And here in construction time on a Thursday evening we could join 1000 men in a huge mess-hall and enjoy a super steak dinner for the grand sum of seventy five Cents.

4

Waterway were changed with the enlargement of the Ottawa, the disappearance of rapids, and the creation of a lake head of some three miles in width at Mackey Bay. Water travel for boaters became easy, for timber floaters more simple as logs were now boomed and towed by a tug.

And an important plus was the opportunity for many local people, some of whom had returned from World War II, to find employment in the vast project of clearing lands to be flooded and the construction of the massive dam.

Coming as a bride of 1948 to a Mackey of no electricity and no phones from Canada's Capital was a major change but soon the bustling activity of the hamlet of Rolphton became a vital part of life.

The housing project, known as The Colony, was the scene of action. Here were young couples with young children like us. Here was a hospital, a recreation centre with bowling lanes, a dance hall. Boy Scout and Girl Guide rooms, a commissary. Here were bridge players. Here were food fests and crazy fun house parties. Here were regular dances, which always included a 10:30pm floorshow/skit for which we practiced for months. Dances which saw us hide a jug under the table with which to spike our soda drinks as licensed parties had not yet come to be. Here, as well as in downtown Mackey, developed friendships for a lifetime.

And here in construction time on a Thursday evening we could join 1000 men in a huge mess-hall and enjoy a super steak dinner for the grand sum of seventy five Cents.

5

Charbonneau Residence
1941
Mackey Station, Ontario

6

The Charbonneau residence at Mackey Station. This is a typical log home in this area. This photograph was taken in the early 1940's. The family moved from here to higher ground at Stonecliffe.

Audio Text - Ernie Boudreau
Ya, Johnnie and I built that for his mother. (Q) when would that be built? Well we built before 40 - - ,we went away from here in 43 so we built it in the early 40's

7

Mackey Creek Trestle, CPR
1945
Mackey Station, Ontario

8

This photograph shows one of the last CPR trains making its way over the CPR trestle at
Mackey Creek. Note the area has been cleared of all trees in preparation for the flooding. This
section of the CPR line was relocated to higher ground and now runs parallel to highway 17
through Mackey.

9

Mackey's Station Church
1945
Mackey Station, Ontario

10

Saint Narcissus Roman Catholic Church at Mackey Station. St. Narcissus was erected at
Mackey station in 1891 and was served by the Oblate Fathers of Mattawa until 1926 when it
became a parish on its own. As a result of the dam flooding the Church was demolished and the congregation moved to a new Church in Stoncliffe in 1949. A historical plaque now makes the original location of the church.

The original village of Mackey Station was flooded by the dam construction. When the village moved to higher ground it's name was changed to Mackey

11

Historic Plaque
9 November 2003
Mackey Station area, Ontario

12

Historic Plaque, Mackey, Ontario

13

Catherine Tait home
1949
Stonecliffe, Ontario

14

This photograph of Catherine Tait on the veranda of her Stonecliff home just before
moving out. This photo is interesting because it showed clearly the forest clearing on the
opposite side of the River, indicating the 'new level' for the river. Catherine home and all of
old Stonecliff would soon be under water. Catherine moved to the new community of Stonecliffe
with her son Joseph (Joe) Tait and family.

15

Stonecliffe School
1941
Stonecliffe, Ontario

16

Students outside the main entrance of Stonecliff's one-room school, 1941-42. This School would
be flooded along with the rest of the community when the Dam was completed.

Front Row (L to R): Curtis Logan, Sylvia Pacholzuk, Zita Tait, Jeannine Boudreau, Eleanor
Boudreau.
2nd Row: Gabriel Lalonde, Sony Pichette, Denis Latour, Garvin Pacholzuk, Cletus Pacholzuk,
Albert Stewart
3rd Row: Telephore Latour, Peter Tait, Bob Steward, Gerry Tait, Weldon Pacholzuk, Gaston
Lalonde,
4th Row: Agnes Bertrand, Theresa Bertrand, Jacqueline Lalonde, Norma Logan, Peggy Tait,
Angela Spencer, Paul Latour.
Back Row: Joan Tait, Evelyn Pichette, Edwin Steward.

Most of the family here moved to the new community of Stonecliffe.

17

Clifton House, Stonecliff Hotel
1940
Stonecliffe, Ontario

18

Clifton House, Stonecliffe Hotel. Located at the River, it served the community and travellers for many years.

19

Chas Sutherland and Bazil Boudry
1913
Stonecliffe, Ontario

20

Here we have Chas Sutherland and Bazil Beaudry photograph outside the main entrance to the Clifton House (Stonecliff Hotal) about 1912-13.

21

Stonecliff in the 20's
1925
Stonecliffe, Ontario

22

A view looking down the main road of Stonecliff in the mid 1920's. McKechnie's General
Store is in the foreground. Next to it is Saint Zephrim Roman Catholic Church. The new church, Our Lady of Snows, was contructed on Highway 17 at Stonecliffe and continues to serve the residents of the area. The building in the background is the CPR railway station. The rail line ran parallel to the main road. Note the spelling of Stoncliff, without an 'e' at the end. Only after the area fas flooded and the community was moved to higher ground was the name changed to its current spelling.

Pictured here are Bud Mckechnie (standing), Dickie Stewart (sitting) and Annie Spencer (on the road).

23

Native Canadian home
1945
Stonecliffe, Ontario


Credits:
Photographer: H. J. Woodside

24

This photograph courtesy of the National Archives of Canada, is of Native Canadian homes on
the Ottawa river at Stonecliff. Note the spelling of Stonecliff, without an 'e' at the end. Only after
the community was moved to higher ground was the name changed to its current spelling,
Stonecliffe. The original Ottawa River is visible in the background.

25

McKechnie's General store
1940
Stonecliffe, Ontario


Credits:
Photographer: H. J. Woodside

26

This photograph courtesy, of the National Archives of Canada, is of McKechnie's Genera Store at Stonecliff.

To the Left of the store is Saint Zephrim Roman Catholic Church. The new church, Our Lady of Snows, was contructed on Highway 17 at Stonecliffe and continues to serve the residences of the area.

27

Tait residences
1948
Stonecliffe, Ontario


Credits:
Photographer: H. J. Woodside

28

This photograph courtesy of the National Archives of Canada, is of Stonecliff looking across the
original CPR line. The first house on the right side is that of Alfred and Catherine Tait. The one
on the left was their son's home, Joseph and Florence Tait. Joseph and Florence built a new home at Stoncliffe
and continued to raise their family there. Note the spelling of Stoncliff, without an 'e' at the end.
Only after the community was moved to higher ground was the name changed to its current spelling

29

New Stonecliffe church
2000
Stonecliffe, Ontario

30

The new church, Our Lady of Snows,
was contructed on Highway 17 at Stonecliffe and continues to serve the residences of the area.

31

Bill McIsaac's residence
1929
Bissett Creek, Ontario

32

Three young ladies having fun on a wood cutting sawhorse outside the McIsaac residence at Bissett Creek. Just one of the residences flooded as a result of the Dam.

L.to R. Vivian Tooley, Elsie McIsaac, and Irene Tooley

33

Pellerin's House
1922
Bissett Creek, Ontario

34

A gathering at the home of the Pellerin family at Bissett Creek. Pictured here are: (back row from
left to right) John (Jack) Pellerin, Helen (Nellie) Pellerin, Maggie Pellerin, Bill Tooley, Bill
McIsaac, Florence McIsaac, Hazel Pacholzuk, Charles Pellerin (middle row) Emery & Walter
Tooley, (front row) William Pellerin, Mary Pellerin, Mildred Eackle, Vivian Tooley and Irene
Tooley

35

The Tub
1930
Deux Rivieres, Ontario

36

This cable carrier affectionately called the "TUB" was used for many years to ferry people, animals and equipment across the Ottawa River at Deux Rivieres, providing transportation to the lumbering camps on the Quebec side of the river.

37

Gardner's Ice Cream
1922
Deux Rivieres, Ontario

38

You could always get a delicious "Northern Ice Cream" cone at Gardin's ice cream parlour,
located in the village of Deux Rivieres. This photograph was taken with Mern Grawbarger sitting on the front step in 1922

39

Deux Rivieres RC Church
1940
Deux Rivieres, Ontario

40

Deux Rivieres Saint Lawrence Roman Catholic Church.

41

Deux Rivieres landscape, cleared of trees and awaiting flooding
1950
Deux Rivieres, Ontario

42

Deux Rivieres landscape, cleared of trees and awaiting flooding

43

Deux Rivieres landscape, cleared of trees and awaiting flooding
1950
Deux Rivieres, Ontario

44

Deux Rivieres Landscape cleared and awaiting flooding

45

Ottawa River above Des Joachims Dam
2000
Stonecliffe, Ontario

46

Was it (the Dam Construction) a "Good Thing" for the communities up stream?
The answer, like the scene itself will vary with the vantage point of the viewer. At one end of the opinion spectrum, the are words of the "Temiskawa" organization, (Lake Temiscaming / Ottawa River Waterway) as they promote the unimpeded Pleasure-Boat movement past areas where the voyageurs struggled over rugged portages.

At the other end of the opinion spectrum, in the conclusion to his 1976 study "History of The BIG GIBSON area, Renfrew County," for the Historical Planning and Research Branch of The Ministry of Culture and Recreation, Ontario, Mr Ed McKenna writes.
"The Ottawa River shoreline betwean Bissett Creek and Deux Riveres has changed radically from the time when the historical activities discussed here were taking place. As a result of the many surveys along the Ottawa to assess the feasibility of canalization, governments became aware of the enormous potential for hydro-electric development on the river. In 1950 the DesJoachims dam was constructed and the shoreline above it was flooded. This has resulted in an immeasurable loss of one of the Province's most significant historical landscapes, and historical resources spanning three centuries have been destroyed."