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Tales of |
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 of the RIDEAU  Tales' HomeOliver's FerryWatson's MillGhosts of KilmarnockGrand Non-OpeningLost Barrel of SilverOpinicon GhostsLady in BlueChristmas 1826A Rapid RideBlue Edged BowlsWashed AwayThe Last DuelDavidson's GhostA Rock for DinnerSluiced SuperintendentThe Failed GatesA Grave RevealingBye By |
(some short, some tall) In this section of the Rideau-info website I've tried to compile many of the various stories related to, or taking place on, the Rideau Canal. Some stories are fact, some stories are ... well, you be the judge. I've tried to source out the factual basis of many of these tales while keeping in mind that one should never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Several of these have been presented dramatically by the Parks Canada players. For their current revue, have a look at their website at: www.parksplayers.com If you've heard any good Rideau stories or have variants on the ones included here, send me an email. If suitable, I'll include them on this website. The Tales Skeletons under the floor - the tale of Oliver's Ferry - this is perhaps one of the best known stories on the Rideau. But do you know the real story? The Ghost of Watson's Mill - it's said that on a misty day, the ghost of Anne Crosby can be seen looking out the second story windows of the Watson's Mill. What happened to poor Anne? The Ghosts of Kilmarnock - did Isaiah Croutch really see his own death? The Grand Non-Opening of the Rideau Canal - a few days before the planned grand opening of the northern Rideau on August 21, 1831, the Rideau River suddenly dropped below navigation level. What happened? The Lost Barrel of Silver - is there really a barrel full of American half-dollar coins lying at the bottom of Opinion Lake, or buried near Davis Lock (or near Jones Falls, or Long Island, etc.). You be the judge (and I'd be happy to take 10% if you find it). Ghosts of the Opinicon. Whatever happened to poor Samuel Poole, Tom Dennison and Joe Ledway? Do their ghosts still haunt Opinicon Lake? The Lady in Blue - does the ghost of Kathleen McBride really walk the Burritts Rapids' Tip to Tip trail? What is she looking for? Christmas in the Bush - how surveyor John MacTaggart spent the Christmas of 1826. A Rapid Ride - The Billings Shoot the Hogs Back "Falls" - in 1814, Philemon Wright watched in horror as the canoe carrying the Billings family was swept over the Hogs Back "Falls" The Blue Edged Bowls - In about 1797, local Merrickville area settler, Thomas McCrea, was tasked with walking to Brockville to buy some items, including a set of white, blue edged bowls. Washed Away - the story of the building of the Hogs Back Dam. Why did the dam fail not once, not twice but three times? The Last Duel - after the first shot both men were still standing, so they reloaded and fired again. What led up to this event that took place near Perth in 1833? Davidson's Ghost - David Davidson was brutally murdered in the late 1800s. Does his ghost still paddle Opinicon Lake? A Rock For Dinner - It was a nice day in February 1831 at Kingston Mills. Robert Drummond was enjoying his lunch. Then all hell broke loose. The Sluiced Superintendent - Lockmaster Clark was complaining about the lack of maintenance funding. To prove him wrong, the Superintendent jumped up and down on the wooden grate covering the tunnel sluice manhole and ... The Failed Gates - it was a peaceful evening in July 1869 when, with a horrible cracking noise, a set of lock gates at Jones Falls failed, releasing an avalanche of water that killed one man and mortally wounded another ... A Grave Revealing - the gravel pit work crew were busily digging away, blithly unaware that, over a hundred years before, this site was used as the final resting place for dozens of workers that had died during the construction of the Rideau Canal. Bye By - on May 25, 1832, as Lt. Colonel John By was receiving the accolades of the enthusiastic villagers of Smiths Falls, back in London, England, the instrument of his demise was being penned. For contemporary stories of the Rideau, you might want to have a look at "Locked Up: Tales of mystery and mischance along Canada's Rideau Canal Waterway." Edited by Sue Pike, this book was published in 2007. You'll note that I haven't included any fish stories. For a number "true" fish stories, Ed Bebee has compiled the history and stories of Rideau fishing guides in his two books, "Pathfinders, the Guides of the Rideau" (pub. 2005) and "Fish Tales: The lure and the lore of the Rideau" (pub. 2007). All the above books are available at several Rideau bookstores or by mail-order through Friends of the Rideau (see www.rideaufriends.com)
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Comments: send me email: Ken Watson