Aultsville, Ontario was founded under the name Charlesville in
1787. Primarily a manufacturing town (brick, pottery, window sashes and cheese), in 1856
it became a regular stop on the Grand Trunk Railway. By
1880 over 400 people called Aultsville home.
But by 1958 all that had changed.
The St. Lawrence River is a vital highway to the industrial parts of Central Canada and
the NE United States. The major problem with the river were the frequent and violent
rapids.
On July 1, 1958 (I remember, as a child, being at the official opening in Montreal when
Queen Elizabeth II did the honours) the St. Lawrence Seaway opened continent's interior to
ocean-going ships.
Unfortunately when the gates were opened and the water levels rose, the end was spelled
for a number of riverside communities including Aultsville.
Very little is left to commemorate Aultsville. A small road runs off Highway 2 into the
river. A keen observer can see remnants of old sidewalks and lanes if one looks into
the weeds.
