The township of South Glengarry comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including the following communities:
Charlottenburgh Township:Glen Walter, Green Valley, Martintown, Summerstown, Summerstown Station, St. Raphaels, Williamstown; Avondale, Cashions Glen, Glen Brook, Glendale, Glen Falloch, Glenroy, MacGillivrays Bridge, Munroes Mills, Tyotown; Bayview Estates, Glendale Subdivision, Glen Gordon, Loon Island, North Branch; Camerons Point, Danis Point, Farlingers Point, Flannigans Point, Fraser Point, McGibbons Point, Pilons Point, Prevost Point, Stonehouse Point
Lancaster Township: Bainsville, Brown House Corner, Dalhousie Mills, Glen Nevis, Glen Norman, Lancaster, North Lancaster, South Lancaster; Bridge End, Curry Hill, Pine Hill; Lancaster Heights, Maple Hill, North Lancaster Station, Picnic Grove, Redwood Estates; Brittania Point, Creg Quay, Faulkners Point, Nadeaus Point, Pointe Mouillee, Westleys Point
The township administrative offices are located in Lancaster.
History
Charlottenburgh and Lancaster were two of the original eight "Royal Townships", established along the SaintLawrence River in Upper Canada in the 1780s. This area was first settled by United Empire Loyalists. The development of this area was encouraged by Sir John Johnson, then the Superintendent General and Inspector General of Indian Affairs, who had been forced to abandon his land holdings in New York State during the American Revolution. From the late 18th century to the early 19th century, the area was almost entirely settled by Scottish highlanders, especially from Inverness-shire, after the Highland Clearances. Canadian Gaelic / Scottish Gaelic had been spoken in Glengarry County since its first settlement in 1784. Sir John built a house in Williamstown which was completed in 1785 and is now a Canadian National Historic Site, the Sir John Johnson Manor House. A grist mill and saw mill, now gone, were also built on the same location. Williamstown also has the oldest house in Ontario, The Bethune-Thompson House built in 1784. Occupants over the years have included the Reverend John Bethune, the great-great-grandfather of Doctor Norman Bethune, and David Thompson, Canadian explorer. Some of the main partners of the North West Company, including Hugh McGillis, lived in this area. Alexander McMartin, the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in the Legislative Assembly, was from Martintown. The Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame is located in Williamstown. Williamstown is also home to Ontario’s oldest continuing annual fair, which celebrated its bicentennial in 2012. The Nor'Westers and Loyalist Museum is also located in Williamstown. South Glengarry is the location of four National Historic Sites of Canada: the Bethune-Thompson House, the Glengarry Cairn, the Sir John Johnson House, and the ruins of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church. St. Raphael's Catholic Church was built commencing 1821 under the authority of Alexander Macdonell later Bishop of Regiopolis. This is one of the oldest churches in what was then the colony of Upper Canada. In late 1970, the church interiors, roof and tower were destroyed by fire, but the ruins were preserved. In 1973, a smaller church with the same name was built, attached to the ruins. The township was established on January 1, 1998, with the amalgamation of the former Townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster, along with the Village of Lancaster.
Demographics
Culture
Canadian author Hugh Hood mentions Williamstown in his short story "Getting to Williamstown," first published in 1928.
Sir John Johnson, one of the original landowners and developers of the area. Constructed The Manor House in Williamstown, now a Canadian National Historic Site.
James Leroy, nationally recognized songwriter, performer and recording artist; spent his childhood and adolescence in Martintown.
Alexander Macdonell, later Bishop of Regiolopolis.
