Welcome to RTHS
The Rideau Township Historical Society (RTHS) was formed in 1974, the same year the historic townships of North Gower and Marlborough were joined to form Rideau Township. The RTHS mission is to "preserve the past to enrich the future" by increasing awareness of and access to the history of the former Rideau Township, which was amalgamated into the City of Ottawa in 2001.
The symbols in the RTHS crest (see above) reflect the pursuits of the early settlers in the area. As illustrated in the images at right, river transport and commerce, forestry, agriculture and livestock were the essential ingredients that enabled the founding townships of North Gower and Marlborough to realize Peace, Plenty and Progress.
Click on the '+' to expand the section and click on the '-' to collapse the section.
What Would You Like to Do Today?
RTHS News, Events & Interests
Our October Event
This is an "in-person" AND ZOOM event. Registration is ONLY necessary for ZOOM participation so we can send you the ZOOM connection information.
Featured Article
The Lindsays and Lindsay's Wharf ~ Kars
by Coral Lindsay
In May, 1832, James and Ellin (Goodwin) Lindsay with their 3-year-old son and infant daughter watched from their homestead on the west shore of the Rideau as Colonel John By, Mrs. Esther By and, their daughters headed downstream toward Bytown on the steamboat Rideau. This was the inaugural voyage and marked the official opening of the Rideau Canal 175 years ago.
The Lindsays, Scots Presbyterian immigrants, had purchased land south of the future Kars Village. Their log house stood near the riverbank. The Lindsays began clearing the forests for farming, and building a wharf and wharfhouse for steamboat passengers and freight. James was the manager of the wharf, a "wharfinger", and kept ledgers to record the wharfage arriving by steamer and produce leaving from the forests and the farms for the markets in Bytown or Montreal.
The-wharf was about 100 feet long, built of crib timbers with rock fill, attached underwater to the bank. The structure projected' about 20 feet into the river, and had a platform above water which was replaced several times over the next century. Ice during the spring breakup carried away the remaining surface timbers about fifty years ago.
RTHS Virtual Exhibit
The RTHS Facebook page continues to add new posts daily (Monday to Friday). A sampling of recent posts include:
- The Presence of the Past in Rideau Township:
- 2368 Church St., North Gower: Anglican Church Rectory.
- Restoration of the Carleton County Map of 1863
- Extension of Macadamized Road in North Gower Township
- A History of Log Fences in Rideau (and elsewhere)
- Kars Continuation School -- 1929
- The Presence of the Past in Rideau Township: 1680 Phelan Rd. (The Pollock House).
- The 4th Annual Kars Fair -- 1966
- The Absence of the Past in Rideau Township (the Former Manotick Fire Hall).
- Girl Guides Donate to Firefighters -- 1980.
- Farm History in Rideau: West Half, Lot 11, Concession 1, North Gower (Lakeman Farm).
- Baseball/Softball History in North Gower Village.
- Remembering D-Day - June 6, 1944.
- Memories of Childhood in North Gower During the War Years
- History of Stevens Creek and the Roads
- The Curriers of Manotick
- The Women's Insitute Story
- 50 Years of the Rideau Township Historical Society
- Major Wind and Hail Damage -- 1928
- Women Played Key Role in North Gower's Social Growth
- The Recreation/Tourist Complex that Never Was
- Firefighters Recognized, 1988
- The Presence AND Absence of the Past in Rideau Township: 3041 Pierce Rd., Pierce's Corners (Pierce's Tavern)
- Major Fire in Marlborough Township -- 1955
- First Horse-Drawn Buggy Arrives in Rideau Township -- 1867
- First Barn Raising in North Gower -- 1827
- Early Businesses in Manotick
- The Health Benefits of the Lowly Garden Hoe
Preserving the Past to Enrich the Future