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.
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RTHS News, Events & Interests
Our October Event
Most events are offered both In-person and via ZOOM. Registration is ONLY necessary for ZOOM participation so we can send you the ZOOM connection information when it's available.
Featured Article
Restoration of the Carleton County Map of 1863
In October, 2008, Sherry Guild and Amanda Gould of the Canadian Conservation Institute, made a presentation to the Rideau Township Historical Society on the restoration of the 1863 Carleton County map. The following is a summary of that presentation.
For the October meeting, RTHS members were treated to the behind-the-scenes story of the restoration of the 1863 Walling's Map of Carleton Country, now on display at the Rideau Township Archives. (Kindly donated by Mrs. Bessie Sadler Gray)
Sherry Guild is a Conservator specializing in works on paper with the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI).She described her agency's mission and the "Cadilac treatment" this map received. Co-presenter Amanda Gould is also a paper conservator. Gould performed most of the 100 hours of restoration this project required while taking part in a CCI internship program.
Using photos taken along the way, Gould described a process that begins with careful documentation and analysis of the source material to develop the best restoration plan. For this map, those steps included two baths in ethanol solvent to remove old varnish, using a special 6' x 6' stainless steel tray. The paper map was next washed to remove old stains and the original fabric backing was removed. Thinner portions of the map were filled in with a slurry made from fragments of original paper that came off with the fabric.
The map was then remounted for rigid support, onto Japanese tissue, made with long-fibre, plant-based material, which lasts longer than paper made from wood fibre. Restorative work was done to finish the edges and lost colour was replaced. A coat of wax finished the job. Cleaned, strengthened and stored in a new protective glass case, Guild and Gould guesstimate the map should be good for another 150 years.
Reached by phone after the presentation, the CCI's Sherry Guild spoke of how gratifying it is to see such maps being used again in their home communities, reconnecting people with family and regional history.
Convervator Sherry Guild
The CCI was created in 1972 as a Special Operating Agency within the Department of Heritage Canada. CCI frequently performs restoration work at no charge for qualifying non-profit organizations, as time permits. The agency offers a wealth of technical bulletins and practical information on their website, including an excellent general-topic page for common questions about preserving books, fabric, photographs, and so forth. See for yourself at: https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/care-objects.html
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:
- The Lindsay's and Lindsay's Wharf
- 2320 Andrew Street, North Gower
- 5550 Manotick Main St., Manotick
- Lot 4, NW corner of Lord Nelson & Washington Streets, Kars
- S.S.#4 Marlborough (Malakoff) 1908
- S.S.#2 North Gower (Watterson's Corners) 1942
- S.S.#4 Marlborough (Malakoff) 1963-64
- S.S.#6 Marlborough (Goodstown) 1908
- Oil excitement in North Gower
- Manotick's Post Offices
- School History: S.S.#11 North Gower (Phelan School)
- History of the North Gower Fire Department
- Traditional threshing lives on in Pierce's Corners
- Kars Profile #1, 2, 3 & 4
- Manotick Profile #1, 2, 3, & 4
- North Gower Profile #1, 2, 3, & 4
- Burritt's Rapids Profile #1 & 2
- Farm history in Rideau: Lot 12, West half, Concession A, North Gower
- The oldest original document in the Rideau Archives
Preserving the Past to Enrich the Future