Dickinson's Landing
Dickinson's Landing was first settled during the 1600's when the great French explorer, Robert Cavalier Sieur de LaSalle, established a trading post during the heady days of the French fur trade. In pre-canal times, Dickinson's Landing was located at the end of a portage around the Long Sault Rapids.
During the mid to late 1700's loyalist settlers began pouring in from the United States. Among those were John and Henry Hoople who followed the same trail taken by LaSalle. Their lands, located at the mouth of the future Hoople's Creek, became known as Hoople's Settlement. The majority of the "Landing's" other early settlers were British military men, that included Doctor James Stuart, James Crowder, Jacob Eamon, James Morden and Joseph Fitchet. Most became farmers with the exception of Fitchet, who was a tailor.
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King Street
Following in the Hooples' footsteps was Barnabas Dickinson (also spelled Dickenson) who hailed from Massachusetts. Dickinson, after whom the settlement was later named, acquired the first government contract to transport mail by boat and stagecoach. Dickinson established his mail line after the end of the 1812-1814 War and performed the important function of moving the mail between Kingston and Montreal up until the railway age.
In its early days, the "Landing" served as an important stopping point for all westbound travellers. Before the Cornwall Canal was built, the only way to bypass the Long Sault Rapids was on land, either by stage, wagon, horseback or on foot. Dickinson's Landing was the place where most travellers would disembark and where goods would be unloaded and hauled into wagons for the small trek over to Cornwall. Travellers often stayed over in the "Landing" to seek a much-needed respite for themselves and their horses before continuing on with arduous journey ahead. A favourite pastime of area locals was to be on hand when the Montreal stage stopped over. On many occasions they would be treated to impromptu visits from dignitaries such as a bishop, general or the governor himself.
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School June 1917
The "Landing's" most prosperous days came before and during the building of the Cornwall Canal and the Grand Trunk Railway. These two projects, both gargantuan for their time, attracted a wealth of small industries and employment to the village. The village boasted a sawmill, brickyard, two blacksmiths, five general stores, a carriage factory, cabinetmaker, shoemakers and tailors. Several more small industries were located nearby the wharf. These included a distillery, soap factory and tannery, the latter run by John Dawson. One of the store owners, William Colquhoun, opened a post office in 1841. All told, the village contained about 20 shops housing various trades people. The "Landing"s many travellers were well served with a choice of six taverns and five hotels. One of most well known was Snyder's Stagecoach Inn, alternately called the St. Lawrence House Hotel.
The village's grist mill was built by a Captain Bullock, who also served as Customs Officer. Captain Bullock also figured prominently in the town's planning by donating lands for an 'Upper Road' that started just east of Hoople's Creek. In later years this same road connected the two communities of Dickinson's Landing and Wales. There was also a 'Lower Road' that led south to the brickyard.
During construction of the Cornwall Canal, the population of Dickinson's Landing swelled to around 1000. However the opening of the canal in 1842 and the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1856 brought an end to growth at the "Landing". Although stagecoaches continued to operate after the canal opened, it was on a seasonal basis only. Stage service dried up completely after the railway arrived. The GTR station was not located right in Dickinson's Landing but rather in an area originally known Dickinson's Landing Station (later Wales) a couple of km. north. Gradually the population began to shift northward in order to be closer to the station. The village's population eventually dropped to around 200 and remained around that number until the end.
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Lock 21 [ca. 1920]
The new Cornwall Canal finally provided a means for ships to navigate around the Long Sault Rapids, however it was also becoming possible for ships to navigate through the rapids both safely and within a reasonable period of time. On June 1st 1848, the steamer George Frederick managed by Messers. Hanes and Hoople of Dickinson's Landing, with Captain Sawyer at the helm, made the first safe run through the rapids in a mere twenty-five minutes.
Although by the late nineteenth century, Dickinson's Landing had lost its stature as an important stopover village, it continued to support a number of small businesses. Dr. A. Dixon Wagner was the local physician in the late 1870's and Mr. Hanes ran the St. Lawrence Hotel.
During the early part of the twentieth century, a few mills continued to operate on and off. One of the more successful businesses was the Sweet Brian Cheese Factory, operated by Jack Snetsinger, which won many awards for its fine cheeses. Recreation could be found in the form of dancing and horseracing. During the 1930's, the "Landing" had three popular dance halls and a racetrack, operated by Jimmy Connors, that was located on the Upper Road halfway between Dickinson's Landing and Wales. Many villagers were able to find employment on Lock # 21, located directly east of the church, while others farmed. The docks continued to operate into the 1950's.
At the time of inundation Dickinson's Landing was typical of many of the small villages that lined old Highway 2; a long narrow strip with buildings on each side of the road. The boundaries were marked on the west by Hoople's Creek and on the east by a Texaco station at the corner of Wales Road. In addition to the store, it contained a number of pretty homes, a tourist court, a school and a handsome brick church. The post office remained open until June 1957. The lighthouse was saved and relocated to Upper Canada Village.