Morrisburg
Morrisburg is a village of a little over a thousand people in the Seaway Region of eastern Ontario between Brockville/Prescott and Cornwall.
Understand
This region is United Empire Loyalist country, much of it colonised by loyal British subjects in 1784, immediately after the American Revolution. The Battle of Crysler's Farm, an 1813 British-Canadian victory during the War of 1812, was fought in this area to preserve British control of the St. Lawrence River for shipping.
The McIntosh apple originated in this region, near Williamsburg. The construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958 flooded and destroyed several small villages between Morrisburg and Cornwall; the largest of these Lost Villages were Aultsville and Moulinette. Some historic buildings and structures from the affected region were relocated to Upper Canada Village, a pioneer village and living museum along the St. Lawrence in Morrisburg.
As of 1998, Morrisburg is no longer an incorporated municipality and local highways 2 and 31 have been downloaded as county roads.
Get in
Morrisburg is part of the Windsor-Quebec corridor, midway between Kingston and Montréal on Ontario Highway 2 or 401. It is on the CN Rail main line between Toronto-Montréal and on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
By car
From Ottawa, Bank Street (old Highway 31) leads 65km directly to the village. From Toronto or Montréal, take Highway 401 to old Highway 31.
From the United States of America, cross by bridge at Prescott-Ogdensburg or Cornwall-Massena.
By plane
There is an unattended airstrip, but no scheduled air service to this location. The closest major airport is Ottawa (YOW IATA).
By boat
- Crysler Park Marina, 13740 Hwy 2, ☏ +1 613-543-3254, toll-free: +1-800-437-2233, fax: +1 613-543-2847. mid April-early October. Marker 72 restaurant and patio, docking, fuel, laundry, pool, showers, picnic/BBQ, snacks and groceries, souvenirs, marine supplies, bike and kayak rental.
Get around
There is no public transportation in Morrisburg, although Quality Taxi +1 613-543-3252 and Casselman's Taxi +1 613-543-2062 operate in the village.
See
- 🌍 Battle of Crysler's Farm National Historic Site, Hwy 2 (near Upper Canada Village). National Historic Site commemorating the Battle of Crysler's Farm, fought in a field along the St. Lawrence River on November 11, 1813. This British-Canadian victory ended US ambitions to take control of the St. Lawrence as a shipping channel during the War of 1812.
- 🌍 Doran Bay Model Ship Museum, 11128 Hwy 2, Iroquois, ☏ +1 613-652-6277. 10AM-3PM daily, mid-June to end-Sept. Private museum collection of 120 models of historic ships, including the 17th/18th century mercantile, 1812 War and RMS Titanic eras. $8/person.
- 🌍 Upper Canada Playhouse, 12320 County Rd. #2, ☏ +1 613-543-3713, toll-free: +1 877-550-3650, boxoffice@uppercanadaplayhouse.com. Live theatre in former Odonto factory, eight productions annually.
- 🌍 Upper Canada Village, 13740 Hwy 2, ☏ +1 613-543-4328, toll-free: +1-800-437-2233. Pioneer 1860s village of thirty buildings staffed by skilled tradespersons in costume of the era. Willard's Hotel in the village serves traditional fare from 11am-5pm daily. $15/person.
Do
- 🌍 Lost Villages Museum, 16361 Fran Laflamme Dr (in Ault Park, 3 km east of Long Sault), ☏ +1 613-534-2197, info@lostvillages.ca. 10AM-5PM, June-Sept. Village of ten heritage buildings moved from The Lost Villages to Ault Park and restored by the Lost Villages Historical Society. Includes a rail station from Moulinette, a village lost to flooding from St. Lawrence Seaway hydroelectric development July 1, 1958. by donation.
- 🌍 Prehistoric World, 5446 Upper Canada Rd, ☏ +1 613-543-2503. 10AM-4PM May-Sep. Forested outdoor park with large and small statues of dinosaurs. $8/person.
- 🌍 Upper Canada Golf Course, 13745 Hwy 2, Morrisburg K0C 1X0, ☏ +1 613-543-2003, toll-free: +1-800-437-2233. Bar and grill, pro shop, 18 hole public course.
- 🌍 Cedar Glen Golf Course, 12603 County Rd. 18, RR#1 Williamsburg K0C 2H0, ☏ +1 613-535-2323, toll-free: +1-888-861-0660, fax: +1 613-535-2908. 18-hole semi-private course, driving range and putting green.
Buy
- Village Antiques & Tea Room, 4326 Hwy 31, Williamsburg K0C 2H0, ☏ +1 613-535-2463. Bed & breakfast, wi-fi, tea room, antiques.
Eat
- Manor Bistro (Russell Manor Bed and Breakfast), 36 First Street, Morrisburg K0C 1X0, ☏ +1 613-543-3871, toll-free: +1-866-401-7472. $40-45/person, meal reservation 24hrs in advance.
Sleep
- McIntosh Country Inn & Conference Centre, 12495 Hwy #2 East, Morrisburg K0C 1X0, ☏ +1 613-543-3788, toll-free: +1-888-229-2850, fax: +1 613-543-3160. 59-room inn, wi-fi, whirlpool, sauna, exercise area, heated (seasonal) swimming pool, jacuzzi rooms available with fireplaces. Orchard Restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Meeting space for 5-120 people.
Connect
ONroute, a highway rest stop on Highway 401 east of the Old Highway 31 interchange, offers sixty minutes of free wi-fi.
Nearby
Iroquois
Directly upriver. Between Prescott/Cardinal and Morrisburg, Iroquois is one of the communities to which residents were displaced by Seaway flooding in 1958. These are tiny towns, although Cardinal is the main Canadian Coast Guard station in the area because of its position on the Seaway.