Vankleek Hill Historical Society

Quality, responsibility and accountability are the basic values by which our Historical Society operates.

PROJECTS

What We Do
To foster preservation of and enthusiasm for our local history, the Vankleek Hill & District Historical Society has several programs underway. These programs are assisted by volunteers, and the Federal Summer Student Employment Program.

Memory Bank: A growing collection of taped oral histories to capture the changing lifestyle of the 20th century. This project began in 2001 with the hiring of summer student Seema Maloni of L'Orignal. Seema interviewed a past mayor of Vankleek Hill, retired farm women, retired Registered Nursing Assistant, a retired teacher, and a business woman who emigrated to Canada. The project continues now with the assistance of volunteers.

Walking Tours: Short, medium and long: walk, bike or drive through Champlain Township – Vankleek Hill, Cassburn, Longueuil, L'Orignal and West Hawkesbury -- to view historic buildings and the changing landscapes of the Champlain Sea. This project has benefited from two summer students: Simon Gauthier of Vankleek Hill in 1999, and Jessica Sarrazin of Breadalbane in 2001. In 2002, Algonquin College graphic design student Lennie Kuiper of Alfred is putting her skills to work as we prepare to publish the walking tours.
Download a copy of the 2002 walking tour (in Adobe PDF format) here

Explorers' Evening: This annual May evening invites local experts to bring their knowledge to the community. In 2001 Jean-Luc Pilon, head Ontario archaeologist at the Museum of Civilization spoke on eastern Ontario archaeology. In 2002 Vankleek Hill dentist Gary Susick, an avid astronomer introduced us to the ongoing, and unusual, alignment of the planets. Giving assistance is the Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute Graduating Students Committee. The Grad Students sell tickets and provide the refreshment table at intermission as a fundraiser for their own projects. In appreciation the Historical Society matches the funds raised by the students. This gave the Grad Students $100 this year.

Genealogy: Volunteers who are keen genealogists love this work as they research local family history queries from near and far. Some of our correspondents have made the trip to Vankleek Hill to say thank you.
(A $25 donation for research is requested.)

Publications & Products: "Red Brick" Newsletter, notecards, postcards, T-shirts & coffee. More products being added.

Available at: Calico Lane, Champlain Twp. Arena, Mary's Country Kitchen, Top of the Morning B&B, The Review, Trillium Tea Room, Vankleek Cottage Gifts (All in Vankleek Hill.) All our products are $10 and under.
Or contact curator@vankleek.net . A charge for postage will have to added.

WHAT OTHER GOALS DO WE HAVE?

The Higginson Tower Restoration Project will continue. Declared a Municipal Heritage Site in 1997, the site of the remains of a grist-windmill constructed c.1828 by Thomas Higginson is at 44 Home Avenue.

It was re-developed as a "look-out tower" c.1860, then became known as an observatory for astronomers.