Sunday, August 14, 2016

Blockhouse Island Plaque

Blockhouse Island Plaque overlooks the St. Lawrence River on the south side of Block House Island Road before it forks into a loop, in Brockville, Ontario.



BLOCKHOUSE ISLAND
On this island, formerly known as Hospital Island,
stood the sheds erected to house emigrants who were
victims of cholera in the great epidemic of 1832. Many
persons died here, including Doctor Robert Gilmour, a
native of Scotland and president of the first Board of
Health in Upper Canada, who was stricken while attending
the sick. During the Rebellion of 1837-38, a blockhouse
was erected here for the defence of Brockville. It was
destroyed by fire in 1860.
Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.