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fetus @n QEIJaffep’s lurk Chaffey’s to 1900 by Sue Warren Chaffey's Lock was orig- inally named Uhaffey's Mills. In the early 1820's, a Mr. Samuel Chaffey settled at the present-day site and erected a saw mill, a grist mill, a wool- en mill and a distillery. at the time, a series of rapids existed between lndian and Opin- icon Lake, a perfect source of power to run the mill wheels. Local tradition claims that the locust trees which border the road into the locks grew up from seeds mixed in the mash used in the distillery. Around.the area of the locks, there were a few farmers, recently arrived from the United States and England. Some of their descend- ants still live in the Chaffey's area. We know next to nothing about these people. Clearing the land and survival seem to have been their major concerns. Most were illiterate. In the township records, many had to witness their names with an X. In 1820, for example, one township record states "Hogs is not to run wylde." In 1826, the British gov- ernment decided to construct a canal route along the Rideau system. Since war was feared with the United States, this system was regarded as a mil- itary and commercial alternate to the vulnerable St. Lawrence niver. Surveyors came through the area. Mr. Uhaffey's mill complex was assessed at £2000. The mills and two hundred acres of property were sold to the government aner. Chaffey was hired to help construct the locks. Construction began im- mediately under the direco tion of Haggart, described by a contemporary source as a jolly bachelor, wellâ€"known for his hospitality. One can imagine, knowing the drinking habits of Upper Canada. However, he was also an experienced practi- cal mason. By 1827, excaâ€" vatiOn and clearing were underway. meg Raglan {:Lowens Specializing in Dried, Silk and R eal Flowers For Special Occasions Lyndhurst, Ontario Irkphon29282036 In August of 1828, the malaria epidemic struck the labourers. Haggart and all the men were ill and for a While all work ceased. Mr. Uhaffey died of the disease that same summer. Bad air from the swamps was blamed for the malaria. Ac- tually, it was brought from tropical climates by ’ ' soldiers and spread by the mosquito. It is said that there is a mass grave in the Uhaffey's cemetary of workers who expired in 18280 As well as difficulties with malaria, the site was plagued With work-hungry Amer- icanso a number or people had crossed the border seeking em- ployment on the massive canal projecto "Seven speculating, calculating and sloping” amer- icans lay siege to the works at Chaffey's Mills. the re- cently bereaved Mrs. oharfey complained about this sort of harassment. In 1828, half the wing- wall was finished and most of the cut stone drawn from a quarry near Algin. Local tradition claims the sandstone was dragged piece by piece through the bush with oxen teams. About this time, also, it was necessary to destroy the four mills as they stood in the prOposed channel. By 1832, ohaffey's Mills had been transformed into Chaffey's Lock. in this year, Colonel By, engineer of the canal, passed through the lock station on an inspection tour. he met a group of In~ dians in Indian Lake who saluted his boat and towed their canoes behind it all the way to the Isthmus. The first lockmaster, Hilliam 'Pammy' Fleming, was one of the dapper and Miner Corps, the military regiment brought from England to help construct the Rideau. His stepson was James Simmons, son of a man killed in a gun- powder explosion at Newboro. For the next one hundred years, the lockmaster position passed Recipes from Chaffey's Lock This is the standard recipe for fish chowder from the Chaffey's Lock Guides Associaâ€" tion. This particular meal would be cooked for a shore dinner. GUIDES FISH CHOWDER++++ l/2 lb. bacon l med. onion, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 1 can each, corn and peas (fresh if available) 4 or 5 potatoes 2 bass steaks per person Plenty of butter Fry bacon; when partially cooked, add onion and celery and cook until tender. Drain fat. CooL fresh vegtables or open canned ones. Dice and boil the potatoes. fidd cooked potatoes and vegtables to the oniow-celcry mixture. Add the boss steak:, ari cook gentâ€" ly until fish is fl ky. Season with salt and pedper and lumps of butter. P889 5 back and forth between the Fleming and Simmons' families. In 183%, Edward Barker, a Kingston doctor, travelled through the locks. He men- tioned that the Chaffey home and several loghcabins were the only dwellings. The land was bare and desolute, not suitable for crops. By 1838, rumours were circulating that groups of rebels were plotting to destroy various lock stations. The Upper Canada Rebellion was in process and a number of 10- cal boys were called up <to defend the lock station. Rowswells, Stedmans, Moores, Leggetts, Flemings, Simmons and Narrens all did guard duty on the locks during that year. In theamid-lBhG's, the lockmaster's house was built on the highest point of land above the locks. Its purpose was twofold: a residence for the lo:kmaster, a military structure worthy of withstand- ing siege. Loopholes were built for muskets and a tin roof was put on for pro- tection from fire. During this period, a blacksmith shop and lime kiln are mentioned but there is lit- tle information on this. From around the middle of the century, Chaffey's ceased to be of military concern. Instead, steam- boats plied the canal carrying cheese, iron ore, maple sugar, wheat and other local pr Cuce to outside markets. Logging, during this yeriad, was important. There are stories of lug bioms filling the lakes from snore to shore and lockmen working 2# hours a day to seni the l gs through. Passenger boats brought new settlers. There were a number of local industriesâ€" ship building on Lake Opin- icon, a ch ese factory near Clear lake, mining of phosphate and mica. JENNY'S SHORTBREAD COOKIES Jenny Laishley died in 1976 but is remembered by the people in Chaffey's. Most of us at one time or another have eaten her shortbread cookies. 1 c. butter 1/2 c. fruit sugar â€" finer than granulated 2 c. pastry flour Use a pie blender to mix the above three ingredients. With freshly.washed:hands, shape the dough into 3 rolls, each about 1%" in diameter. Chill well. Slice, trimming each cookie with a scrap of maraschino cherry. Bake only until light brown in a med. oven. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Anyone who has old pic- tures, letters, docu- ments or stories about Chaffey's Lock or area, contact Laurel Fleming, R.R.#l Elgin, 359-5633. She is desperately in need of material for the Women's Institute Village Book. v...»___ _ “,â€" J‘,A\:a