History of Ormstown, Québec, Canada

It was in 1729 that the governor of New France granted a seigneury in these parts to Charles de Beauharnois de la Boische and his brother Claude de Beauharnois de Beaumont. The owners give their land the name of Beauharnois.

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After the Conquest, in 1795, the seigniory was acquired by Alexander Ellice, a London merchant, who divided it into 5 parts.
It is assumed that each party received the first name of one of its five children (hence the confusion as to the name of the municipality).
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The first settlers came from Scotland and Ireland.
In 1829, a first Presbyterian church was built there, followed by the construction of a first united church (St. Paul's Church) in 1832 and the Anglican Church of Saint James in 1837.
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1832 - Beauharnois or Villechauve, seignory,
...Orm's Town
1st concession - 48 lands in concession; 5498 superficial arpents; Proprietors: 3 Canadians, 6 English, 20 Scots, 20 Irish, Total - 49
2nd concession - 48 lands in concession; 4800 superficial arpents; Proprietors: 7 English, 26 Scots, 13 Irish, Total - 46
3rd concession - 48 lands in concession; 4800 superficial arpents; Proprietors: 1 Canadian, 6 English, 25 Scots, 8 Irish, Total - 40

A Topographical Dictionary of The Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esq., London, 1832

1839 - The Ormstown Post Office opened 1839.
It was located in the village of Durham (later Ormstown Village).
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ ~qcchatea/ placenames/

1847 - Parish is established at Ormstown
The steps for the establishment of a Catholic parish, undertaken with Monsignor Lartigue, Bishop of Montreal, in 1828, will succeed in 1846, but the official consecration under the name of Saint-Malachie (d'Ormtown) will not occur until 1858. grandquebec.com
Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique - Univeriste de Montreal

1873
DURHAM (ORMSTOWN) a thriving post village in Chateauguay co., Que., picturesquely situated on the Chateauguay River, 26 miles from S.W. Montreal. It contains several stores, hotels, and saw and girt mill, Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Methodist churches, a printing office issuing a weekly newspaper and a telegraph office. Pop. 500.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873

1890 - Ormstown / Durham
"Ormstown or Durham, post vil., Quebec, Chateauguay co., 37 m. from Montreal"
The Pocket Atlas and Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada
John George Bartholomew John Murdoch Harper January 1, 1890 London : J. Walker

1895 - Ormstown
Orms 'town, or Dur'ham, or Saint Malachie d'Ormstown, a post-village in Chateauguay co, Quebec, on the Chateauguay River, 28 miles from Caughnawaga. It contains 6 stores, 2 hotels, 4 churches, 2 saw-mills, and a tannery. Pop. 500.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1906
Ormstown, or Durham, a banking post-village of Chateauguay co., Quebec on the Chateauguay River, 28 miles from Caughnawaga, on the Grand Trunk R. Pop in 1901, 841.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

The Catholic Church of Saint-Malachin was erected in 1939.

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1940's ecomonic boom
An economic boom occurred in the 1940s, with the construction in Ormstown of the Barrie Memorial Hospital, named in honor of the philanthropist Margaret Barrie, and the construction of a few renowned educational institutions, such as the Chateauguay Valley Secondary School. Regional or the Chateauguay Valley Professional Training Center.
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The municipality of Ormstown was incorporated in 2000 following the merger of the municipality of the village of Ormstown, founded in 1889, and the territory of the parish of Saint-Malachie-d'Ormstown, incorporated in 1840.

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Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Ormstown and its surrounding areas:
Ormstown Fairgrounds: Start your visit by exploring the Ormstown Fairgrounds, where you can experience the town's agricultural heritage. The Ormstown Fair, typically held in late August, is one of the oldest agricultural fairs in Québec and features livestock shows, tractor pulls, and carnival rides.

Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the natural beauty of the region by taking a hike or nature walk in one of the nearby parks or conservation areas. Parc régional des Coteaux is a great option for outdoor enthusiasts, offering scenic trails and picnic areas.

Ormstown Rail Trail: If you're a fan of cycling or walking, the Ormstown Rail Trail is a converted railway line that offers a peaceful and picturesque route through the countryside. It's perfect for a leisurely bike ride or a relaxing stroll.

Musée Bruck: Visit Musée Bruck, a local museum that showcases the history and culture of Ormstown and the surrounding region. You can learn about the area's early settlers, its... Read MORE...