The SD&G Historical Society presents

240th Anniversary of New Johnstown & the Royal Townships

June 7 - 9, 2024
Lamoureux Park,
Cornwall, Ontario

1784 - the 240th Anniversary of the Founding of New Johnstown & the Royal Townships

On June 7-9, 2024, join us as we celebrate the 240th anniversary of New Johnstown (Cornwall) and the Royal Townships today comprised of the Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, as well as the Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

The celebration blends the past and present with a re-creation of this first 1784 community along with displays and presentations by present‐day heritage organizations - immersing visitors in all that our region has to offer.

240th anniversary of Cornwall and the Royal Townships, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, as well as the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, past and present, living history groups .

The Event

After the American War of Independence, refugees from the war who desired to remain loyal to the British Crown left their homes and most of their possessions and fled north to Canada. These LOYALISTS eventually landed on the shores of the St Lawrence River at what became New Johnstown (now Cornwall). From there, they settled along the river from Lancaster to Brockville in what was known as the Royal Townships.

The resettlement of these Loyalists was crucial to the eventual founding of Ontario and had a major impact on the government and laws of Canada. Millions of Canadians can trace their roots to one of these Loyalist ancestors.

Join us as we celebrate this milestone in our history!

"It is, I think, the roughest land I ever saw... But this is to be the city, they say... We are all ordered to land tomorrow and not a shelter to go under."

From the Diary of Sarah Frost A Loyalist from New York contemplating the land that they were about to settle.

We pitched our tents in the shelter of the woods and tried to cover them with spruce boughs. We used stones for fireplaces. Our tents had no floors but the ground... how we lived through that winter, I barely know..,

From the writings of the wife of a Loyalist soldier

Get to the event

Join us where the past meets the present with living history groups and heritage organizations that will immerse visitors in all that our region has to offer.

SD&G Historical Society 1784 240th Anniversary of New Johnstown, Lamoureux Park, Cornwall, Ontario June 2024

Lamoureux Park, Cornwall, Ontario

June 7, 8 & 9, 2024

Celebrate the 240th anniversary of Cornwall and the Royal Townships.

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