Merrickville and District Historical Society - Prime Minister Harper Opens Blockhouse Museum

40th Merrickville Blockhouse Museum Opening
June 16, 2007

There is Nothing so Rare as a Day in June,
EXCEPT, a day in June when the Prime Minister of Canada
Visits Merrickville

Photo by: Michael Whittiker

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and son Ben
with John & Sheena Cowan

Brilliant sunshine on the banks of the Rideau Canal, the Merrickville & District Historical Society Blockhouse Museum sporting a new set of illustrative displays provided by Parks Canada, a Scottish Piper, a military re-enactors musket barrage salute, short speeches, a blacksmith and a group of rug hookers. And to add special honour to the occasion, a ceremonial cutting of the opening ribbon by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Historical Society president John Cowan and his wife and Membership Chairperson, Sheena Cowan greeted the Prime Minister upon his arrival and escorted him to the Blockhouse for a preview of the new exhibits, to meet Mayor Douglas Struthers and assembled dignitaries and, of course, to sign the guest book as the first official visitor of 2007.

While the itinerary for Prime Minister Harper called for him to depart following the cutting of the ribbon, he chose instead to stay nearly an hour talking informally with the student winners of the Historical society historical essay contest and with the friendly crowd of observers. Dozens of children and old folks too will have a splendid souvenir picture of their special encounter with the Prime Minister of Canada.

In the assembled crowd were several of the Village’s residents who remembered Lieutenant Governor Earle Rowe arriving by horse and carriage to conduct the first Official Blockhouse Museum, opening assisted by MP Jack Pickersgill forty years ago, on June 21, 1967.

Photo by: Dieter Raths

Prime Minister Harper signs the Guest book

Recognizing the pending 175th anniversary of the opening of the Rideau Canal, and in anticipation of UNESCO World Heritage designation, Parks Canada with input from the Merrickville & District Historical Society spent over a year planning and producing a series of displays which would better portray the important military history of the Merrickville Blockhouse and celebrate its prominence as a National Historic Site. Through a series of illustrative panels and an audio presentations the purpose and function of the Blockhouse and its place within the Rideau system and in the community of Merrickville are demonstrated. From the reaction of the first visitors at the unveiling, the new exhibits are an outstanding success.

Special Guests for the day included Gord Brown, MP for Leeds and Grenville, Guy Lauzon, MP for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry, from Parks Canada. CEO Alan Latourelle, Irv Mazurkiewicz, Director of Operations and Juan Sanchez as “a surprisingly well preserved”, Colonel By.


Photo by: Steve Dezort		Photo by: Jonathon Haywood, CP
Prime Minister Harper with Fredja		PM with Parks Canada Re-enactors