Oh! How wonderful! I always wondered about that little island. Kind of a shame the bridge moved and it sits abandoned. Tantalizing bit of greenery though! Thank you for posting this!
I grew up in the neighbourhood and spent many hours swimming, fishing and paddling an army surplus inflatable dinghy up & down this stretch of river in my teens & a canoe as an adult. I believe the Island was popular with the 'hobos' that arrived on the freight trains just east of the river at the time, in the '60's. The local police didn't like to wade over to tell them to "move along"
My Dad grew up in Sandy Hill and talked about playing on the island as a boy. That would have been in the 20's. He said they could wade over to it. I wish I knew the island's interesting history - I would have quizzed him more. I suspect the boys would have found treasures back then. Thank you.
I've been doing a little online research and apparently Charles Cummings is buried there. I wonder if there is a headstone. I used to live in Sandy Hill also...in one of Robert Cummings' three houses that he had built for his three married daughters on Wurtemburg st. (south side of Rideau st)
Oh! How wonderful! I always wondered about that little island. Kind of a shame the bridge moved and it sits abandoned. Tantalizing bit of greenery though! Thank you for posting this!
You're welcome!
I grew up in the neighbourhood and spent many hours swimming, fishing and paddling an army surplus inflatable dinghy up & down this stretch of river in my teens & a canoe as an adult. I believe the Island was popular with the 'hobos' that arrived on the freight trains just east of the river at the time, in the '60's. The local police didn't like to wade over to tell them to "move along"
I think that is still true.
My Dad grew up in Sandy Hill and talked about playing on the island as a boy. That would have been in the 20's. He said they could wade over to it. I wish I knew the island's interesting history - I would have quizzed him more. I suspect the boys would have found treasures back then. Thank you.
Very interesting , thanks for this .
I live in Ottawa. All 64 years.Would Love to meet you Sir.
Crazy to think Charles Cummings died in 1847 and was buried on the island.
I've been doing a little online research and apparently Charles Cummings is buried there. I wonder if there is a headstone. I used to live in Sandy Hill also...in one of Robert Cummings' three houses that he had built for his three married daughters on Wurtemburg st. (south side of Rideau st)
He is. Charles Cummings died in 1847 and was buried on the island.