The “Old” Wharf in South Lancaster

History is not only in museums, it is in the heritage.

When you step into the little Hamlet of Old South Lancaster, you will step into a living history of time with families dating back approximately 200 years!

It is an “enchanted” place where the passage of time slows down and history comes alive.

The Wharf in South Lancaster is a historical landmark that looks out over the St. Lawrence river. It is representative of both the town’s fishing heritage and its new status as a favourite destination for Artists.
Some of the history of Old South Lancaster lies in the legacy of its “Old” 1894 Wharf, aka South LA Wharf. They were Maritime people. In a time when fish were plentiful, and fresh water perch were in high demand, the Wharf in South Lancaster was a hub of activity, providing residents with a reliable livelihood. The Rivermen of that time were knowledgeable celestial navigators using their skills of star points, wind direction and river current. An account of their rich history can be found in the book, “ The Rivermen: Echoes of Lake St. Francis”, authored by the late South Lancaster resident, Mr. Roy Lefebvre.

However, over time, the Wharf’s best days as a fishing haven had fallen behind. The structure of the Wharf had broken down to the point of disrepair and now the weather beaten boat houses were corroding. The prognosis for the South LA Wharf was bleak. It appeared to have “wharfed” under the pressure of time.

Visionaries: build it and they will come.

The late wild life conservationist, Jim Fitzpatrick was the first to approach the township of South Lancaster, seeking their support ….advocating on behalf of the Wharf. At the time, he pointed out the need for repair, deeming the Wharf to be structurally unsafe. Unfortunately, there was little funding in the town’s budget to take on such an undertaking, so for a length of time, he took it upon himself to make repairs and improvements to the Wharf, hoping to set an example. He also mounted a Purple Martin birdhouse on the rooftop of his boathouse, now owned by Marc Lanthier.

The second visionary to come forward, was the late Victoria Stewart, of the McDonald Stewart foundation. “Vicki”, who had a great passion for her Canadian heritage, successfully gathered together a group of interested South Lancaster residents and founded the first Wharf Committee. She and her friends were often seen out at community events and in front to the Village Library selling books to raise funds in support of the Wharf. In addition, Victoria and her friends organized the first of many Annual Wharf parties, an event that brought people together to raise community interest, in salvaging the Wharf. Ms. Stewart left the Lancaster area before she saw her vision revealed.

After her departure from South Lancaster, the few remaining Wharf committee members picked up the torch….with new members coming to the rescue! Recognizing both the historical and iconic value of the Wharf , the committee formalized their name to “Friends of the Wharf”. It was an enormous undertaking that these community members committed themselves too. They banded together working tirelessly, writing proposals and attending meetings. The “Friends” were not only successful in receiving the much needed assistance in the restoration of the Wharf, they made it Beautiful!

BRAVO to the “Friends of the Wharf”! This was quite a remarkable achievement!
Since that time Old South Lancaster has become a very popular destination for Artists, and the Wharf’s picturesque setting, composition and lighting has made it a favourite subject, attracting more Artists to the Community.

The South LA Wharf boathouses are on the cusp of achieving widespread recognition across Canada, and it’s easy to see why they’re poised to become the most famously painted buildings favoured by Canadian Artists. They are now in line with joining the ranks of the “USA Motif #1,” (a humble red fishing shack , located in Rockport,Massachusetts) deemed as “ the most often painted building in America”.

Artist John Lounsberry recently proposed an idea that involves collecting paintings of the Wharf from numerous artists and publishing them in a beautiful collection of artwork as a coffee table book!
“May all beings be Happy”.

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