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POEM – THE SEAWAY A PAIN BUT NO GAIN
When the coffer dam blew open on July 1st fifty-eight
Its a sound most people there have come to hate
The area was flooded yes where folks called home
And so never again those fields they can roam
Many communities were affected that were there for years
Yes to see the past gone filled their eyes with tears
While half of Morrisberg was levelled oh what a shame
The U.S. side had villages that are no longer around
Where they were is all water now not have ground
Sacred sites were obliterated water covers Crysler’s farm
So how many received money for suffering this harm
Everything there before is buried including most graves
But thank God some buildings someone said we must save
Where are the pictures of these villages along St Lawrence shore
So others can see what they looked like years before
Roads and islands there now have a name of a lost town
But to see the old canals etc we have to drive down
Residents were expropriated and went to Ingleside on Long Sault
Some were happy to move others not but move they had to do
The St Lawrence Seaway was the biggest industrial project of its time
As government leaders knew taxpayers wouldn’t bother to whine
Long Sault Rapids were gone ocean vessels came to the great lakes
While the hydro dam at Cornwall water from lake St Lawrence it takes
The mega project was a source of great national pride
And since it never lived up to expectations its too big to hide
It was called the Manchester of the North this “Ruhr” of the area too
But freight is hauled by expensive truck yes must they do
The Queen and U.S. president Eisenhower opened it in fifty-nine
Although the folks still awaiting…the better economic times
Upper Canada Village was opened to please some local folk
While the Crysler farm battles isn’t on Ottawa banners what a joke
Sure progress isn’t without inconvenience or sacrifice
But to expropriate peoples property destroy buildings etc isn’t nice
The zebra mussels have cleaned the water to see things again
So its time Ottawa gave money to ease these folks pain
Its great the Lost Villages Historical Society keeps the villages memory alive
And we’ve enjoyed the museum at Long Sault on FranLaFlamme Drive
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft
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