History of the Fort

The Upper Canada Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry were once home to at least six different fortifications of various sizes and importance. The most impressive and long lasting of these was the windmill Fort east of the town plot of Cornwall.

Built in 1838, in response to the 1837 rebellion, the structure was the only masonry fortification located in the Eastern District. The conversion from windmill to fort was done under the command of Colonel C.B.Turner , commander of the eastern District along with Captain George Phillpots of the Royal Engineers. Loophole embrasures were punched into the sides of the masonry mill and the roof was raised a few feet to accommodate the octagonal observation gallery.

Following the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada, the fort was abandoned and sat silently in a field for decades. In 1929, Miss Bertha Colquhoun, the owner of the property, donated a small patch of land upon which the fort stood to the Township of Cornwall, on the condition that the township agreed to "maintain the fort and grounds as a public park."

Residential expansion in Cornwall soon enveloped the site. The fort had deteriorated due to neglect and was seen as a hazard to the youth of the area. In the summer of 1944, the Township of Cornwall demolished the Fort.

About the Project

The site where the fort once stood is now a residential area. This project entails the construction of a full replica of the Fort. The preferred location would be on the grounds of St. Lawrence College, or in the immediate area.

The plan would see us install a historical plaque on original site of the fort, located on Easton Street, and another plaque on the new site to give the historical background of the Fort.

We are also requesting the general public to submit any text or old photos of the Fort.

More details to follow.