Volunteers gather
As the Queen Elizabeth II Seaway Tea came to a close, several of the volunteers gathered around the dessert table. From the left, Tammy Hart, Gloria Waldroff, Cindy Bickerstaffe, Michelle Piquette, Tracey Chaussi, Tammy Jodoin and Nancy Hallberg. Thompson Goddard photo

LONG SAULT– On June 26, 1959, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States, officially opened the St. Lawrence Seaway. This international event was part of a 1959 royal tour during which Her Majesty and Prince Philip visited several riverfront communities along the St. Lawrence, including Long Sault, Ingleside, Morrisburg and Iroquois.

To commemorate this important historical event, the Lost Villages Historical Society held a Queen Elizabeth II Seaway Tea at Sunset Cove Retirement Living in Long Sault during the afternoon of Sat., June 22.

Members of the community joined residents of the Sunset Cove Retirement home in Long Sault to visit, enjoy light refreshments and learn a bit more about the history associated with the Lost Villages of Eastern Ontario. 

Lost Villages Historical Society president Jim Brownell estimated that about 100 people attended the event that featured displays of pictures and other mementos of the Royal visit. Brownell thanked everyone for coming out to the tea, the residents of Sunset Cove “who opened up their home” for the event, and expressed a big thank you to the local sponsors of the eight door prizes, with the winning tickets drawn as the event concluded. 

The Lost Villages Museum, located in South Stormont at Ault Park, has several events planned for the 2019 summer, including the very popular Lost Villages Tour, ghost hunting nights and Canada Day celebrations. For more information please visit their Facebook page or website.