“Lost Villages” of the St. Lawrence

The Lost Villages, ten communities in Ontario, Canada that were permanently submerged when the St. Lawrence Seaway was created in 1958, will be the subject of a talk by historian and author Jim Brownell on Wednesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. in Cape Vincent. Presented by the Cape Vincent Arts Council, the talk will take place at St. John's Episcopal Church, 352 South Market St., Cape Vincent.

Brownell will discuss his book, “A Tour Through the Lands of the Lost Villages” and share his research into the heartbreaking story of lands lost to the unstoppable march of progress. As the St. Lawrence Seaway and hydroelectric projects reshaped the landscape in the late 1950s, a vast area was sacrificed, displacing more than 6,500 people and submerging their communities forever.

The book will be available for purchase at the presentation ($20, cash only).

As longtime president of the Lost Villages Historical Society in Long Sault, Ontario, Brownell has been at the forefront of preserving the stories of those communities. In his book, he transforms decades of invaluable knowledge into a comprehensive guidebook and historical reference. He previously led bus tours of local landmarks related to the Lost Villages and wrote the book to recreate the feeling of being on a guided tour. In addition to being a local historian, Brownell is a retired teacher and a former Member of Provincial Parliament, Ontario.

The Cape Vincent Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization consisting entirely of volunteers. It is dedicated to providing opportunities for the public to enjoy and participate in cultural activities in and around Cape Vincent. Among the events it sponsors are the Concerts on the Green series, the Stroll on Broadway, the Riverside Music & Arts Festival, summer art classes, author presentations, art exhibitions, and the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People (Sept. 5-7, 2025).