Greater Napanee is a town in southeastern Ontario, Canada, approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) west of Kingston and the county seat of Lennox and Addington County. It is located on the eastern end of the Bay of Quinte. Greater Napanee municipality was created by amalgamating the old Town of Napanee with the townships of Adolphustown, North and South Fredericksburg, and Richmond in 1999. Greater Napanee is co-extensive with the original Lennox County.

Greater Napanee
Town (lower-tier)
Town of Greater Napanee
Dundas Street in Napanee
Dundas Street in Napanee
Greater Napanee is located in Southern Ontario
Greater Napanee
Greater Napanee
Coordinates: 44°15′N 76°57′W / 44.250°N 76.950°W / 44.250; -76.950
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyLennox and Addington
Incorporated1999
Government
 • TypeTown
 • MayorTerry Richardson
Area
 • Land461.31 km2 (178.11 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total15,892
 • Density34.5/km2 (89/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal Code
K7R
Area code613
Websitewww.greaternapanee.com

The town is home to the Allan Macpherson House, a historic 1826 property that is now a museum. Macpherson was a major in the Lennox militia, operated the town's grist and saw mills, as well as the distillery and general store. He served as post master and land agent, operated the first local printing press and helped fund the establishment of many local schools and churches. The home sits on the banks of the Napanee River, which runs through the town.

The largest employer is a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company passenger car tire plant (opened in 1988).[2]

The main streets are Dundas Street (east–west) and Centre Street (north–south). Dundas Street is part of former provincial Highway #2, also known as Kingston Road, and travels through downtown from Toronto in the west and onward to Kingston in the east. Centre Street travels through the centre of the town from the modern commercial area close to Highway 401 to the downtown and onwards, as County Road 8 to Lake Ontario.

History

edit

The first recorded settlement in the area of Greater Napanee is Ganneious, an Iroquois village, settled temporarily by the Oneida from approximately 1660 to 1690. The village was located on or near the Hay Bay area and is one of seven Iroquois villages settled on the northern shores of Lake Ontario in the 17th century. The exact location of the village has not been determined.[3]

The area was settled by Loyalists in 1784 and Napanee was first incorporated in 1854. The first Loyalists settlers arrived at Adolphustown on June 15, 1784. Their landing spot and site of the first Loyalist cemetery in the area has been preserved by the Loyalists.[4]

The town developed at the site of a waterfall, the head of navigation, on the Napanee River where early industry could utilize the power potential of the river. The river transported logs from the interior north of the town. Sawmilling, gristmilling and other farm service industries were established.[5] Napanee was first known as Clarksville after Robert Clark, who built a grist mill there.

Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, practised law in Napanee.[6]

Historical sites

edit
  • Allan Macpherson House:[7] (c. 1826) Built for Allan Macpherson, agent for the influential Richard Cartwright family, the house is a Georgian design with neo-classical elements (note the entrance's rectangular transom and radiating muntin bars). The Lennox and Addington Historical Society restored the house to its early 19th century elegance. It now operates as a museum.
  • Old Hay Bay Church:[8] (c. 1792) Situated in Adolphustown, Canada's oldest surviving Methodist Church was created in 1792. It now operates as a museum but still hosts an annual service in August.
  • County of Lennox & Addington Museum and Archives:[9] (c.1864) The changing exhibits displayed at the Museum allow visitors to step into the county's past, while the papers and documents found in the reading room of the Archives inspire guests to dive into their own family's history as well as the Town's. The Museum also hosts many events for people of all ages to enjoy.
  • UEL Heritage Park Centre and Park:[10] (c. 1784) Located at the place where the first United Empire Loyalists landed, this heritage site is now a museum and camping ground perfect for all ages.
  • Loyalist Memorial Church:[11] This church, located in Adolphustown, was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first landing of the United Empire Loyalists. Services are still held at this site on Sundays.
  • Town of Greater Napanee Town Hall: (c. 1856) Designed by architect, Edward Horsey, this structure was built as a town hall and market combination in the centre of Napanee.

Napanee's downtown core (along Dundas Street) is also lined with historical buildings dating back to the 1800s. The Town of Greater Napanee's Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour provides locations and information on these sites as well as other historical locations nearby.

Annual town events

edit

Some annual events are the Napanee Riverfront Festival and the Multicultural Festival, Music By The River, the Scarecrow Festival, the Downtown Shopping Party and the Big Bright Light Show, as well as an annual art exhibition and sale in Conservation Park, Art in the Park. Napanee also hosts a bi-weekly Hometown Market in the summer months.

The Napanee Country Jamboree and the Voodoo Rockfest take place the third week of September annually.

Demographics

edit

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Greater Napanee had a population of 16,879 living in 6,868 of its 7,461 total private dwellings, a change of 6.2% from its 2016 population of 15,892. With a land area of 462.3 km2 (178.5 sq mi), it had a population density of 36.5/km2 (94.6/sq mi) in 2021.[12]

Canada census – Greater Napanee community profile
202120162011
Population16,879 (+6.2% from 2016)15,892 (2.5% from 2011)15,511 (0.7% from 2006)
Land area462.30 km2 (178.50 sq mi)461.17 km2 (178.06 sq mi)461.31 km2 (178.11 sq mi)
Population density36.5/km2 (95/sq mi)34.5/km2 (89/sq mi)33.6/km2 (87/sq mi)
Median age50.4 (M: 48.0, F: 52.4)45.7 (M: 44.6, F: 46.8)
Private dwellings7,461 (total)  6,868 (occupied)6580 (total)  6885 (total) 
Median household income$77,500
References: 2021[13] 2016[14] 2011[15] earlier[16][17]
Census Population
Napanee
1841 500
1871 2,967
1881 3,680
1891 3,434
1901 3,143
1911 2,807
1921 3,038
1931 3,497
1941 3,405
1951 3,897
1961 4,500
1971 4,638
1981 4,803
1991 5,179
Greater Napanee
2001 15,132
2006 15,400
2011 15,511
2016 15,892

Population:[18]

  • Population in 2006: 15 400 (2001 to 2006 population change: 1.8%)
  • Population in 2001: 15 132
  • Population total in 1996: 14 994
    • Adolphustown: 946
    • Napanee: 5 450
    • North Fredericksburgh: 3 258
    • Richmond: 4 143
    • South Fredericksburgh: 1 197
  • Population in 1991:
    • Adolphustown: 886
    • Napanee: 5 179
    • North Fredericksburgh: 3 183
    • Richmond: 4 037
    • South Fredericksburgh: 1 222

Mother tongue:[19]

  • English as first language: 94.8%
  • French as first language: 1.8%
  • English and French as first language: 0%
  • Other as first language: 3.4%

Schools

edit
  • Southview Public School
  • The Prince Charles Public School
  • Cornerstone Christian Academy
  • J. J. O'Neill Catholic School
  • Selby Public School
  • Napanee District Secondary School

Some students commute a short distance to Ernestown Secondary School to the east in Loyalist township, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School further east in Kingston, or Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute for the LEAP and Challenge Program in Kingston. A bus also takes students to Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute for the International Baccalaureate program.

Notable people

edit

Sports

edit

The Napanee Raiders Jr. C hockey club joined the Empire B Junior C Hockey League in 1989. In that time they have claimed eight league championships. In 1993 they went on to capture the All-Ontario, Clarence Schmalz Cup as the Ontario Hockey Association's Junior "C" ice hockey champions by defeating the Hanover Barons of the Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League. The Raiders used to be the only EBJCHL team to ever capture the All Ontario title up until the Picton Pirates accomplished the task in 2013. The Raiders were crowned the Schmalz Cup and PJHL Champions in the 2018-2019 season defeating the Grimaby Peach Kings. Their home games are played in the Strathcona Paper Centre, which opened in 2004. Prior to the Raiders, Napanee played in the Quinte-St. Lawrence Junior C Hockey League as The Napanee Kelly Tiremen. Their uniform resembled the green, yellow and white uniform of the Minnesota North Stars formerly of the NHL. In 1980, the Kelly Tiremen were rebranded as the Napanee Warriors. The Warriors and the league ceased operation in 1986.

Napanee made one appearance in the Ontario Junior "B" Provincial hockey championship playoffs during the 1934–35 season. They defeated Kingston, 13–10 in a two-game, total goals series, second round playoff. They were eliminated from the Sutherland Cup playoffs by Peterborough in the next round.

The Napanee Comets were a successful Ontario Major Intermediate A Hockey team that won three consecutive Ontario championships in 1958, 1959 and 1960 and provincial Intermediate B championships in 1971 and 1972.

The Lennox & Addington Lynx floor hockey team took the gold medal at the Special Olympics Canadian National Winter Games in Quebec City in 2008, defeating teams from across the country.

Napanee is also well known for its success in both boys and girls softball. Napanee has won four national midget (U19) championships since 1982 including 2018 when it claimed the title on home field. The Napanee Legionnaires captured the Canadian title in 1982 and the Napanee Express took top honours in 1997 and 2005.[38] The Napanee North Key Express won the 2010 Canadian Junior fastball championship defeating the host Nova Scotia Eagles 6–1 in the national final. The Napanee (Junior) Express boys claimed a National Junior Fastball title in 1996. Also in 2008, the Napanee (Bantam) Express girls fastball team captured the provincial tier II title defeating Oakville 7–4 in the final.[39] The girls also became the first team in Napanee history to qualify for the Eastern Canadian Championships where they finished in second place.[40]

The Napanee Golf and Country Club was established in 1897. The course has nine holes, with different tees for the front and back nine. The course record is 62 set by local amateur Josh Whalen, breaking the previous record of 63 after it had stood for 58 years and 30 days.[41]

The Napanee Curling Club was established in 1957 and numerous teams have captured Zone and District titles.[42] Napanee was selected to host the 2010 Ontario Tankard, the annual men's curling championship that sends its winner to the Canadian championship. The event was held February 1–7 at the Strathcona Paper Centre. Glenn Howard, representing Coldwater and District Curling Club, completed a perfect week by defeating Bryan Cochrane of the Rideau Curling Club 5–3 in the final, to capture his fifth straight title.

Napanee District Secondary School is the home of the Golden Hawks. The Golden Hawks field teams in various sports including hockey, football, basketball, rugby, gymnastics, volleyball, swimming and track. The Golden Hawks compete against high schools teams in the "Kingston Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association" (KASSAA). In 2008, the Napanee girls rugby team and the boys junior and senior squads all won league championships. In 2009, the girls gymnastics team earned the bronze medal for their overall result at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association's (OFSAA) provincial gymnastics championship meet held in Windsor, Ontario.

Shopping

edit

Downtown

edit

The downtown area of Napanee has experienced a recent revival and the gorgeous historical buildings are taking on a whole new life. Downtown Napanee is home to a number of boutiques. There have been multiple revitalization projects like The Waterfront River Pub and Terrace, a complete reworking of an abandoned limestone brewery right on the Napanee river. Wallace's, the oldest continuously operating drug store, is located on the corner of Dundas and John Streets. It has been in the same location under the same name since it was established in 1854.

Napanee is also the home of "La Pizzeria", made famous by Avril Lavigne's declaration to Rolling Stone Magazine that her "favorite pizza" was served there.[43]

There is a bi-weekly Hometown Market with locally made and homegrown items that runs in Market Square in the summer months.

Media

edit

Napanee is home to the oldest independently owned newspaper in Canada, The Napanee Beaver.[44] It is distributed weekly along with the "Napanee Guide" on Thursdays.

In 2007, a new radio station, CKYM, opened in Napanee on 88.7 FM. The station broadcasts adult contemporary music, sharing a transmitting antenna with Deseronto's CJOH-TV-6. 88.7 MyFM has provided OHL Kingston Frontenacs Hockey coverage since 2009. Napanee from is also served by radio and television stations from Belleville and the larger Kingston market.

A 100% volunteer-run community radio station, Island Radio CJAI 101.3 FM, serves Napanee from nearby Loyalist Township.

Live theatre

edit

Greater Napanee is home to Lennox Community Theatre (formerly Lennox Theatre Guild) which operates from The Village Theatre in the village of Selby. The theatre seats 80 and mounts five productions annually from September through June.[45] A historical collection of programs stored at the theatre shows that Avril Lavigne performed on stage there as a child in productions of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Godspell.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Greater Napanee census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-13.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "History of Goodyear Tire Company – 1988".
  3. ^ "G – Canadian Indian Villages, Towns and Settlements". Access Genealogy: A Free Genealogy Resource. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  4. ^ 225 Years of History Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: August 20, 2010
  5. ^ Chapman L.J. and D.F. Putnam. The Physiography of Southern Ontario. Second edition. Ontario Research Foundation/University of Toronto Press. 1973.
  6. ^ "Sir John A. Macdonald: Father of Confederation". City of Kingston. Archived from the original on 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  7. ^ "Welcome to the Allan Macpherson House website". Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  8. ^ "oldhaybay.com". Tamskor ile canlı maç sonuçları ve iddaa sonuçlarını en iyi canlı skor sitesinden takip edin.
  9. ^ "Redirect: Museum & Archives 1 – Lennox & Addington". www.lennox-addington.on.ca.
  10. ^ "United Empire Loyalist Heritage Centre and Park". uel.ca.
  11. ^ "St. Alban the Martyr UEL Memorial Church". www.uelac.org.
  12. ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  13. ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  14. ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  15. ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  16. ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
  17. ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
  18. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  19. ^ Statistics Canada 2006 Census – Greater Napanee community profile
  20. ^ "Alan Macnaughton Biography". Parliament of Canada.
  21. ^ "Albert Schultz Biography". Soulpepper. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  22. ^ "Arthur Jarvis". Canadian Veterans Hall of Valour.
  23. ^ "Edmund James Bristol biography". Parliament of Canada.
  24. ^ Gordon, Alan (2005). "Bristol, Edmund James". In Cook, Ramsay; Bélanger, Réal (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XV (1921–1930) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  25. ^ Peters, Erik J. (December 12, 2013). "Kathleen Frances Daly". Canadian Encyclopedia (online ed.). Historica Canada.
  26. ^ "H. Bedford-Jones". isfdb.org. Internet Science Fiction Database.
  27. ^ "Harry Ham IMDb". Internet Movie Database.
  28. ^ "gibbardfurniture.ca". www.gibbardfurniture.ca.
  29. ^ "Gibbard Furniture-Business and History". University of Western Ontario Libraries. Archived from the original on 2010-10-08.
  30. ^ Johnson, J.K.; Marshall, Tabitha (November 28, 2017) [July 31, 2013]. "Sir John A. Macdonald". Canadian Encyclopedia (online ed.). Historica Canada.
  31. ^ "Napanee's Blugh selected to Canadian Football Hall of Fame". The Kingston Whig Standard.
  32. ^ "Michael Breaugh biography". Parliament of Canada.
  33. ^ "Ralph McCabe". Baseball Almanac.
  34. ^ "Wollaston Medal". Award Winners since 1831. Geological Society of London. Archived from the original on 2009-03-21. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  35. ^ "Reginald Aldworth Daly". Encyclopædia Britannica. 15 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Stuart Taylor Wood". Retrieved June 25, 2006.
  37. ^ "William Sexsmith biography". Manitoba Historical Society.
  38. ^ "RESULTS – Canadian Midget Boys Fast Pitch Championships".
  39. ^ "Ontario PWSA Fastpitch Champions 2008". Archived from the original on 2009-06-13. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  40. ^ "Napanee Softball Girls Advance".
  41. ^ "Napanee Golf & Country Club". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26.
  42. ^ "Napanee & District Curling Club – Special Accomplishments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  43. ^ "Avril Upsets Hometown Diner With Pizza Revelation". 14 February 2005.
  44. ^ "Napanee Beaver – SERVING LENNOX AND ADDINGTON COUNTY AND AREA SINCE 1870. LOCALLY OWNED – PROUDLY INDEPENDENT". www.napaneebeaver.ca.
  45. ^ "Lennox Community Theatre – Selby, Ontario, Canada".
edit