The Opeongo Road

There are two plaques about this road.
Both are in Renfrew County and both can be seen on this page.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Renfrew
The Township of Madawaska Valley
In Barry's Bay, in front of the post office
on the north side of Highway 60 at Road 62

Coordinates: N 45 29.324 W 77 40.729

Plaque Text

This was one of the "colonization roads" authorized by the Province of Canada in an attempt to open up the districts lying inland from the settled townships. Surveyed in 1852 by Robert Bell, P.L.S., 160 km were completed by January, 1854 as a winter road from the Ottawa River at Farrell's Landing to Opeongo Lake. By 1867 some 125 km of road were open for year-round traffic, but further construction had been abandoned. In 1855 T.P. French was appointed to supervise settlement, and free 40 ha lots were offered along the road, which brought many settlers to Renfrew County and aided the region's important lumbering industry.

Photo and coordinates by contributor Steve Hanes - Posted November, 2011

Plaque Location

The County of Renfrew
The Town of Renfrew
In Hydro Park, just northeast of the intersection of
Bridge Street and Lochiel Street North

Coordinates: N 45 28.609 W 76 41.548

Plaque Text

This was one of the "colonization roads" authorized by the Province of Canada in an attempt to open up the districts lying inland from the settled townships. Surveyed in 1852 by Robert Bell, P.L.S., 160 km were completed by January, 1854 as a winter road from the Ottawa River at Farrell's Landing to Opeongo Lake. By 1867 some 125 km of road were open for year-round traffic, but further construction had been abandoned. In 1855 T. P. French was appointed to supervise settlement, and free 40 ha lots were offered along the road, which brought many settlers to Renfrew County and aided the region's important lumbering industry.

More
Information

More
Roads

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted June 26, 2012
Hi, did somebody know to whom was Thomas P. French married? Thanks!

Posted May 1, 2012
T.P. French would have been appointed in 1855 as the later plaque states. the first is incorrect with the year of appointment being 1885.
see Globe and Mail, aug 19 1857, from ottawa correspondent referencing T.P.French and the Opeongo Settlement
shelley wolsey
[Thanks for the info and source. I've corrected the text]

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).