Founding of L'Orignal

Photo by Alan L Brown - July 2, 2005

Plaque Location

The United Counties of Prescott and Russell
The Township of Champlain
In L'Orignal, at the angle intersection of Longueuil Street (County Road 11) and John Street across from Queen Street

Plaque Text

The earliest settlers in this area, Joseph La Rocque-Brune and Raymond Duffaut, had located by 1791. Five years later Nathaniel Treadwell, a land surveyor and speculator from Plattsburg, New York, acquired the seigneury of Pointe-a-l'Orignal, some 9300 ha. By 1812 a small community was established here named L'Orignal after the moose found in the Pointe area. In 1816 it became the capital of the newly-created Ottawa District. The court-house was erected in 1825 and four years later a post office was opened. An influx of French-speaking settlers increased L'Orignal's population which numbered 400 in 1850. In 1876, with a population of over 800, it was incorporated as a Village.