When traveling from Levis to Maxville for the games I make it a point to pass on county road 9 . We drive right through MacGregor concessions and  river crossing.

In 1808 James ,Catherine, and Duncan left Balquidder for e new home in Glengarry. In 1823 they moved into their log cabin on the South shore of the Nation River.  James, his son and later his grandson provided ferry service across the river assuring a connection between the Ottawa river and the St Lawrence river . There was also a bush trail that was later widened to be a seasonally passable road. The family was known far and wide and they were thoroughly informed about the wider world.

When the elderly James retired due to ill health, he fished daily from the ferry until the day he had a heart attack, fell overboard and drowned.

The Lapointe steel bridge was first built in 1917 and recently it was replaced by another in 1969. This latest model is very elegant and it fulfills the same mission as that which my ancestors laboured for.

In 2005 we organised a gathering of all the Fournierville MacGregor descendants. Gregors from as far as Texas and the Prairies were there. After going to the games, a treasure hunt for places of import and a huge picnic; people were surprised about the bridge and crossing . It was decided to underline this part of the county’s history.

Research, help from county officials and work in a good foundry produced the plaque (shown below with my son) to be affixed to the bridge at the 2015 gathering.

You can find the plaque on the south side of the bridge.  It proudly reminds of our heritage and our  roots in Glengarry.

Robert MacGregor-Demers.