PIONEER CALLAGHAN AT THE RAPIDS
/Lynda Szmyr’s grandmother, Jean Morgan Callaghan, 1910
Have you ever wondered about the people that places are named after? - Bonarlaw, named after British Prime Minister Andrew Bonar Law, their only Prime Minister born outside the British Isles; or Blairton, named after Mr. Blair, who was the largest shareholder in the Cobourg, Peterborough & Marmora Railway and Mining Co.? Bailey’s Corners? Vansickle , Powell’s Mills, O’Hara Mills, or Lake Township?
Recently we received correspondence from Lynda Szmyr, who wrote to tell us of her great great great grandfather, Thomas Callaghan who, in 1836, acquired a crown grant for 200 acres, at Lot 1, Concession 2, Marmora Township to start farming, She writes,
“ Thomas & wife Judith Callaghan, and 8 children, came to Marmora with the 2nd wave of Irish Immigrants in 1825. He owned land, 200 acres, by the river at “Callaghan Rapids”. He grew potatoes, 100 bushels & corn. His son, Patrick, married Susan Shannon, (her parents were John Shannon & Margaret Hammel) and their son was Thomas Callaghan (Jr) & wife Bridget (Gallagher) who had only one son, John Joseph, my grandfather.”
This lot was settled and farmed by the Callaghan family from 1825 to the 1920s. In addition, Patrick settled 100 acres at the “Rapids”, being the west half of Lot 21, Concession 14 in Rawdon Township. But this was not the only property in the Callaghan name. Land records show that Thomas Sr. was also granted 120 acres at Lot 9, Concession 3, patented Aug. 27, 1845, which appears to be the Marble Point shore of Crowe Lake.
In 1871, according to Lynda’s son, Christopher, Patrick settled 100 acres at the “Rapids”, being the west half of Lot 21, Concession 14 in Rawdon Township. expanding the family hold in the area. And so there you have it……Callaghan’s Rapids.
1830’s map with lettering added later (cALLAGHAN CIRCLED)
14th Concession of Rawdon Township 1878 hASTINGS hISTORICAL ATLAS
Lynda continued - “My grandfather, John Joseph Callaghan, was born on Oct. 14, 1891, (died 1970) in Marmora. His mother died when he was a young boy and so at the age of 16 or 17, he left for Oshawa to work at GM….He had a cottage on Blairton Bay, where I spent summers as a child.” (John Joseph married Jean Critchley Morgan(1897-1968). Their only daughter, Jeanie Callaghan(1922-1985), Lynda’s mother. )
Three generations of Callaghans, 1955
William Riddell added:
…..my great uncle, William Riddell, and my Grandfather (Ewen Riddell) each built cottages across from the rapids on Crowe River at the end of Morrison Rd. William Riddell named his cottage "Ramona", after the name of his dance hall.
I spend 13 fabulous summers in the late 40s and 50s at the 'Crowe'. It was a very enjoyable part of my childhood.
George Wellman and wife Cora, with son Barry had a cottage just 3 lots past my grandfather's. Barry one year trapped and caged a red fox but released it after a short while.
Thanks for bringing back the marvelous memories of Marmora and Crowe River.
Painting of Callaghan Rapids, Rawdon Township, by Christopher Szmyr, great great great great grandson of Thomas Callaghan, pioneer at Callaghan Rapids.
