Samuel McAlonan, (1807 – after 1891) born in Ireland, immigrated to Canada. By 1866 he was settled in Yonge Township and married to ? Angus.

The children of Samuel McAlonan and ---- Angus were:

1. Joseph McAlonan (31 Aug. 1866 – 24 Nov. 1935) born Yonge Twp. He was living with the Earl family near Seeley’s Bay in 1891. He subsequently went to the Department of Agriculture school to learn the cheesemaking trade. After graduating in 1911, he worked in Seeley’s Bay and eventually bought the Gilt Edge Cheese Factory on Main Street, and the large house adjacent at the intersection of Haskins Point Rd. He married Ellen Moroughan (12 Aug 1879 – 7 Dec 1957). Joseph was struck and killed by a car in 1935 while crossing the street in front of the cheese factory.
2. Probably other siblings unknown at this time.

The children of Joseph McAlonan and Ellen Moroughan were:

1. Vera Irene (31 May 1898 – 1981) trained as a nurse in Menominee, Michigan, married Stewart McConnell (1899 – 1953) from Montreal, where she lived much of her life. No issue. She returned to the family home before she died.
2. Mildred Kathelene (18 July 1900 – 19--) married Robert Coleman who owned Coleman’s Hotel in Seeley’s Bay. They had one son: Jack Coleman.
3. Joseph Edmond (3 July 1906 – 19--) married Violet Herrington, no issue. He lived in his father’s house in Seeley’s Bay all his life.
4. Harold Bernard (28 Aug. 1908 – 19--) married Hazel Martin, daughter of Thomas and Emma Martin who lived on Big Hill Rd. He played hockey on the championship teams in 1930, 1931, and 1932. He followed his father in the cheesemaking trade, and carried on the business after his father was killed, living in the family home.
5. Marjory Ellen (27 May 1911 – 1970?) never married. Worked in Kingston, returned to the family home before she died.

The only child of Bernard McAlonan and Hazel Martin was:
Eldon McAlonan (28 July 1928 – 13 Sept 2002) married Shirley Montgomery (born in Winchester, living in Gananoque when married). No issue.

Hickory Lodge was started in 1895 by Frank & Mary Fitzsimmons, who began taking in borders to supplement their income from running the Rockport General Store. About 1900, the boarding house became known as Hickory Lodge, and in 1909 a wing was added on the west side bringing the number of rooms available for rent to 22. Although set back from the river, it was situated on a gentle hill so that guests could sit on the wide veranda in rocking chairs and enjoy the river view. Mary’s cooking was sought after by both overnight and casual guests and with the warm hospitality they offered, it became the epitome of hospitality in the village. Many guests returned year after year, including Miss Anne Thaxter Eaton. In 1943, the Fitzsimmons finally sold the business and retired. The lodge burned to the ground in the winter of 1951, apparently after being broken into by a pair of men during the night. It was never rebuilt.

The Lansdowne Women’s Institute was established in 1909 and the first meeting was held on June 18 at the Lansdowne Town Hall. The first President was Mrs. John Darling. The Branch was part of the Leeds District, alternatively listed as Leeds East or Brockville District.

The Branch is still active.

The first Womens’ Institute was established in 1897, as a result of the activities of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless and Erland and Janet Lee. By 1907 there were 400 Branches. Its objectives were to improve skills in the arts of homemaking and child care. Many social causes and projects have been undertaken. Local Branches are grouped into Districts.

In Ontario, the Ministry of Agriculture published handbooks to assist the establishment and management of the Women’s Institutes. In 1919 the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario was organized.

Local histories called Tweedsmuir Books were undertaken at the suggestion of Lady Tweedsmuir, wife of the then Governor General.

The Warrant for Loyal Orange Lodge #51 was issued on June 18, 1856, to Michael Cliff at or near McCrones Corners (later Wilstead). #51 appears to have been an Abstinence Lodge. The Lodge moved to South Lake in April of 1857, and amalgamated with #650, one of the two South Lake Lodges. By 1879 or 1880 Lodge #51 appears to have moved down the road to Gananoque Station. There were a number of changes in membership due to the move. In January of 1884 the Lodge moved to Gananoque.

L.O.L. #194, Derry Lodge, began sometime between 1845 and 1874 and appears to have been absorbed by Lodge #511 by about 1880. It was located in Gananoque.

L.O.L. #511 was Warranted on September 17, 1855. By 1889 this lodge appears to have been absorbed by #51.

L.O.L. #51 amalgamated with #26 in 1950.

L.O.L. #26, located in Lansdowne Village, was Warranted on July 11, 1845. The Fraternity was active in Lansdowne until 1982 when it amalgamated with L.O.L. #1 in Brockville.

The inaugural meeting of the 1000 Islands Social Club was held on February 11, 1974. At the second meeting, Feb. 25, 1974, it was decided that the name of the organization would be the 1000 Islands Social Club. Chief Officers elected at the February 11, 1974 meeting were:
President: Harold DeWolfe, and
Treasurer: Bill McCloy.
Elected at the February 25, 1974 meeting were:
1st Vice President: Joan Boucaud,
Secretary: Hazel DeWolfe,
Treasurer: Mable Elliott,
Membership: Rachel DeWolfe,
Publicity/Social: Edith Williams, and
Public Relations: Ed Andress assisted by Marg Marton.

Other members at large or later officers included:
Agnes Kahnt
Dot Westall
Ethel E. Johnston
Lillian Massey
Marilyn Haskins
Joyce Turner
Jean Massey

The mandate of the Club was to provide the opportunity for all club members to meet with their contemporaries for friendship, companionship, and an exchange of ideas on matters of interest to senior citizens; to further the interests and promote the health and welfare of senior citizens of Rockport and the surrounding area; to study and consider ways and means by which club members can best serve the community; and, to unite and be able to speak with one voice to governmental bodies at all levels for betterment of all senior citizens through the United Senior Citizens of Ontario. The Club was registered with the United Senior Citizens of Ontario as Club 1219. They received a New Horizons Grant from the Health and Welfare Canada, Social Services Programs Branch (Government of Canada) in 1974 to renovate the Rockport Recreation Hall as a community and meeting space.
They did a number of organized trips as a group and held various social events. They hosted the Lansdowne Seniors Club on occasion. An organized trip occurred in 2003 and there is no further evidence of club activities after this point.

The North Leeds Lantern was a a community newspaper published monthly in Elgin, Ontario. In 1976, Susan Chamberlain of Elgin, Ontario was given seed money to develop a project that would interest the local population in the new Saint Lawrence College Campuses in Kingston and Brockville. Enlisting the support of Helen Sweet of Seeley's Bay and other dedicated volunteers, she produced the North Leeds Lantern as a community paper that would also promote the need for professional training for careers at St. Lawrence College. It was delivered into the areas served by the Rideau District High School from 1976 - 1992. Articles in the Lantern were often of an historical nature, including community overviews and reproductions of old photographs. Eventually, volunteer support dwindled and the Lantern was ceased production in 1992.