Do you say “gallop” or “galoo?” Well, that depends on whether you are using the modern or the historical pronunciation of this important part of Canada’s past.
The Galop Canal was opened in 1846 and in use until the late 1950s. The canal allowed ships to bypass three sets of rapids. Construction began in 1844, and was done without machinery, but by use of hand tools such as axes, wheelbarrows, and shovels. The men worked fourteen hours a day for fifty cents.
You can learn the story behind the Galop Canal at a special meeting of the Friends of the Prescott Library on Tuesday, April 19th. It happens at 7:00pm at St. Andrew’s Church on Dibble Street. The event is free but donations are welcome.