Port Lambton is a village situated on the St. Clair River

St. Clair River

The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...

, in southwestern Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 within the municipality of St. Clair Township

St. Clair, Ontario

St. Clair is a township in southwestern Ontario, Canada, immediately south of Sarnia in Lambton County, along the eastern shores of the St. Clair River.- Communities :...

. According to the latest census, 1084 people live within this Lambton County, Ontario

Lambton County, Ontario

Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...

 community. In its early days, the village developed out of local transport and agricultural trade via rail and ship and evolved mainly into a summer resort community, serving seasonal residences and summer cottagers through much of its history. The village is now home to mostly permanent residences and commuters supported by lager cities and towns such as Sarnia and Wallaceburg. Every Civic Holiday

Civic Holiday

Civic Holiday is the most widely used name for a public holiday celebrated in parts of Canada on the first Monday in August, though it is only officially known by that term in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, and Manitoba...

 weekend in August the town hosts its annual Gala Days. This community is served by two elementary schools, several churches and a small service industry. The public school is Riverview Central School and the Catholic school is Sacred Heart. Until the mid-1980’s Port Lambton served as registered port of entry into Canada by means of a ferry crossing from nearby Roberts Landing, Michigan and docking facilities on much of the villages waterfront. Following the ending of ferry operations at Port Lambton, the former port facility and Customs office located at the foot of Stoddard Street on the St. Clair River was transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The federal government through the Canadian Coast Guard continues to operate the facility as a seasonal Inshore Rescue Boat Station.

History

The village of Port Lambton has its roots in the settlement of Baby's Point. Located just south of the village of Port Lambton, on the area that is now is now Brander Park, Baby's Point is the extreme Southern point of Lambton County. Francis Baby owned all the land from this point, and all of Port Lambton site. Inherited from his Grandfather in 1742. There also was a brother, James Baby. Edward Kelly was the first Post master at Baby's Point 1848.

After 1812, people started to settle along the St. Clair River. Before few people lived there. They were French, and didn't have legal title to the land. When the Irish moved in, the French sold their squatters rights to the Irish about 1833. The Indians could sell land only with the approval of the Province. Anyhow, soon after 1812, people bought up land legally along the St. Clair River.

Port Lambton--livilest little river-town South of Sarnia. Two of each, sawmills, grist mills, shoe shops, blacksmith shops. 8 General stores, 3 hotels, 3 liveries, 2 telegraph offices. Daily mail from Sarnia, daily railway service. School with two teachers. Steamers stopped everyday at the White Star line dock, during the Summer months. Customs House. Docks extends one-quarter mile along the river. Population 450. In the Spring of 1820, Duncan McDonald built the first frame house. Post Office opened in 1871, one time known as Lambton Village. Rural Mail was first delivered in 1908, and all mail routes completed in January 1909.

The first Sacred Heart Church was built at Baby's Point around 1825. It burned. Father Monocq, secular Priest, French, was drowned January 12, 1861, and the body was found in 1862. He was buried beneath the Altar of the first Port Lambton Church. The plaque was on the right hand of the side Altar. The Sacred Heart Church, Port Lambton, was built in 1877. Martin Regan was the first person baptised there, December 1877. It was demolished, and the new church built on the same site in 1964. The R.C.Cemetery started in the 1916. Sombra t. John's Church was built in 1868, and Father Waters was one of the first priests, he resided in Corunnna, Ontario. R.C. Cemetery started in 1870.

Events

Gala Days: A weekend of festivities including a parade, sport tournaments, music, and family events takes place the last weekend of July each year.

St. Clair River Run: A 10K run and 5K walk/run that takes place each July.

Famous people

• Maude Menten, pioneering chemist. Broke ground as a woman and with her famous contribution to scientific thought, the Michaelis-Menten equation. She was born in Port Lambton on March 20, 1879. She is honoured with a historical plaque at Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario. http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=780bccaa-4408-4009-970c-0cb2a24b9d66&gid=3