The "Old Stone" that housed the former Rogues' Hollow Gallery is one of the few buildings to have survived the Newburgh fire in the late 1800's (first and last images below).
Newburgh is an undiscovered enclave of architectural gems. It is the best preserved commercial village in Eastern Ontario featuring many stone buildings and churches. Even the house of the legendary Casey at the bat (from the poem) is in Newburgh---right opposite our former gallery (third picture below).
The village of Newburgh is so compact that a leisurely walk of 30 minutes to an hour offers some of the most beautiful and historic architecture in Eastern Ontario. The lovely municipal park beside the cataract of the Napanee River is just a short walk from 'downtown' Newburgh, and is a perfect spot for a picnic. And on a hot summer day you can cool off in the river or launch your canoe or kayak and head up-river for several kilometres.
If you're from our area, you'll know that Prince Edward County has claimed the title "The County". Well, while visiting Prince Edward County, we suggest you make a daytrip & come see the lovely heritage sites and natural splendours of Stone Mills Township in Lennox & Addington County. Or better yet, make our 'County' your trip's primary destination.
We have a distinctly different 'feel' here in L&A County---maybe because we're still rooted in agriculture (mostly small family farms) & we still have vast swaths of undeveloped stretches of land. We also likely have a lower proportion of ex-big city folk here in L & A so the pace of things isn't yet 'ramped up'. (You can tell we're both ex-big city folk who relish this easier paced lifestyle).
In L& A's southernmost region on Amherst Island, it feels like you step off the ferry into the 1950's. What could be nicer than that! So check out the variety of Island bed and breakfasts: go to http://www.amherstisland.on.ca and look under the Business Directory at the top of the page for 'accommodation'. Book yourself in and start planning your trip (the banner at the top of this page is a beautiful spot we reached by kayak just around the bend from our former home on the south shore of Amherst Island).
It's a good idea to start on the Island so you might decompress from living anywhere else ( :=)) before you set out on your Lennox & Addington adventure. Of course, like many, you might never want to leave!!
From Newburgh, head East along County Road 1 toward Camden East (about 5 minutes from Newburgh), to McCormick's Country Store at the crossroads for a great selection of apples in the fall, garden plants and supplies in the spring, plus snacks, pizza and general provisions (local fruits and vegetables).
From Camden East go another 10 minutes further east along Rd #1 to Yarker and watch for the building with a second floor balcony next to the river. We know this building well, because we started our business 'The Wonderful Store' and The Waterfall Tearoom there in 1989 and lived there until our move to Amherst Island in the early 1990's.
Just 5 minutes south of Yarker off Road #6 (turn left onto Wilton Road) is the village of Wilton and the Wilton Cheese Factory (www.wiltoncheese.com) where you can purchase excellent old cheddars and a variety of flavoured cheeses which are a favourite throughout our County and beyond.
The County Trails in Lennox and Addington include nearly 600 kilometers of looping routes where you never retrace your path, yet are able to end where you began. While you explore these trails you experience the history, natural beauty, and serenity of this area in the heart of Eastern Ontario. The Cataraqui Trail comes right through Newburgh and is a particularly beautiful area for hiking, with views of the Napanee River Gorge way below from some high points along the way.
For more information and a map of the L & A County trails, please go to http://www.countytrails.com.
This is one of my favourite memories--we travelled 20 minutes before turning around and didn't see any sign of habitation after passing the neighbour's little fishing pier (at the time we owned some land near Tamworth on the Salmon River). It was fall 2007 in full Canadian glory, and a particularly magical part of the day.
Put your canoe or kayak into the Salmon River at Roblin and head north. If you keep going you might find this very spot, which is just a 5 minute drive south of Tamworth (though an adventurous friend of ours couldn't do it all in one day).
Alternatively, bring your canoe or kayak to Newburgh and put it into the Napanee River at the park 'downtown', then head upriver (i.e. in an easterly direction away from town) for many kilometres. There is a dam and swimming spot on the other (i.e. Westerly) side of the bridge in town, so you don't want to be paddling toward that big drop!