The wharf

Courtesy: Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center

Story told by Joe Jacobs

The seaway, before everything came in, people were always out there swimming, having a good time. There was a wharf on the end. Even there you would hear the language spoken. 

There was a family that ran a chip stand - french fries, hotdogs, and burgers right close to the water. 

Kahnawa’kehró:non would swim, socialise, and go fishing at the old wharf in town, as well as Johnson’s Beach, Flintstone beach, and other locations. The waterfront had been a hub in town that was destroyed in the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway which started in 1955 and was completed in 1959. (Courtesy: Kanien'keháka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center)

The tourists used to come in here, a couple of busloads on the weekends. They’d make a stop at the church and they’d visit. Their next stop here would be at the wharf. They’d get out, go swimming there, and then they’d throw coins in. So, you dive for the coins and see how many coins you get.

Then, the bus leaves, and you’d run to spend it at where they sell fries, and maybe get a soda from the coins you pick up.

Their next stop was at the Indian Village, up on top of the hill. That was a big tourist attraction.

Back then, my grandmother did a lot of craftwork and she would go along with her sister. They used to go up there and sell their crafts.