Legacy in Stone: The Rideau Corridor

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University and an avid outdoor recreationist. She is also the
author of The Mountain Is Moving: Japanese Women’s Lives, Kurlek, and
Margaret Laurence: The Long Journey Hom

Legacy in Stone is a special heritage book, the product of striking
photography and impressive research. Its makers call it “a tribute to
those who, in years long past, created a lasting legacy in stone from
the wealth of resources with which the Rideau Corridor is endowed.”
Stretching between Kingston and Ottawa, the area is home to numerous
stone houses, churches, fences, barns, schools, and other structures
that reflect the courage and skills of the pioneers and that have been
protected and preserved over the years by both individuals and
organizations.

The general format partners a full-page photograph with a page of text.
Author and architect Barbara Humphreys’s long career has earned her
many honors, including the Gabrielle Leger Medal for outstanding
contribution to the conservation of Canada’s architectural heritage.
Her familiarity with the Rideau Corridor runs deep: she has lived and
worked in the historic village of Manotick on the Rideau for nearly half
a century. Her lively text balances historical and architectural
information with anecdote and observation. The book includes a two-page
bibliography of selected references.

Fiona Spalding-Smith’s photographs range from merely excellent to
stunning. My favorites include a closeup of the limestone rocks that
form part of the visible remains of a stone arch dam in Smiths Falls,
the Jones Falls Dam flanked with autumn foliage, and a fiery sunset
behind the dark silhouette of Parliament Hill.

Legacy in Stone deserves a place in every library, as well as in the
hearts and minds of Canadians.