St. Raphael's Ruins is a unique day trip exploration in eastern Ontario
There's a historic site northeast of Cornwall, Ont. that has become a popular tourist destination for day trips. It offers more than just a great photo opportunity, hosting weddings and musical venues throughout the summer.
Driving through St. Raphael's, it's hard to miss a giant stone walled structure missing its roof.
"If you Google top 10 road trips from Montreal, this place actually comes up," said Gerry Palumbo, out for a scenic summer drive from Quebec with his wife.
"We've driven by so many times, today we just decided to pull over and take a look," he said, walking inside St. Raphael's Ruins.
A former church that was finished in 1821, it was nearly destroyed by fire in 1970.
"We lived just down the road and we thought that the whole village was on fire," said Diana Sturkenboom, who attended services at the church since she was a child.
"My husband came to see what was going on and just as he came over the hills he saw that the bells were falling," Sturkenboom said. "It was a sad time in our lives when he came back and reported that it was the church that had burned."
Inside the St. Raphael's Ruins, northeast of Cornwall, Ont. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
Sturkenboom is now a committee member of St. Raphael's Friends of the Ruins, a non profit group who has helped restore the site since 1994.
"Over the years it remained a ruins, a real ruins where no one could come in with the risk of someone getting hurt. It remained not available to the public," Sturkenboom said.
"It had to be of course cleaned up because there was a lot of damage done to the walls. Everything had to be done over again," she remembered. "We are all volunteers and we have raised $1.4 million to stabilize the walls."
When exploring the ruins now, one of those bells, half melted, welcomes visitors walking into the site.
Interlocking stone has also been laid down and grass planted where church pews once sat.
"I remember as a child sitting there and looking up at the ceiling," Sturkenboom smiled. "We were married here 58 years ago!"
The site is an easy day trip for those living in eastern Ontario, and it's also showcased in a new tourism campaign put out by the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.
"The history of the ruins is so important to our region, so we really wanted to highlight it," said tourism coordinator Kendra Belanger.
The largest of the three bells was the only one that could be saved at the St. Raphael's Ruins, northeast of Cornwall, Ont. (Nate Vandermeer/CTV News Ottawa)
The National Historic Site becomes a popular wedding destination through the warmer months, with 21 couples getting hitched at the ruins in 2022.
"I think it's just breathtaking really," Belanger said. "It's such a magical place; it doesn't' feel like you're here, it feels like you are on vacation somewhere in Europe."
She likes to stop by the site and talk with visitors who come to explore.
"They've drove by but never actually stopped, so once they actually stopped in it was amazing for them to see," Belanger noted. "Definitely something that they'll go back home and share with their family and friends and have them come back."
The United Counties has a new ad campaign running focusing on all the unique things to do in the region, from breweries to boating.
"Just encourage people to get out and explore your backyard, explore the region," she said. "There is so many things, something for everyone so we really would welcome everyone to come and check it out."
The ruins are free to explore and open seven days a week, with donations accepted.
A curator is also on site Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to answer questions and talk about the site's rich history
"We consider it a gem of our community," said Sturkenboom. "We're used to it but we very much appreciate it."
"A lot of people don't know about it so that's why we try to advertise it and promote it as much as possible," she added.
"Very impressive, the way it was preserved, the way it's landscaped, very nice," added Palumbo, looking up at the sky.
"They did a great job, it's worth visiting!"
The site is located at 19998 County Road 18 northeast of Cornwall. More history on the ruins can be found at their website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Person in flames outside New York courthouse where Trump trial underway, CNN reports
A person set themselves on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place, according to CNN.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.