From the recording The River
Battle Hill is the story of a unique place in the Upper Ottawa Valley on Hwy 17 between Bissett Creek and Deux Rivieres marked on the maps as "Battle Hill". Historical records indicate that the name came from the battle land surveyors had to endure when they routed the trans-Canada highway through this rugged section of the Canadian Shield. Other sources suggest that the name relates to another situation/event, but I'm sticking with the land surveyor story, because I know how incredibly rugged the land in that region is. Not far from this location is another example of how rugged this land is; in Moose Bay on the Ottawa River, the river is 650’ deep, making the riverbed 150’ below sea level. The Ottawa Valley is dear to my heart. Battle Hill is a special place.
Lyrics
Battle Hill, Marc Audet
Carpentry … was his trade of first,
But with time came … a type of thirst
With a survey crew, nineteen fourty nine,
Four men of skill... to blaze the line …
....the roadway line
At Klock they met, … gear and maps and tent
Due north they lead, where few had went
With autumn rains, the start of the chill
They surveyed beside, ... a towering Hill …
.... t’was Battle Hill …
Battle Hill ... ...
Of the land so strong ... so I sing this song ...
About a place called ... Battle Hill …..
The ridges high, forests dark unseen
Deep valleys low, with marshes green
West they swung, to flatter ground
But one ridge they met, had no way around …
..... no way around …
One more try, as nights drew long
The survey crew, on shore with song
With maps spread out, they chose their run
Northwest they’d go, … straight into the Hill …
..... into Battle Hill …
Battle Hill ... ...
Battle Hill ... ...
Of the land so strong ... so I sing this song ...
About a place called ... Battle Hill …..
The highway now, west of the line
Runs up that hill, climbing to the sky
The valley below, from the mountain high
And men they rest, and I know why ..
…. And I know why …
Battle Hill ... ...
Of the land so strong ... so I sing this song ...
About a place called ... Battle Hill …