Welcome

 

About Canalfest

 

Fine Craft Show

 

Live Music

 

Food & Drink

 

Win Neat Stuff

 

Schedule Of Activities

 

Children’s Activities

 

Photos

 

About The Canal

 

Contact / Directions

Merrickville, Ontario

Saturday, Aug. 4 to

Monday, Aug. 6, 2012

 

photo by Ken W. Watson

Watercraft use on the Rideau River is believed to date back to 6000 BC.

 

French-Canadian voyageurs likened the Rideau’s twin falls which cascade 30 feet to the Ottawa River (in Ottawa) to a pair of curtains. Rideau means curtain in French.

 

Built under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel John By, the Canal was originally built to serve as a safe route to transport troops and supplies. Overlooking the Canal, the Merrickville Blockhouse, with its cannon portholes, gun ports and four-foot thick stone walls, reassured settlers concerned in the event of an American attack.

 

Of course, no such invasion ever took place. But today Americans are frequently spotted peacefully strolling along Merrickville’s streets and cruising through the canal. The blockhouse, the largest of four such military structures on the canal, is now a museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Across the bridge, you’ll find the ruins of Merrickville’s onetime water powered industrial complex. Today, only the original malleable ironworks factory remains in operation. Now Village Metalsmiths, it is Canada’s oldest working foundry.

 

The Canal was the first steamboat canal in the world

 

Prevented from milling during much of the Canal’s construction, Village founder William Merrick dammed the Rideau in 1831 to make repairs to his mills. In the process, he ruined Colonel By’s plans to officially open the Canal that year.

 

And according to local lore, tensions ran high over a land dispute between Merrick and his first partner Roger Stevens. The issue was resolved when the two men went out on the Rideau . . . only Merrick returned.

 

The Rideau Valley is home to 33 species of reptiles and amphibians, 56 species of mammals, 76 kinds of fish, over 290 types of birds and over 1400 species of plants, including 55 native trees.

 

Fast Facts about the Canal and Merrickville

Photo: Paul Carr