Twin Canals Commemorative Plaque

A plaque celebrating the twinning of the Caledonian Canal in Scotland with the Rideau Canal in Canada occupies a place near the Rideau Canal in Merrickville. One will find the plaque north of Main Street West to the west of the Merrickville blockhouse.

"CANAL TWINS

"Why the Canals are Twinned
These two canals were constructed in the early 19th century for military reasons. Both canals grew into commercial highways, survived as recreational waterways and are now important heritage resources. Rivers, lakes and cultural landscapes of scenic beauty are features of these canals. Scottish stonemasons employed during canal construction have left their mark on the built heritage of these two areas.

"Today, the Rideau and Caledonian Canals are internationally significant tourist destinations for boaters and land-based visitors alike who come to boat, fish, walk, enjoy nature, visit museums, relish history, skate in winter (in Ottawa) and hunt monsters (on Loch Ness).

"LES CANAUX JUMELÉS

"Pourquoi les canaux sont jumelés
Ces deux canaux ont été construits au début du XIXe siècle à des fins militaires. Ils sont devenus des voies commerciales, puis récréatives et représentent maintenant d'imporantes ressources du patrimoine. Les rivières, les lacs et les paysages culturels d'une beauté spectaculaire en sont des traits caractéristiques. Les deux canaux portent la marque des taqilleurs de pierre écossais qui ont travaillé à leur construction.

"Aujourd'hui, les canaux Rideau et Caledonian sont des destinations touristiques d'intérêt international pour les plaisanciers et les autres visiteurs, qui viennent se promener en bateau, pêcher, marcher, profiter de la nature, visiter les musées, goûter l'histoire, patiner en hiver (à Ottawa) et chasser les monstres (au loch Ness)."

"RIDEAU CANAL

"Stretching 202 km through a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and canal cuts from Ottawa to Kingston on Lake Ontario, the canal dates back to 1832 when it was completed to provide an alternative to the St. Lawrence River which was vulnerable to attack by the Americans.

"It now provides a wealth of leisure activities and expeditions of historic interest for visitors, whether they approach by boat or by land.

"CANAL RIDEAU

"Le canal serpente sur 202 kilomètres à travers un réseau magnifique de lacs, de rivières et de canaux artificiels entre Ottawa et Kingston, située sur le lac Ontario. Terminé en 1832, il devait constituer une voie de rechange au fleuve Saint-Laurent qui était vulnérable aux attaques des Américains.

"Le canal offre maintenant un vaste choix d'activités récréatives et d'excursions d'intérêt historique aux visiteurs qui viennent par voie de terre ou par voie d'eau."

"CALEDONIAN CANAL

"Flanked by the magnificent scenery of the Scottish Highlands, the canal links a chain of natural lochs to form the most beautiful waterway in Europe. It's highest point is 106 ft above sea level.

"Engineered by famous Scotsman, Thomas Telford, it was completed in 1822 during the aftermath of the Jacobite Rebellions. One of its early roles was to provide a sheltere for the Navy from attacks by French privateers and it enjoyed commercial success in the 1880s.

"CANAL CALEDONIAN

"Sis dans le magnifique paysage des Haute-Terres d'Écosse, le canal relie une chaîne de lacs naturels et forme la plus belle voie navigable d'Europe. Son point le plus élevé est à 106 pieds au-dessus du niveau de la mer.

"Construit par le célébre ingénieur écossais Thomas Telford, le canal fut terminé en 1822 après les soulèvements jacobites. Dans les premiers temps, il a servi notamment de refuge à la marine contre les attqaques de corsaires français; il connut un succès commercial dans les années 1880."

TWIN CANALS

THE CALEDONIAN CANAL OF SCOTLAND, ENGIN-
EERED BY THOMAS TELFORD AND COMPLETED
IN 1822 IS TWINNED WITH THE RIDEAU CANAL
TO COMMEMORATE THEIR HISTORICAL LINK,
PURPOSE AND FUNCTION, AND TO RECOGNIZE
THE ENDURING IMPORTANCE OR CANALS TO
COMMUNITIES THE WORLD OVER

17-10-1993

LES CANAUX JUMELÉS

LE CANAL CALEDONIAN D'ÉCOSSE, CONSTRUIT
PAR THOMAS TELFORD ET TERMINÉ EN 1822,
EST JUMELÉ AU CANAL RIDEAU AFIN DE RAP-
PELER LEUR LIEN HISTORIQUE, LEUR BUT ET
LEUR FONCTION ET RECONNAÎTRE L'IMPOR-
TANCE DURABLE DES CANAUX POUR LES COLLECT-
TIVITÉS DU MONDE ENTIER.

Merrickville Turbine Generator

Take a walk among Merrickville's ruins on the east side of St. Lawrence Street north of the canal and you will find the Merrickville turbine generator.

Merrickville Turbine Generator

This hydroelectric turbine generator operated in the nearby power station from 1915 to 1993. It provided electricity to factories on this Industrial Heritage Site and to the village of Merrickville using the energy from the adjacent waterfall.

The Heritage Merrickville Foundation recognized the heritage value of this industrial artifact and jointly with Ontario Hydro and Parks Canada undertook its display on this site. In 2011, on the initiative of David Hammonds, the Friends of the Merrickville Turbine was formed to undertake the repair of weather related deterioration of the unit. In 2012 ownership was transferred to the "Friends" which is now responsible for its continuing upkeep.

The refurbishment of the unit was made possible by generous financial support from the following organizations:

The Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Heritage Merrickville Foundation
Valley Heartland
Ontario Power Generation
ABB Canada

Le turbogénérateur de Merrickville

Entre 1915 et 1993, ce turbogénérateur hydro-électrique fonctionnait dans la station électrique locale. Il fournissait de l'électricité aux usines de ce Site du patrimoine industriel ainsi que le village de Merrickville avec l'energie fournie par les chutes adjacentes.

La fondation d'héritage Merrickville a reconnu la signification historique de cet artefact industriel et conjointement avec Ontario Hydro et Parcs Canada a entrepris son exposition sur ce site. En 2011, grâce à l'initiative de David Hammonds, le Friends of the Merrickville Turbine est mis sur pied pour entreprendre la réparation de l'unité dégradée par les éléments. En 2012, les <<Friends>> en deviennent propriétaires et ils sont maintenant responsables de son entretien continu.

Le reonditionnement de l'unité a été possible grâce à l'appui généreux des organisations ci-dessous:

La fondation Trillium d'Ontario
La fondation d'héritage Merrickville
Valley Heartland
Ontario Power Generation
ABB Canada

1st North American Scout Troop

A cairn with a plaque on the northwest corner of St. Lawrence Street and Main Street West in Merrickville commemorates the first scout troop in North America.

1st Merrickville Scout Group

Established in 1908 by Ernest Thomas
Pastor of the Methodist Church
Merrickville, Ontario Canada
The first Scout Troop in North America
It was founded under the 1908 promise:
"On my honour, I will do my duty to God
and the King.
I will do my best to help others.
I know the Scout Law, and will obey it."

Erected by the Village of Merrickville-Wolford, 2010

Peace Pole

Merrickville has a Peace Pole. It may have the Peace Pole. If you look carefully you will find it on the north side of Main Street East, east of the Merrickville United Church and about halfway between the street and the canal. The wooden pole, painted white, has its message in three languages, English, French and Dutch.

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH

PUIS LA PAIX RÉGNER DANS LE MONDE

MOGE VREDE HEERSEN OP AARDE

Merrickville Cenotaph

The Merrickville Cenotaph accompanied by a 25 pounder field piece occupy Cenotaph Park on the east side of St. Lawrence Street between Drummond Street East and Lewis Street East in Merrickville.

IN LOVING MEMORY
OF THOSE
WHO SERVED AND DIED
1914-1918

Spirit that made these Heroes dare
To die or leave their children free,
Bid time and Nature gently spare
The Cairn we raise to them and thee.
(EMERSON)

KOREAN WAR, 1950-53

IN LOVING MEMORY FOR
THOSE WHO SERVED AND
THOSE WHO DIED, IN THE
CONFLICT.

This stone podium has room for a lectern for use in remembrance ceremonies.

Merrickville School Bell

A replica bell and plaque atop a cairn located in Cenotaph Park commemorate the Merrickville Public and Continuation School. Cenotaph Park, in Merrickville occupies the block east of St. Lawrence Street between Drummond Street East and Lewis Street East.

MERRICKVILLE
PUBLIC AND CONTINUATION SCHOOL
1873 - 1965

This School Bell, a replica of the original tower bell
is placed in this Cenotaph Park in Celebration of our School Reunion
July 1995

Bell donated by: Alloy Foundry
Cairn erected by: George Cross in Memory of his father
Plaque presented by: the Council of the Village of Merrickville

Founding of Merrickville Plaque

A plaque commemorating the founding of Merrickville stands on the north side of Main Street East, west of St. Lawrence Street and just west of the Farm Shop and Tea Room.

FOUNDING OF MERRICKVILLE
In 1793 William Merrick (1760-1844), a Loyalist from
Massachusetts, acquired from Roger Stevens a sawmill at
the "Great Falls" on the Rideau River. Here he built new
mills which formed the nucleus of a small community that
grew up before 1816 and was known as "Merrick's Mills".
The establishment of new settlements on the Rideau and
the building of the canal, 1826-32, stimulated the growth
of the village. Streets were laid out and a post office
named "Merrickville" was opened in 1829. By 1850 the
community contained about 700 persons, two flour mills,
a cloth factory and other industries, and was incorporated
as a village in 1860.

Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.