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Thursday, December 06, 2018

Founding of Burritt's Rapids Plaque

In Burritt's Rapids, the plaque commemorating the founding of Burritt's Rapids occupies a place next to the Burritt's Rapids Community Hall on the east side of Grenville Street, north of Mary Street.






FOUNDING OF BURRITT'S RAPIDS

In 1793 Stephen and Daniel Burritt, two brothers from Arlington, Vermont, settled in this vicinity. A bridge, sawmill and school were built here at "Daniel Burritt's Rapids" before 1826. In 1830, Henry Burritt, Daniel's nephew began to develop his property on the Oxford side of the river. By 1831 a store, tavern and several houses were built and, on the Marlborough Township side, Christ Church was begun. A post office called "Burritt's Rapids" was opened in 1839 and alter a town plot was surveyed and several additional mills built. With the opening of the Rideau Canal this milling centre flourished but it was later bypassed by the railways and its importance gradually diminished.

Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario