Merrickville Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall in Merrickville stands on the north side of Main Street West east of St. Patrick Street.

The Merrickville Old Town Hall was built as the seat for Wolford Township around 1856. The building originally served as administration headquarters, lockup, entertainment centre and fire hall. Merrickville incorporated in 1861 and took over the building. From the 1860s to the 1840s, in addition to serving as a town hall it was used for a grammar school, drill hall, dance hall and silent movie theatre.

In the 1940s it became unsafe to use and passed through a series of private owners until 1982 when a group of citizens formed the Heritage Merrickville Foundation. The Foundation acquired the hall in 1984 and began its restoration, completed in 1989.

OLD
TOWN HALL
CIRCA 1856
RESTORED BY
THE HERITAGE
MERRICKVILLE FOUNDATION
DATE 1989

Aaron Mirick House

In Merrickville, Ontario, Aaron Mirick House occupies a place on the east side of St. Lawrence Street north of Sophie Lane. That's the spelling on the sign. In the documents designating the residence a historic site, it is spelled, 'Aaron Merrick House.' Since the site is private property, I had severe limitations as to what I could photograph. It was recognized, under the Ontario Heritage Act, as a historical site on January 30, 1978.

THE AARON MIRICK HOUSE

Built in 1844 for the son of the founder of the settlement of Mirick's Mills. In 1860 Aaron Mirick was elected first reeve of the incorporated Village of Merrickville. In 1899 the home was sold by Stephen Mirick to William Postlethwaite, descendants of whom live nearby. The property passed in 1922 to Harry Falconer McLean internationally acclaimed builder and head of Dominion construction. Mr. McLean's accomplishments include the Abitibi Canyon Dam, the Ontario Northland Railway and many other projects in the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec and New York State. Named an honourary colonel for life in the Canadian Army, in World War I, H.F., as he was known, was honoured and respected throughout the Dominion and especially in the Village for his philanthropy; particularly to young people and children. H.F. resided in this home until his death in 1961. The house is privately owned.

This plaque erected by the Merrickville Museum Board with assistance from the Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Christ Church Cairn

In Burritt's Rapids, the Christ Church Cairn stands in front of Christ Church on the northeast corner of Donnelly Drive and Dwyer Hill Road.

THIS CAIRN
• WAS •
ERECTED • IN • AUGUST
~ 1931 ~
IN • MEMORY • OF
• THE •
ILLUSTRIOUS PIONEERS
WHO BUILT THIS
“HOUSE OF WORSHIP”
~ 1831 ~

Christ Church

In Burritt's Rapids, Ontario, Christ Church occupies a place on the northeast corner of Donnelly Drive and Dwyer Hill Road.

CHRIST CHURCH

Begun in 1831 and completed the following year, this frame church was designed in the Gothic Revival style, customarily used in churches of that period. The Anglican congregation had been formed about 1822 in this part of Marlborough and Oxford Townships, where the earliest settlers on the Rideau had located. It was ministered to by the Reverend Robert Blakey, Rector of Prescott, until 1829 when the Reverend Henry Patton was appointed missionary to this region. Under his guidance plans were made to erect a house of worship. In 1830 Daniel Burritt donated land for a church and burying ground at the rapids bearing his name. In 1834 the church was consecrated as Christ Church by the Right Reverend Charles James Stewart, Bishop of Quebec.

Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Recreation

Ann vanGemeren Bench

In Burritt's Rapids, Ontario, the Ann vanGemeren Bench occupies a place north of the south fork of the Rideau River and est of Grenville Street.

In loving memory of
Ann vanGemeren
"Forever in our hearts"