Smith Falls – Eastern Ontario’s Railroad Capital
The spiritual and technological successor to Merrickville, Smith Falls took over from where the former left off. Whereas Merrickville was powered by water, Smith Falls took its place as Eastern Ontario’s leading industrial center by harnessing a new technology, one that would revolutionize life in Canada. I am talking about railroads of course!
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What to do in Smith Falls
My first memories of this important Eastern Ontario town was a run down and the Hershey Chocolate Factory, yet the factory closed down – in what some figured to be the towns final bow – leaving the town destitute. In recent years it has revitalized becoming a center for the Canadian cannabis industry. Smith falls is in may ways the opposite of the nearby town of Perth, the former is an industrial center with grand masonry structures whereas the later is built almost entirely of stone.
Rideau Canal and Visitors Center
Smith Falls was founded and named after Thomas Smyth, a United Empire Loyalist who in 1786 was granted a large plot of land in this location. The town took its importance due its position on the Rideau River system, just upstream of Merrickville, at that time a much more important settlement. The completion of the Rideau Canal in 1826 helped grow the town while creating three sets of locks through the city. These are Smith Falls Combined Lockstation Lock 29a, Locks 26-27 and Lock 31 detached. The whole of the waterfront is walkable, including Duck Island where you will find the Bascule bridge, a Canadian National Historic Site. Dating from 1913, it is an excellent example of a early Canadian swing bridge. It is located near lock 31.
At the southern end of the main street you will come across Veterans Park and lock 29a. A bend in the river circumvents the lock (the actual falls in Smith Falls). It is on this bend that you will find the Rideau Canal Visitor Centre, housed in a 19th century stone mill. impressive modern hydraulic system at the Smiths Falls. From here you will get a view of the modern combined Locks as well as the original 3-lift manual system built by Lt. Col. By in 1829 (no longer in use).
On the opposite side of the Rideau River you will find the old lockmasters house as well as an old RCAF fighter plane on display.
Main Street and City Center
In recent years the town center has been revitalized and empty storefronts are once again cumming to life. Features of note include several old churches of differing denominations as well as many masonry commercial buildings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
My favourite building is one made of stone located at 30 Russell St E. Adorned with a belfry it stands out as the prettiest in town.
Railroad Museum of Eastern Ontario and the CP Christmas Train
In the 1850’s, a transformation took place in smith falls where the waterworks were slowly replaced by railways as the focal point of Eastern Ontario’s fledgling transportation network. Smith falls itself, a ideal stop on the Ottawa Brockville Railroad became a crossroad of sorts for the rail companies. This was a preferred route for CP (Canadian Pacific) and the Grand Trunk who wished to establish a corridor extending from Toronto-Kingston-Montreal. This fierce competition led to the creation of multiple spur lines linking it to Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Brockville, Napanee and Arnprior!
Much of this railway history is long gone but the railroad museum of Ontario seeks to bring it back to life. One amazing story from the town dates from the Second World War when POW’s were transported though the town by rail. It is in this town that the only camp escapee to make it back to Germany, Franz von Werra, made his dash!
For those interested, CN Rail runs a Christmas train as an attraction from Smith Falls. This festive attraction is great for kids and is one of the top things to do in Smith Falls over the Holidays. You can read more about it in my post located here.
Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum
Located in the east end of the city, near lock 26 and 27, this home is one used to display life in smith falls during the mid 19th century when both the river and the railways ensured that Smith Falls was at its peak. The home belonged to Joshua Bates, a man whom fortune once shined bright on but later dimmed. He built this homestead in smith falls along with two mills but went bankrupt and was purchased by a competitor. Today it serves as a history museum.
