Burritts Rapids, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Burritt's Rapids is a small village
located on the Rideau River
in eastern Ontario
.
The hamlet was named after Stephen Burritt
, whose family was the first to settle in this area. At one time, the hamlet prospered due to its location on the Rideau Canal
. The community straddles the river, so part is located in Rideau Township
, now part of Ottawa
, and part in North Grenville Township
.
There is a lock on the canal to bypass rapids here, the Burritts Rapids Bridge
which crosses the canal and a stationary bridge which crosses the river.
In 1793, Stephen and Daniel Burritt, from Arlington, Vermont, settled in the vicinity of the area now known as Burritt’s Rapids. A plaque was erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board commemorating the founding of Burritt's Rapids.
By 1812, Burritt’s Rapids had become a bustling hamlet. At the peak of its prosperity, it had telegraphic and daily mail, 2 general stores, a bakery, a millinery shop, 2 shoe shops, a tin and stove store, a grist mill, a woolen mill, a tannery, 3 blacksmith shops, 3 wagon shops, a cabinet shop, 2 churches, 2 schools, 2 hotels, a bank and an Orange Lodge.
The hamlet’s natural advantages as a transportation centre were enhanced by the opening of the Rideau Canal in 1831. Burritt’s Rapids was the site of the first bridge across the Rideau River. A post office was opened in 1839.
Unfortunately, the hamlet was by-passed by the railway, and its importance gradually diminished with the decline of the canal as a means of transportation.
Public high school students in this area go to South Carleton High School
in Richmond
.
In 1984, the Hall was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act as being of architectural and historical value: “… the building is an outstanding example of an early nineteenth century vernacular temple-fronted commercial structure, of the Classical Revival Style. It is clad in narrow feather-edge clapboard and is highlighted by recessed panelled front doors, large commercial style front windows, with panelled surrounds, engage pilasters, with classical entablature, returned eaves and small 12 over 8 upper sashes…”
In 1986, an extension was added to the south side of the building. Moneys for the project were donated by several local citizens and businesses, all of which are memorialized on a plaque inside the Hall. Many of the building materials were donated by the production company which filmed “Boy in Blue”, in Burritt’s Rapids in 1984. The roof was installed by a volunteer group who proclaimed themselves to be “The Geriatric Builders”.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located on the Rideau River
Rideau River
thumb|Rapids on the Rideau River opposite [[Carleton University]].The Rideau River is a Southern Ontario river which flows north from Upper Rideau Lake and empties into the Ottawa River at Rideau Falls in Ottawa, Ontario. Its length is 146 km...
in eastern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
The hamlet was named after Stephen Burritt
Stephen Burritt
Stephen M. Burritt was an early settler in eastern Ontario, Canada.-Biography:Originally from Connecticut, he fought on behalf of the British at the Battle of Bennington. After the war, he came to Upper Canada along the Saint Lawrence River...
, whose family was the first to settle in this area. At one time, the hamlet prospered due to its location on the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
. The community straddles the river, so part is located in Rideau Township
Rideau Township, Ontario
Rideau is an historic township in eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located in the rural parts of the City of Ottawa, in the extreme south. Its eastern boundary is the Rideau River, its namesake....
, now part of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, and part in North Grenville Township
North Grenville, Ontario
North Grenville was established in January 1998 as a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville on the Rideau River. It is composed of the village of Kemptville, and the geographic townships of Oxford and South Gower. In 2005, a motion of council adopted the...
.
There is a lock on the canal to bypass rapids here, the Burritts Rapids Bridge
Burritts Rapids Bridge
The Burritts Rapids Bridge connects Donnelly Drive in Burritts Rapids to County Road 22 in North Grenville Township, Canada. It was built in 1897, and although it has been updated since then, it still has the original design. It is a cottaging site, which is swung by hand by the lockstaff from the...
which crosses the canal and a stationary bridge which crosses the river.
In 1793, Stephen and Daniel Burritt, from Arlington, Vermont, settled in the vicinity of the area now known as Burritt’s Rapids. A plaque was erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board commemorating the founding of Burritt's Rapids.
By 1812, Burritt’s Rapids had become a bustling hamlet. At the peak of its prosperity, it had telegraphic and daily mail, 2 general stores, a bakery, a millinery shop, 2 shoe shops, a tin and stove store, a grist mill, a woolen mill, a tannery, 3 blacksmith shops, 3 wagon shops, a cabinet shop, 2 churches, 2 schools, 2 hotels, a bank and an Orange Lodge.
The hamlet’s natural advantages as a transportation centre were enhanced by the opening of the Rideau Canal in 1831. Burritt’s Rapids was the site of the first bridge across the Rideau River. A post office was opened in 1839.
Unfortunately, the hamlet was by-passed by the railway, and its importance gradually diminished with the decline of the canal as a means of transportation.
Public high school students in this area go to South Carleton High School
South Carleton High School
South Carleton High School is a high school situated in the southwestern sector of the city of Ottawa, in the village of Richmond, Ontario. The school is under the jurisdiction of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. The SCHS attendance boundaries cover a major section of the southern part of...
in Richmond
Richmond, Ontario
Richmond is a Canadian village. Founded in 1818, it spans the Jock River, a tributary of the Rideau River. Like many communities in eastern Ontario, Richmond houses several unique populations. Some residents have historic and economic roots in the immediate area. Richmond operates as a small core...
.
History of Burritt's Rapids Community Hall
The Hall was built in 1855 by John French and operated as a general store. In 1892, the building was sold and it changed hands several more times during the early 1900s. The facility became known as the “Albert C. White Memorial Hall” in 1927, but in October 1935, Casey Swedlove sold the Hall and its property to the community. At that time, the name was formally changed to The Burritt’s Rapids Community Hall, and has been run as a non-profit facility ever since.In 1984, the Hall was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act as being of architectural and historical value: “… the building is an outstanding example of an early nineteenth century vernacular temple-fronted commercial structure, of the Classical Revival Style. It is clad in narrow feather-edge clapboard and is highlighted by recessed panelled front doors, large commercial style front windows, with panelled surrounds, engage pilasters, with classical entablature, returned eaves and small 12 over 8 upper sashes…”
In 1986, an extension was added to the south side of the building. Moneys for the project were donated by several local citizens and businesses, all of which are memorialized on a plaque inside the Hall. Many of the building materials were donated by the production company which filmed “Boy in Blue”, in Burritt’s Rapids in 1984. The roof was installed by a volunteer group who proclaimed themselves to be “The Geriatric Builders”.
External links
- Burritt's Rapids
- Burritt's Rapids, Rideau Canal Info.