Smiths Falls, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Smiths Falls is a town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Eastern
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is in the census division
Census division
Census division is an official term in Canada and the United States. The census divisions of Canada are second-level census geographic unit, below provinces and territories, and above "census subdivisions" and "dissemination areas". In provinces where they exist, the census division may correspond...
for Lanark County
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
, but is considered a separated town and does not participate in county government. 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...
waterway locks in three locations in the town with four separate locks and a combined lift of over fifty feet.
The town's name was sometimes alternatively spelled "Smith's Falls" or "Smith Falls", but "Smiths Falls" is now considered correct.
Early history
The city is named for Thomas Smyth, a United Empire Loyalist who in 1786 was granted 400 acres (1.6 km²) in what is present-day Smiths Falls. The Heritage House Museum (c. 1862) also known as the Ward House, was designated under the Ontario Heritage ActOntario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
in 1977.
Building of the Rideau Canal
At the time of construction of the Rideau Canal a small settlement had been established around a mill operated by Abel Russell Ward, who had bought Smyth's land. Colonel By ordered the removal of Ward's mill to make way for the canal. He settled with Ward for £1,500, one of the largest claims made by mill owners on the canal.The disruption of industry caused by the building of the canal was only temporary, and Smiths Falls grew rapidly following construction. An article in Smith's Gazetteer in 1846 described the town as a "flourishing little village pleasantly situated on the Rideau River and on the Canal, fourteen miles (21 km) from Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
. It contains about 700 inhabitants. There are fifty dwellings, two grist mills (one with four run of stones), two sawmills, one carding and fulling mill, seven stores, six groceries, one axe factory, six blacksmiths, two wheelwrights, one cabinet maker, one chair-maker, three carpenters, one gunsmith, eleven shoemakers, seven tailors, one tinsmith and two taverns."
A 36 feet (11 m) drop in less than a quarter of a mile posed an obstacle to navigation at Smiths Falls. A natural depression to the south of the river was used to create a flight of three locks, known as Combined Lockstation today. The natural course of the river was dammed to create a basin upstream of the locks. At the upper end of the basin a fourth (detached) lock was constructed.
A mile below Combined Lockstation is a flight of two locks called Old Slys Lockstation. This station is named for the original settler at this location, William Sly. A dam and waste weir control water levels upstream of the locks.
Defensible lockmaster's houses were built at all three stations in Smiths Falls. The house at Old Slys was built in 1838 and the houses at Combined and Detached around 1842. Only the house at Combined has a second storey, which was added late in the 19th century. The defensible lockmaster's house at Detached Lockstation was torn down in 1894.
Entry of the railways
In the 1850s the major railway companies were looking to build main trunk lines linking TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The two major companies at the time, the Brockville & Ottawa and the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
, were competing for the easiest routes to lay track. For a number of geographical reasons, and also due to the proximity of the Rideau Canal, the town of Smiths Falls became a major focal point for both railways. Both the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian Northern (later Canadian National) established stations in the town, however, with the creation of Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
, the CN station was abandoned and all passenger traffic routed though the CPR station. The CN station has been renovated and is now home to the Smiths Falls Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario. The railway station, along with the nearby railway bascule bridge, comprise the town's two National Historic Sites of Canada.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Axis prisoners of war (POWs) were transported to Canadian POW camps via the railway. It was near Smiths Falls that German soldier Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Franz von Werra
Franz von Werra
Franz Xaver Baron von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over England and captured...
jumped from a POW train and escaped to the United States, eventually reaching his homeland. Von Werra was, reputedly, the only escaped Axis POW to successfully return home during the war and his story was told in the book and film entitled The One That Got Away
The One That Got Away
The One That Got Away is a 1957 World War II film starring Hardy Krüger and featuring Michael Goodliffe, Jack Gwillim and Alec McCowen. It was directed by Roy Ward Baker with a screenplay written by Howard Clewes...
. The North American premiere of the film occurred on Thursday, 6 March 1958 at the Soper Theatre in Smiths Falls.
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 1,150 |
| 1881 | 2,087 |
| 1891 | 3,864 |
| 1901 | 5,155 |
| 1911 | 6,370 |
| 1921 | 6,790 |
| 1931 | 7,108 |
| 1941 | 7,088 |
| 1951 | 8,441 |
| 1961 | 9,603 |
| 1971 | 9,585 |
| 1981 | 8,831 |
| 1991 | 9,396 |
| 2001 | 9,140 |
| 2006 | 8,777 |
Economy
The town is on the Rideau CanalRideau 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...
system for recreational boating, and is served by the Smiths Falls-Montague Airport
Smiths Falls-Montague Airport
Smiths Falls-Montague Airport, , is located about east of the town of Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. The airport and airspace are not controlled, but published instrument approaches are available....
for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
. It is also a major railway junction point, and its station
Smiths Falls, Ontario railway station
The Smiths Falls station in Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada is served by Via Rail trains running between Toronto and Ottawa. It is unstaffed, with free outdoor parking, telephones, washrooms, and wheelchair access to the platform.-Old station:...
receives regular passenger service to 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 Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
from Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
.
Several manufacturers are based in Smiths Falls, perhaps the most well-known being the Canadian operation of The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
which closed in December 2008. Hershey announced they will instead open a factory in Mexico where they can have cheaper labour. In late 2006, the plant was temporarily closed due to a case of possible salmonella
Salmonella
Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, predominantly motile enterobacteria with diameters around 0.7 to 1.5 µm, lengths from 2 to 5 µm, and flagella which grade in all directions . They are chemoorganotrophs, obtaining their energy from oxidation and reduction...
contamination. Other former large manufacturers include RCA Victor (closed circa 1980), Frost and Wood / Cockshutt and Stanley Tools (2008)
The Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
Eastern Region Communications Centre is also located in Smiths Falls. Its communications operators answer emergency 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
and administrative phone lines, dispatching
Dispatcher
Dispatchers are communications personnel responsible for receiving and transmitting pure and reliable messages, tracking vehicles and equipment, and recording other important information...
OPP officers as required.
Sports and recreation
In 1906, a hockey team from Smiths Falls launched an unsuccessful challengeStanley Cup Challenge Games
This is a list of Stanley Cup challenge games from 1893 to 1914. During this period, the Stanley Cup was a "challenge trophy"; the champions held onto the Cup until they either lost their league title to another club, or a champion from another league issued a formal challenge and subsequently...
to win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. Smiths Falls was home to a professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team, the Smiths Falls Beavers
Smiths Falls Beavers
The Smiths Falls Beavers were a professional baseball team that played for one season in 1937, in Smiths Falls, Ontario.The team played as part of the Canadian-American League. Two players from the single-season team made it to the major leagues...
, for one season in 1937. The team was a part of the Canadian-American League
Canadian-American League
This article refers to the original incarnation of the Can-Am League, which operated between 1936 and 1951. For the modern league, see Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball...
.
The town is currently home to the Junior A hockey team Smiths Falls Bears
Smiths Falls Bears
The Smiths Falls Bears are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League. They were original members, but then left Smiths Falls in 1976...
, who play in the Central Canada Hockey League.
Education
Public education in the town is managed by the Upper Canada District School BoardUpper Canada District School Board
The Upper Canada District School Board is one of the largest public school boards in Ontario in terms of geographical area. It encompasses the counties in the easternmost portion of the province, including the cities of Brockville, Clarence-Rockland, Carleton Place, Cornwall, and Akwesasne.The...
, while Catholic education is under the care of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario administers Catholic education for children up to grade 12, in the easternmost counties of Ontario, Canada including the cities of Brockville, Clarence-Rockland, Carleton Place and Cornwall.-External links:...
. Each operates several elementary schools and one secondary school:
Catholic schools
- St. James The Greater Catholic Elementary School
- St. Francis de Sales Catholic Elementary School
- St. Luke's Catholic High School (Alternative school)
Public schools
- Duncan J. Schoular Public School
- Chimo Elementary School
- Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute
Notable people
- NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
ice hockey players Terry CarknerTerry CarknerTerry Kenneth Carkner is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Quebec Nordiques, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers...
, Gary McAdamGary McAdamGary F. McAdam is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft, McAdam also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring following the...
and Don McKenneyDon McKenneyDonald Hamilton McKenney is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward...
Hospitals
General hospital facilities and services are provided by the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, with a site on Cornelia Street. Also located in Smiths Falls was the Rideau Regional Centre, which provided a residential program for mentally challenged and disabled persons from 1951 until its closure in March 2009.Local media
- The Record-News EMC - weekly newspaper
- Smiths Falls This Week - weekly newspaper
- CJET-FMCJET-FMCJET-FM is a Canadian radio station. Licensed to Smiths Falls, Ontario, the station serves the larger metropolitan Ottawa market. CJET broadcasts at 92.3 FM, programming an adult hits format with the brand name Jack FM.-History:...
- Jack FM, adult hits radio station - CKBY-FMCKBY-FMCKBY-FM is a Canadian radio station, which airs a country music format at 101.1 FM in Smiths Falls and Ottawa, Ontario. The station is owned by Rogers Media, and uses the brand name Y101.-History:...
- Y101, country music radio station
Nearest cities
- OttawaOttawaOttawa 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...
- about 75 kilometres (46.6 mi) north-east - Brockville - about 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) south-east
- KingstonKingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
- about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) south-west
Neighbouring municipalities
External links
- Smiths Falls town site
- Smiths Falls Police Service note: The town is not policed by the OPPOntario Provincial PoliceThe Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
. - Smiths Falls Free Methodist Church
- St Francis de Sales Catholic Church
- Smiths Falls Public Library
- Smiths Falls Marketplace