Founding of Merrickville

Photo by Alan L Brown - July 2, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Leeds and Grenville
The Village of Merrickville-Wolford
In Merrickville, on County Road 43 (Main Street) 1 block east of County Road 15 across from Elgin Street

Plaque Text

In 1793 William Merrick (1760 - 1844), a Loyalist from Massachusetts, acquired from Roger Stevens a sawmill at the 'Great Falls' on the Rideau River. Here he built new mills which formed the nucleus of a small community that grew up before 1816 and was known as 'Merricks Mills'. The establishment of new settlements on the Rideau and the building of the canal, 1826 - 32, stimulated the growth of the village. Streets were laid out and a post office named 'Merrickville' was opened in 1829. By 1850 the community contained about 700 persons, two flour mills, a cloth factory and other industries, and was incorporated as a village in 1860.

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