The History of Brockville

Brockville is a Loyalist community.  In 1784, landings were made at Buell's Bay where Brockville now stands.  However, it was very rocky and no location of a permanent character was made until the arrival of William Buell, Sr. who erected the first house of logs.  A tavern was built later by Adiel Sherwood; Daniel Jones constructed the first saw mill on Buell's Creek; Charles Jones put up the first frame dwelling and opened one of the first stores.  The first brick house was erected by Dr. Hubbell.  Nehemiah Simmons built the first stone house.

Other industries emerged such as ship building, tanneries, saddleries, tinsmiths, McNaughton Brewery, Novelty Works (Smart's Foundry), nine hotels, patent medicine industry 1854 by W.H. Comstock who formed a branch of his drug company in Brockville-Famous Indian Root Pills.  In 1889 G.T. Fulford made his fortune with Dr. William's Pink Pills for Pale People.  Fulford Place shows the mark of his success.

Nearly all the bateaux passing up and down the river landed at the bay for many years, while the point was a general camp-ground for the Indians.  Long after the settlement of Mr. Buell, the nights were frequently made hideous by Indian war dances on the point.  The Indians had discovered, about a mile west of the Court House,  sloping rock in which appeared a track made apparently by indenture in the rock of the foot of a man with a moccasin on.  This rock became known as the Devil's Rock.  About 60 rods west of the Devil's Rock, and a little back from the river, is a granite rock, containing a round hole about three feet in diameter, and having a depth of about ten feet.

Due to the quarrelsome nature of some of the settlers, the little place received the name of "Snarlingtown".  Later it was called the Village of Elizabethtown.  In 1811 there was an attempt to change it to Williamstown., after William Buell. The Jones family wanted it called Charlestown after Charles Jones. 

To settle the dispute, it was referred to Sir Isaac Brock who conferred upon it the honor of becoming Brockville.

Brockville has the oldest Railway Tunnel in Canada constructed between 1854-1860.  It was in operation for approximately 100 years with steam locomotives running through it.  The tunnel runs under City Hall which is at the head of the Tunnel.

Today the city of Brockville produces pharmaceutical products, power tools, chemical products, micro-electronic equipment and packaging materials.

Reference:

History of Leeds and Grenville, T. Leavitt

Who Are We  Location  Branch History  Local History  Executive  Membership  Houses  Meetings  Events  Our Ancestors  

Loyalist Cemeteries  Resources  Links  Picture Gallery  Special Items  Projects