Blockhaus de Merrickville Blockhouse
The Merrickville blockhouse is one of four blockhouses constructed on the Rideau Canal. Its architecture is a typical design utilized throughout British North America. The 3.5 foot (1.06 metres) walls were designed to be strong enough to withstand small canon fire with a pyramidal tin sheathed roof to withstand torching. The impressive stone lower half of the building measures 50-foot square (15.2 metres square) making it the largest blockhouse on the Rideau Canal. The upper level overhang, derived from medieval fortifications, allows for machicolated defence (holes cut in the overhang allowing for downward fire on an enemy). The loopholes cut in each hewn square timber wall are long and narrow but tapered within allowing the defender a greater angle of fire.
Originally, small defensible lockmasters houses, such as those constructed around 1841 at various lock stations on the Rideau Canal, were to be built; however, Lieutenant Colonel John By, the Royal Engineer in charge of the construction of the Rideau Canal, thought these insufficient. Lt. Col. By's proposal for 22 large blockhouses was rejected by the Board of Ordnance
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The Merrickville blockhouse was a primary concern to Lt. Col. By when the province began to upgrade the Prescott road decreasing the wilderness buffer zone between Canada and the United States. The defensible building could staff 50 men in the barracks area while the lower stone half could house ordnance, arms and ammunition. The building designed to defend the Rideau Canal from American aggression was never permanently staffed by the military, although during [the] 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion the 34th Regiment briefly took residence while enroute to Fort Malden.
On prévoyait à l'origine la construction de petities résidences fortifiées de maîtres-éclusiers comme celles qu'on avait égrigées en 1841 dans divers postes d'éclusage du canal Rideau; le lieutenant-colonel John By des Royal Engineers, chargé de la réalisation du canal Rideau, trouve cette solution insufficante. Il propose la construction de 22 grands blockhaus, mais le coût exorbitant du project lui vaudra un refus de la part du Board of Ordnance. En 1831, le lieutenant-colonel By lance de sa propre initiative la construction de quatre blockhaus, qui se terminera en 1833.
Le blockhaus de Merrickville revêt une importance capitale aux yeux du lieutenant-colonel By au moment où la province améliore la route Prescott, réduisant ainsi la zone tampon à l'état sauvage qui sépare le Canada des États-Unis. La caserne du bâtiment fortifié peut abriter 50 hommes, alors que la partie inférieure, en pierre, peut accueillir matériel, armes et munitions. Le blockhaus, construit pour défendre le canal Rideau contre les Américains, ne sera jamais occupé de façon permanente par des militaires, mais le 34e régiment
s'y installera brièvement sur le chemin du fort Malden.Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Man-Made Features • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.
Location. 44° 54.996′ N, 75° 50.238′ W. Marker is in Merrickville, Ontario, in Leeds and Grenville United Counties. Marker is at the intersection of St. Lawrence Street (Provincial Highway 15/43) and Rideau Canal, on the right when traveling south on St. Lawrence Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 279 St Lawrence Street, Merrickville ON K0G 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Merrickville Blockhouse / Le blockhaus de Merrickville (a few steps from this marker); Merrickville Blockhouse 1832 (within shouting distance of this marker); Merrickville (within shouting distance of this marker); Twin Canals / Les canaux jumelés (within shouting distance of this marker); Canal Twins / Les canaux jumelés (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Jim Connor (within shouting distance of this marker); 1st Merrickville Scout Group (within shouting distance of this marker); Merrickville United Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Merrickville.
Also see . . .
1. Merrickville Blockhouse. (Submitted on November 7, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Merrickville Blockhouse National Historic Site. (Submitted on November 7, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Merrickville Blockhouse. (Submitted on November 7, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 7, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
