Brockville in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

McCrady Tannery / Brockville Yacht Club

ca. 1909

— Brockville Historic Area: The Brock Trail —

McCrady Tannery / Brockville Yacht Club Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 14, 2020

1. McCrady Tannery / Brockville Yacht Club Marker

Inscription.

McCrady Tannery, also, Brockville Yacht Club. ca. 1909. The mouth of Buell’s Creek was the location of an early sawmill built by Daniel Jones Sr. in the 1790s. This was followed by the gristmill, built by Robert Shepherd in the 1850s (still existing to the north)., From the position, looking across the creek, one may see two stone industrial buildings. On the left is the tannery operated by Alonzo E. Dana and his son George A. Dana. On the right is a factory, which is the home of the Brockville Yacht Club., The Yacht Club building started off around 1877 as a new tannery built for Brockville tanner, Alexander G. McCrady. This is the smaller 3 ½-storey stone section shown on the left in this drawing. McCrady operated his company here until around 1900 in partnership with his son. Charles H. McCrady. Rail transportation was added in 1884 with the building of the new CPR spur line, as shown here in the drawing. The building, showing on the left beyond the tannery, was an ice house., The Shirreff Manufacturing Co. was established in 1950 by C.J. Shirreff, and later moved to this location. This company manufactured carpet sweepers, meat choppers, clothes wringers, breadmakers, and other household items. The large addition on the east side was added by a subsequent owner., Afterward, the Canadian Oak Belting Co. Ltd., first owned by John MacLaren, and then by James D. McArthur, moved into these buildings. In 1916 the business was reorganized as McArthur Beltings Ltd., which produced a variety of industrial and agricultural belts., Between 1919 and 1937 the property was owned by the town of Brockville. During this period the tannery buildings were leased by Wallace D. Wright, who started the Wrightway Laundry here in 1929. Wright purchased the property from the town in 1937. It was leased by the Parisian Laundry of Toronto in 1966., The members of the Brockville Yacht Club became the new owners in 1972. They have developed the building and harbour for their use from that time., The present Brockville Yacht Club across the creek is located in the original McCrady Tannery

The mouth of Buell’s Creek was the location of an early sawmill built by Daniel Jones Sr. in the 1790s. This was followed by the gristmill, built by Robert Shepherd in the 1850s (still existing to the north).

From the position, looking across the creek, one may see two stone industrial buildings. On the left is the tannery operated by Alonzo E. Dana and his son George A. Dana. On the right is a factory, which is the home of the Brockville Yacht Club.

The Yacht Club building started off around 1877 as a new tannery built for Brockville tanner, Alexander G. McCrady. This is the smaller 3 ½-storey stone section shown on the left in this drawing. McCrady operated his company here until around 1900 in partnership with his son. Charles H. McCrady. Rail transportation was added in 1884 with the building of the new CPR spur line, as shown here in the drawing. The building, showing on the left beyond the tannery, was an ice house.

The Shirreff Manufacturing Co. was established in 1950 by C.J. Shirreff, and later moved to this location. This company manufactured carpet sweepers, meat choppers, clothes wringers, breadmakers, and other household items. The large addition on the east side was added by a subsequent owner.

Afterward, the Canadian Oak Belting Co. Ltd., first owned by John MacLaren,

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and then by James D. McArthur, moved into these buildings. In 1916 the business was reorganized as McArthur Beltings Ltd., which produced a variety of industrial and agricultural belts.

Between 1919 and 1937 the property was owned by the town of Brockville. During this period the tannery buildings were leased by Wallace D. Wright, who started the Wrightway Laundry here in 1929. Wright purchased the property from the town in 1937. It was leased by the Parisian Laundry of Toronto in 1966.

The members of the Brockville Yacht Club became the new owners in 1972. They have developed the building and harbour for their use from that time.

The present Brockville Yacht Club across the creek is located in the original McCrady Tannery

Erected 2006 by City of Brockville, Heritage Brockville, and Brockville Community Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 44° 35.097′ N, 75° 41.159′ W. Marker is in Brockville, Ontario, in Leeds and Grenville United Counties. Marker is on the paved walking path (part of The Brock Trail) at the south end of the Henry Street parking lot, near the boat ramp. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brockville ON K6V 6M4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 14, 2020

2. McCrady Tannery / Brockville Yacht Club Marker

Looking toward the yacht club property

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fun on the River (within shouting distance of this marker); Timber Rafts on the River (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Smart's Foundry (about 150 meters away); Is[a]ac Beecher House (about 150 meters away); Robert Shepherd Grist Mill (about 180 meters away); a different marker also named Smart's Foundry (about 180 meters away); Centennial of Confederation (about 210 meters away); William Buell’s 1816 Map of Brockville (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brockville.

Also see . . .
1. Brockville Municipal Register of Cultural Heritage Properties. (Submitted on March 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. A Brief History of Brockville. (Submitted on March 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Brockville Yacht Club. (Submitted on March 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.