Perth in Lanark County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Canal Fever
⎯⎯⎯
la Fièvre des canaux du Canada

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 7, 2022

1. Canal Fever / la Fièvre des canaux du Canada Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In the wilderness of 19th century Upper Canada, transportation was the key to settlement, growth and prosperity. Waterways, modified with locks and canals, were seen as the solution to many transportation problems. A feverish era of canal building began.

Perth shared this canal fever. When engineers arrived to canalize the nearby Rideau system in the 1820s, the citizens of Perth buzzed with anticipation. By 1834 the first Tay Canal was built, linking the town with the Rideau Canal. Several decades later, amidst a renewed interest in canals in Canada, the Tay Canal was rebuilt in 1890. Today's canal and turning basin, products of the second Tay Canal, are reminders of canal fever in Canada.

[Bottom illustrations, clockwise from top, read]
Welland · Lachine · Rideau · Trent-Severn · Long Sault

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Dans la nature vierge du Haut Canada du XIX^e siècle, le transport était la clé de la colonisation, de la croissance et de la prospérité. L'aménagement des voies d'eau au moyen d'écluses et de canaux semblait la solution à de nombreux problèmes de transport. On entrait dans une ère de construction fiévreuse de canaux.

Perth n'échappa pas à cette fièvre. Lorsque les ingénieurs arrivèrent pour canaliser le réseau de la Rideau, dans les années 1820, les citoyens de Perth furent transportés de joie. En 1834, le premier canal Tay fut construit, reliant la ville au canal Rideau. Plusieurs décennies plus tard, à une époque de renouveau d'intérêt pour les canaux, le canal Tay fut reconstruit. Le canal et le bassin de virage que l'on peut voir aujourd'hui datent de la seconde époque de construction et sont les vestiges de la fièvre des canaux au Canada.

[Illustrations du bas, dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre à partir du haut, lire]
Welland · Lachine · Rideau · Trent-Severn · Long Sault

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.

Location. 44° 53.976′ N, 76° 14.885′ W. Marker is in Perth, Ontario, in Lanark County. It is at the intersection of Basin Street and Tay Street, on the right when traveling north on Basin Street. Marker kiosk is just south of the "Crystal Palace". Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Perth ON K7H 1E9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Haliburton Highlands to Ottawa Valley

and in Eastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Perth, A Unique Blend / Perth un mélange exceptionnel (here, next to this marker); The First Canal / Le premier canal Tay (here, next

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 7, 2022

2. Canal Fever / la Fièvre des canaux du Canada Marker

Tay Basin in background

to this marker); By Barge and Bateau / Par barges et chalands (here, next to this marker); Tay Canal Revival / Renaissance du canal Tay (here, next to this marker); The Canal Evolves / l'Évolution du canal (here, next to this marker); Hub of Activity & Change (here, next to this marker); Boats, Boats, Boats (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the Tay River Trail (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perth.

Also see . . .
1. Celebrating the Tay Canal. Rideau Canal National Historic Site website entry (Submitted on October 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

2. Economic Transformation and Continuity, 1818-1860s: The Canal Era. BC Open Text website entry (Submitted on October 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. Canals and Inland Waterways. The Canadian Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on October 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Additional keywords. Canal Fever / la Fièvre des canaux du Canada

<i>Canal Fever / la Fièvre des canaux du Canada</i> Map on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 7, 2022

3. Canal Fever / la Fièvre des canaux du Canada Map on Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 16, 2022, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Canal Fever⎯⎯⎯la Fièvre des canaux du Canada

Canal Fever
⎯⎯⎯
la Fièvre des canaux du Canada