I am a local history buff who lives in the terrific city of Brockville on the north side of the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario.
I intend this Blog Site to share a lot of historical information which I have been collecting for the last 35 or so years.
I was educated in Scarborough, Ontario and Toronto. I graduated as an Architectural Technologist from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University) in 1966.
My first career was as an Architectural Technologist/Draftsman in Toronto between 1966 and 1972.
I decided to go into teaching in 1972, and attended the Ontario College of Education in Toronto. I was then qualified to teach Architectural Drafting in the Ontario school system and obtained a position to do this in the town of Prescott, Ontario. I taught all my career at South Grenville District High School in Prescott until my retirement in June 2000.
I have continued to develop one of my main interests and hobbies in Canadian History and specifically, the History of Brockville, since moving to live in Brockville, Ontario in 1972.
Some of the material that I intend to use on this site was originally published in the Brockville newspaper, “The Recorder and Times” under my copyright. In addition I want to use a number of historical photographs that I have collected over the years.
I would love to hear from anyone with similar interests to mine.
You can check out my personal web site later. It’s called:
The Doug Grant Building
http://doug-grant.weebly.com/
![King St W & Court House Ave [Brockville, ON] - Fulford Block (1974)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2296519214_6d81b8c494_t.jpg "King St W & Court House Ave [Brockville, ON] - Fulford Block (1974)")
![245a King St E (at Riverview Dr) [Brockville, ON] - Rockford, Sidney Jones House (1974)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2296516588_696c8bb19c_t.jpg "245a King St E (at Riverview Dr) [Brockville, ON] - Rockford, Sidney Jones House (1974)")
![222 King St E [ Brockville, ON] - Patrick Murray House (1973)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2296515200_14e826d5e6_t.jpg "222 King St E [ Brockville, ON] - Patrick Murray House (1973)")
![99 Perth St [Brockville, ON] (1974)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2295717739_15223d7904_t.jpg "99 Perth St [Brockville, ON] (1974)")
![74 King St E [Brockville, ON] - St John's United Church (1973)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2295692109_77c65405bc_t.jpg "74 King St E [Brockville, ON] - St John's United Church (1973)")
![102 Pine St [Brockville, ON] (1974)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2295678843_ac9d9de7e6_t.jpg "102 Pine St [Brockville, ON] (1974)")
34 Comments
25 February 2008 at 8:46 AM
Hello Doug,
This looks like a wonderfull project. I will check-in when I can. I wish you the best of luck with this endeavour.
Brad H
11 May 2008 at 6:57 PM
Facinating stuff….great job!
I’d be interested in seeing some historic photos of Victoria Hall and the Courthouse.
28 July 2008 at 2:59 PM
Doug,
Thanks so much for the photos re my old home, the Wall St. Bank of Montreal, Brockville! They brought back many fond memories. We were the last family there!
Judy ( nee Webster)
12 August 2008 at 7:36 PM
I would be very interested in seeing old photographs of Victoria Avenue, specifically if any are available of # 12 Victoria.
18 September 2008 at 3:34 PM
Hey Doug
Your lacrosse story and picture are very timely as I was looking just yesterday for any lacrosse related materials on your website.I am in need of any and all Brockville Lacrosse history for a presentation to bring Junior B lacrosse back to Brockville for 2009.
23 September 2008 at 9:57 AM
Doug: We purchased 189 King St East in Nov’07 & have been working to restore the inside of details that were stripped in past years. We’re looking for any clues of the house’s past glory…when Richard Allen Field first built it. We’d love to rebuild the archade/porch that probably surrounded the front entrance & repaint the Second Empire features (i.e., brackets, etc.) in original colours. I’ve been searching for old photos but have come up short. Sheila Shanks gave me your name when I visited the Brockville museum to find old pics. Do you have any? Would you be interested in working to obtain some? Let me know. I can be reached at (613) 342-8282. I’d love to hear from you.
5 October 2008 at 12:10 AM
Hi Doug
You’ve put a lot of work went into your web site. Keep up the great job. My collection of old Brockville pictures is increasing thanks to your web site.
I’m also trying to accumulate more pictures of my village, North augusta, Ontario. If you know of someone with images of N. Augusta, I would love to hear from them. Please stear them my way.
John.
18 October 2008 at 9:40 PM
I am thoroughly enjoying your site. Your work is very much appreciated by all of us history/genealogy buffs. I check back from time to time to see what’s new and also to look over your photos again. Re. the 1000 Islands Mineral Water Co. photo, I believe the address should be Brock St., not Pearl St. As a child in the 50’s I recall another bottling plant on the little street on the west side of B.C.I.
Thanks very much for providing all this information and pictures.
6 September 2009 at 3:59 PM
Hi, i was wondering if you could elaborate on the MacKellar’s beverage factory.
I found a MacKellar’s bottle with red letters as well.
I was wondering how long the factory was open during what years) and what type’s of beverages it produced.
Thanks.
19 October 2008 at 12:10 AM
Sharon:
You are correct about the address for 1000 Islands Mineral Water Co. It was located at 58 Brock St.
I think about the building when I walk by the empty site.
I will make the correction.
The other beverage factory, near Brockville Collegiate, was MacKellar’s Beverages at 122 Orchard St. I have one of their bottles with red letters printed on it.
Thanks for your comments.
Doug Grant
3 September 2009 at 3:47 PM
Hi! I was wondering when this factory was in operation… I was diving one day and found a bottle in the river…
4 September 2009 at 3:12 PM
Vicky:
I have not got the dates of operation of the Pilgrim 1000 Islands Bottling Co. where I can easily find them.
But you could check out this web site to see a few other bottle. Search for “Brockville” or “1000 Islands”:
http://www.sentex.net/~morris/soda_bottles.htm
3 November 2008 at 8:09 PM
Hello Doug,
I spoke to you several years ago (on advice of my father Kevin) before we purchased our house up on the old Perth Road, Billa Flint’s ‘Six Mile House’. You did not seem to have any info on it at the time. I was wondering if you had any pictures of his Inn (Flint’s Inn) built down on the water in Brockville (future site of Fuller’s Tower) or Billa’s earlier Brockville Homes. I have seen his last house on this site and courtesy of Don Glover. I have seen fuzzy pictures of his Inn in the distance but no real detail.
I look foward to any info!
Curt Wheeler
4 November 2008 at 8:56 PM
Hi there, Curt.
I am also replying to you by regular e-mail with some pictures of relevance to the Flint family.
There may not be any new photographs or pictures of the Flint Inn and the Flint-Booth House. These were both on St. Andrew St.
I don’t have any close-up pictures from the 1800s.
There was another Flint building. It was the one at the north-east corner of King St. W. and Court House Ave. It was a large stone building known as the Flint Block. In about 1922 the corner was purchased by the Bank of Toronto and half of the Flint Block was replaced by the new Bank of Toronto.
Nice to hear from you again.
Regards,
Doug
3 December 2008 at 12:00 AM
Mr. Grant,
This is a lovely website. It is great to see the old homes again. I grew up in the area. I miss Leeds & Grenville. Do you have any pictures of Comstock Residence, BGH & St. Vincent’s Hospitals?
Brockville is a lovely Town.
Regards.
6 January 2009 at 10:02 PM
Hi Doug,
I’m a first time visitor to your site. Congratulations on a job well done. The very first photo I saw was the Bohemian war canoe with it’s list of paddlers. William Deir was a great uncle and John Hilliard was his first cousin. I have several photos of Will in uniform (the Rifles?) and on several sports teams, some I think from Brockville, the rest from out West. His name is on the cenotaphs in Brockville and Gananoque. I don’t have any pictures of John. It would be great to get a copy of the picture. If I saw a larger version I could identify Will. Do you sell copies or let people view the originals?
Paul
7 January 2009 at 2:22 AM
Paul:
All of the photographs and graphics on this site are available for you to download. The one of the paddlers from the Bohemian Club should be detailed enough for you to examine. Just use the right button on your mouse and then save it to your own computer. I think that should work. Otherwise I could send you a copy by regular e-mail.
Doug Grant
29 March 2009 at 1:35 AM
What a great site! Thanks for sharing. I have been tracing my family history and discovered that an ancestor of mine is listed on the voter lot as owner in at least the 1880’s if not earlier, of lot 235 King Street and other property in Brockville. Just wondering if you might have a photo of that location or if you can tell me anything about it. My ancestor is Joshua Franklin born in Englnad in 1815. He was a stone mason and builder.
Thanks.
12 April 2009 at 9:41 AM
Hi John
I am working with the the tourism and development office in Brockville on our annual Brockville Night at the Races. I thought it would be nice to have old images of the town for the poster. Would you mind if I used your photo’s and do you have any high resolution images that could be used for an 11 x 17 size poster?
Lisa Richardson 613-292-8856
Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre\Ottawa
20 April 2009 at 5:21 PM
Hi
I am trying to research a ship built in Kingston 1814 (April 15th Launched) called Princess Charlotte. Soon after the war she was renamed the Burlington, eventually sold to breakers in 1834 and her remains were found in Dead Man Bay. I cannot find any information on her as the Burlington –perhaps she was moored in Navy Bay until 1834? I belong to a model ship building forum and we would like to produce a working set of plans from a copy of the original. The hope would be to build an accurate replica and be able to give a full account of her life. Can you shed any light upon her as the Burlington?
Thank you
John Walsh
20 April 2009 at 7:52 PM
Hello John.
Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the ship or its names that you have mentioned in your comment. It probably did not frequent Brockville. Sorry.
Doug
18 May 2009 at 10:22 PM
Hi Doug,
I’m trying to found out why the statue on top of the court house is known locally as Sally Grant. Do you have any idea?
Thanks.
Laura Wright
23 May 2009 at 4:41 PM
Doug. You have a great site and the information you share is awesome. I have a couple of historic items I believe are Brockville area pieces that I need help to identify and would greatly appreciate it if you would consider assisting me. If you would drop me a short note I will send you some scans. Thank you and best regards. Mike Dufresne. Kingston.
29 June 2009 at 12:04 PM
Super work, Doug. As a former Brockvillian, it warms my heart to learn more about and understand the past of a town that will probably remain the centre of my soul.
If only we could raise enough money to buy that Fuller Property and name it The Doug Grant Park!
My favourite history teacher at BCI was also Doug Grant. Good luck with all your research.
19 July 2009 at 8:48 AM
Good afternoon Doug
My great grandfather was on HMS Hero when it carried The Prince of Wales. He was on board to teach the ratings foreign languages . He also frequently went to Halifax Novia Scotia at the time of the Civil War. I have his letters from various places. Is this of any interest to you?
27 July 2009 at 3:32 PM
Hi Doug,
I love your website. With your permission, I’d like to use a couple of paragraphs condensed from your write-up on the Canada Carriage Co. in a postcard article for the Canadian Stamp News. I’ll certainly give you credit for the information.
P.S.
My Canadian Stamp News article cites a novelty wooden postcard sold at the 1905 Toronto Exhibtion advertising “The Old Reliable Canada Carriage Co.” If you’d like a scanned image, send me your e-mail address.
Regards,
Mike
1 August 2009 at 10:25 PM
Hi Doug,
A standing ovation for your website and your life’s interest in the beautiful City of Brockville.
Marty Lillepold
5 August 2009 at 3:35 PM
Great website. My mother (Irene Carley) was born and raised in Brockville during the early 1900’s so I appreciate the early photos. Thanks.
20 August 2009 at 10:20 PM
Congratulations, you have created a very interesting website. My family was from the Brockville area about five generations back – Nehemiah SEAMAN (1780-1830).
25 August 2009 at 4:20 PM
Hi Doug.
I’m from Belleville. Looking into the history of Billa Flint. He was Born in Brockville, came to Belleville and was our first Mayor.
Do you know where he is buried.
Steve
4 September 2009 at 2:52 PM
Steve Wilson:
We have always felt that Billa Flint Jr. left Brockville and never returned. I don’t know the nature of his relation with his father, Billa Flint Sr. They may have had a falling out. The second son, Samuel Flint became the favoured son and inherited his father’s resources.
My feelings are that he must be buried in the Belleville area somewhere. We have known of his political and business history in your city. His activities seem to end here when he moved to Belleville.
18 October 2009 at 3:37 PM
Hi Doug,
I have to say I’m impressed by some of the information you have on this site. Very interesting stuff!
I’m in the midst of developing a museum exhibit about Prince Alberts visit to Canada in 1860 and have taken particular notice of some of the photos you’ve posted. Could you tell me where they are held and if there are rights that should be followed in using them? I’d also be interested if you have any additional sources for this topic, especially regarding his visit to Arnprior.
Thanks!
Cailee
14 November 2009 at 5:27 AM
Hello Doug,
I recently came upon your very interesting website. I grew up in Brockville and my family, the Thormins, lived there and owned businesses in the city’s early days. I would love to see photos of their King Street properties and learn more about my family roots.
7 February 2009 at 1:49 AM
Hi there, Paul.
Thanks for writing about the old photographs that you have.
I am attaching a copy of the photo that is on my web site with this note. My computer tells me that at 300 dpi, this picture is clear at 8″wide.
I would love to see any other sports photos you might have of Brockville athletes like you were describing. I have hi-speed internet so don’t hesitate to scan them at a very high resolution.
Alex L. Murray was a great Brockville athlete and the son of the photographer George B. Murray. Alex competed in numerous sports like football, rowing, and lacross. He took over the family photography business at some point and it was called Murray & Son. I have enclosed a photograph of him standing beside his studio camera.
The other Brockville photographer’s name is perhaps Robert Dunn. I have found him listed in a business directory dated 1904.
Hope to hear from you.
Doug Grant