1000 Islands History Museum, 125 Water St.
The 1000 Islands History Museum opened in 1995 and is located on the site of the first train station in Gananoque. Built in 1883, the original train station was the southern terminus of the Thousand Islands Railway, an 8km spur line of the Grand Trunk Railway. The station burned down in 1929 and a new station was built. The Thousand Islands Railway had the distinction of being one of the shortest railways in North America, and the only railway in Canada with a stop at a cemetery! The Thousand Islands Railway connected Gananoque to the outside world as rail became an increasingly popular method of travel. Rail transport proved vital to Gananoque’s burgeoning manufacturing and tourism sectors in the late-1800s. Passenger trains ran to and from the station until 1962. After passenger service ended, a restaurant was added to the building. The station burned down again on the morning of 24 September 1990. The Historic 1000 Islands Village Complex was built in its place in 1994, with structures designed in tribute to great Victorian homes in the area.
Shortall Coal Company, Plan 86 West Gananoque River Lot 550-554
The Shortall Coal Company was located at the corner of Water and Market Streets. Established in 1925, the Shortall Coal Company was a major supplier of coal to Gananoque for decades. Anna Shortall took over operations of the company in 1934, soon after her father’s death, becoming Gananoque’s youngest merchant. Anna managed the company with her brother Eddie for the next thirty years, including during WWII while Eddie served overseas. The company was sold in 1965 to the Gananoque District Cooperative where Anna and Eddie continued to work for 10 and 17 years, respectively.
Cow & Gate, Plan 86 West Gananoque River Water Lot E
Built in 1920 and originally called Eastern Ontario Milk Products, the factory produced condensed milk products. Cow & Gate was a major milk product company within the British Empire and advertised that eight royal babies were raised on their products. In 1978, the Gananoque Cow & Gate factory was purchased by Ault Foods, a subsidiary of John Labatt Ltd. By this time, the factory was producing industrial milk that was mainly used in the production of cheddar cheese and butter, as well as powdered and evaporated milk. Most of the products were wholesaled to various companies, including Kraft Foods Ltd. The factory was demolished in 1984, and the land purchased by the Town of Gananoque in 1993, where it became the home of the Festival of the 1000 Islands, an annual summer festival held until 2010. This property is currently the site of Joel Stone Park with a modern bandshell, splash pad, and beach.
Gananoque Pumphouse & Waterworks, 110 Kate St.
The Gananoque Waterworks Pumphouse was constructed from 1903 ─1905 and includes a 1925 addition as a home for the pumphouse engineer. The pumphouse was Gananoque’s first municipal waterworks project. A clean, safe, and reliable water supply became increasingly important by the mid-1800s, especially to address several critical public issues including fire protection and water sanitation for prevention of diseases (such as typhoid and cholera) in ground water and wells polluted by industrial, household, and human waste. A 1902 diphtheria outbreak in Gananoque may have been a catalyst for the creation of the waterworks and Pump House. The building currently houses 1000 Islands Kayaking and 99.9 MyFM.
Gananoque Boat Line Maintenance Building, 177 St. Lawrence St.
This building first housed the Gananoque Yacht Club, established in 1903. It was an exclusive “private” club that only survived into the 1920s due to the popularity of the Gananoque Canoe Club. In 1924, the building became the Blinkbonnie Boathouse. It was a popular spot for weekly dances from the 1930s─1950s. In 1959, it was purchased by the Gananoque Boat Line to be used as their maintenance and repair shop, the function it still maintains today.
Mitchell & Wilson, Plan 86 West Gananoque River Lot 550-554
Mitchell & Wilson was Gananoque’s leading construction firm for much of the late-1800s and early-1900s. The company was formally established as Mitchell & Wilson in 1892 after previous business ventures and factories were started by George Mitchell as early as 1840. The company constructed many notable Gananoque landmarks and buildings including the Clock Tower (1903), the original Gananoque Canoe Club (1909, now the Springer Theatre of the 1000 Islands Playhouse), the Bandstand (1921) and two Town Gates (1927), as well as many homes, cottages, and factories in the area. Originally located at the upper dam on the Gananoque River, they moved to their waterfront location in 1912 after selling that building to the D.F. Jones Manufacturing Company. The company continued to prosper for many decades until closing in 1993, after over 150 years of service to the Gananoque community. In the intervening years, the original building was the home of the Boulevard Cinema (1994─2010), and the offices of the Festival of the 1000 Islands, an annual summer festival held until 2010. The building was demolished in 2014 and is currently the location of the Island Harbour Condos.
Auchinvole House and the Blinkbonnie, 35 and 50 Main St.
From this location, you can also view two of Gananoque’s oldest homes. At 35 Main Street, is Auchinvole House, once the home of Alexander Auchinvole, the owner of a tannery. This house was built in the mid-1800s and is the only house in Gananoque with a porch covering the sidewalk. Across the street at 50 Main is the Blinkbonnie, Gaelic for “beautiful view,” the former home of the Macdonald family. This building was built in 1843 to replace the original home built in 1812 that caught fire. The Macdonald family made several additions to the original building over the years until 1923 when it was sold and converted into a hotel. Operated by various owners over the decades, the hotel is said to be haunted by its first proprietor, Rebecca Edwards. The use of the home as a hotel ended in 2017, and the building is now privately owned.
Horticultural Society Park, 21 Main St.
At this location, brothers Charles and John Macdonald established C. & J. Macdonald in 1817, operating a sawmill and grist mill in the area, which soon became one of the largest in the Canadas. The home of Joel Stone was also near this area. The two town lots of land making up the Gananoque Horticultural Society Park were sold by the Macdonalds to the Society in 1924 for $1.00 following the death of William Stone Macdonald Jr. in 1923. In 1924, the Horticultural Society erected the memorial stone in the centre of the Garden in honour of the Macdonald family. The Society, established in 1920, annually planted many gardens around Gananoque, including those at the schools, at the east end of the King Street Bridge, at the former museum (now the Visitor Centre on King Street), and at the East and West Town Gates. After WWII, the Society planted 26 trees at the Gananoque waterfront in memory of the 26 Gananoque men who died in the War. Leeds Motor Sales rented the park from 1928─1958 and cared for the gardens before the Society took it over again. Since 2000, the Society has added many gardens to the park, including the pollinator, daylily, and four-square vegetable gardens. The petunia, featured in the central garden, is the floral emblem of both the Society and the town.
International Hotel, Plan 86 Block D Lot 3-8
Historically, International Square was very different than it is today. This intersection of Main and King, currently devoid of buildings, was once a very busy and popular location in town. On the southwest corner was the International Hotel. The International Hotel was built in the 1880s, but a hotel had existed on the site since 1815 and was the location of a principal stop on the stagecoach route between Toronto and Montreal. The hotel was a popular watering hole for decades and was enjoyed by many locals. On Saturday nights you could go down to the “Nash” and watch the fights. The building was destroyed by fire in 1993.
Parmenter House, 45 King St. W
The building that first stood on this site was Leeds Militia Commandant headquarters, serving as Joel Stone's office and Dragoons’ quarters, stationed here in Gananoque during the War of 1812. The current building, now the Riva Restaurant, was constructed in 1834 as the home of Joel D. Parmenter, the father of Charles L. Parmenter, who was the co-founder of rivet manufacturers Parmenter & Bulloch. This is one of the few buildings in Gananoque constructed from limestone. It remained the home of the Parmenter family until 1928 when it was purchased and operated briefly as an antique store. It was then opened as the Golden Apple Tavern in 1929. The Golden Apple was a popular Gananoque restaurant and tourist destination for over 90 years. It was purchased and closed in 2012, undergoing three years of renovations before opening as Riva.
West End Grocery, Plan 86 West Gananoque River Lot 533-534
On the land that is now the Riva parking lot and Legion Riders Park once stood The West End Store, established in 1894, sold family groceries and camping supplies. Later, a brick building was constructed, and housed a variety of businesses in Gananoque over the years including a liquor store, the West End Grocery, an antique store, and Dr. John Hampton’s dental office. This building was also destroyed by fire in the early 2000s.
American House, Plan 86 West Gananoque River Lot 1101
On the east corner of the intersection there were once many buildings with different purposes. The American House, established in 1895 was advertised as “having a bar supplied with all the best brands of Wines and Liquors, and the best Imported Cigars”, but it held a questionable reputation as the result of some unfortunate incidents that took place on the premises. This location also housed William Hale Wine Merchants, a general store, and a photography studio. In 1927, Eric Warwick purchased these three businesses to make room for a service station. In 1962, the Warwicks sold the property to the Gananoque Boat Line who used the buildings as a ticket office. The property was eventually sold and the buildings demolished several years later to create parking lots for the Stone’s Mill Family Health Centre.
St. Lawrence Steel and Wire Company, 25 Mill St.
Built in 1885, the St. Lawrence Steel & Wire Company was affectionately known as “The Corset Factory.” For many years, beginning in the 1890s, they produced hoops for skirts. They also produced bicycle clips and springs for toy pistols. During WWII, over 60% of the company’s products were related to the war effort. These products included respirator accessories and battle dress buckles. The company was the only business in Canada to manufacture these buckles which were used by all branches of the military. The company continued to operate until 1986 when business offices were moved to Herbert Street and manufacturing was moved to Hamilton. The building now houses the Stone’s Mill Family Health Centre.
Thousand Islands Railway Bridge
This bridge once formed a part of the Thousand Islands Railway (TIR), an 8km spur line, extending from the main Grand Trunk Railway line to the waterfront. Built in 1927 to replace the original bridge built in 1883, the new bridge continued to provide vital land transport for businesses on the Gananoque and the St. Lawrence Rivers. Passenger service supported the town’s development into a tourist and vacation destination, earning Gananoque the title “Gateway to the 1000 Islands,” first advertised by the Grand Trunk Railway in the 1880s. Passenger service ran on the line until 1962, while freight service ran until 1995 when CN was privatized. The tracks were removed in 1997 and the bridge and other portions of the Thousand Islands Railway have since become a popular walking trail.
Skinner Company, 5 King St. E
Look down the Gananoque River and you will see the former Skinner Company and Gananoque Light and Power Company buildings. The current buildings date to 1881 and were constructed after a fire. The Skinner Company (originally the Globe Works) was established by Sylvester C. Skinner in 1857 and was housed in the large stone building. Sylvester Skinner was known as “very slippery and not to be trusted without security.” Over the decades the company, managed by three generations of Skinners, manufactured farm tools, carriage parts, and metal bumpers, and small hardware for the armed forces during World War I. In 1935, the property was purchased by the Gananoque Electric Light and Water Co. which eventually became the Gananoque Water Power Co. The company was one of the earliest power companies in North America (established in 1861). A water-driven turbine was installed in 1939 to supply power to Gananoque. The facility continues to supply power to Gananoque, but it is now managed by Fortis. The offices at Gananoque Light and Power at 5 King St E are now occupied by Lighthouse Provisions, a new business to Gananoque in 2021.
Susan Push and the Umbrella
Where you are now standing was once the right of way of the Thousand Islands Railway. The line provided Gananoque with a vital link to the outside world. Spearheading this connection was Engine 500, affectionately known as “Susan Push.” From 1931─1962, she was the workhorse of this railway. The small yet mighty train transported products and passengers to and from Gananoque, connecting the town with the outside world. The Susan Push was officially retired in 1963 and was purchased by the Town of Gananoque for $1.00 in 1966 to be put on display. She sat at the waterfront until 1983, when she was moved to her current location. Since then, she has served as a popular tourist attraction, reminding people of Gananoque's industrial and recreational heritage, continuing to make connections with the outside world.
D.F. Jones Manufacturing Company, 10 King St. E
Originally established as the St. Lawrence Works in 1852, the D.F. Jones Manufacturing Company occupied the site of what is now the Gananoque Public Library. For many years, they were one of the largest shovel manufacturers in the country. They produced “a shovel for every need” including the shovel used by HRH Princess Louise (daughter of Queen Victoria and wife of the Canadian Governor General, the Marquis of Lorne) to plant a tree at the opening of Queen’s University in 1873. In 1913, they merged with the Gananoque Spring and Axle Works to form Ontario Steel Products (OSP). This resulted in a switch to the production of automotive and railroad springs until OSP sold its shovel business back to the Jones Shovel Company. At the same time, the company took over the former Victoria Hotel that occupied the front of the building for use as corporate offices. During World War I, D.F. Jones also produced 1200 general service shovels for the Canadian Army as well as 60 000 shovels for the British Army. The company continued to produce shovels until 1963. From 1965─1995 the front of the building was the home of the Gananoque Museum. Since 1976, the back half of the building has been the home of the Gananoque Public Library, while the front of the building is now home to the Tourist Information Centre and the Gananoque Chamber of Commerce.
Gananoque Spring & Axle Manufacturing Company, 9 and 21 King St. E
Constructed in 1881, this building holds very important parts of Gananoque’s industrial heritage within its walls. Originally the location of the Gananoque Spring Manufacturing Company Ltd. (established in 1860, incorporated in 1876), it amalgamated with Byers & Matthew in 1884 to form the Gananoque Spring & Axle Company where carriage springs and axles were produced. In 1913, it merged with the D.F. Jones Manufacturing Company to become Ontario Steel Products (OSP) until 1960. Shortly after it became Beaver Hall Antiques, a store that focused on selling early Canadiana, particularly early Canadian portraits and silver. In 1967, owner John Russell was chosen to lend items for display at Expo 67 in Montreal. Russell was also chosen as a committee member for the selection of Canada’s wedding gift to Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981, where a bed from the store was gifted to the newlyweds. Beaver Hall antiques closed in 1995 and today the building is occupied by multiple different businesses including Laverne’s Eatery, the Eastern Bloc Climbing Gym, and Steel Style Garage. OSP’s other building at 9 King which housed company offices has since become the Bell Tower Mall, home of the Gananoque Brewing Company and a laundromat, among other businesses and apartments.
Gananoque Band Shell, 30 King St. E
Constructed in 1921 by Mitchell & Wilson, the bandshell is a notable feature of Gananoque’s Town Park. The Bandshell was designed by William Rees, the leader of Gananoque’s Citizens Band. In the 1930s, weekly concerts were offered from the bandshell. The Gananoque Citizens Band was the 1931 and 1932 Champion Band of Eastern Ontario, and the 1933 Champion Band of Canada at the Canadian National Exhibition. While the Citizen’s Band has since been discontinued, the Bandshell still hosts the occasional concert in Town Park.
Cenotaph, 30 King St. E
The Gananoque Cenotaph, erected in 1920, commemorates the 84 Gananoque servicemen who fought and were killed in service since World War I. Prior to the construction of the cenotaph, an artillery field gun occupied this site commemorating Gananoque citizens who fought for the British during the Crimean War (1853─1856) and the Boer War (1899─1902). The cenotaph originally commemorated the 58 Gananoque men killed in World War I. 3000 Gananoque citizens, out of a total population of 3600, attended the unveiling of the cenotaph on 15 December 1920. Included on the cenotaph is the name of 19-year-old, Private John Henry Brown, VC, who was awarded the Victoria Cross after succumbing to wounds received when delivering a message during an intense artillery barrage at Hill 70 that saved the lives of many fellow soldiers. A cairn commemorating his sacrifice can also be found near the cenotaph.
Gananoque Town Hall, 30 King St. E
Built in 1831, this building was once the home of the Macdonald Family, one of Gananoque’s leading families during the 19th Century. Charles and John Macdonald arrived in Gananoque in 1808 where they soon developed a lumber business and general store, becoming prosperous merchants and leading citizens of Gananoque. By the 1820s, they had a thriving business that controlled a large portion of the lumber trade along the Gananoque River after they developed a mill, that soon became one of the largest and most extensive in the Canadas. The Macdonalds also opened part of their home to be used as a schoolroom for the education of Gananoque’s children. The house continued to serve as the Macdonald home until it was bequeathed to the town for public purposes in 1911 by Charles Macdonald, the grand-nephew of Charles and John. Since then, the home has served as the Gananoque Town Hall housing a court, jail, library, and meeting space for town administration.
The Delaney Theatre, 75 King St. E
Eva and Sandford Delaney purchased the property after the Palace Theatre (185 King St.) suffered a fire in 1928. The Delaney Theatre was built during the Great Depression, taking six years to complete. The grand opening was held on July 29th, 1936. The theatre was designed to be fireproof as it was one of the first poured concrete buildings in North America. The theatre had an audience of 650 with the latest lighting, projection, and sound technology. The popularity of the television led to a decrease in audiences and the theatre was converted into a bowling alley in 1960. In 2013, the building was bought by Frayne McCarthy and Kevin Saylor and construction began with the support of generous community members. The building is now The Royal Theatre, a federally recognized theatre that supports a variety of performing arts events.
The Gananoque Reporter, 79 King St. E
The first issue of The Gananoque Reporter came off a Washington Hand Press on February 15, 1860. There were no typesetting machines or computers back then, rather, individual letters had to be picked out of a type case to form each word, sentence and story. The early issues consisted of four pages and a yearly subscription was $1.50. Originally built in 1869 as the residence of Daniel Freeman Britton Jr., the building was home to the Reporter office for 104 years. There was a 37 year stretch (1880 – 1917) when the newspaper was printed in a wood frame building across the street – the current location of Sushi Sun Restaurant. The Britton family owned the newspaper from 1860 to 1937; when Gerald A. Scott purchased the business. Gerald's son, Paul G., was publisher from 1978 to 2006 when The Reporter and its commercial printing interests of 1000 Islands Publishers Ltd. was purchased by Osprey Media. Currently The Gananoque Reporter is part of the Postmedia family of companies. If you look carefully above the door of this building, you can still see the outline of the letters that formed “REPORTER.” This building is now the home of MC Love, a clothing and home furnishing store.
R.J. Deir & Sons, 84 King St. E
This building was built in 1847 and housed Britton & Donevan Hardware and Dry Goods until 1872. Owner Daniel Freeman Britton operated Gananoque’s first post office out of the building from 1855─1888 when the first dedicated post office was built. James Donevan, first an employee of the business, took ownership when Mr. Britton retired in 1872. Donevan opened his own business further east on King Street in 1904. Later that year, R.J. Deir & Sons Ltd. opened in this location. Operated by three generations of the Deir Family, the store was the premier clothing store in Gananoque for over a century. Deir’s was known for carrying quality clothing and merchandise, and specializing in haberdashery and British imports. The store was always busy in the 1950s and 1960s, especially with the introduction of the store’s annual sale. Danny Deir, third generation operator, recalled a story to the Gananoque Reporter of the store’s first annual sale which saw the cash register’s drawer jam because there was too much money in it! The store closed in 2010 because of declining sales. The building is currently the home of Marble Rock Contractors & Developers.
Bank of Toronto, 99 King St. E
Built in 1909, this building housed the Bank of Toronto after it moved from its original location further west on King Street. The bank remained here until 1973, then moved diagonal corners to its current location. When the transition was made to the new bank, King Street was temporarily closed to allow staff to move the bank safe across the street to the new location! This building housed two businesses and two apartments until Woodchuck Crafts, Ltd. opened a new store in the building in 1985. The gallery sold a selection of crafts, jewelry, wood carvings and other goods. The name was changed to Woodchuck Gallery in 2003. In October 2020, Woodchuck Gallery permanently closed after 49 years in business.
Provincial Hotel, 98 King St. E
Originally the Cheevers House, this building was built by Thomas Cheevers in 1856. The hotel was known for selling “the choicest wines, liquors and cigars.” The Cheevers family lived in and operated the hotel until 1885 when it was sold to the McCarney family. The McCarney family changed the name to the Provincial Hotel and made the business into one of Gananoque’s most popular destinations, operating the hotel until 1989. In 2004, the building suffered serious interior damage from a fire, but the exterior of the building was unscathed. The hotel was soon renovated and reopened as the Stone Street Bar & Grill in 2005. It currently operates as Maverick’s Restaurant.
Bank of Montreal, 101 King St. E
This location at the southeast corner of King and Stone was home to the Montreal Telegraph Company. In 1897 the original Bank of Montreal building was constructed after the company's merger with the Merchant's Bank. This building also housed Bennett’s Hardware, one of Gananoque’s oldest businesses at the time from 1859─1966. Established in 1859, Bennett’s sold hardware and sporting goods. This magnificent building was demolished in 1967 to make way for the modern Bank of Montreal building in 1968.
Old Post Office, 100 King St. E
The imposing building that originally stood in this location, built in 1889, housed Osterhaut Dry Goods, Fullerton Drugs, and Turner’s Opera House, where the Gananoque Citizens Ball was held annually. Destroyed by fire in 1909, the structure was replaced by a fine new building by 1914 that became the home of Gananoque’s Post Office for the next 55 years. That building was demolished in 1972 and was replaced with the current TD Bank.
Prosser Studios, Plan 86 East Gananoque River Lot 42
Lorne Prosser was recognized as the town photographer, recording momentous events and daily life. Prosser's studio was in the old Bank of Montreal building on the southeast corner of King and Stone Streets from 1921 to 1957. He specialized in aerial photography, restoration of old prints, and portrait photography. He also captured the 1000 Islands area and Gananoque which were often reproduced in postcards and brochures for the local tourism industry. Promotional photographs for local businesses, school photos, plays, weddings, special events─ even pets – were all recorded in Prosser’s photos. Having photographs taken by Prosser was considered “one of the things to do” in Gananoque. His vast portfolio contributed to the town's collective memory and heritage and are in the collections of Queen's University and the 1000 Islands History Museum.
Donevan's Hardware, 135 King St. E
Opened in 1872, Donevan’s Hardware is the oldest continually operating business in Gananoque. This business claims descent from the original general store in Gananoque, started by Joel Stone in 1795. It moved to this location in 1928 and is currently run by the fifth generation of the family. On occasion, Charlie Donevan, third generation operator, can be seen at the store that was originally opened by his grandfather, James. Charlie has been working in the family business for over 90 years.
Modern Cafe, 124 King St. E
The Modern Café was established in 1935 by Fay Lee. It was a popular Chinese food restaurant that quickly became a well-respected family business in Gananoque. Lee worked seven days a week and was known to greet customers by their first names. The Modern Café operated under the Lee Family until 1998 when it was sold to new owners and remained open for another 10 years. The Old English Pub was opened here in 2008.
Rogers House, 161 King St. E
This was the first location of the Roman Catholic Church in Gananoque, here from 1846 until 1891. Dr. David Rogers built this home on the property in 1895, and operated a medical practice within it, the first home-based medical practice in Gananoque. Roger’s House is also one of the very few homes still standing in the Gananoque core, indicative of residential development along Ontario main streets prior to mass commercialization.
Palace Theatre, Plan 86 East Gananoque River Lot 17
Constructed in 1889, once three stories tall, this site was originally home to the Palace Theatre and a piano factory. From 1904–1928, the west section of the building was the second home of Donevan’s Hardware and was shared with Kelly and Bulloch’s Grocery. It was common at the time for two businesses to share a building with a single entrance. Significant damage from a 1939 fire resulted in the destruction of the third story and east third of the building. Luckin’s Meat Market, Kelly’s Fruit Market, and the Dominion Store were housed here from 1950 to the late-1960s. In 1968, the Dominion Store moved across the street and Canadian Tire moved into the building. The building was also home to the Gan Shoe Outlet from 1996 and is now home to Becker Shoes. The left section of the building is now home to Silk Salon & Aesthetics and Klips Grooming. In the destroyed east portion of the building the Gan Professional Building occupies the former site of Canadian Tire.
Pine Street "Pill Avenue"
After the establishment of Dr. David Rogers’ medical practice on King Street, this area of Gananoque soon experienced an expansion of home-based medical practices. Home-based practices and house visits by physicians were common in the late-1800s and early 1900s. Only the poor would risk a visit to a hospital! This block of Pine Street between Charles and Stone was known as “Pill Avenue,” with the practices of Drs. Bird (136 Pine), Sinclair (80 Charles), and Davis (128 Pine), as well as the homes of Drs. G.F. Emery (Mayor of Gananoque, 1901–02; 152 Pine) and William Hale, MC (259 Pine) all located here.
Bulloch House, 199 Pine St.
This 6000 sq. ft. 3-storey, 30-room Victorian mansion was built in 1888 for William Bulloch Sr., co-owner of Parmenter & Bulloch Manufacturing Company. Three generations of the Bulloch family lived in this house over a period of more than 100 years. Dora Bulloch (granddaughter of William Sr.) and her husband Air Vice Marshal Albert Earl Godfrey, MC, AFC (a highly decorated RCAF officer), the last family owners of the home, lived there for 65 years. Godfrey commanded some of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s largest training formations and major air commands. In 1941 he was appointed Deputy Inspector General of the RCAF. He was also the highest-ranking Canadian officer to fire on the enemy craft in WWII when he fired at a German U-boat in the Western Atlantic while engaged in coverage of a transatlantic convoy. The house is a symbol of the wealth and prestige earned by major industrialists of the late-1800s and early-1900s. The interior retains many of its original features including 19th-century bathroom sinks, and both Swarovski crystal and Tiffany & Co. lighting and glass windows. The basement of the house also contains a walk-in J.& J. Taylor safe used by William Bulloch Sr. and is said to have contained over $1 million at one point, indicative of the lack of trust placed in banks at the time. After the death of Dora Godfrey in 1990, the house was sold and transformed into a bed and breakfast and has been operated by a series of owners over the years. Bulloch House is currently operated as the 1000 Islands Bed & Breakfast.
Grace United Church, 120 Pine St.
Grace United was constructed as a Methodist church from 1871─1873 to replace the previous wooden structure built on the same site in 1863. It underwent significant renovation and enlargements including the addition of the tower and bell in 1874, and the nave in 1896. The Church suffered a major fire on 31 Aug 1979 and was rebuilt over a period of three years.
Lockup, 72 Stone St. S
Built by Thomas Anderson in 1861, the building was purchased by the Town of Gananoque to be used as the town jail from 1903–1911. From 1955–1975, Bill Wood operated a plumbing business from this location, also selling televisions and radios. In the late-1960s, the building was purchased by Carl and Mary Maroni, who later opened the first pizzeria in Gananoque, Maroni's. The building has since served as a hardware store, gift shop, and hair salon, and is now Banana Splitz Ice Cream Parlour.
Trinity House, 90 Stone St. S
Trinity House was originally the home and office of Dr. E.H. Atkinson. The bricks used in construction for the house were brought from Scotland as ballast on a ship and the building’s name comes from the Trinity District of Edinburgh, Scotland. Atkinson was the co-founder of the St. Lawrence Steel and Wire Company.
Old Post Office, 110 and 120 Stone St. S
This building, built in 1889, was Gananoque’s first dedicated post office, a role it served in until the second post office was completed in 1914 at the corner of King and Stone. In 1921, attempts were made by the Great War Veterans Association (precursor to the Royal Canadian Legion) to purchase the building and make it their permanent home but they were unsuccessful, and the building became a public school. From 1947–1975 it served as the offices of Dr. Borden Miller, and from 1975–2014 the law offices of Steacy & Delaney. Fred Delaney was a former town councilor and mayor of Gananoque in the 1980s and 1990s. The building has since been converted into apartments.
Clock Tower, 140 Stone St. S
The Clock Tower, built in 1903 by Mitchell & Wilson, was a gift to the Town of Gananoque from Charles Macdonald. The original firehall was also located here, and the tower was often used to hang hoses to dry. After moving operations to the armoury building on South Street in 1966, the firehall was demolished in 1974 to make way for the construction of the seniors' apartment complex. The Gananoque Blockhouse, constructed after Benjamin Forsyth’s raid on Gananoque in September 1812, was also located in this area, but was demolished in 1859.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 175 Stone St. S
This is Gananoque’s oldest church, built in 1855 on land donated by John Macdonald. The church's original spire was made of wood and was added in 1875. The rose window was brought from Scotland and donated by Mrs. Coates.
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church and Gananoque High School, 270 Stone St. S
This church was built in 1891 to replace the original Catholic Church on King Street. It was constructed from stone quarried at Howe Island, west of Gananoque. The marble altar was brought from Italy in 1915. St. John’s roof is notable for its slate construction and mosaic pattern. Gananoque’s first high school, constructed in 1895, was located in what is now the parking lot.
Federal Armoury, 185 South St.
Constructed in 1912 by the Federal Government, this building originally served as the armoury and drill hall. All of Gananoque’s soldiers mustered here prior to shipping overseas in WWI. In 1966, the building became the new home of the Gananoque Fire Services and Police Department. They remained here until moving to their current location on Herbert Street in 2004. The building was subsequently purchased by the Thousand Islands Playhouse who transformed into the Firehall Theatre. Check out their shows!
Gananoque Canoe Club, 175 South St.
Constructed in 1909, this building was originally the clubhouse of the Gananoque Canoe & Motor Boat Club, and hosted many local, provincial, and regional regattas over the decades. The Canoe Club reached their height in the 1930s winning three consecutive Canadian Canoe Association championships from 1933─35. As a community hub, the Canoe Club hosted popular dances and events throughout the decades. The Club moved to their current location on the Gananoque River in 1983 due to increased traffic on the St. Lawrence River. In 1984, the building became the Springer Theatre of the Thousand Islands Playhouse which puts on live theatre performances. Purchasing season tickets is the best way to see everything!
Gananoque Inn, 550 Stone St. S
This structure was built in 1860 by George Burrows to house the Gananoque Carriage Company, which became one of the largest carriage manufacturers in the country. In 1894, the company moved to Brockville taking advantage of its shipping opportunities. In 1896, the old factory was transformed into the Gananoque Inn, becoming one of the first examples in Canada of the conversion of an industrial space into tourist accommodations. The new Gananoque Inn suffered a significant fire in 1907 that destroyed most of the building. The Inn was soon rebuilt and continues to cater to guests today! As the last remaining hotel of the Golden Era in the 1000 Islands, the Inn is a much-loved landmark of the Gananoque waterfront.
Water Street Swing Bridge
Constructed by Leeds Iron and Bridge Works, Ltd. in 1893, the Water Street Swing Bridge was part of the Thousand Islands Railway, built with the goal of keeping the Gananoque Carriage Company in the village. Town Council provided funds for its construction. With a link to the railway and better transportation, the Gananoque Carriage Company and other companies on the east side of the river were able to expand. However, the bridge was not enough to keep the Gananoque Carriage Company in town, and it moved to Brockville in 1894. The Thousand Islands Railway made use of the rail line by transporting guests to the new Gananoque Inn, but due to reduced use, the rails were removed from the bridge in 1913. The bridge was sold to the Town of Gananoque in 1942 and converted for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The bridge sits on a limestone-clad pier which allows it to rotate using its original hand-crank mechanism, and the bridge swinging open is now a rare, but special event.
Leeds Foundry, 185 Mill St.
This building first housed E.E. Abbott’s Leeds Foundry and Machine Works. The foundry produced fittings for steamboats, agricultural tools, wood- and iron-working implements, as well as castings for various labour-saving tools. In 1890, the foundry, then known as the Economy and Machine Company was purchased by George Gillies. Gillies, who ranked as one of Gananoque’s major industrialists at the time, began to produce carriage hardware, including bolts and springs. However, Gillies was soon unable to compete with rapidly expanding national markets, resulting in his departure to Toronto in 1900. Gillies sold to the Toronto Nut & Bolt Co. which eventually became Steel Company of Canada (Stelco) in 1910. In 1915, Stelco purchased both the stone and red brick buildings, in which they continued to operate until the early-1940s.
St. Lawrence Woolen Mills, 185 Mill St.
This building, likely originally a stone building, was rebuilt around 1872 with red bricks to house Erastus Cook’s St. Lawrence Woolen Mills. The building was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1892. The building was rebuilt circa 1895 and housed the Thousand Islands Carriage Company. This operation was not successful, and the building was vacant within four years. However, the vacancy proved fortuitous for Gananoque as the McLaughlin Carriage Company in Oshawa had suffered a devastating fire and required a new building and machinery, which Gananoque could offer. The Town of Gananoque offered significant subsidies to McLaughlin in an effort to entice them to permanently stay in town. However, they returned to Oshawa shortly after a new factory was built. McLaughlin later became a significant portion of General Motors. The building was briefly occupied by cabinet makers until purchased by William J. Gibson in 1910, who operated the W. J. Gibson Harness Company until the late-1930s. Starting in 1915, Gibson manufactured saddles and harnesses, including some for the French, Russian, and Canadian artillery and cavalry forces in World War I. In 1937, the building was purchased by Edwin Link who began to construct Link Trainers in the building.
Link Manufacturing Company and Cliffe Craft Limited, 185 Mill St.
The red brick foundation on this site was once the home of the Link Manufacturing Company. Edwin Link purchased the building in 1937 to use as a factory to construct his Link Trainer. Opened in 1938, the Gananoque Link factory proved to be a vital part of the Allied effort in WWII. Born out of his love for flying and the cost of learning to fly, Link built a device, called the Link Trainer that simulated the motions of flying and dramatically reduced the time needed to learn to fly. Due to Britain’s restrictions on buying non-Commonwealth products during the War, Edwin Link, a US citizen, opened his factory in Gananoque to produce and sell the Link Trainer to Britain. The Link Trainer taught pilots to fly using their instrumentation panels and is the great-grandfather of modern flight simulators. The Link Trainer was instrumental to the success of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) which sought to standardize training for all air crew including pilots, navigators, bombardiers, wireless operators, air gunners, and flight engineers. The program had a staff of over 104 000, which resulted in the training of over 130 000 people for the war effort. The end of the war brought the need for a shift in focus, resulting in the creation of new products born out of Edwin Link’s ingenuity, including the Linkanoe and other boats. In the 1950s, the development of the fiberglass boat had significant impacts on Link, reducing the demand for his wooden boats. To keep the business afloat, Link began to produce television cabinets and wood furniture. However, this was not enough to keep the factory open and resulted in its sale to Cliffe Craft in 1967.Taking advantage of the St. Lawrence River and the local tourism industry, Cliffe Craft built luxury wooden boats that could often be seen cruising the St. Lawrence River for many years. Included in the boats built by Cliffe Craft were the John Wilson Murray and the Joseph E. Rogers (at 35 feet, the largest boat ever built by Cliffe Craft), two boats custom built in 1968 for the Ontario Provincial Police. They were two of the last wooden boats purchased for their fleet. With the increasing popularity of fiberglass boats, Cliffe Craft went out of business in 1996. However, Cliffe Craft boats remain prized possessions in the boating community.
Parmenter & Bulloch Manufacturing Company, 15 Clarence St.
Parmenter & Bulloch (P&B), established in 1864, was a pillar of local industry and a major employer in Gananoque. It helped the town earn the monikers “Birmingham of Canada” and “the rivet manufacturing capital of Canada.” When P&B started producing rivets (eventually over 5000 different types), they also manufactured the machines to make them, and were the only Canadian company to do so!During World War II, P&B produced necessary goods for the war effort and earned a contract from the Department of National Defence in 1938 to produce 20 000 aerial bombs. This contract resulted in a massive influx of unemployed men looking for work, but the company discouraged out-of-town workers because they hired the men of Gananoque first. During the war, P&B also produced featherweight aluminum rivets for aircraft, especially for the 430 Canadian-made Avro Lancaster bombers, which required over 750 000 rivets each (over 320 million rivets in total!). After production of these rivets ceased, P&B was the first Canadian company to make brass nose rings for bulls, making over 400 000 each year!In February 1946, P&B was put up for sale by owner W.V. Bulloch. It was anticipated that after the sale, the business would likely be relocated to a surplus war plant hundreds of miles away. To prevent this, the staff started a fund to purchase the company. Workers pledged whatever they could, raising nearly $200 000. Impressed with the actions of their employees, the Bulloch Family lowered the asking price from $600 000 to $575 000, and then further to $525 000. With the help of a loan from the Bank of Montreal, the P&B employees purchased the business, becoming the first employee-owned business in Canada. Skeptics believed that the company was bound to fail within six months. They were proved wrong. Within six months of employee ownership, the company declared its first dividend in eight years.While the experiment of employee-ownership was at first successful, P&B was eventually purchased by the Townsend Company in 1952, subsequently by the Textron Corporation in 1958, and then moved to a new location at Stone St. North and Highway 401. Textron was later purchased by Acument Global Technologies, but with declining sales and increased costs, operations were moved to the United States. As a result, the factory in Gananoque closed at the end of 2009, ending 145 years of industrial history in Gananoque.
Gananoque Boat Line
The Gananoque Boat Line (now City Cruises Gananoque) was founded in 1948 by Gananoque locals Grant Lucy, Art Bringloe and Walden Beckstead. The boat tour industry is one of the oldest industries in Gananoque having originated in the 1830s. Today, City Cruises is the uncontested leader of the town’s boat tour industry. The modern boat tour industry began after the end of the first world war. Most tours were operated by captains using their privately owned boats only carrying 6-10 passengers. As business grew, larger boats which could carry up to 40 passengers were built. The Gananoque Boat Line began service with the “Linda” series of tour boats before they were replaced during the 60s by the “Miss Gananoque” series which could accommodate more passengers. These boats had a short lifespan as they were replaced in the 70s with the current “Thousander Islander” series which are still used today.
Walking Tour Feedback
Thank you for participating in the Gananoque Heritage Walking Tour. Please fill out this survey to provide feedback and to assist the 1000 Islands History Museum in delivering our programming to the community. Please also consider making a donation to further support the Museum. The 1000 Islands History Museum would also like to thank the following for their contributions to the heritage walking tour and making this project a reality:Robyn Ableson- BarkerAlice BurtonMolly CliffeMackenzie CrumbAndrew Dickson, Gananoque Fire ServiceBob GibbinsAlyssa de Hoop, Thousand Islands PlayhouseSherry JohnsonHelen LeDucJoan MacKinnon, Gananoque Horticultural SocietyJohn Nalon, Gananoque Historical SocietyMary Ann MaruskaQueen’s University ArchivesRoss and Ewart RichardsonPaul ScottJim TaylorArt ThiviergeTD Bank GroupTown of GananoqueTown of Gananoque Public Utilities CommissionEdgar TumakKaren WandMichele Warton, 1000 Islands Bed & BreakfastDerryl WoodJulie Woods
