ABOUT BURRITTS RAPIDS
Burritts Rapids is a quiet little community, one of the first established on the Rideau. The village itself is on a small island, although you'll find the Church and several residences located on the north shore. There is a General Store with antiques and gifts as well as a restaurant in town. A feature of the island is the Tip to Tip Trail - a brochure detailing this trail is available at the Burritts Rapids lockstation (it can also be downloaded from this website by going to the Documents Page.)
HISTORY
Burritts Rapids was one of the first settlements on the Rideau, predating the Canal itself. In 1793, Colonel Stephen Burritt, his three brothers and their wives floated down the Rideau River on a raft, looking for a spot for a settlement. When they got to the rapids, they saw the potential for a mill.
The story goes that, soon after settling there, they were dying from a fever when they were rescued by a band of local Indians, nursed back to health, and even had their crops harvested for them. Ever after, the Burritt home was a welcoming place for Indians travelling the Rideau.
When Colonel By came through in 1826, Burritts Rapids was a thriving village with several businesses. The first townsite was laid out in 1830 and a post office, with the name "Burritt's Rapids" was established in 1839. In the 20th century, the name was changed to "Burritts Rapids" and today, both the community and lockstation are known by that name. The village, like the Rideau Canal itself, lost its commercial importance at the start of the 20th century.
The bridge at the south end of town is in the location where the first bridge across the Rideau was built in 1824. The present steel truss swing bridge dates to 1897. The bridge is opened by turning a crank in the pivot at one end of the bridge. Counter weights and a set of roller wheels mounted on a circular track underneath allow the bridge to be swung with little effort.
To learn more about this charming village and the countryside, visit the lockstation and take a stroll down the Tip-to-Tip Trail.
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