Eastern Ontario

Last Update: 19/JULY/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - й2008 American Forts Network

Fort Kente
(1812 - unknown), Carrying Place
A reconstruction of a wooden fort.

Amherst Island Blockhouse
(1839 - unknown), Amherst Island
A blockhouse was once located here.

д KINGSTON HARBOUR DEFENCES
Forts of Eastern Lake Ontario

д Fort Frontenac
(1673 - present)
A log fort originally called Fort Cataraqui. It was renamed and rebuilt with stone in 1675. The French had three outer earthwork batteries in 1755 - 1758. They were abandoned to the British. The British captured and destroyed the fort in August 1758, using one of the French outerworks as a three-gun seige battery, and also building an additional two-gun seige battery. The British enlarged and rebuilt the fort in 1783. It was renamed Tъte de Pont Barracks in 1789. The current fort was built from 1819 - 1824. The ruins of the original fortress have been partially excavated at Ontario Street and Place d'Armes, and also in the center garden of the new compound. It was renamed again in 1939. It is now home to the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College. Another website at Digital History.com

д Fort Henry
(1812 - 1891)
The second fort was built on the site of the first (a wooden blockhouse) during 1832-37. Two small Martello towers were built on either side of flanking ditches in 1846. The British left in 1870, and the fort was manned by the Canadian Militia to 1891, as the Canadian School of Gunnery. It was later abandoned and became a museum in 1938 after restoration. During World War I it was used as a camp for political prisoners, and during World War II it was used as a POW camp for Germans. This is the largest stone fort in Canada west of Quщbec City. Restored to its 1860's appearance. Admission fee.
Another website (a) | Another website (b) | PHOTO LINK

д Kingston Blockhouses
(1812 - 1815)
Six blockhouses were built along a palisaded line on the western side of the original settlement. They still existed until about 1900. Blockhouse #1 was located at Gore and Ontario Streets, #2 at Wellington and West Streets, #3 (with battery) at West and Sydenham Streets, #4 (with battery) at Princess and Clergy Streets, #5 (with battery) near Sydenham and North Streets, and a small blockhouse was located at West and Ontario Streets. Two gun batteries were also located along the palisade at Sydenham and William Streets, and at Sydenham and Ordnance Streets. Barracks were located behind the battery at Sydenham and William Streets, and also at Artillery Park, located at Barrack and Bagot Streets. The last British units left the Artillery Park Barracks in 1871. On Snake Island, about seven miles southwest, was Snake Island Blockhouse (1813 - 1815) and a one-gun battery. A Martello Tower was later planned for this location, but it was never built.

д Market Battery
(1820's ? - 1840's ?)
A large gun battery that defended the harbor against the Americans. It was demolished in 1885. It was located at Princess and Ontario Streets, near the City Hall. It was replaced by the Shoal Martello Tower.

д Missisagua Point Battery
(1812 - unknown)
A large gun battery that defended the harbor against the Americans, located at the end of Gore Street.

д Murney Martello Tower (National Historic Site)
(1846 - 1890)
Located on King Street, along the waterfront in MacDonald Park. Operated as a museum since 1925. Admission fee.
Murney's Point Blockhouse, a wooden blockhouse with an earthwork battery, was located here in 1812.

д Fort Frederick
(1813 - 1870, present)
Located on the grounds of the Canadian Royal Military College, founded in 1876, the equivalent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. The Royal Military College Museum is in the Martello Tower. The previous fort (a wooden blockhouse with a stone battery) was demolished in 1846, a portion of the stone battery is still visible. The Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard was here on Navy Bay from 1792 - 1852. The Naval Depot was established in 1789. Point Frederick Blockhouse was built in 1791 for its protection.

д Kingston Martello Towers (National Historic Site) ?
(1845 - 1870? or 1890?)
Masonry towers constructed between 1845 and 1848. Four Martello towers were in Kingston. Murney and Fort Frederick (mentioned above) plus Victoria Tower (in Flora MacDonald Marina) and Cathcart Redoubt (near Fort Henry), also known as Shoal Tower and Cedar Island Tower respectively. Not accessible to the general public. PHOTO LINK | Another PHOTO LINK

д Vimy Barracks
(unknown - present)
Now in use as the Canadian Forces Communications and Electronic Museum, at CFB Kingston.

д NOTES: Kingston defences originally planned for six forts and five Martello towers in 1829. Due to budget constraints, only Fort Henry and two of the original towers were built (Murney and Cedar Island). Two other towers were later added (Shoal and Fort Frederick).

дд Rideau Canal Defences
Rideau Canal National Historic Site | Rideau Canal History

дд Kingston Mills Blockhouse
(1832 - 1870?), Codes Corner
One of four blockhouses built to protect the Rideau Canal, a military waterway intended as an alternative to the St. Lawrence River in case of American attack. The blockhouse was restored in 1967.

дд Isthmus Blockhouse
(1832 - 1870?), Newboro
One of the four blockhouses that were built on the Rideau Canal. It was rebuilt in 1888, extensively modifying the structure. It has been renovated and restored to its original appearance.

дд Narrows Blockhouse
(1832 - 1870?), near Newboro
One of the four blockhouses built to protect the Rideau Canal. It was restored in 1968.

дд Merrickville Blockhouse (Museum)
(1832 - 1870?), Merrickville
The largest of four blockhouses that were located on the Rideau Canal. It was restored in 1965. PHOTO LINK

дд Burritts' Rapids Blockhouse
(1832), Burritts Rapids
A blockhouse was started here, but construction was halted. The stone first story was capped by a wooden roof in 1836. A two-story frame structure replaced the original in 1915.

дд Commissariat House
(1827 - 1927), Ottawa
It was built and used by the Royal Engineers as a warehouse and depot during the construction of the Rideau Canal. There was a large fort planned for the Bytown (Ottawa) end of the Rideau Canal, but it was never built. After 1856 the building was used for military storage. It now houses the Bytown Museum (since 1952). The Royal Engineers' Office was located opposite the canal from the Commissariat House. It was similar in construction, and was dismantled in 1928. The foundation is still visible near the locks. Barracks and a hospital for the canal workers and soldiers were located on Barracks Hill until 1859, now the location of the Canadian Parliament complex. Bytown was renamed Ottawa in 1855.
Another website on the Rideau Canal Ottawa Lockstations

дд NOTES: There were 12 other "defensible" stone lockstations built along the canal from 1838 - 1842. Most still exist. Ownership of the canal was transferred from the British Ordnance Department to the Province of Upper Canada in 1856.

Gananoque Blockhouse
(1813 - 1815), Gananoque
A blockhouse with an octagonal log parapet with five guns. It was abandoned after the war and given to a private landowner.

Bridge Island Blockhouse
(1814 - 1815), near Mallorytown Landing
A blockhouse with two guns, with a one-gun circular battery. A marker is located at Mallorytown Landing. This island was a stopping-over place between Brockville and Gananoque.

Pointe au Baril Shipyard
(1758 - 1759), near Maitland
A French fortified shipyard established after the fall and capture of Fort Frontenac in August 1758 to the British. The small yard was protected by earthworks and a palisade. Two small ships were launched here in 1759, but the site was abandoned with Fort La Prщsentation (New York) in August 1759. Located about 5.5 miles upstream (southwest) from Ogdensburg, NY.

La Galette Trading Post
(1682 ? - unknown), Prescott
A small French trading post. Abandoned and reoccupied several times. This name was often applied to Fort La Prщsentation across the St. Lawrence River in Ogdensburg, New York.

Fort Wellington (National Historic Site)
(1813 - 1923), Prescott
The fort was originally an earthworks fort, with a shore battery by the river, in 1813 - 1815. The second fort (1837) was built on the ruins of the first fort. There are three original structures surrounded by earthworks, palisade, and dry moat. There is a stone blockhouse, and restored Officers' quarters and latrine. After 1869 the fort was used as a provincial military depot. Admission fee. Another website at potsdam.edu
Nearby on East Street is the Stockade Barracks (1810 - 1818). It is the oldest standing military structure in Ontario. It was also the garrison hospital for Fort Wellington after 1814. It is now a restaurant and museum.

Nearby on Windmill Point is the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site (1838). The windmill was later used as a military lookout, and was rebuilt as a lighthouse in 1874, in use until 1975. Admission fee.

Point Iroquois Blockhouses
(1815), Iroquois (?)
Two redoubts with blockhouses, and a river battery, were started here, but were never finished before the War of 1812 ended.

Cornwall Blockhouse
(1815), Cornwall
A blockhouse barracks with a four-gun shore battery was never finished. Located near French Point.

Raisin River Blockhouse
(1813 - 1815), Lancaster
A blockhouse and two-gun battery protected the road and bridge crossing the river. It was accidently burned down after the war.

Ottawa Trading Post
(1613 - unknown), Ottawa
A French post.

NEED MORE INFO:
Towns / Villages: Fort Irwin; Fort Stewart.

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