Buell's Bay
Brockville was first known as "Buell's Bay" and then "Elizabeth Town." After the war of 1812, the town was named "Brockville" to honour the war hero, Issac Brock.

Misogynist
Circa 1812, Brockville's first school teacher hired was a man named Joseph Pyle. He was a "misogynist", meaning he was afraid of women. Rather than meet a woman on the road, he would climb a fence and make a circuit through the fields.

Bees
The settlers in the area devised their own entertainment through "bees"; affairs of great hilarity and fun, like logging bees, barn raising, corn husking and the quilting bee. Description of a quilting bee in the June 1st, 1830 edition of 'The Recorder and Times':

The day is set; the ladies met,
And at the frame are seated;
In order placed they work in haste
To get the quilt completed.
While fingers fly, their tongues they ply,
And animate their labours,
By counting beaux, discussing clothes
Or talking of their neighbours.

Rewarding the Thief
Circa 1835 in Prescott, a mail bag containing 10,000 pounds fell off the courier's sleigh and disappeared. A notice was posted offering a 200 Pound Sterling reward for information regarding the thief and recovery of the money. Within half an hour, a man in Prescott announced that he had found the bag in the snow, taken part of the money and now claimed the reward for informing on himself!

Canada's First Railway Tunnel
Brockville has Canada's first railway tunnel. Construction began in 1854, and on January 25th, 1859, the first passenger train with two miniature coaches and a wood burning locomotive, left Brockville for Perth. The weather was phenomenally cold (-40F) and caused wheels to slip and couplings to break. The coach had to be linked to the locomotive with a rope, and passengers reached Perth in 9 1/2 hours instead of the scheduled 3 1/2.

Interesting Tunnel Facts:
The tunnel's oak doors were closed at night to keep wandering live stock out.

In 1864, when they built Victoria Hall (City Hall, today) the builders were faced with some unique design challenges as the Victoria Halll building was erected directly above the tunnel. In fact, smoke that accumulated in the tunnel from the coal fired engines had to be vented up through the chimneys of City Hall.

YMCA
In 1867, when a branch of the YMCA was established in Brockville, their most popular service was providing baths!

Office Rules
Office rules of the Central Canada Coal Company (1872, located in present Brockville Museum Beecher House):

Male employees will be given an evening off each week for courting purposes, or two evenings if they regularly attend church.

Any employee who smokes Spanish cigars, uses liquor in any form, gets shaved at a barber shop or frequents pool or public halls will give me good reason to suspect his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty.

Dramatic Moments
On Dominion Day in 1874, Professor Squires of the USA brought his helium balloon "Atlantic" to Brockville for a flight from Court House Green. The balloon lifted off and a gust of wind caused it to suddenly drift towards the Wesleyan Methodist Church (Wall Street church, today), where it snagged on the spire. The balloon was punctured and left the Professor dangling dangerously above the ground.

1897 News Item
As reported by The Recorder and Times in 1897, a town clergyman while out on pastoral work noticed an urchin trying to reach a doorbell. He stepped up to the boy and said, "let me do it for you, my boy." When the bell rang, the little chap said, "now Mr., you skin out like the deuce," and off the youngster ran, leaving the disconcerted minister to make explanations as best he could.

Stetson Hat Factory
Stetson Hat Factory used an apprenticeship program. The apprentice and their employer signed the following agreement:

"The said apprentice doth covenant and promise that he will serve his master faithfully... that he will not play cards, dice or any unlawful game... that he will not absent himself from his master's service without his heave, nor haunt ale-houses, taverns of playhouses."

King The Police Dog
Police dog "King" of the J.P. Porter and Son's Drill Boat, was lost in the June, 1930 drill boat disaster, but was well loved and admired for his heroism. In February, 1930, he effected the rescue of crew member, Jack Wylie, saving him from drowning in the St. Lawrence off Blockhouse Island. He dived off from the deck of the boat, found Wylie who had disappeared under the water, and returned to the surface with a firm grasp upon his clothing.

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