Prescott (Ontario)

Like Brockville directly to the west (and countless other "founded 1784" towns), Prescott was established by United Empire Loyalists soon after the American Revolution (1776-1783) to house the King's loyal subjects. The town's location on the St. Lawrence River at a narrows directly opposite Ogdensburg, New York, made it strategically important in the War of 1812 as the river was a key supply line. A US attack on Gananoque from Sackets Harbor on September 21, 1812 led to retaliation in which Prescott's 1812-era Fort Wellington attacked Ogdensburg on February 22, 1813.
A second Fort Wellington was built on the same site in 1838 as a response to an unsuccessful domestic rebellion.
Before the Seaway opened in 1958 to bypass rapids downriver at Long Sault, Great Lakes vessels would unload grains and cargo in Prescott-Ogdensburg for onward shipment by rail to Atlantic seaports. Rail lines were also constructed from the region to Ottawa to provide that city with access to river cargo; the Prescott-Ottawa line is now gone (except for a few fragments within Ottawa) but Brockville-Smiths Falls-Ottawa remains in use for passenger service to Toronto.

By car

• From Montréal and Toronto, Prescott is on the Windsor-Quebec corridor as Highway 401 exit 714 (Edward Street)
• From Ottawa, take Highway 416 southbound to the 401 (exit 721). Prescott-Ogdensburg is the first town upriver from the international bridge.
• From Watertown (New York), take NY 37 to Ogdensburg, then cross the bridge to Johnstown (401 exit 721). Prescott is 7 km (4.5 mi) upriver.

By train

By boat

• Sandra Lawn Harbour and Marina

  phone: +1 613-925-1255
  address: 191 Water Street
  Rotary Lighthouse with souvenir shop, outdoor amphitheatre with free summer Sunday concerts beginning at 7PM in July and 6:30PM in August, 148-slip seasonal boat harbour, playground and picnic area.

By plane

• AJ's Taxi

  phone: +1 613-925-2558
  address: 222 King W.

• Prescott Taxi

  phone: +1 613-925-2228
  address: 152 King W.

• Fort Wellington NHS

  phone: +1 613-925-2896
  address: 370 Vankoughnet St, Prescott K0E 1T0

• Forwarders Museum

  phone: +1 613-925-1861
  address: 201 Water St.
  Three-storey structure built by Captain William Gilkison in 1810 at the height of the forwarding trade on the St. Lawrence River, when material carried downriver by boat was offloaded on land to skirt the nearby rapids. The building was used as an American Consul, a law office and a coin laundry before being taken over by the Grenville Historical Society in 1970; it now houses the municipal visitor centre.

• Battle of the Windmill NHS

  phone: +1 613-925-2896
  address: Windmill Road

• Kelly's Beach

  address: West end of town near Centennial Park

• Prescott Golf Club

  phone: +1 613-925-5370
  address: 900 Boundary Street
  18-hole semi-private course at east end of town, established 1939. "Greens" casual restaurant (kitchen/bar) +1 613-925-3908.

• St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

  phone: +1 613-925-5788
  address: 206 King Street W.

• Prescott Farmers' Market every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Clock Tower

• Bridgeview Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-925-5663
  address: 2801 Highway 2

• Dragon Garden Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-925-4981
  address: 354 King Street W.
  Chinese

• Nick´s Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-925-2882
  address: 107 Churchill Road E.
  Greek.

• Papa Larry´s Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-925-4226
  address: 178 King Street E.
  Pizza.

• Piccolo Café

  phone: +1 613-925-5762
  address: 178 King Street W.
  Coffee shop.

• Tim's Fish & Chips

  phone: +1 613-918-0411
  address: 286 King Street W.
  Take out.

• Wok House Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-925-2532
  address: 238 King Street W.
  Cantonese and Canadian

• Boomer´s Sports Bar & Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-925-0174
  address: 186 King Street W.
  Live bands, karaoke, big screen TV.

• O'Heaphy's Irish Pub

  phone: +1 613-925-0006
  address: 101 King Street W.
  Dine on an outdoor patio.

• Red George Public House

  phone: +1 613-925-8800
  address: 197 Water St.
  British-style pub in basement of circa 1830 stone building on waterfront, next to Forwarder's Museum.

• Colonel's Inn

  phone: +1 613-925-2159
  address: 408 East St.
  B&B guest house in 1830s stone manor near Fort Wellington.

• Dewar's Inn on the River

  phone: +1 613-925-3228
  address: Hwy 2, 2 km west of Prescott
  No pets, no kids under 12. Riverside motel and cottages. +1-877-4DEWARS

• Prescott Public Library

  phone: +1 613-925-4340
  address: 360 Dibble St. W.
  Eight public-use computers, scan/fax/print/copy, reading room, used books for sale.

• Merrickville and the Rideau Canal