PRESCOTT
Prescott is a town of 4,000 people (2016) in the Seaway Region of eastern Ontario, Canada.
Bio
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.
Travel To
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 (west) 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
The train no longer stops in Prescott; the town’s limestone 1856 Grand Trunk wayside station (a National Historic Site) now houses the local historic society. VIA Rail service is available to Brockville from Montréal, Toronto and Ottawa; Montréal-Toronto buses also stop in Brockville.
By boat
- Sandra Lawn Harbour and Marina, 191 Water Street, ☏ +1 613-925-1255. 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
The closest major airport is Ottawa Uplands (YOW IATA), about forty minutes north by motorcar. There’s a small airport in Ogdensburg (OGS IATA) with a few flights a day to Albany; another alternative is Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL IATA).
Get around the city
- AJ’s Taxi, 222 King W., ☏ +1 613-925-2558.
- Prescott Taxi, 152 King W., ☏ +1 613-925-2228.
Sights
- Fort Wellington National Historic Site, 370 Vankoughnet St, Prescott K0E 1T0 (at Hwy 2 / King St. E.), ☏ +1 613-925-2896, toll-free: +1 888-773-8888, fax: +1 613-925-1536. May-Oct: 10AM-5PM, closed Tu W except Canada Day-Labour Day. A historical open-air museum in a fortification built during the War of 1812 with guided tours through the restored buildings. $3.90, seniors $3.40, 17 or under free.
- Forwarders Museum, 201 Water St., ☏ +1 613-925-1861. Late May-early Sep: daily 11AM-4PM. 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. By donation.
- Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site, Windmill Road (follow King St E. (Hwy 2) 2 km east from Fort Wellington, turn to waterfront on Windmill Road), ☏ +1 613-925-2896. A 60-foot-tall (18 m) stone lighthouse tower to the public. Visitors are led on a guided tour of the tower, and can climb to the top just below the lantern room for a view of the St. Lawrence River. It marks the site of the Battle of the Windmill, fought in November 1838, during the Upper Canada Rebellion. $1.90/person.
Things to do
- Kelly’s Beach, West end of town near Centennial Park.
- Prescott Golf Club, 900 Boundary Street, ☏ +1 613-925-5370, pgc@prescottgolfclub.ca. May 1 – October 1, 7AM-7PM. 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, 206 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-925-5788. Performances are given at the Kinsmen Amphitheatre (which is where the map marker is located). $27/person, $20 Wed matinée.
Shopping
- Farmer’s Market. Tu,Th,Sa 8AM-1PM. Prescott Farmers’ Market every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Clock Tower (updated Feb 2021)
- Windmill Brewery, 5 Newport Dr (across Highway 2 from the Battle of the Windmill Historic Site), ☏ +1 613-704-0154, info@windmillbrewery.ca. Craft brewery with a taproom. (updated Feb 2021)
Dining
- Bridgeview Dockside Restaurant & Patio, 2801 Highway 2, ☏ +1 613-925-5663. M-F 5:30AM-9PM, Sa Su 6:30AM-9PM.
- Dragon Garden Restaurant, 354 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-925-4981. Daily 10AM-10PM. Chinese.
- Nick´s Restaurant, 107 Churchill Road E, ☏ +1 613-925-2882. M Tu 10AM-9PM, W-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 9AM-7PM. Greek. (updated Jul 2018)
- Papa Larry´s Restaurant, 178 King Street E, ☏ +1 613-925-4226. Pizza.
- Piccolo Café, 178 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-925-5762. M-Sa 8AM-4PM. Coffee shop.
- Tim’s Fish & Chips, 286 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-918-0411. Sa-Th 11AM-8PM, F 11AM-9PM. Take out.
- Wok House Restaurant, 238 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-925-2532. Daily 10AM-10PM. Cantonese and Canadian.
Nightlife
- Boomer´s Sports Bar & Restaurant, 186 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-925-0174. Daily 11AM-2AM (reduced hours Sunday and Monday). Live bands, karaoke, big screen TV.
- O’Heaphy’s Irish Pub, 101 King Street W, ☏ +1 613-925-0006. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM. Dine on an outdoor patio.
- Red George Public House, 197 Water St., ☏ +1 613-925-8800. British-style pub in basement of circa 1830 stone building on waterfront, next to Forwarder’s Museum.
Hotels
- Colonel’s Inn, 408 East St., ☏ +1 613-925-2159. B&B guest house in 1830s stone manor near Fort Wellington.
- Dewar’s Inn on the River, 1649 Hwy 2, 2 km west of Prescott, ☏ +1 613-925-3228, toll-free: +1 877-433-9277, fax: +1 613-925-1152, mail@dewarsinn.com. No pets, no kids under 12. Riverside motel and cottages. Advertises as a location for shore diving.
- ZENS INN, 232 King Street West, ☏ +1 613-447-0212, info@zensinn.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: Noon. Sleeping pods and single-occupancy bedrooms, with a common room. The entire inn can accommodate only 11 people. $50-65. (updated Feb 2021)
- Bridgewaters Inn, 2702 Highway 2, Johnstown, ☏ +1 613-925-3076. Motel. The closest accommodations to the bridge to Ogdensburg. (updated Feb 2021)
- Ships Anchor Inn Bed and Breakfast, 495 King St. W (near Kellys Bay Beach), ☏ +1 613-925-3573. (updated Feb 2021)
Additional info
- Prescott Public Library, 360 Dibble St. W., ☏ +1 613-925-4340. M-Th 1PM-8PM, F 1PM-5PM. Eight public-use computers, scan/fax/print/copy, reading room, used books for sale.
- Dominion Lighthouse Visitors Centre, 181 Water St. E. June-August 8:30AM-8:30PM. Free wi-fi available by request. (updated Feb 2021)
Regional Travel
Staying in Canada, Merrickville and the Rideau Canal.
Crossing the border to the USA, Ogdensburg.
| Routes through Prescott |
| Kingston ← Brockville ← | W  E | → Morrisburg → Montreal |
| Ottawa ← Kemptville ← | N  S | → END |
| Ottawa ← becomes ← | N  S | →  → becomes  → Ogdensburg → Utica via |
Area information provided by wikivoyage.org
Prescott Featured Services | Area Directory
