Kirkfield is a small community located in the city of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, and is located just off the Ontario Southern Route, and is 44 km southeast of Orillia and 38 km northwest of Lindsay (Kawartha Lakes). Kirkfield remains a place of interest for those intrigued by the engineering feats of the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Kirkfield Lift Lock (just north of town).
The town has a small retail sector and is home to The Sir William Mackenzie Inn, home of one of Canada’s important home-grown railway magantes.
Kirkfield History
In 1864, the unincorporated village, being predominantly Scottish at the time, chose the name of Kirkfield, after Kirk’ o’ Field in Edinburgh.
The history of Kirkfield is intricately linked to the construction of the Trent-Severn Waterway, a 386-kilometer-long canal route that connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay in Lake Huron. The project, initiated in the 1800s, aimed to improve transportation and facilitate the movement of goods through a series of locks, canals, and natural water bodies. One of the notable features along the Trent-Severn Waterway is the Kirkfield Lift Lock, which at 15 metres (49 ft) is the second-highest hydraulic lift lock in the world. The lift lock was completed in 1907 and plays a crucial role in managing the elevation changes along the waterway. Boats are lifted or lowered in a chamber filled with water, and it remains an engineering marvel of its time.
The construction of the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Kirkfield Lift Lock had a significant impact on the local economy. It facilitated the transportation of goods and people, fostering economic development in the region. The lift lock, in particular, became a focal point for trade and contributed to the growth of nearby communities.
Kirkfield was also served by a railway line that further enhanced its ability to get people and goods to and from other markets. Kirkfield saw the development of services and amenities to support the needs of travelers and residents.
Kirkfield is the birthplace of Canadian railway, transit, and electrical entrepreneur William Mackenzie. His railway, the Canadian Northern Railway, was Canada’s second transcontinental, begun in 1895 and opened in 1915. It went bankrupt during World War I, but was merged with other bankrupt companies including the Grand Trunk Railway to become Canadian National Railways in 1923. His 1888 home is now the The Sir William Mackenzie Inn, and is rumoured to be haunted.