Delta (Ontario)

Delta is a small community in the Seaway Region of Eastern Ontario where you can explore the region's rural heritage with a stone mill from 1810, and a heritage walking tour . The community was first settled by European immigrants in the 1800s along the upper reaches of Plum Hollow Creek and has grown since, making the total population of the hamlets and villages in Rideau Lakes about 11,000 (2021).

Understand

Old Stone

History

In 1794, Abel Stevens settled in the area from Vermont, along with other families, along the upper reaches of plum hollow creek. At the time, the town was named Bastard Township, and a sawmill was made in the town in 1796. By the 1800s, the town had significantly grown, constructing another sawmill in 1808 and building roads to all the major villages around, and in 1810, a stone mill was built in the community by William Jones and Ira Schofield, which became the main reason for growth in the town, soon building a baptist church, a store, and expanding the mill. The town was then named Beverly, as a man named Sir John Beverly donated a bell to the Anglican church in exchange for the town to be named after him. By 1857, when Delta applied for a postal office, they had to change the name, as another town was named Beverly, so they changed it to Delta, as the town lay between two lakes: Upper and Lower Beverly Lake.

By the early 1900s, Delta had a population of 500, being the biggest town in the region mainly because of the success of the Old Stone Mill, and was connected by rail on the Brockville, Westport & Sault Ste. Marie Railway. In the later years, Delta became also known for their syrup bottling plant, Confederated Foods, and the town has hosted the Delta Fair, now named the Delta Maple Syrup Festival, since the 1830s.

Neighbouring communities

Delta has many communities that neighbour it in the Rideau Lakes township area, the three surrounding it being the hamlets of Phillipsville, Soperton, and Little Brockville. Some of the closest village settlements are Lyndhurst, where an iron foundry was created by the settlers that lived in Delta, and Seeley's Bay, to the south, Portland to the north, Athens to the east and Westport to the west.

Tourist information

• Delta Tourism website

Get in

Delta is in the Rideau Lakes township, 40 km from the US border, 70 km from Kingston, Ontario, and 130 km away from Canada's capital, Ottawa.

See Ottawa or Kingston options to get in the Rideau Lakes area by plane, bus, train, or boat.

By car

Border crossing from the United States

Lansdowne - Alexandria Bay (40 minutes from Delta, Ontario by car, 42 kilometers away from the US border). (updated Jul 2024)

• Follow Highway 3 from Lansdowne Border Crossing
• Right onto Highway 33 towards Lyndhurst
• Right onto Highway 42 into Delta town core

Kingston Airport

Kingston Airport (YGK) (60 minutes away from Delta, 70 kilometers away). (updated Jul 2024)

• Take Bayridge Drive into Highhway 401
• Exit onto Highway 15
• Take the right exit onto Highway 33
• Right onto Highway 42 into Delta town core

Get around

There is no public transportation in the Delta area, however there are car rental companies in Kingston and Ottawa. The backroads off of the highways allow for biking travel to Delta along the Cataraqui Trail, stretching from Strathcona to Smiths Falls, however some parts of the travel will be on the side of the highway. The closest airport is Kingston Airport (YGK), however travel to Ottawa, also within a short distance, may be more desired.

See

• 1 Old Stone Mill National Historic Site, 44 King St. Daily 10AM-4PM. Built in 1810, the old mill has been restored to its former glory by the Delta Mill Society, a non-profit volunteer group. The mill is open to the public from the Victoria Day long weekend in May to Labour Day in September and during special Delta events (Maple Syrup Festival, Delta Harvest Festival and Celebrating the Season). In addition to its impressive architecture, it features an operating water wheel and mill stones. Heritage grain is ground into flour using the old mill stones several times during the season. (updated Jul 2024)
• The Denaut Mansion. A spacious 1849 heritage home on 12 acres on Upper Beverly Lake. Close to Charleston Lake National Park and in between Brockville and Kingston in an authentic rural area. (updated Jul 2024)
• Delta Fire Hall Museum, 121 Mill Creek Drive. Delta's old historic community fire hall restored by local volunteer Jeff Findlay. (updated Jul 2024)

Do

• Delta Maple Syrup Festival. An annual tradition that has been running for almost 60 years, and is a core part of Deltan history and culture. Happening every year in mid-April, the festival features music, craft sales, petting zoos, historic village tours, and a lot of food, specifically maple syrup and pancakes. (updated Jul 2024)
• Delta Fair. The Delta Fair is an annual fair that has been running since the 1830s, making it Ontario's oldest continuously operating fair. Running at the end of July, this fair includes entertainment with music, contests, rodeos, petting zoos, and carnival games and rides. (updated Jul 2024)
• Delta Heritage Walking Tour. This walking tour explores all the unique history of Delta and its neighbouring settlements, visiting many locations including the Old Stone Mill, William Bell Store & House, Business Block, and more historic locations around Delta village. (updated Jul 2024)
• Lower Beverly Lake Park. Lower Beverley Lake Park began in 1967 as a project for Canada's centennial. Today Lower Beverley Lake Park is a public campground located on the shores of beautiful Lower Beverley Lake in Delta. Serves as a great spot for camping trips and hiking trails. (updated Jul 2024)

Eat and drink

• Bastard Coffee House, 51 King St. M-F 7AM-3PM, Sa Su 8AM-4PM. Unique coffee house with plenty of brunch and dessert options as well as refreshments and other drinks. (updated Jul 2024)
• J&S Goodies, 5 King St. W-Su 11AM-9PM. Burgers and other fast food items for lunch and dinner. (updated Jul 2024)
• Sub Zero, 54 King St. W Su 11AM-3PM, Th-Sa 11AM-6PM. Ice cream, desserts and small meals offered for takeout. (updated Jul 2024)

Sleep

• 1 3 Continents B&B, 83 King St, ☏ +1 905-922-3847. Updated home with comfortable themed bedrooms. Delicious breakfast with seasonal farm to table ingredients. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Lower Beverley Lake Park public campground, 146 Lower Beverley Lake Road, ☏ +1 613-928-2881. Mid-May to mid October. 11 cottages, 2 bunkies and 235 trailer and tent campsites scattered through 106 acres of mixed forest and parkland. (updated Jul 2024)