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Ebenezer Frost was born on October 9, 1790 in Battleboro, Vermont. As a young man, Frost signed up for the United States Army Calvary Regiment during the War of 1812. After the war, Frost moved around until finally immigrating to Upper Canada in the 1830s.

In 1839, Frost settled in Smyth's Falls (now known as Smiths Falls), and opened a small blacksmith's shop on Jason Island along the newly constructed Rideau Canal. This small blacksmith shop, known as the Agricultural and Implement Works, began manufacturing stoves and plows, and would grow into one of the most successful agricultural manufacturing companies in Canada.

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Ebenezer Frost
Circa 1830s
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Evoy, Wayne

3

Alexander Wood was born on August 14, 1823 and later came to Smiths Falls on March 17, 1843. Ebenezer Frost had recently added an iron foundry to his blacksmith shop, and hired Wood to work as an iron founder at the Agricultural and Implement Works.

After a short stint in Ottawa, Wood returned to Smiths Falls in May of 1846 and entered into a partnership with Frost to form the Frost & Wood Company.

In 1880, Wood also bought a grist mill complex, which today is home to Parks Canada and the Rideau Canal Museum on Wood Island.

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Alexander Wood
Circa 1880s
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

5

During the 19th century, the Rideau Canal was a busy and important transportation system in Eastern Ontario. Large barges and steamers moved cargo and passengers along the canal between Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario, on the St. Lawrence River.

In April 1847, a vessel coming up the Rideau Canal damaged a Frost & Wood building when it mistakenly rammed the shore, causing a flood to lift the building off its foundation and float it down river. The founders then decided to relocate the company from Jason Island to land further down river.

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The Frost & Wood Company in 1880
Circa 1880
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Rideau Canal Museum

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The new Frost & Wood factory moved to land facing Chambers Street and backing onto the Rideau Canal. At this new location, the company prospered and began producing new products such as mowers, horse powered threshers, cauldrons, binders, reapers in addition to plows and stoves.

Disaster struck again in January 1854, when a fire razed much of the wooden-framed factory. The Frost & Wood factory was quickly rebuilt and by March was up and running again. However, this time the company chose instead to use stone and brick for the newly constructed buildings.

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The Premises of Messrs. Frost & Wood in 1870
Circa 1870
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

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By 1860, there were approximately 46 farm equipment companies in Canada alone. Competition was high but some, like Frost & Wood, had advantages when it came to getting their farm implements out to consumers.

At the time, competitors such as the Cockshutt Plow Company in Brantford, Ontario, and the Massey Manufacturing Company in Toronto had trade connections via the Great Lakes. However, but being situated in Eastern Ontario meant the Frost & Wood Company had easier access to the profitable Québec and Maritime Markets.

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The Quality Goes in Before the Name Goes On
Circa 1936
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum

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When first founded, Frost & Wood had trouble transporting raw materials, such as coal and iron, into the factory or finished products out of the factory. This meant the company had to rely on teams of horses arriving from Brockville, or by boat via the Rideau Canal. In the 1840s and 1850s, the Rideau Canal only accessed a few towns along the waterway, which meant distribution for their products was a major problem for Frost & Wood. Nevertheless, the Frost & Wood Company had strong ties with local markets such as Brockville, Carleton Place and Perth, Ontario.

In 1859, a railway connection was built through Smiths Falls and meant Frost & Wood now had access to a cheaper and faster transportation source.

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Steamer "Ella Ross" ties up to the Frost & Wood Factory
Circa 1906
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Harold Nichol Collection
Rideau Canal Museum

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When the railway came to Smiths Falls, a spur line was also built down William and Bay Streets that fed directly into the Frost & Wood factory. From this spur line, raw material could be unloaded (often by hand), and brought into the storage warehouses. Workers would have until 4 pm to unload the cars before the train came and picked them up to start the process all over again.

Using the railway, Frost & Wood could reach a larger consumer market, increase production, and ship larger orders of machinery. The time and money needed to ship materials and farm implements were cut considerably, and in the end, the company discontinued using the Rideau Canal as a trade route all together.

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Farm Machinery Shipments
Circa 1905
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Heritage House Museum