10/15/2026
From October 14, 1909 we're taking a close look at a postcard from our archives that vividly captures Ontario’s early 20th-century industrial life. This 1909 postcard shows a bird's-eye view of the C.P.R. Yard & Docks in Prescott, Ont.
Before the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Canadian Pacific Railway yard in Prescott was a buzzing intersection of rail and river commerce.
In 1909, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was at the absolute peak of its expansion, profitability, and nation-building influence. During this era, the CPR wasn't just a railway; it was a global transportation monolith consisting of trains, steamships, telegraph lines, hotels, and deep-water ports.
In 1909, Prescott served as a major transfer point between Canadian rail networks and United States rail and shipping routes across the St. Lawrence River:
1. The Ogdensburg–Prescott Car Ferry Link: The CPR’s line ran south to Prescott, where freight cars were loaded directly onto specialized rail-car ferries (operated by the Canadian Pacific Car and Passenger Transfer Company) to cross the river to Ogdensburg, New York.
2. The Debut of the Charles Lyon: Late in 1908 and into 1909, the CPR introduced the Charles Lyon, a massive, double-ended 280-foot steam-powered car ferry. It had twin elevated pilot houses and could shuttle entire strings of CPR freight cars across the international border year-round.
3. Freight Hub: The CPR yard at Prescott handled immense volumes of lumber, grain, and coal. Goods arriving from western Canada on CPR tracks were reloaded onto lake freighters or transferred south to U.S. markets via Ogdensburg.
📜 Did you know? The role of Canadian Pacific in towns like Prescott was essential to the growth of early Canada. While the scene has changed today, the scale of the operation captured here remains incredible.
