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For 116 years, the Frost & Wood Company was one of the largest manufacturers of farm implements in Canada. The name “Frost & Wood” was known worldwide for producing durable, reliable, and the most technologically advanced machinery of its time. Even still, during World War II, Frost & Wood was the largest munitions manufacturer in Eastern Ontario, producing hundreds of thousands of hand grenades and artillery shells.
The Frost & Wood Company was founded in 1839 by partners Ebenezer Frost and Alexander Wood. Frost & Wood soon became one of the largest employers in Smiths Falls, Ontario and not only impacted this community, but the farm implements they manufactured were the principal tools used in rural communities across Canada and abroad for generations. Frost & Wood was truly “Outstanding in their Field”.
When Frost & Wood eventually closed its doors in 1955, the factory was demolished down to the very last brick. The company, which had held a prominent place in the heart of Smiths Falls, was no more and left no lasting memorial to the great agricultural industry.
Although Frost & Wood closed its doors, the company had created a legacy that is still remembered generations later. As one of the largest employers in Smiths Falls, residents still remember things like hearing the factory’s whistle on the way to school or to work.
Whether Frost & Wood was producing plows, lawn mowers, or hand grenades, the company’s history still holds a prominent place in the heart of Smiths Falls, and has nevertheless left a lasting footprint in Canadian history.
Through this virtual exhibition hosted by the Virtual Museum of Canada, the Heritage House Museum will present photographs, video, oral histories and archival material that capture the legacy of Frost & Wood and the lasting impact the company had on the Town of Smiths Falls and the agricultural history of Canada.
