Page Index
Where They Lived
History
Port Dalhousie owes its existence and growth to the building of the First Welland Canal, begun in 1824 and completed in 1829. The entrance to the first canal was at the west end of the present Lakeside Park (made famous in a song by Rush) and followed along the bank, on the northeast side of Lock Street then turning south and passing behind the former Government Gate Yard and Maple Leaf Rubber Company (Lincoln Fabrics) before linking up with the Twelve Mile Creek.
The locks of this canal were very small, being only 100 feet (30 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, built of wood. Traffic at the time was carried on small sailing vessels, having a carrying capacity of between five and six thousand bushels of grain.
Along with the canal came the people to serve its needs. Barge and horse handlers, tow boys, ships chandlers, and dry dock workers. Rooming houses and grog shops flourished bringing a different life and flavour to what had been a sparsely populated rural farming area.
Above are the first few paragraphs of a comprehensive history of the town of Port Dalhousie, which can be found here
Port Dalhousie owes its existence and growth to the building of the First Welland Canal, begun in 1824 and completed in 1829. The entrance to the first canal was at the west end of the present Lakeside Park (made famous in a song by Rush) and followed along the bank, on the northeast side of Lock Street then turning south and passing behind the former Government Gate Yard and Maple Leaf Rubber Company (Lincoln Fabrics) before linking up with the Twelve Mile Creek.
The locks of this canal were very small, being only 100 feet (30 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, built of wood. Traffic at the time was carried on small sailing vessels, having a carrying capacity of between five and six thousand bushels of grain.
Along with the canal came the people to serve its needs. Barge and horse handlers, tow boys, ships chandlers, and dry dock workers. Rooming houses and grog shops flourished bringing a different life and flavour to what had been a sparsely populated rural farming area.
Above are the first few paragraphs of a comprehensive history of the town of Port Dalhousie, which can be found here
Port Dalhousie During the War Years
The Welland Canal Force 1914-1918
On August 6th, 1914, two days after Canada's declaration of war, soldiers were put on active duty to guard public buildings, telephone and telegraph centres. The canal had already been recognized as a point of strategic importance and the appearance of soldiers would have made the reality of a far-off war in Europe immediately apparent.
The Welland Canal Force was formed to provide guards for the canal, it's locks, weirs and bridges in addition to local factories manufacturing ammunition and weapons. As the group expanded, they were responsible for hydro-electric stations, international bridges and mounted patrols. The men of the 19th St. Catharines Regiment and the 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment served as the basis for the formation of the force.
The initial priority of the Commander was to provide shelter for the hundreds of men as they were stationed along the length of the canal from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. In Port, a free house was available, but in need of $50 in repairs. The military rented an old public school for $25/month and the Upper Hotel in Allenburg for $50. Several other houses were rented and in Chippewa "in the old Macklem homestead, free quarters were furnished through Mr. Alex Fraser MP, Niagara Falls, by a lady client. The village remits the taxes." The military also provided tents.
Minister of Militia and Defence Sam Hughes inspected the force in November and said he would double the size of the force. There is no evidence that the order ever took place.
By August 1917 the post at Port Dalhousie had a strength of 17. This included sentry duty, a ready response force, appropriate supervision 24 hours a day, plus cooks, commanders and administrators. At it's peak over 700 soldiers were involved in the Welland Canal Force.
By August 1917 the post at Port Dalhousie had a strength of 17. This included sentry duty, a ready response force, appropriate supervision 24 hours a day, plus cooks, commanders and administrators. At it's peak over 700 soldiers were involved in the Welland Canal Force.
Credits:
With the exception of the Mounted Patrol, the above photographs were found in an album by William Arnott Stevens, who served in the 19th St. Catharines Regiment and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. More of his collection can be viewed at: captainstevens.com
The text was sourced from a reading of the following book:
Guarding Niagara
The Welland Canal Force
1914-1918
Lt. Col. (ret) William A Smy, OMM, CD, UE
There is also the reported incident of a German spy traversing the canal and passing through Port Dalhousie during the early stages of the war. Several renditions of this story exist and can be viewed by researching Google under 'German spy Welland Canal.'
With the exception of the Mounted Patrol, the above photographs were found in an album by William Arnott Stevens, who served in the 19th St. Catharines Regiment and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. More of his collection can be viewed at: captainstevens.com
The text was sourced from a reading of the following book:
Guarding Niagara
The Welland Canal Force
1914-1918
Lt. Col. (ret) William A Smy, OMM, CD, UE
There is also the reported incident of a German spy traversing the canal and passing through Port Dalhousie during the early stages of the war. Several renditions of this story exist and can be viewed by researching Google under 'German spy Welland Canal.'
Port Dalhousie In the Early Part of the 20th Century
Front Street, Port Dalhousie circa 1906 with the steamer Garden City
Watercolor by Dorene Inglis (Niece of William Inglis - One of the 20 Listed on the Cenotaph)
Watercolor by Dorene Inglis (Niece of William Inglis - One of the 20 Listed on the Cenotaph)