Welland Ship Canal

A collection of maps, contract plans and photographs of the Welland Canal. The photographs are dated between 1923 and 1924.

Post Card Album - Welland Canal

A collection of post cards (52 black & white and 47 colour) and photographs (26 black & white) of the Welland Canal. The photographs and post cards cover a range of years and locations, inlcuding St. Catharines, Port Colborne, Port Dalhousie; Humberstone, Thorold, Allanburg and Niagara Falls.

Welland Canal Photobook (scrapbook)

A scrapbook assembled by Alexander J. Grant, the chief Engineer of the Welland Canal starting in the year 1919. The scrapbook includes photographs, maps, invitations, dinner menus, cartoons, engineer plans and several other items.

Port Colborne Canal Entrance - Postcards

Board of six postcards of Port Colborne. First postcard, Port Colborne Harbor, Port Colborne, Ont. Second postcard, Bird's-eye view showing entrance to Welland Canal, Port Colborne, Ont. Third postcard, Harbor, Port Colborne, Ont. Fourth postcard, Harbor Port, Port Colborne, Ont. Fifth postcard, Government elevator, capacity 2,000,000 bushels, Port Colborne, Ontario. Sixth postcard, caption unknown.

William Hamilton Merritt Welland Canal circular, July 12, 1823

William Hamilton Merritt (1793-1862) was a soldier, merchant, and politician who was instrumental in the promotion and development of the Welland Canal. After serving with the Lincoln militia during the War of 1812, Merritt became a merchant in St. Catharines, and purchased some land on Twelve Mile Creek on which he ran a sawmill and constructed a grist mill. He initially envisioned a canal between the Welland River and Twelve Mile Creek, which evolved into a plan to link Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This would enable goods from western Canada to be conveniently shipped to Montreal and Great Britain through the St. Lawrence, while bypassing the Niagara portage. His plan met with opposition for financial and political reasons, as well as from those along the Niagara portage whose businesses would suffer if the canal were built. Despite this opposition, the Welland Canal Company was chartered by the Upper Canadian assembly in January, 1824. Construction on the canal began later that year, and was completed in 1829.

William Hamilton Merritt Welland Canal circular, July 12, 1823

William Hamilton Merritt (1793-1862) was a soldier, merchant, and politician who was instrumental in the promotion and development of the Welland Canal. After serving with the Lincoln militia during the War of 1812, Merritt became a merchant in St. Catharines, and purchased some land on Twelve Mile Creek on which he ran a sawmill and constructed a grist mill. He initially envisioned a canal between the Welland River and Twelve Mile Creek, which evolved into a plan to link Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This would enable goods from western Canada to be conveniently shipped to Montreal and Great Britain through the St. Lawrence, while bypassing the Niagara portage. His plan met with opposition for financial and political reasons, as well as from those along the Niagara portage whose businesses would suffer if the canal were built. Despite this opposition, the Welland Canal Company was chartered by the Upper Canadian assembly in January, 1824. Construction on the canal began later that year, and was completed in 1829

Sketch of Canal Lock 2

Sketch of canal lock 2 by S.D. Woodruff. This is a hand drawn sketch, n.d.

Envelope addressed to S.D. Woodruff at the Welland Canal Office regarding pay roll vouchers for – the envelope was empty, July, 1857

Envelope addressed to S.D. Woodruff at the Welland Canal Office regarding pay roll vouchers for – the envelope was empty, July, 1857.

Letter to Dexter Deverardo, clerk of Fonthill from the Welland Canal Office of St. Catharines

Letter to Dexter Deverardo, clerk of Fonthill from the Welland Canal Office of St. Catharines in order to see that the work is done in a satisfactory manner. This letter is signed in pencil by S.D. Woodruff (4 pages, handwritten), Jan. 8, 1855.

Letter (unsigned) from the Welland Canal Office

Letter (unsigned) from the Welland Canal Office regarding a quantity of wood felled upon the bank of the feeder. It is laid too near the back ditch. The recipient of the letter is instructed to proceed with the removal of the wood so that the excavation of the ditch might proceed, Aug. 7, 1858.

Plan of levels of marsh land on the line of the proposed ditch from Lyons Creek Culvert on the Welland Canal to lot no. 32 in the 2nd concession of Wainfleet

Plan of levels of marsh land on the line of the proposed ditch from Lyons Creek Culvert on the Welland Canal to lot no. 32 in the 2nd concession of Wainfleet (1 page, hand drawn), n.d.

Letter to the Welland Canal Office from Welland Woodruff, Government Director of the Welland Canal Company

Letter to the Welland Canal Office from Welland Woodruff, Government Director of the Welland Canal Company in which he dissents from giving an extension of time to the St. Catharines Water Power Company to extend the lease of water from this time. This is a copy of the original, March 11, 1837.

Letter to Samuel Keefer, engineer on the Welland Canal from Charles H. French

Letter to Samuel Keefer, engineer on the Welland Canal from Charles H. French. He says that he has no extra bills for work on his contract, Sept. 12, 1848.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff enclosing the statement of different classes passing down the Welland Canal

Letter to S.D. Woodruff enclosing the statement of different classes passing down the Welland Canal. This is signed by William Pring of Port Colborne, collector, Jan.27, 1862.