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

Memorial of the united Delaware and Raritan Canal Co., Camden and Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company and New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Co., to the Legislature of New Jersey.

Petition for reduced transit duty of heavy products carried.

Panama Canal Review: Special edition Panama

Leonard Carpenter Panama Canal Collection. Publication: Panama Canal Review Special Edition. [Box 1] from the Special Collections & Area Studies Department, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. This special edition features articles on Panama reprinted from THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW, which began publication May 5, 1950. These articles, for which there have been many requests for reprints, have been selected from issues published between 1965 and 1973. Review articles may be reprinted without further clearance (69 page document)

Niagara in London : a brief study from many standpoints /

Issued with the Business Men's Association, Niagara Falls, N. Y. The water-power of the Falls of Niagara applied to manufacturing purposes. Buffalo, 1890.

Copies of two dispatches upon the subject of the Welland Canal, 1827-1828

The material is a printed record of two dispatches sent by Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada to secretary of state for the colonies, the first in 1827 to Earl Bathurst, the second in 1828 to Right Hon. W. Huskisson. The dispatches concern funding for the canal as well as an introduction of William Hamilton Merritt as managing agent of the Welland Canal Company. It was the intention of the Welland Canal Company to send Mr. Merritt to England to gain further assistance from the government and private investors.

Michael Hogue fonds

Michael H. [Henry] Hogue (1878-1963) was the son of Lemuel and Frances Hogue of Wainfleet Township, Welland County. In 1901 Michael Hogue was married to Margaret Case and they had five sons, William, Lemuel, Harry, Ross and Frank. In the 1911 Census of Canada he is residing in Welland and working as a blacksmith for Howard H. Lymburner. At Lymburner’s retirement, Hogue purchased the business and moved it from 15 Niagara Street, Welland to 12 Frazer Street, Welland. Mr. Hogue’s blacksmith activities included work with various industries in Welland including the expansion of blacksmithing work into the automobile industry. Mr. Hogue also worked for subcontractors Canadian Dredge & Dock and G.L. Campbell. These jobs included work related to the Welland Ship Canal in 1923. The business ceased operation in 1956.

Office of the City Clerk, St. Catharines Records, 1928-1974, n.d.

The site of present-day St. Catharines was settled by 3000 United Empire Loyalists at the end of the 18th century. From 1790, the settlement (then known as "The Twelve") grew as an agricultural community. St. Catharines was once referred to Shipman's Corners after Paul Shipman, owner of a tavern that was an important stagecoach transfer point. In 1815, leading businessman William Hamilton Merritt abandoned his wharf at Queenston and set up another at Shipman's Corners. He became involved in the construction and operation of several lumber and gristmills along Twelve Mile Creek. Shipman's Corners soon became the principal milling site of the eastern Niagara Peninsula. At about the same time, Merritt began to develop the salt springs that were discovered along the river which subsequently gave the village a reputation as a health resort. By this time St. Catharines was the official name of the village; the origin of the name remains obscure, but is thought to be named after Catharine Askin Robertson Hamilton, wife of the Hon. Robert Hamilton, a prominent businessman. Merritt devised a canal scheme from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario that would provide a more reliable water supply for the mills while at the same time function as a canal. He formed the Welland Canal Company, and construction took place from 1824 to 1829. The canal and the mills made St. Catharines the most important industrial centre in Niagara. By 1845, St. Catharines was incorporated as a town, with the town limits extending in 1854. Administrative and political functions were added to St. Catharines in 1862 when it became the county seat of Lincoln. In 1871, construction began on the third Welland Canal, which attracted additional population to the town. As a consequence of continual growth, the town limits were again extended. St. Catharines attained city status in 1876 with its larger population and area. Manufacturing became increasingly important in St. Catharines in the early 1900s with the abundance of hydro-electric power, and its location on important land and water routes. The large increase in population after the 1900s was mainly due to the continued industrialization and urbanization of the northern part of the city and the related expansion of business activity. The fourth Welland Canal was opened in 1932 as the third canal could no longer accommodate the larger ships. The post war years and the automobile brought great change to the urban form of St. Catharines. St. Catharines began to spread its boundaries in all directions with land being added five times during the 1950s. The Town of Merritton, Village of Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township were all incorporated as part of St. Catharines in 1961. In 1970 the Province of Ontario implemented a regional approach to deal with such issues as planning, pollution, transportation and services. As a result, Louth Township on the west side of the city was amalgamated, extending the city's boundary to Fifteen Mile Creek. With its current population of 131,989, St. Catharines has become the dominant centre of the Niagara region. Source: City of St. Catharines website http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/governin/HistoryOfTheCity.asp (January 27, 2011)

Community Newspapers on Microfilm

Reel 1. E.J. Palmer's Grimsby illustrated; Merritton advance; The Evening review; Niagara Falls evening review; The academy; St. Catharines constitutional; St. Catharines daily news; St. Catharines daily standard; St. Catharines daily times; St. Catharines evening journal; St. Catharines evening star. -- Reel 2. St. Catharines evening star. -- Reel 3. St. Catharines evening star. -- Reel 4. St. Catharines evening star; St. Catharines gazette; St. Catharines journal; St. Catharines semi-weekly post; St. Catharines star journal; St. Catharines weekly news; St. Catharines weekly star; St. Catharines women's patriotic journal; St. Catharines women's standard; Welland Canadian farmer supplement; Welland Canadian farmer and grange record; Welland Canal works; Welland telegraph extra; Welland telegraph; Welland tribune and telegraph. -- Reel 5. Beamsville express; Vineland Jordan post; Grimsby independent; Haldimand advocate; Haldimand tribune; Niagara onghiara; Smithville pioneer; The Irish Canadian. -- Reel 7. St. Catharines daily times. -- Reel 8. St. Catharines daily times. -- Reel 9. St. Catharines daily times. -- Reel 10. The Monck reform press; Herald (Fonthill); Independent (Grimsby); Beamsville express; Post express (Lincoln); Jordan post (Vineland); The gleaner and Niagara newspaper; Niagara advance; Pelham herald; Port Colborne news; Farmers' journal and Welland Canal intelligencer; Welland tribune; Welland Tribune; Welland tribune and telegraph; Evening tribune (Welland Ship Canal, centenary issue).

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 1 - Entrance, Lock 1 and Port Dalhousie

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the areas in and around Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Lock 1, Lighthouse, Lighthouse Keeper's House, East and West Piers, Harbour, Waste Weir, Store House, Collector's Office, Collector Assistant Office, Lock Tender's House and the new towing path. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and includes the old Harbour, old Lock 1, old towing path and the original bed of the Twelve Mile Creek. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks and businesses are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Lock Street and Colonel Clark's Cattle Road), Alex Muir's Dry Dock, RandJ Laurie Flouring Mill, R. Laurie and Company Grist Mill, A. Morrison Saw Mill, Johnson's Tavern, a store and a church. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 1 Lots 21 and 22, John Christie, John Clark, N. Pawling, William Pawling, W. Carter, G.A. Clark, J. Maven, Mrs. Wood, James Drabble and J. Woodall.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 3 - Old Lock 2 in Grantham Township

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing a portion of the Grantham Township near Port Dalhousie. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the new towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and include the old Lock 2, old towing path and the original bed of the Twelve Mile Creek. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Side Line and Old Road), four unnamed bridges, and a tree stump along the old towing path. A New Road to Port Dalhousie is featured in red ink. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 3 Lots 21, 22 and 23, Concession 4 Lots 21, 22 and 23, Jabez Johnson, Adam Gould, Peter Weaver and Samuel Wood.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 4 - Through Grantham Township

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing a portion of the Grantham Township. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the floating tow path and the canal itself. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and include the old towing path. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Line between Wood and Tenbroeck), an unnamed bridge, a poplar tree and walnut tree along the east shore. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 4 Lot 22, Samuel Wood, and John R. Tenbroeck.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 5 - Through Grantham Township

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing a portion of the Grantham Township near Port Dalhousie. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the tow path and floating tow path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and include the old towing path, the Old Canal, two unnamed bridges traversing the Old Canal, and the bed of the Twelve Mile Creek. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Old Road, Side Line, Road to Port Dalhousie), Samuel Wood's house, Peter Weaver's house, J. R. Tenbroeck's house, a poplar and walnut tree along the east shore, an oak and hickory tree along the west shore, and a walnut tree stump along the west shore. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 3 Lots 21, 22, and 23, Concession 4 Lots 21, 22, and 23, Adam Gould, Samuel Wood, Peter Weaver, and John R. Tenbroeck.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 6 - Through Grantham and Louth Townships

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the area between the Townships of Grantham and Louth. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the floating tow path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Features of the First Welland Canal are noted in red ink and include the old towing path, and the original bed of the Twelve Mile Creek. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. New Road, 1st Concession Road, and an unnamed road in the top right corner), an unnamed bridge along New Road, J. Martindale's House, an Old Saw Mill, Richardsons Creek, Georges Point, and an oak tree at Georges Point. Properties and property owners of note are: Concession 2 Lot 23 and Concession 3 Lot 23 in the Grantham Township, Concession 2 Lots 1 and 2, and Concession 3 Lots 1 and 2 in the Louth Township, Peter Weaver, J. Martindale, and John Bonner. A property belonging to the Board of Works is outlined in red at Georges Point.

Second Welland Canal - Book 1, Survey Map 8 - Through Grantham and Louth Townships

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the area between the Townships of Louth and Grantham. Identified structures associated with the Canal include the floating tow path. It is not labelled, but runs along the bottom of the map. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks that are identified include streets and roads (ex. New Road, and Road to Port Dalhousie), and an unnamed bridge along New Road. Richardson's Creek is identified in pencil. Properties and property owners of note are: Lot 23 in Grantham Township, Lots 1 and 2 in Louth Township, John Bonner, John Martindale, Geo. E. Read, Thomas Read, N. Pawling, and the Board of Works.