FIRST STEAMER ON FIRST CANAL

By Sophie Homenuck

St. Catharines Standard Correspondent

[St. Catharines Standard, 25 February 1966]

FONTHILL-The Welland Canal was the all-important topic of discussion in the year 1828, as it is today.

Mr. and Mrs. David Elliot, of Highway 20, Fonthill, discovered a copy of the Canal Intelligencer, dated May 14, 1828, in a family bible. It tells of the “historic happenings in the village of St. Catharines on the Welland Canal,” on May 10, when the first steam powered vessel navigated the five-mile canal to Lake Ontario.

Four Pages

The newspaper, of which very little is known, was published by a Hiram Leavenworth of St. Catharines, Upper Canada and is a four-page offering, with interesting advertisements on front and back pages, selling grain, books, wares of craftsmen, announcing that produce and cargo can be shipped by vessel to Montreal, and notices of auction sales and strayed cattle, and it seems to cover the entire Niagara Frontier.

This copy was the 122^nd issue of presumably a weekly paper. The size is approximately four-fifths of today’s Standard and is in well-preserved condition. Although it is deeply yellowed with age and crumbly on the edges, the print is still very legible.

Joyous

The departure of the first vessel on Saturday, May 10, was a joyous celebration as the report tells of “Plans of internal improvement now in progress in this section of the Colony, where a free and uninterrupted passage of the first loaded vessel that ever floated on the waters of the Welland Canal,” shall be witnessed.

“From this village where it was built to Lake Ontario, a distance of 5 miles of artificial steamboat navigation constructed up the valley of the Twelve Mile Creek, directly into the interior of the country” is the fascinating feat viewed by the colonists.

Seeking Support

It was recorded that the instigator of the great work, William Hamilton Merritt, was not present at the official ceremony as he was in London, Eng., at the time trying to get the money for completion of the waterway to Lake Erie. The writer noted there was “no doubt that the effort would be crowned with success.”

The day before the great event, the dignitaries toured the area including a trip to the “Deep Cut.” Among them were the Lieutenant-Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland, the directors of the Welland Canal as well as the receiver-general, the attorney-general and the solicitor-general.

“Foot of Village”

The story related that “the schooner-Welland Canal of St.Catharines-left her dock at the foot of the village opposite Mr. Monson’s store-house, under Captain Northup. The lieutenant-governor and officers of the company became partakers of the heartfelt satisfaction of being among the first to be borne upon the bosom of these miniature seas-they have been by untiring perseverance and assiduity, the instruments of bringing this into existence.”

“The vessel moved off majestically” says the eye witness report “upon this channel of her native element-thus artificially formed by human power, with her stately masts towering above the trees of the forest on either bank, through a tract of country which scarcely two score years ago was howling wilderness, but now abounded with highly cultivated farms and flourishing villages.

Multitudes

“Amid the grateful and hearty cheers of the passengers aboard and the mighty multitudes of hardy pioneers, and sons of the soil assembled on the shores and surrounding highlands, mingled as they viewed the novel scene. The vessel was hailed on the entrance and exit of each lock, down to Port Dalhousie, people lined the banks of the canal from one village to the next, discharging musketry and cheering mightily.” It was further recorded “that it took six and one-half minutes to draw off the water at lock 2, and the vessel glided smoothly and silently along the artificial channel, affording a most pleasing sensation.”