PIONEER DAYS – HUMBERSTONE TOWNSHIP PART II

By Robert J. Foley

[Regional Shopping News, 2 May 1990]

Humberstone Township might have remained a rural community but for the vision of William Hamilton Merritt. Merritt’s dream of a canal to connect Lake Erie with Lake Ontario was to change the destiny of Humberstone forever. Although the first canal initially made a left turn at Port Robinson to follow the Chippawa to the Niagara River, it became evident when the canal opened that it would have to be pushed through to Lake Erie if it was to be a viable proposition.

Work began on the extension in 1831 with Gravelly Bay (Port Colborne) chosen as the southern terminus of the canal. Humberstone Township was on the map and its future was assured. All proceeded without undue delays until 1832 when a cholera epidemic struck the work force. The lack of good drinking water and the consumption of a great deal of alcohol combined with appalling sanitary conditions played havoc with the health of the men tolling the canal. An excerpt from a letter from Merritt to his wife may give some indication of what was going on. “Tuesday, went through the line with Mr. Lewis, and as no new cases occurred that day, the men generally went back to work.

Slept at Holmes’ Deep Cut, that night Lewis was taken; in the morning (Wednesday) sent to St. Catharines for Drs. Gross and Converse, who was up at Gravelly Bay. Lewis was very much alarmed and I could not leave him until Cross arrived about 2 o’clock. Mr. Fuller had bled him and I gave him two pills of opium. He got better immediately and is now well. Returned to Gravelly Bay that night to quiet the minds of the men respecting Mr. Lewis. We found all who got medical aid were bled recovered. He has hopes of continuing the work, but on reaching Gravelly Bay found Dr. Ellis and Mrs. Boles had taken it. Remained there until 12 o’clock, Thursday, and left for the dam with the determination to let everyone take their own course…stopping the sale of liquor and providing doctors on the spot.

Friday..went to Nelles’ settlement. Saturday returned to Dunnville and have got this far to breakfast, am on my way to St. Catharines where I have not yet been. I thank God that I am in good health and will take every possible care of myself. Should the disease continue I will go over to Mayville next week, if not, will remain until the middle of August.

With my best wishes and prayers for your safety, I remain your affectionate husband, W.H. Merritt.”

One of the many offshoots that sprang up as a result of the canal was the towing industry. In the days before power, sailing ships had to be towed through the canal. Truman Stone, owner of the Humberstone Livery stable, made his living towing ships. Charles and William Carter began towing in 1838 and later converted their operation to steam tugs. Charles’ sons continued in the business and ran three steam tugs, the Escort, Alert and Hector. Pictures and models of these vessels can be seen at the Port Colborne Marine and Historical Museum.

The Baldwin Act of 1849 was passed to allow for local municipal governments and in January 1850 the residents of Humberstone met at Petersburg to appoint a council. It was composed of the following: Christian Sherk, David Steele, Abraham Schooley and Samuel Stoner. On January 21, 1850 the first council meeting held at the home of Owen Fares, elected William Steele as the first Reeve.

In 1854 the southern portion of the peninsula was separated from the rest and Humberstone became part of the new County of Welland. Daniel Near, the Reeve of Humberstone was part of the Provincial County Council which oversaw the birth of the new county.

Some of the minutes of the township council meetings give us a glimpse of the cost of some of the services the council paid for:

1861, Dec. 7th-Paid B. Yokum and Wm. Page $1.00 each for a coffin and burying Robert Smith found drowned in canal at Port Colborne.

1862, Oct. 13th-Council paid A. Boyer $3.00 for a coffin and burying a man found drowned on lakeshore near Shisler’s Point.

1866, May 12th-Moved by Dr. M.F. Haney, seconded by Jacob Benner, that $20.00 be allowed to Cyrenus near and Asa bears for building a bridge between lots 10 and 11 Con. 1 Bridge to have a span of 12 feet and 14 feet wide, supported at each end by a substantial stone wall 3 ½ or 4 feet high and 2 feet thick. The plank to cover the bridge is to be 2 ½ inches thick, spiked down.

The bridge, when done, shall be subject to inspection by Jacob Benner and M.F. Haney. Material required: 7 Cu. Ft. of stone and 420 board feet of plank.

1867, June 24th-Council paid John Liedy $4.50 for 36 loads of stone for road purposes.

Humberstone continued to prosper as our forbearers intended until its annexation by Port Colborne. Although it has disappeared from the road maps of the region and the province, Humberstone Township will continue to influence the history of the Niagara Peninsula for generations to come.