Bronte in Oakville in Halton Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario

Bronte Creek Trail

Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 20, 2024

1. The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario Marker

Inscription. From the 1830s until after World War I, the Lake Ontario waterfront was busy with men mining the shallow waters for shale. Pried from the lake bottom, the blocks of shale were gathered on barges and then loaded onto stonehooking schooners for delivery to urban markets. Many pre-1910 buildings in Toronto, Oakville and Bronte are built on foundations of shale from the lake bottom.

Bronte harbour was home to a stonehooking fleet, several of them built there by Lem Dorland in the 1880s. Stonehookers were small vessels with a very shallow draft and a schooner rig. They could sail fast in light winds.

Lake Ontario's stonehooking industry flourished until after World War I, when Portland cement largely replaced stone as a building material.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 43° 23.628′ N, 79° 42.533′ W. Marker is in Oakville, Ontario, in Halton Region. It is in Bronte. Marker is on Bronte Road, 0.1 kilometers north of Ontario Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 32 Bronte Road, Oakville ON L6L L6L, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Bronte Harbour Company (here, next to this marker); Bronte on Twelve Mile Creek

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(here, next to this marker); Yacht Launching in the 1970s (here, next to this marker); From Boom to Bust, 1856-1877 (a few steps from this marker); Bronte: a Fishing Village (a few steps from this marker); Sovereign House (circa 1825) (approx. half a kilometer away); Bronte Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); World Championship Wheat 1954 (approx. 5.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakville.

Photographed By Tim Boyd, May 20, 2024

2. The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario Marker

The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario marker photo detail image. Click for full size.

3. The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario marker photo detail

4. The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario marker photo detail

Archives of Ontario

5. The Stonehookers of Lake Ontario marker photo detail

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 112 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 22, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.