Port Dalhousie in St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Muir Brother's Dry Docks

Photographed by Kevin Westell, May 15, 2025

1. The Muir Brother's Dry Docks - Front side Marker

Inscription.
Five Muir brothers built and repaired ships on this harbour site from 1850 until 1946.

This Muir family left Ayrshire, Scotland in 1834 and settled in Howick, Quebec. The eldest brother, James, remained there with his parents and four sisters while six brothers moved to the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada. John and his family farmed in Niagara Township. Alexander, the driving force, William, Bryce, David and Archibald all became ships' captains and sailed the ships they built here. The names of the 14 ships they built started with the initial "A" and were known as the "A-Fleet". They carried cargo from Duluth, U.S.A. to Liverpool, England. Their first ships were constructed of wood and sails and progressed to steel and steam. The Muir Bros. Dry Docks was the longest continuous business in Port Dalhousie.

The Muirs were prominent in Port Dalhousie for over a century (1839 to 1948) and saw the community grow from 12 houses. The first three Welland canals had their northern entrance here which resulted in an industrious drydock on this site. The Muir Bros. Dry Docks was a forerunner of the Port Weller Dry

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Docks which is situated on the fourth canal.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Welland Canals series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 43° 12.051′ N, 79° 16′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Port Dalhousie. It is on Lakeport Road. From the parking lot at the north end of Rennie Park, this large stone marker is 20 metres south along the paved path. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 Lakeport Rd, St Catharines ON L2N 4P5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

The Muir Brother's Dry Docks Marker - Reverse side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, May 15, 2025

2. The Muir Brother's Dry Docks Marker - Reverse side

walking distance of this marker: Muir Bros. Dry Dock Shipbuilders (a few steps from this marker); Dalhousie House circa 1850 (within shouting distance of this marker); First Women Rowers In The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta 1948 (within shouting distance of this marker); Restoring the Henley Rowing Course at Martindale Pond (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Catharines Horticultural Society (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Pull (about 90 meters away); Barnesdale Streetcar Stop 1908 (about 120 meters away); History on the Former Mill and Carpentry Shop of the Port Dalhousie Gate Yard (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.

Context - The Muir Brother's Dry Docks Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, May 15, 2025

3. Context - The Muir Brother's Dry Docks Marker

From the parking lot at the north end of Rennie Park, the marker is 20 metres away down the paved path.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 233 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 15, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.