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

Third Welland Canal 1887 - 1930

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 10, 2025

1. Third Welland Canal 1887 - 1930 - Marker

Inscription. In 1871 a canal commission recommended an enlarged and uniform series of locks for the St. Lawrence and Welland Canal Systems. Work on the Third Welland Canal commenced in 1874 and was completed in 1887, allowing for a navigable depth of 14 feet (4.2 metres). The Canal's length was shortened by choosing a new route from Port Dalhousie diagonally across the Township of Grantham to Thorold.

The Third Canal's lift locks constructed of the finest stone masonry, measured 270 feet by 45 feet (82.3 by 13.7 metres). They were designed to accommodate the longest vessels "allowed by accepted rules of naval architecture". Of that system, Lock 2 is visible directly behind this plaque, which is mounted on an original bollard structure salvaged from Lock 1.

The Third Canal later incorporated significant innovations such as the use of electricity for lighting and operating gate machinery. However, the rapid growth of shipping on the Great Lakes and use of increasingly larger vessels resulted in the need for a new and larger canal. As a result, with the opening of the 1931 shipping season, the new Welland

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Ship Canal totally replaced the Third Welland Canal.

This plaque was unveiled on October 3, 1987, on the occasion of the Engineering Centennial in Canada 1887-1987.

Dedicated by:
Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, Niagara Chapter
Engineering Institute of Canada, Niagara Branch

Erected 1987 by Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Welland Canals series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 43° 11.567′ N, 79° 16.006′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It can be reached from Ontario Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Ontario St, St Catharines ON L2N 4N4, 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,

Third Welland Canal 1887 - 1930 - Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 10, 2025

2. Third Welland Canal 1887 - 1930 - Marker in context

Photo faces north-west from the parking lot. The marker is the blue rectangle on the stone column capped by a bollard. The remnants of Lock 2 (of the 3rd Welland canal) are left of the wooden fence.

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 walking distance of this marker: Green Ribbon Memorial Garden (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Burgoyne, Nelson, Newman Boathouse (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Lock 1, Third Welland Canal (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Howes Park (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Lockkeeper's Shanty 1887 (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Mayholme (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Lock One of the Third Welland Canal (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Quakers and Conscientious Objection (approx. 0.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.

More about this marker. The marker (and bollard to which it is attached) are 20 metres north-west of the (only) parking lot within Jaycees Garden Park.

Regarding Third Welland Canal 1887 - 1930. While there was a towpath along the 3rd Welland canal's west bank, many cargo ships were steam-driven, and there were many steam-driven tugs of many sizes available

Third Welland Canal's Lock 2 - approach from upstream image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 10, 2025

3. Third Welland Canal's Lock 2 - approach from upstream

The approach walls on each side curve in to the actual lock. Under the arch of trees, the lock channel empties out into Martindale Pond. The wooden fences are intended to protect park-goers from a drop of 3-5 metres (10-15 feet) over those curved walls.

to assist sailing cargo ships. Two or three smaller ships could travel and transit locks together - this was common in the earliest days of the 3rd Welland canal, as all the ships were still sized for the 2nd Welland canal.

Third Welland Canal's Lock 2 - bollards along the south-west lock wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 10, 2025

4. Third Welland Canal's Lock 2 - bollards along the south-west lock wall

A chain-link fence protects park-goers from the 6 metre (20 feet) or so sheer drop into the lock chamber.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 10, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.