Port Colborne in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Crossing The Canal
⎯⎯⎯
La Traversé Du Canal
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
1. Crossing The Canal Marker
Crossing The Canal - "The Hopkins Swing Bridge"
When a canal divides a town, the citizens rely heavily on the bridge which joins the two sides. In the early years, before the present-day lift bridges of the fourth canal, the bridges were usually made of wood and were known as swing bridges. When a boat approached, the bridge tender would manually turn the winch which would swing the bridge open to let the boat pass through.
La Traversé Du Canal - "The Hopkins" Le Pont Tournant
These two 1878 photos show how the Hopkins swing bridge unified the village. At the western end lay the stores of Samuel Hopkins (after whom the bridge was nicknamed) and also Lewis G. Carter. The eastern end of the bridge led pedestrians and horsemen directly to John McRae's general store which was housed in the large American Hotel.
Still present, directly before you, in the canal, are the stone abutments which supported the Hopkins swing bridge until the canal was widened in the 1920's and the present lift bridge was established a few metres north of here at Clarence Street.
Quand un canal divise une ville en deux, les citoyens trennent à avoir un pont joignant les deux côtés. Des annés plus tôt, avant le présent pont élévateur du quatriemme canal, les ponts étaient tournant et faits de bois pour la plupart. Lorsqu'un pont est tournant, de la signifie que l'opérateur du pont devait actionner un levier manuellement qui ouvrait le pont en deux et pivotait peur laisser passer les bateaux en travers.
Ces deux photos datant de 1878 démontrent comment le pont tourant "The Hopkins" unifiait le village. À l'ouest était silué le magasin de Samuel Hopkins (d'ou vient le nom au pont) et aussi de Lous G. Carter. A l'est côté du magasin général de John McRae qui était établit dans un grand hotel Américain.
Encore aujourd'hui, devant vous, dans le canal, il reste les pilliers qui supportaient le pont "The Hopkins", jus qu'à ce que l'on étargisse le canal en 1920. Le pont à alorse été modernisé en pont élévateur et déplacé à quelques métres au Nord de Clarence Street.
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Location. 42° 53.139′ N, 79° 14.983′ W. Marker is in Port Colborne, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is on West Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 224 West Street, Port Colborne ON L3K 4E3, 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, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and 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 walking distance of this marker: Imperial Bank c.1911 (within shouting distance of this marker); Imperial Bank of Canada Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Welland Canal
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
2. Crossing The Canal - Marker in context
Photo faces south. West St runs from right to the centre, parallel to the west wall of the harbour. The reverse of the marker has a map of Port Colborne, showing the locations of this series are historical panels. (Most still exist.)
A few features of Port Colborne's harbour are visible: the pilot boat (centre, blue hull with black rubber bumpers) tied up; the harbour-master's hut; (centre right, just right of the marker; east side of West Street); the ship "recycling" (breaking-up) facility (centre left, working on 2 ships, with a ship bridge on the grass left of the left-most crane); and two piles of some granular rock (perhaps sand or salt), covered by plastic tarpaulins (far left) at the industrial dock.
Regarding Crossing The Canal / La Traversé Du Canal. The bridge (in the 1878 photo) has a quarter-circle "track" just left of it. So, it appears to swing horizontally 90 degrees, which most would call a "swing bridge" (as per the marker).
A "bascule bridge" (like the two bridges just north of here, at each end of Lock 8) swings up 70 (or so) degrees.
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
3. Crossing The Canal - "The Hopkins Swing Bridge" - Marker in context
Photo faces north and north-east. The Clarence St lift bridge crosses the current (fourth) Welland canal. The channel for the second Welland canal is immediately right of the blue railing; and just passed is the channel for the third Welland canal. The "island" between the third and fourth canals has a little grassy park (not toddler proof!) with an entrance from the south side of Clarence St.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
