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

Hélice John O. McKellar Propeller

Hélice John O. McKeller Propeller Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

1. Hélice John O. McKeller Propeller Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Cette hélice fut acquise par le Club Rotary de St. Catharines - Lakeshore en 1999. Elle a été transportée des chantiers des cales sèches de l'autre côté du Canal Welland au parc Charles Ansell à l'Écluse no 1.

Retraçant l'histoire de l'hélice
Le cargo John O. McKellar de la flotte Great Lakes Freighter a été construit en 1952 par Port Weller Dry Docks Ltd. de Port Weller, Ontario.

Heurté le 8 juillet 1974 par le Cape Breton, un navire à moteur au large des côtes de la Richibouctou (anciennement rivière St. Nicholas) au Nouveau-Brunswick, le cargo subit des ruptures importantes à la muraille bâbord du ballast no 6 où des rivets s'étaient arrachés.

Le 30 juillet 1974, le cargo a heurté la paroi des l'Écluses Iroquois, endommageant la proue.

Le 28 juin 1984, à Port Maitland en Ontario, il fut vendu à la compagnie P&H Shipping et renommé le Elmglen.

En 1996, la poupe est coupée et le navire est converti en barge.

This propeller was acquired by the Rotary Club of St. Catharines - Lakeshore in 1999. It was moved to Charles Ansell Park at Lock One from the dry docks yards across the waters of the

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Welland Canal.

Tracing the Propeller's History
The Great Lakes Freighter ship, John O. McKellar, was built in 1952 by Port Weller Dry Docks, Ltd. of Port Weller, Ontario.

The ship collided with the motor vessel Cape Breton on July 8, 1974, off Richibucto (formerly St. Nicholas) River in New Brunswick, heavily setting in the shell plating of port side at No. 6 tank where rivets were sheared off.

On July 30, 1974, the ship bumped a lock wall at Iroquois causing damage to the bow.

On June 28, 1984 at Port Maitland, Ontario, it was sold to P&H Shipping and renamed the Elmglen.

In 1996, the stern was cut off and it was converted to a barge.

L'histoire du John O. McKellar
Le navire John O. McKellar appartenait à la flotte Scott Misener. Le lancement du premier navire qui porte le nom John O. McKellar a lieu le 25 janvier 1929 de Wallsend en Angleterre à destination de Sault Ste. Marie en Ontario. En 1950, la compagnie Colonial Steamship se procure le navire et en 1952, il est rebaptisé J.G. Irwin suite à la construction du nouveau John O. McKellar.

John Oscar McKellar est né le 28 juin 1878 à Lobo dans le conté de Middlesex,

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

2. Hélice John O. McKeller Propeller Marker

à l'ouest de London en Ontario. C'est en travaillant comme officier de mécanique maritime qu'il rencontre Robert Scott Misener. Les deux compagnons marins de l'Algoma deviennent alors associés, se procurent le navire en bois à vapeur, Simon Langell et y travaillent pendant les trois prochaines années. Durant sa longue carrière avec la compagnie Misener, John McKellar sert comme chef mécanicien, surintendant et finalement comme secrétaire-trésorier. Il meurt le 19 septembre 1951.

History of the John O. McKellar
The John O. McKellar was a ship that belonged to the Scott Misener Fleet. The first ship named John O. McKellar was launched on January 25, 1929, from Wallsend, England, and was bound for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This ship became part of the Colonial Steamship Company in 1950, and in 1952 was renamed the J.G. Irwin when construction of the new John O. McKellar was completed.

John Oscar McKellar was born in on June 28, 1878, in Lobo Township, Middlesex County, west of London, Ontario. He worked as a marine engineer, and became acquainted with Robert Scott Misener when the two were shipmates serving the Algoma Central

Hélice John O. McKeller Propeller marker photos detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

3. Hélice John O. McKeller Propeller marker photos detail

fleet. In 1919, the two men joined forces to run a shipping company. Together, they purchased the wooden steamer Simon Langell, and worked together on the ship for the next three years. Throughout his career with Misener's company, John McKellar served as Chief Engineer, the Marine Superintendent and finally Secretary-Treasurer. He died on September 19, 1951.

Erected 1999 by The Rotary Club of St. Catharines.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International, and the The Welland Canals series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 43° 12.833′ N, 79° 12.769′ W. Marker is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Port Weller West. It is on Bunting Road (Regional Road 52) near Parnell Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the Welland Canal Trail in Charles Ansell Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 653 Bunting Road (Regional Road 52), St Catharines ON L2M 6P8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s

The John O. McKeller Propeller image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

4. The John O. McKeller Propeller

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 walking distance of this marker: The Battle of Vimy Ridge/The History of Vimy Oak Trees (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles A. Ansell Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Weller Dry Docks (within shouting distance of this marker); The Welland Ship Canal Construction Railway (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome To Malcolmson Eco-Park (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Welcome to Malcolmson Eco-Park (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Mary Malcolmson (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); a different marker also named Welcome To Malcolmson Eco-Park (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Catharines.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on September 5, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.