Thorold in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

St. Johns

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

1. St. Johns Marker

Inscription. A sawmill built in 1792 on nearby Twelve Mile Creek by Benjamin Canby, an early entrepreneur, formed the nucleus of a settlement, which by 1799 was called St. Johns. Other enterprising businessmen, notably John Darling and John Street, developed several mill-sites and the flourishing community soon became the Niagara District's leading mill-centre. A post-office was established in 1831, by which time the village contained numerous operations, including a woollen factory, foundry, tannery and several saw and grist-mills. The completion of the Welland Canal and the rapid emergence of industries on that waterway hampered the further growth of St. Johns, and the decline was accelerated by the bypassing of the Short Hills area by the Great Western and Welland Railways, completed between 1853 and 1859.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust, and the The Welland Canals series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1792.

Location. 43° 4.736′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

79° 16.745′ W. Marker is in Thorold, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is at the intersection of Holland Road and Hollow Road, on the left when traveling east on Holland Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2984 Holland Rd, Thorold ON L0S 1M0, 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 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bouk Family Homestead 1855 (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); The Brethren in Christ Church / L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); The Norton Cabin c. 1817 (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); Morningstar Mill - Harvesting Ice (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Morningstar Mill - John DeCou's Falls and Mills

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

2. St. Johns Marker

(approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Morningstar Mill - Robert Chappell and Mountain Mills (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Morningstar Mill - Welcome (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); Morningstar Mill - The Blacksmith and Carpentry Shop (approx. 3.7 kilometers away).

St. John’s, 1862 image. Click for full size.

3. St. John’s, 1862

From Tremaine’s Map of Lincoln and Welland Counties

St. Johns Village Mill and Foundry, 1862 image. Click for full size.

4. St. Johns Village Mill and Foundry, 1862

From Tremaine’s Map of Lincoln and Welland Counties

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 80 times this year. Last updated on September 14, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 8, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.