Salt Brine Plants

Salt Brine Plants. . It is difficult to estimate the total number of salt wells and brine evaporation plants that existed in Goderich from the first discovery of salt in 1866 to today. In the early days, they seemed to spring up almost everywhere, even as far inland as Seaforth. Today we know that an extensive layer of salt lies below this part of Ontario and extends under the lake into Michigan., While major works were established in Saltford, and across the river in the town proper at the present evaporator plant site on Maitland St., little is known about some of the other operations. There were wells at the foot of Harbour Hill and in Lower Town along with more wells and evaporator pans at the northeast end of the harbour behind what was then Ship Island. There were salt works at the present Maitland Valley Golf Course and along the plateau on the north side of the river where the first unsuccessful attempts at shaft mining were made., A major operation, the International Salt Works, with its own loading docks prospered for years. This was located at the site of the present waste water treatment plant at the end of Warren Street. The salt industry remained a cycle of boom and bust for many operators. Stability came with the sinking of a water-tight shaft at the harbour in 1959.