Goderich in Huron County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Waterworks

— Goderich Marine Heritage Walkway —

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 15, 2026

1. The Waterworks Marker

Inscription. The Electric Light and Water Plant, formerly located on this site, was the town's first steam-powered electric generation, water pumping station. By 1889, electricity was being supplied to some parts of the town from a large red brick building with a distinctive brick chimney that stood higher than the nearby grain elevators and rose beyond the top of the banks that border the harbour. In its latter years, the Electric Light and Water Plant also supplied Lake Huron water to the town, pumping from four adjacent artesian wells. One of which remains still flowing.

In the early years, the staff at the waterworks plant also had responsibility for the operation of the foghorn. Up to the time of the Great Storm of 1913, they were expected to communicate with the lighthouse operators at the top of the hill to exchange weather warning information.

After the town joined the Ontario electricity grid in the 1920s, this facility only supplied water pumping and treatment for the town's water supply. In 1964, the town built a new water pumping and filtration station further south along the waterfront. The original waterworks building

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was torn down at that time.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 43° 44.654′ N, 81° 43.478′ W. Marker is in Goderich, Ontario, in Huron County. It is on Cove Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in a park between Cove Road and Beach Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Cove Rd, Goderich ON N7A 2K2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

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: The Goderich Elevators (a few steps from this marker); Imperial Oil Storage Tanks (a few steps from this marker); The Lower Town Community (a few steps from this marker);

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 15, 2026

2. The Waterworks Marker

The Crab and Lee Families (within shouting distance of this marker); The Last Canadian Coal Fired Lake Freighter (within shouting distance of this marker); Menesetung Mineral Springs (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Ocean House Hotel (about 90 meters away); Canada Company Piers (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Goderich.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 15, 2026

3. The Waterworks Marker

The marker is the first one on the left of the walkway

Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 23, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.