Goderich in Huron County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Fish Shanties
Goderich Waterfront Heritage Walkway
Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 15, 2026
1. Fish Shanties Marker
Inscription.
Fish Shanties. . Until the 1970s, the south pier was lined with buildings used by commercial fisheries. Fishing shanties used by John Graham, Norman MacKay, John Baker, Ab and Florence Leonard, Reddy MacDonald, Mac and Norman MacDonald, Ed Siddall and others, were allowed to remain as long as the owners occupied them and paid their taxes and fees. Technically, these structures could not be rebuilt but were 'upgraded' to protect the right of occupancy. When shanties were demolished or abandoned, the sites would return to the ownership of the Federal Harbour Authority or the town. The last remaining structure was the Siddall fish house, owned by the town but demolished by a runaway train in 2021., Commercial fishermen returned to port to have their catch weighed and packed in ice-filled boxes to be shipped by rail. Behind the shanties were racks where the nets were dried and repaired ready for the next fishing trip. Today, fishing tugs using this port tie up along the north side of the harbour and dispatch their catch directly to refrigerated trucks for haulage to processors or the retail market.
Until the 1970s, the south pier was lined with buildings used by commercial fisheries. Fishing shanties used by John Graham, Norman MacKay, John Baker, Ab and Florence Leonard, Reddy MacDonald, Mac and Norman MacDonald, Ed Siddall and others, were allowed to remain as long as the owners occupied them and paid their taxes and fees. Technically, these structures could not be rebuilt but were 'upgraded' to protect the right of occupancy.
When shanties were demolished or abandoned, the sites would return to the ownership of the Federal Harbour Authority or the town. The last remaining structure was the Siddall fish house, owned by the town but demolished by a runaway train in 2021.
Commercial fishermen returned to port to have their catch weighed and packed in ice-filled boxes to be shipped by rail.
Behind the shanties were racks where the nets were dried and repaired ready for the next fishing trip. Today, fishing tugs using this port tie up along the north side of the harbour and dispatch their catch directly to refrigerated trucks for haulage to processors or the retail market.
Location. 43° 44.701′ N, 81° 43.566′ W. Marker is in Goderich, Ontario, in Huron County. It is on Harbour Street. The marker is on a walkway accessible from Goderich Main Beach, or through the Rotary Bathing Hut, approx. 60 metres from Harbour Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 270 Harbour Street, Goderich ON N7A 4J8, 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 Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ship Island (here, next to this marker); Goderich Harbour (here, next to this marker); Vicki Keith (a few steps from this marker); Goderich Salt Mine (a
Facing towards Rotary Bathing Hut and Harbour Road, the marker is the third from the camera on the left of the walkway
Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 2 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
