Mills and businesses along the Welland Canal

When the first Welland Canal was built in 1829, one of the objectives of its builders was to provide a reliable water source for businesses – many of them mills – along the Twelve Mile Creek.

This is the fourth in a series of STC History posts(External link) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the City of St. Catharines. We know the roots of our community stretch back much further than 150 years and the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre(External link) is helping us celebrate our 150th anniversary with a weekly look back into our rich history from a diverse range of perspectives.

By 1856, there were 16 flour mills along the creek south from Port Dalhousie through to Thorold. In addition to flour mills were sawmills, planing mills, a wool factory and carding mill, a cement mill, numerous breweries, foundries, and factories producing a variety of items both for the local market and abroad.

This image above (1985.173.1) is from 1875 and shows the view of Crown Mills, one of the earliest mills built along Twelve Mile Creek near today’s Power Glen, known at the time as Reynoldsville. The complex of buildings includes a sawmill, grist mill, blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a planing mill, and a cooperage for making barrels.