Downtown History
With a population of almost 130,000, St. Catharines has now become the dominant centre of the Niagara Peninsula. So, how did it all start? Read on...
A Brief Look Back
The very early history of St. Catharines was influenced by events that happened a considerable distance away from the city. In 1783, the treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War. The treaty acknowledged the independence of the United States of America and an international boundary was set. Many British supporters (loyalists), living south of this boundary, preferred to stay British subjects, so they migrated northward. The British government encouraged this and offered free fertile land to all Loyalists who chose to settle in Canada. A large amount of this land was in the Niagara Peninsula, so many came to this area. The first men known to have taken up land within the limits of what is now St. Catharines were John Hainer and Jacob Dittrick about 1790. Over the years, the name of the community changed several times and was, in the early 1800's, known as "Shipman's Corners". Paul Shipman's tavern was an important stagecoach transfer point as well as the hub of the community's social life. "The Twelve" was another name used, referring to the Twelve Mile Creek. However, the name St. Catharines, in one form, or another had preceded all other names, though its origin is obscure.
Although the city has grown commercially and industrially, it has not abandoned its agricultural roots. The Niagara Escarpment provides a natural shelter for soils that are particularly conducive to fruit growing. These two factors, plus a climate favorable to fruit production, have led the development of the fruitlands to such an extent that they are one of the most productive agricultural areas, not only in Ontario and Canada, but in the world.
William Hamilton Merrit
A pioneer in the field of transportation, Merritt was born in Bedford, New York and settled at Twelve Mile Creek (St. Catharines) with his Loyalist family in 1796. He served with the provincial cavalry during the War of 1812, then operated mercantile and milling enterprises here. Primarily responsible for the construction of the first Welland Canal (1824-33). Merritt worked tirelessly to promote this ambitious venture, both by raising funds and by enlisting government support. During his long tenure in the Legislative Assembly (1832-60) he championed freer trade policies and various transportation projects. In particular he advocated building a comprehensive system of canals and railways linking inland waters with the oceans, a scheme which foreshadowed the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway over 100 years later. William Hamilton Merritt 1793-1862.