Sat 21 Aug 2010
Posted by admin under Welland Canal
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On a hazy afternoon I found myself in Port Colborne so I took some time to do some exploring. Just off one of the main roads I found the remains of what may have been locks, though I am not certain of that. Several walls have collapsed into the water but much remains, there is also an old lift bridge here which is still in operation.
Sun 13 Jun 2010
Posted by admin under Welland Canal
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This feeder canal once ran all the way from Welland to Dunnville and brought extra water into the Welland Canal. Eventually most of it was buried due to domestic development and only a few stretches of it remained hidden in back yards and it was all but forgotten about. A few years back money was raised to dig up the last stretch of it before it entered the canal. A small section now lies unburied next to the trail with a small plaque identifying it and a few benches to rest upon. Most will probably never stop to notice it.
When I stopped to check it out the canal was flooded and had a great deal of vegetation growing from it. I returned a few weeks later to find it completely dried up. I prefer how it looked when filled with rain water.
Fri 11 Jun 2010
Posted by admin under Bridges, Old Highways
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Another trip that I’m just finally getting around to logging. I took these in June 10, 2010 when I finally got around to investigating an old bridge I had noticed crossing 12 Mile Creek next to the 406 in St. Catharines. From what I can tell this bridge was used before the 406 was built and was replaced by the much larger bridge that now makes up part of St. Paul Street West. The old road that leads up to the bridge is now named St. Paul Crescent and includes an impressively steep hill.
Sun 6 Jun 2010
Posted by admin under Bridges
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A while back I noticed a little side road next to the big bridge across 12 Mile Creek on Glendale. After a quick peak on Google Maps I noticed there was an old road running parallel to the bridge, and I figured it must have been the original bridge. This was something I had to investigate.
The bridge itself wasn’t very interesting, it was rather narrow allowing only pedestrians and cyclists to cross but based on it’s support structure it was once much wider. The road further up was more interesting as you could see that it was once paved but was now cracked all over and had much vegetation growing from it.
Sat 29 May 2010
Posted by admin under Welland Canal
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Found this old feeder canal hiding in some heavy growth next to the canal right by the Woodlawn Road bridge. You can see on Google Maps that it goes on for about 250m then just fades away.
Don’t have a clue how old it is, but it appears to have been forgotten about long ago.
Sun 23 May 2010
Posted by admin under Abandoned Buildings
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After my long awaited exploration of the old highway bridge hiding in the bushes near Nanticoke Creek I found myself stopping to check out an old chimney hiding in the bush along Highway 3.
I had spotted the chimney sticking out in a clearing behind some bushes many times over the years. Finally having some extra time on my hands I pulled off to the side of the road and hiked on down. At first it seemed like there was almost nothing worth looking at here, just an old chimney sticking out of the ground with a big hole beside it where the foundation once stood. However as I looked around I noticed many more things, such as an old well nearby with plenty of water in it. Not too far from the well there was a large chunk of red bricks, all still cemented together — it first appeared to be a section of the structure that was once there, after looking at it more I was less sure of what it once was.
As I wandered around some more I found a large pile of tires, probably dumped there by someone too lazy or cheap to properly dispose of them. Just a few meters from there I found an old overturned wooden bench which to my surprise was home to two garter snakes. I snapped a couple pictures of them and left them in peace. After that I wandered off about 100 meters to and old and scary looking bridge that crossed the stream. It looked as though it was made of scrap wood and shingles; I didn’t dare to cross it.
After grabbing a couple shots of the bridge my cell phone battery died, and since this was an impromptu trip I did not have a proper camera with me. Armed with only my now dead cell phone, I retreated to my car and drove the rest of the long voyage home.
Sun 23 May 2010
Posted by admin under Old Highways
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This is a location I had been eying for quite some time. I’ve driven by it hundreds of times when I was travelling between college and my parent’s place. Just as you’re about to round the bend just outside of Jarvis there’s a bridge over Nanticoke Creek, if you look south bound, you will see an old bridge just 10 meters away. It is much lower than the new bridge and is heavily overgrown. I would have probably never noticed it if it hadn’t been for a friend I was catching a ride home with who had spotted it. After 7 or 8 years I finally took the time to pull over and climb down there for some pictures.
I pulled off at a nearby corner and parked in what looked like just a lane way. It wasn’t until later that I realized this lane way was actually the original Highway 3 as it was when the old bridge was in use. If you look at Google Maps you can clearly make out this old section of Highway 3, which now appears to be under development, with some sort of building being put in at the far end. You will also notice another short stretch of Old Highway 3 further north east. If one looks very closely you can see that the south end extends past Highway 70 turns into a house’s driveway and then eventually the bridge, this whole extension is still paved but heavily overgrown by shrubs and moss.
I climbed down to the bridge from the west end, away from the person’s house. This side was covered in heavy growth and I had to climb under a tree to get onto the bridge. Once upon it I was amazed by how little it felt like I was on a bridge. The paving had been consumed by moss, grass and soil which had formed over many years. Smaller trees were growing right in the middle of the bridge. Despite being consumed by nature the bridge seemed very structurally intact and it was not at all an uneasy experience crossing it.
After snapping a few more photos I climbed back up to the highway and found my car. On my journey that day I stopped at one more location that I’d eyed along that route many times.
Mon 17 May 2010
Posted by admin under Uncategorized
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Wed 31 Mar 2010
Posted by admin under Welland Canal
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Finally got around to back logging some old photos. These are a few pics I snapped near where the old 2nd canal emerges from under the 406 and connects with 12 Mile Creek. The original canal would’ve followed this same path.
Sat 21 Nov 2009
Posted by admin under Tunnels
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I had driven by the old Mill and Blacksmith a million times and even once pulled into the parking lot to have lunch once. But it was a long time before I realized what lied just beyond what could be seen from the road. The Mill stands at the edge of a brilliant curtain waterfall named Upper Decew Falls. Under the falls lies several tunnels carved out ages ago, though most of it is now inaccessible. The waterfall also marks the start of a deep gorge which adventurers must rappel down in order to access the mines and Lower Decew Falls.
One hazy Saturday afternoon my friend and I drove there equipped with some cheap rubber boots we had just grabbed at Canadian Tire and attempted to rappel down the gorge wall so we could explore the mines. Though there isn’t much left you can access it is quite fun to explore, though I recommend wearing taller boots than I had and having extremely bright headlamps. Not only that you may want a separate pair of hiking boots for better footing when climbing down the gorge.
