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GC15P52
HISTORY:
The Ghost Canal, Newmarket
Scattered along the Holland River, concrete structures stand as
deteriorating monuments to the canal era of the early 19th
century.
The success of the Erie Canal in New York State prompted a rash of
canal-building in Ontario. Some of Canada\'s best-known canals,
including the Rideau and the Welland, were built in Ontario during
this time. In Newmarket, farmers and businessmen were growing
frustrated with freight trains and roadways, then both inefficient
and expensive methods of shipping products to market.
The idea of a canal linking Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe along the
Rouge and Holland river systems existed on paper as early as 1800,
but by 1850, the canal yet remained no more than an idea. After the
Trent canal was completed in 1904, Sir William Mulock (then
Newmarket's Member of Parliament) and many of the town's civic
leaders went to Ottawa to lobby the government for a canal of their
own. The project was approved and construction began in 1906,
despite the warnings of engineers that the watershed might not be
able to provide enough water flow to operate the canal.
The canal was to be built in three sections. By the summer of 1912,
the first two sections of the canal were complete, a structure
including three lift locks, three swing bridges, and a turning
basin.
Unfortunately for the project, World War One and the new government
of Robert Borden intervened and cancelled the construction of the
canal. Apparently, the warnings of the engineers had come to
fruition: there was insufficient water.
Today, the turning basin has been filled in to become a parking
lot, and most of the locks and bridges are deteriorating and
disappearing. However, several of the structures are still intact.
By: Chelsea Edgell
There are more remnants of the "Ghost Canal" very much worth
visiting at the following coordinates:
Lock #2 N 44 5.358 W 79 27.785
Lock #3 N 44 4.342 W 79 27.278
Swing Bridge N 44 4.786 W 79 27.282
There are several other caches accessible from the hiking trails
along the Holland River so check them out if you haven't logged
them already.
ABOUT THIS CACHE:
Look north of the coordinates to see the remains of Lock #1
underneath the bridge. Take time to walk over, have a closer look
at the lock and think of what could have been if the canal had been
finished. The cache container is a camo'd 1 litre screw-top jar. In
addition to the log book, this cache contains a key chain, a Smoke
Free compass clip, several lanyards, COG Spring Fling magnets and a
skateboard for trading. There is a prize for FTF.
Recommend to park on Chapman Street -
N44 5.645 W79 29.362. Cache is located on the other side of a very
busy street. Be sure to use caution crossing the street. Be
especially careful if children or pets are with you.
You may be lucky enough to find one of these magnets in
this cache:
If you have, bring it to the Fling for an extra draw ticket (1 per
geocaching name).
COG would like to thank the placer of this cache for
helping us promote COG Spring Fling IV.