Throwback Thursday is sponsored by Dresden Meat Packers:
In recognition of Wallaceburg’s 150th anniversary this year, the Wallaceburg & District Museum has launched a new feature on social media: ‘150 Facts, for 150 Years’.
Here is one of their recent posts:
“It is hard to believe that the Sydenham River was such a busy river at one time and along Wallace Street where the boardwalk sits now, was the Government Docks. Large freighters and steamships would often stop there to load and unload goods. Local teens would listen out for the sounds of the whistles blowing, calling for helpers to load and unload ships, skipping out from classes to earn themselves some extra cash.
In 1933, to accommodate such a busy waterway, a warehouse was built. It was used by many types of boats. Small boats would go from port to port. The C.S.L. lines made Wallaceburg a port of call. The Northwest Transportation Co brought the Superior and the Hudson in on a daily schedule there. “International” shipped many of their trucks, Hawkin Milling sent flour, Libbey’s canned goods, and general freights from fertiliser to raw and refined sugar. It got so busy, extra storage and dock had to be built.
Sadly, those days were numbered with the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1959. Small shipping vessels became a thing of the past. Larger vessels could move throughout the Great Lakes system hauling larger cargoes for substantially less money. Many of the smaller freighters that once frequented Wallaceburg, were scrapped. The government wharf and warehouse were torn down in 1962 along with the dockage pilings. This seemed a little short sighted at the time, as it could have been used for pleasure crafts.
A new government dock was placed at a location just outside of town, but as it was rarely used it was closed shortly after.”
If you have an old photo, or video, that you would like to see on the Sydenham Current, let us know by sending us an email to sydenhamcurrent@gmail.com.
