Location
The Region of Niagara - St. Catharines
On the NE corner of St. Paul Street and McGuire Street, 1 block south of Westchester Avenue
|
Photographer
Alan L Brown
|
More Information
|
Posted
August 22, 2004
|
Text from the Plaque
A pioneer in th 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 free trade policies and various transportation projects. In particular he advocated building a comprehensive system of canals and railways linking inland waters with the ocean, a scheme which foreshadowed the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway over 100 years later.
|
|