Posted with full permission from the Hamilton Spectator.
This week in history
It's less than 100 metres wide but the Burlington Ship Canal -- which allows ships to pass through the beach strip into Hamilton Harbour -- has been a vital part of local commercial history.
It's also had a lot of bad luck. Two bridges over the canal have been destroyed by marine craft over the years.
But let's go back a little further into history: Up until the early 1800s the inlet was too narrow to allow ships to pass so cargo from the lake had to be off-loaded onto the beach strip and from there transported by land to the villages of Hamilton, Dundas and Ancaster. Eventually the inlet was dredged so ships could pass through into Hamilton Harbour but this meant a substantial bridge was needed for land crossings.
It was 177 years ago tomorrow that the first overpass, a swing bridge, was built. It allowed people and vehicles to pass over but could be moved out of the way to make way for ships. Unfortunately, though, a schooner crashed into the side of it, destroying the bridge shortly after the official opening.
A so-called scow ferry service was run for several years until 1896 when the next swing bridge was built. Other bridges were built as the canal was further widened and then in 1952 a steamer plowed into the lift bridge when it failed to open.
A temporary trestle bridge was used until the present lift bridge was completed in 1962.
For more about the Burlington Lift Bridge see thespec.com.
http://www.thespec.com/multimedia/viewer/255457
This week in history
It's less than 100 metres wide but the Burlington Ship Canal -- which allows ships to pass through the beach strip into Hamilton Harbour -- has been a vital part of local commercial history.
It's also had a lot of bad luck. Two bridges over the canal have been destroyed by marine craft over the years.
But let's go back a little further into history: Up until the early 1800s the inlet was too narrow to allow ships to pass so cargo from the lake had to be off-loaded onto the beach strip and from there transported by land to the villages of Hamilton, Dundas and Ancaster. Eventually the inlet was dredged so ships could pass through into Hamilton Harbour but this meant a substantial bridge was needed for land crossings.
It was 177 years ago tomorrow that the first overpass, a swing bridge, was built. It allowed people and vehicles to pass over but could be moved out of the way to make way for ships. Unfortunately, though, a schooner crashed into the side of it, destroying the bridge shortly after the official opening.
A so-called scow ferry service was run for several years until 1896 when the next swing bridge was built. Other bridges were built as the canal was further widened and then in 1952 a steamer plowed into the lift bridge when it failed to open.
A temporary trestle bridge was used until the present lift bridge was completed in 1962.
For more about the Burlington Lift Bridge see thespec.com.
http://www.thespec.com/multimedia/viewer/255457