Port Dalhousie community, park and canal history

From 1880 to 1902, the Canadian Henley was staged at various locations around Canada. The first one was held in Toronto, while other locations included Montreal, Brockville and Barrie.

In 1903, the C.A.A.O. decided that the Henley needed a permanent home. It settled on St. Catharines. Port Dalhousie's Martindale Pond, on what was part of the old Welland Canal, was just what they were looking for.
It's waters were sheltered, but more importantly, the level of the water could be controlled. A covered grandstand was built (for only $2040) and a small boathouse was added. The crews would start at the finish line, row around a buoy, and row back to the finish line. The course covered the distance of one mile, 550 yards - the same as English Henley. It was described by Ned Hanlan, at that time the defending world champion sculler from Canada, as "the best I have ever seen."

Since then a number of changes have taken place. A new concrete and steel grandstand was built to replace the old wood one. Women's rowing was added as a demonstration event in 1947 (a doctor followed in a chase boat, in case the women could not handle the physical stress).

In 1964, the racing distance was changed to 2000 metres, the international racing standard. The course was completely renovated in 1966, when the course was dredged and a bridge was built to Reid Island, which is now Henley Island. The present shellhouse was completed, along with a finish tower, adjustable starting gates, Albano buoying system, and 500 metre timing pylons.
In 1972, when women's races were added permanently, they also raced the international standard distance, however for women it was only 1000 metres. This was changed to the full 2000 metres in 1985.

The course and facilities have undergone major refurbishment to restore the FISA Class "A" standards in preparation for hosting the 1999 World Rowing Championships. Since then CHRC has continued to upgrade the facilities and implement improvements.

Aerial view of Port showing the finish line area and grandstand, to the left. Taken during the 1940's

The undisputed Rowing Capital of North America

By Henry P. Nicholson (St. Catharines Standard 1976)

Today, Port Dalhousie is recognized as having the finest rowing course in North America. The Royal Canadian Henley is known the world over and it's popularity continues to grow.

Like Rome, the Canadian Henley Regatta wasn't built in a day. It took years of hard work originating with the St. Catharines Rowing and Canoe Club to hosting two World Rowing Campionships.

It tokk many dedicated sportsmen of a truly amateur sport and the many supporters who helped along the way. Not only to build the course and it's facilities but in officiating and organizing the regattas.

What happened during those early years that kept the sport together and growing. It just so happened I was around for many of them and my memories recall many things that took place that today's athletes and supporters never saw.

My father kept our canoe at the rowing and Canoe club, built in 1904, near where the Henley Bridge crosses the canal. My brother and I were taught to swim there by Jack (Scotty) Williams, physical director at the YMCA in winter and custodian of the rowing club in the summer.

Don Rowing Club four in 1931 at the dock of the old Rowing Club. Notice all the tugs in the background at Muir Bros. and the houses just outside the entrance to the Dy Docks.

Billy Rance was the first caretaker of the Rowing Club. He lived on the Martindale Farms next to George Goffin, who was manager of the farms for the McCloys.

The Rowing Club was two stories high. The first floor had sections for racing shells, mostly four-oared clinker built working boats and carvel built singles and eights. Some sections had canoes and rowboats.

In a row in the corner of the club house was alarge tank for making carbide gas. Brackets with gas jets were along the aisle and in the dance hall. This was the type of lighting used.

Upstairs was the large dance hall, a kitchen and balcony overlooking the course. Dances were held regularly and a couple of times each summer they held big boat rides. There were several motor boats on the canal at that time and on a warm summer evening these motor boats would tow rowboats and canoes in lines of 10 and 12 boats, all decorated with Chinese lanterns. The ride generally went around George's Point, up the Martindale to the trestle and back. There would be lots of laughter and singing.

"The St. Catharines Rowing Club: 100 Years in a Row"

A 214 page written and pictorial history - contact Stan Lapinski

http://www.goldmedalphotos.com

With coming of World War I and the advent of the automobile, interests on the water gave way to driving on highways, and the club's main interest became rowing. A meeting was held at the Welland House, in1919m for the purpose of building up interest in the rowing club. Ed Graves, MLA, and Mr. Cummings,a lawyer suggested "It should be a country club for the whoke family, and not just for the boys who wished to row.

It was a good idea, but when they suggested building it at the foot of Ann Street, that didn't look so good.

My brother Frank made a bold suggestion. He pointed out that by building at the foot of Ann Street, with the clubhouse on the water, the first time the club wanted to expand it would have to purchase private property. His suggestion was to buy Read's Island, situated half way up the course.The oarsmen would have to rowonly half way to the starting line and half way back after the finish. It was large enough to include the country club concept and the shellhouse.

Don Rowing Club eight in 1931

It never came to pass, they built on Ann Street in 1920, then used a tin a metal shed next to the Port Dalhousie Legion on the far side of the course, just as shell houses for the oarsmen. Eventually in the early 1950's Reid's Island, now Henley Island, was purchased.

In 1910 the Grandstand was built on a narrow strip of land where the present finish line tower is. My father built it. The seats were sloped and faced toward the Rubber Factory. Under the seats and from the rear the visiting racing shells were stored.

Several local regattas were held each summer. The crewa competing came from different industries in the city - Crocker-Wheeler, N.S. & T Railway, Welland Canal Office, Welland Vale and others. Up to 1923 singles were started at the Grandstand, rowed one half mile up and returned to finish at the grandstand. Racing shells were scarce and it often a half to three quarters of an hour to change crews and start another race. What a wait.

To overcome the monotony of waiting, the Henley Aquatic Clib, which ran the regatta, provided entertainment. Canoe races, in many froms, were popular along with rowboats. On other occassions they would tow a barge to the front of the grandstand where "Chief" Smiley would perform a revolver shooting act.

Rowing Pictures from the 1920's

Chief Smiley giving a shooting demonstration between Henley races.

what you saw in the 20s was different from what you see today. Some of the pilings of the old tow path between the point and the grandstand where the finish line tower stands and Henley Island were still there. A heavy rope was fastened between them and dozens of canoes and rowboats tied up to this rope giving them front row seats for the races. On the other side of the course and over the stone wall, dozens of large cabin cruisers, motorboats and sailing yachts from Toronto, Hamilton and other places come through Lock One and anchored in line to watch the regatta. It really made a grand sight.

Judges and referees followed the races in two beautiful motor launches owned by Norman Marshall and Howard Steele. A stem yacht owned by Henry Chrysler was always an attraction on the water ar regatta time. In those days there were 10 to 12 boat houses at Lock Two, behind where the Tyler Wire Weaving plant was, that housed mostly motor launches.

When reliving the past, one should appreciate all that the Henley Aquatic Club and its successors have done to turn the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta into the best and largest regatta on the continent. Right her in good old Port Dalhousie.

Dr. W. L. Durnan, a regular at Henley, pictured here on July 24, 1947

Looking up the course with the Third Welland Canal, to the left.

The old rowing club dock. A busy place prior to Henley on July 22, 1947

A unknown sculler on the course with Muir Bros. and the canoe livery in the background.

John B Kelly Jr. from Vesper Boat Club of Philadelphia in front of the Grandstand in 1945. He was the brother of Princess (Grace) Kelly.

St. Catharines Rowing Clubs' first "Hanlan Trophy" heavy eight champions in 1961

The St. Catharines Rowing Club the 1961 "Maple Leaf Trophy" champions

Historical Plaque unveiling by Premier John Robarts with (left to right) Robert Johnston, MPP St. Catharines; Thomas Kellar, FISA President; Robert Welch, MPP Lincoln; Ted Norris, Regatta Chairman; Russ Wood, President CAAO prior to the 1967 North American Rowing Championships.

Four race finish at the 1970 World Rowing Championships

Music on the Grandstand platform diring the 1970 World Rowing Championships

First Regatta was an exciting time.

The Standard 1976

Local residents take for granted the annual Henley Regatta on the course at Port Dalhousie but few remember the first regatta and all the pomp and fanfare that went with it.

Mrs. D. R. MacKay, a longtime resident, is one who qyite clearly recalls the 1903 event, although she was only a small child. Her most vivid memories are of the crowd, the vendors, the banners and other attractions which were incidental to the actual racing but were integral to the enjoyment had by the children and adults alike.

She remembers the train and trolly cars loaded with people from St. Catharines and area making their way down the Main Street in Port, the train having six or eight coaches. Once the people arrived they were greeted by a carnival-like atmosphere, particularly the younsters. "We were only children so we cared little about the actual races. After all, they were only boats to us."

What the children, and indeed many people, wanted to get closer to was the tent set up alonf side the grandstand, under which there were several tea tables offering afternoon tea and cakes as well as ice cream.

Champions 1922 and 1923. This crew, stroked by George Fitzpatrick, won four races in the 1922 regatta sponsored by the Niagars Distic Aquatic Club, forerunner of the St. Catharines Rowing Club. Rowing with him from the bow were Norman Armstrong, Geoffrey Milne and Roy Cornwall.

In addition to food, vendors sold pennants of the various clubs and these added to the already colourful scene.

Perhaps the most colourful part of the racing days was the line-up of decorated boats which came from all over the area including Toronto and Buffalo. Some of the boats which flew banners, streamers and other decorative paraphenalia were ones awaitng entrance to the drydocks for repairs or to be scrapped.

Others were those of boat owners who just wanted to dress up the event. There were an assortment of yachts as well as some houseboats which were towed ovwe by tugs. One of the most memorable houseboats was the one owned by Mr. Weller, chief engineer of the canal, which was painted green and white and decorated for the occasion.

In addition to the bannered boats, Mr. William Muir hung pennants over the dry dock proclaiming " Welcome to Henley."

On the regatta's opening night there was a carnival which lined the banks of the course with hundreds of people. The carnival's highlight was a parade of small boats including canoes and rowboats which were also decorated for the event. They were adorned with, among other things, Japanese lanterns which brightened the affair.

Mrs. MacKay recalls that the actualstaging of the races was different thenit is now. The start of the race took place in front of the grandstand and the boats turned at a buoy up the course and came back to finish in front of the crowd. Now, of course, only the finish is at the grandstand.

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