On Saturday, the city celebrated Canada Day by hosting a designation ceremony for Lock 25 in Battle of Beaverdams Park.
“It always means a lot to us when we get another designation,” the chair of the city’s Heritage Committee, Anna O’Hare, told ThoroldToday. “Especially when it is as significant as this lock, which was extremely important to Thorold’s industry, growth and development in the 19th century.”
Lock 25 — along with the 16 other locks of the Second Welland Canal — was constructed from limestone quarried between 1841 and 1845.
Only the capstones of Lock 25’s chamber walls and gate ends are still visible while the remainder of the lock remains below the surface.
For the past few decades, the exposed stonework has been used as seating during concerts at the bandshell.
“It is great to designate a place that typically gets overlooked,” O’Hare said.
During the designation ceremony on Saturday, local historian Sarah King Head gave a presentation on the lock’s history, and several local politicians gave speeches.
"This is a great example of how you can revitalize and incorporate an industrial site into the cultural heritage landscape of the city," said MPP Jeff Burch. "I don't know of any other city who does this better than Thorold."
Mayor Terry Ugulini highlighted the importance of heritage in Thorold. In 2017, the city was the recipient of a Prince of Whales Prize for its municipal heritage leadership.
The designation of Lock 25 marked the 54th heritage designation in Thorold.
“This designation supports the City of Thorold's cultural heritage goals and objectives to identify and conserve its significant cultural heritage resources for the benefit of future generations,” Mayor Ugulini told the gathered crowd.
As for the city’s Heritage Committee, they are already scouting Thorold for the next big heritage designation.
“We are already looking at other sites but the challenge always is — when it’s privately owned places — to find owners who agree to do it,” O’Hare said. “People think it’s scary to designate a building, it’s not. It’s a wonderful way to help preserve and protect these structures for the future. Not only for their beauty and significance, but also for our environment and our cultural identity.”
