Dufferin Islands facts for kids
The Dufferin Islands are a beautiful group of islands in Niagara Falls, Ontario. They are about half a mile south of the famous Horseshoe Falls. These islands are special because they are man-made and offer a peaceful place with lovely nature trails.
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History of Dufferin Islands
How the Islands Began
Long ago, in the late 1700s, the area around what is now Dufferin Islands was used for industry. In 1794, people built a saw mill and a grist mill (for grinding grain) here. Then, in 1796, an iron mill was added.
By 1801, two important local figures, Samuel Street and Thomas Clark, owned these properties. In 1805, the islands were called Clark Hill Islands. Sadly, during the War of 1812, American soldiers burned down the mills on July 26, 1814, after the Battle of Lundy's Lane.
Changing Names and Visitors
In 1854, Thomas Clark "T.C." Street took over the Clark Hill Islands. He decided to rename them Cynthia Islands.
These islands became open to the public in 1877. Sutherland Macklem, who inherited the islands, built two suspension bridges. These bridges allowed people and carriages to cross over to the islands.
Even before the bridges, people had been visiting the area since the 1820s. They came to see The Burning Spring, which was known as Niagara Falls' first tourist attraction. This spring was popular for almost 60 years.
The Islands Become a Park
In 1887, the Niagara Parks Commission took over the Cynthia Islands and the Burning Spring area. They renamed the islands in honor of Lord Dufferin. He was a Canadian Governor-General who helped create parkland along the river. This parkland replaced a very busy and noisy tourist spot.
The islands stayed mostly untouched until 1902. That's when the Ontario Power Company started building a power plant. This plant needed to draw water from the river, which changed the water flow around the islands.
To make up for the reduced water, the power company created new man-made islands and small waterfalls. This work finished in 1905. However, the Parks Commission didn't like the look. They felt it was too formal. So, starting in 1918, extra dirt and stones were added. This made the islands look much more natural.
Fun for Everyone
Except for during World War II, when the islands were closed off, people have always been able to visit Dufferin Islands for free.
For many years, there were places to swim and bathe. These swimming spots were first set up in 1907. By 1962, they moved to a different area. However, these swimming areas were closed in the early 2000s. This was due to safety worries, like people diving into shallow water, and also because they were hard to maintain.
The northern part of the islands also used to have paddleboats. The Niagara Parks Commission started this service in 1973. The paddleboats were removed in the early 1990s, likely for safety reasons too.
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