Remembering The Workmen - Queenston-Chippawa Power Project

SPECIAL NOTE
this site is currently being revised
1917- to September 1st 1928 Confirmed Complete
90 Workmen Killed (to September 1st 1928)

December 21st 1916

"WE WILL MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO GET THE CHIPPAWA CREEK POWER CANAL COMPLETED QUICKLY"
- Sir Adam Beck

Dedicated In Memory of
the Workmen
Queenston–Chippawa Power Development Project

1917-1930

1917 0 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT


NO DEATHS OCCURRED IN 1917
June 1st 1917 - June 4th 1918 ONLY TWO MEN KILLED DURING PAST YEAR ON HYDRO April 9, 1917 Active Work on the Chippawa Power Canal Has Already Been Started Actual construction work has already been commenced on the Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal, but the real work on the canal would not be in operation for some time to come. Some 25 or 30 men are now at work at the Whirlpool cutting up timber etc. It will be necessary to continue a railroad along the route of the canal to move material, the same as was done on the Welland Ship Canal. This railroad will be double tracked and work on the building of it will be rushed along at once. The heavy equipment for canal building will not be assembled ready for work until the Fall, it is thought, but when it is once going the construction work in the canal will proceed without interruption all through winter and summer. It is estimated that will take about three years to build canal but about 1/3 of that time will be used up in preliminary work and getting things ready. May 9, 1917 Work on the Chippawa Power Canal is already got well underway Operations on the Chippewa-Queenston Hydro Power Canal have begun pretty extensively. Quite a number of men are at work and much material is being hauled to the ground. This indicates that the Hydro Commission intends the rush to work with all haste, the demand for additional power being so great that no time can be lost. Several electric locomotives and cars have arrived at the GTR station for the hydro construction. The first work necessary is to build the railway on which to carry away the material excavated August 8, 1917 Work on the Hydro Power Canal Railway Has Been Started; Labour Shortage Everything will be run by electricity even to the steam plows; huge auto costing $8000 apiece are now being used to carry away excavations. Though greatly handicapped by not being able to get nearly all the men he requires Chief Engineer Goodwin in charge of the Chippawa-Queenston Hydro Power Canal building is pushing operations along in good shape. He has nearly 200 men employed and the canal yards at the Whirlpool present a very animated appearance. Train loads of ties for railway buildings have been brought in together with other timbers and the place resembles a mammoth lumberyard. Work on the railway has been started and will be rushed forward though it is hardly likely the road which is to be double tracked will be finished this year. The railway will be used for carrying away the ground excavated the same as on the Welland Ship Canal. Unlike the Ship Canal, however, these trains will be driven by electric locomotives. Every device of modern times will be tried with a view towards hurrying the work of constructing the canal. It is believed however that it will take five years to finish the job. Several immense auto trucks are now being used to carry away excavations for the railway building. They cost $8,000 each but the manner in which they clear away the ground brought up by the steam shovels indicates that they are a good investment. Even the "steam" shovels are worked by electricity and this is probably the first great public work where in so much electric energy was used. There will be no stoppage of the work on the canal this winter unless the weather becomes more than ordinarily severe and before many weeks engineer Goodwin expects to have many more men on the job. It is suggested that the men in prisons and prison farms might be utilized to relieve the labour shortage due to so many Italians, natural railway workers, being away to war. German prisoners could be brought here from England and France, too, which would only be what the Germans are doing with Allied prisoners. October 24, 1917 Delay In Canal Work Is Ended The Hydro Electric Commission was successful yesterday before the Dominion Railway Board in Toronto in obtaining an order from the Board to execute their agreements with the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway, Grand Trunk and Michigan Central Railways, permitting the construction of the power development canal and the construction railway. The Hydro claimed it was being held up on a mere technicality but now the commission can proceed with the work. November 28, 1917 Excellent progress is now being made on the Chippawa Hydro Electric Power Canal and the preliminary work has got well underway under the charge of the engineers. The construction railway which will carry away the material excavated has been completed from the Whirlpool to the powerhouse and the rest of the line is being pushed forward. The Hydro engineers were handicapped by shortage of labour but now about 350 men are employed on the works and unless the weather gets too severe this gang is expected to stick. The engineers have got rid of all the Chinamen who did not seem to make good on the heavy work. At the present time operations are being centred on the erection of a concrete bridge for the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway tracks at Stanford. This is only one of about 30 bridges which will have to be built. The numerous bridges necessary will prolong the work of constructing the Power Canal. The engineers are filling in a great many ravines which are around the Niagara River with the earth taken out in excavating for the canal. When the canal is finished the face of the country along its course will be very materially altered.

1918 7 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

February 12th 1918	David CARRS age 24 English St. David's Cemetery	Labourer - HEPC - on Friday February 8th, was standing on sideboard of electric engine that was struck from behind by another engine causing it to derail and pushed into a snow bank. Victim was seriously injured and died February 12th. Carrs was first death on HEPC Power Canal Project
April 1st 1918	Antonio KURIMISKI (KURIMISKY) age 35 Austrian Fairview Cemetery	Labourer HEPC - crushed between an engine and a sandcar. Died instantly of shock at Stamford
June 4th 1918	It is interesting to note that in the colossal enterprise in the building of the Chippawa-Queenston Hydroelectric Power Canal involving the expenditure of millions of dollars, the employment of a thousand men and the most modern and efficient machinery in the world, during the 12 months the greatest public work has been in operation, only two men have been killed. This is a tribute to the careful management as well and to the Safety Committee formed of employees whose duty is is to see that in places of danger no man need lose his life or be injured because of lack of warning and instruction. Everything about the canal construction is carried out and coupled with this factor of efficiency...Niagara Falls Review
September 4th 1918	Savia GENOSS Austrian	Was injured yesterday afternoon while unloading a dump car of sand when he was bending over behind a loaded dump railcar after orders had been given for him to move back. As the dump car was being emptied, the victim received a crashing blow to his head causing a fractured skull. He was taken to hospital but died this morning.
September 12th 1918	Charles Frederick STEWART age 15 224 Bridge Street, Niagara Falls son of Mr.& Mrs. W.M.A. Stewart Fairview Cemetery obit	Pole boy – was killed on hydro yesterday. Was tall and well developed. He was employed on an engine dumping cars. There was trouble coupling two of the cars. The boy without anyone knowing got down out of the engine to see what was causing the delay. While watching he got to near and got caught between the coupling of both cars and crushed to death
October 10th 1918	George SPASOFF age 22 Bulgarian Welland Cemetery DC	HEPC foreman - electrocuted
October 1918	George SCHLOSS (may be same as above)	HEPC - electrocuted on the hydro canal while working on a steam shovel. Died of shock after being thrown fifteen feet. No broken bones. Inquest October 19th
December 16th 1918	George PAUTO age 45 Serbian Montreal Fairview Cemetery DC	was employed on a dump car and was crushed between the floor and the frame of the car. Instantly killed by a rail car at noon today

1919 12 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

January 14th 1919	Litson Blake HILLIKER age 25 Canadian single buried Burgensville Ont. DC	Lineman – was working at the top of a pole. As was the custom of linemen, the victim attached his leather safety harness to the wooden cross-arm. His safety belt broke under his weight and he fell to the ground and was dead on the scene –fracture and dislocation cervical backbone
March 17th 1919	George McKeogh BELLAMY age 29 - single buried Catham Ont.	Carpenter hydro - collapse of defective trestle while walking upon it on the Mewburn Farm known as the hydro dump where ground is being filled in forty feet. Trestles are build to carry dump trains including 110 ton engines. died of skull fracture. Had been off ill and just returned to work that day.
March 25th 1919	William Patrick SPARROW age 28 Newfoundland buried Argentia, Newfoundland	Rigger – was killed at the forebay this morning. He was erecting a 68 foot tall jin-pole at the top of the stone crusher 110 feet above the ground with three other men when he was hit in the head and killed instantly. The jin-pole cable holding the pole upright broke causing the 68 foot long pole to fall onto the victim crushing his head - died fractured skull
	A gin pole (derived from gyn, a three-legged lifting device) is a supported pole which uses a pulley or block and tackle on its upper end to lift loads. The lower end is braced or set in a shallow hole and positioned so the upper end lies above the object to be lifted
May 13th 1919	John (Job)ELLIOT age 56 English buried St. Catharines Ont. DC	Brakeman/Section Hand – slipped from the train he was working on and was ground under the wheels of rail cars yesterday afternoon. Both his legs were cut off. He died last night at 6 pm at hospital
June 2nd 1919	80 Percent of the Laborers On Hydro Canal Are Italian, Says The T. & L. Secretary (Trades & Labor Council)...Niagara Falls Review Secretary Pay of the Trades and Labour Council is making a strong plea for the labourers-union men, about 1,100 of whom employed on the Hydro and Welland Ship Canals. "It is quite true" said Mr. Pay to The Review that most of these men are foreigners because they do the work Canadians and Englishmen will not do. We have got to have them on these big works.… ..."Further, 80 percent of them are Italians-there are very few Austrians, etc. and I have found that a majority of them are married men and are very anxious to bring their wives to Canada, but they are not making enough money to do so. Our idea is to get them enough money to bring their wives to Canada, establish homes and good Canadians can be made of these men"...
June 9th 1919	John HOLUNGA age 26 Austrian single Fairview Cemetery DC	Was working on the stone crusher when he became caught in the conveyor belt. This accident was not witnessed however was discovered a short time later by a fellow worker. The victim had been stripped of all his clothing and crushed to death
June 16th 1919	George Stanley RICHIE age 29 Canadian - 76 Bridge St. buried Elmvale Ont.	Lineman HEPC – killed by electrocution
July 6th 1919	George LAIDLAW age 24 Nova Scotia buried Nova Scotia DC	Machinist HEPC – was killed instantly when hit by a giant steam shovel
July 10th 1919	Nazzrino TONASSIN age Italian	Carpenter HEPC - fell from new building on hydro canal
July 27th 1919	Otto MARCIVEAN age 45 Russian Lundy's Lane Cemetery	Labourer HEPC died outside at hydro power station (of acute pneumonia)
August 2nd 1919	Arthur MOYER age 35 Canadian single Vineland buried Jordan Station Ont DC	Was working on the electric railroad at 4 am near Montrose and was doing his job as a switcher when he gave the all clear signal to the locomotive engineer who in turn started moving the train. When the engineer saw that Moyer wasn’t moving he hit his air brakes to stop the train but it wasn’t in time. The victim was killed instantly when he was run over by eight loaded rail cars
August 27th 1919	Daniel JONES Hamilton - English - single had fought in France for 4 years	Linesman for 3 days – touched live wires and was electrocuted
December 21st 1919	Mike ONECUK age 34 Austrian Fairview Cemetery DC	Labourer - Died yesterday from falling rock at hydro canal that occurred one week ago – fractured skull

1920 15 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

January 12th 1920	Gordon SMEATON age 34 Canadian married Queenston Fairview Cemetery DC	Construction foreman - Died at Memorial Hospital NF NY. Hydro man run over by work train on January 10th near section 4. Both legs crushed - one leg amputated. Was walking on the tracks at Stamford. Had brother Robert who was working for hydro two years ago when he too was run over by train and lost a leg in the same place. Gordon took Robert’s place on the hydro.
February 28th 1920	Martin Augustine MCNAMARA age 45 Irish married Campbellford Ont Cemetery DC	Foreman –was the first man on the hydro job and was cheque #1 - was killed at the new power site when he slipped on frozen ground while trying to avoid a broken 10 ton snatch block supporting 3 tons. Fell 200 feet to his death
March 10th 1920	Celestina ANDOVOSIO Russian Fairview Cemetery	Killed when he accidentally slipped and fell under the truck boxing of a hydro car on train #20 on March 8th about 3 p.m. near Stanley Ave. – died from blow to the head – body not mangled
March 19th 1920	Giovanni FOIS age 28 Italian single Fairview Cemetery DC	Labourer - Was killed instantly yesterday at 4:30 pm near shovel #8 near Portage Road when he tripped over a guy wire and fell under a train engine
March 22nd 1920	Herbert S. BOWEN age 25 single buried Rockdale Ont. DC	Carpenter – was working in forebay of power station at 4 p.m. when a locomotive crane was lowering lumber in a sling. A gust of wind caught the lumber causing it to fall from the sling striking the victim in the head, killing him instantly
April 25th 1920	John PETCOFF age 37 Bulgarian single Fairview Cemetery DC	Labourer - Was killed instantly yesterday near Whirlpool. He was working on some cars and it is said one tipped over pinning him to the ground. When released his head had been severed from his body. had not been employed very long on hydro project – came from Toronto where he worked as interpreter
June 16th 1920	The strike on the Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal was called by the union over pay and hours of work issues. Workers are satisfied with new proposed 10 hour work schedule but wanted time and a half for the last two hours of there shift. The works has 1,800 employed on the project. Fifty percent of the workers are foreigners and sixty-seventy percent of this work force are unskilled labourers.
July 8th 1920	The strike on the Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal was called off last night by the Union. Workmen will now be following a 10 hour work schedule. Engineers and some other specialty trades will soon work three 8 hour shifts on a rotating basis. Vote carried by narrow margin.
July 31st 1920	Norman BLOCKY age 25 Bulgarian Fairview Cemetery	Labourer HEPC died of electrocution Queenston - during the height of a severe storm took shelter in a hydro shovel when it was struck by lightning bolt - killed instantly
July 31st 1920	A. KEMISH age 30 Bulgarian Fairview Cemetery	Labourer HEPC died of electrocution Queenston - during the height of a severe storm took shelter in a hydro shovel when it was struck by lightning bolt - killed instantly
July 31st 1920	E. CLOUTIEL age 26 Bulgarian Fairview Cemetery	Labourer HEPC died of electrocution Queenston - during the height of a severe storm took shelter in a hydro shovel when it was struck by lightning bolt - killed instantly
September 7th 1920	J. SLEDZINSKE age 45 Poland Fairview Cemetery DC possibly SLEDZINSKI	hydro labourer construction - 8:30 am killed near Queenston from rock fall
September 21st 1920	Mike IZANOFF age26 Bulgarian	HEPC labourer - fell under and run over by loaded hydro train on Sunday. One hand completely severed and the other was hanging off. His legs and shoulders were fractured.
November 16th 1920	Robert WILEY married 112 Clifton Ave. Toronto buried Ausable Point, NY	HEPC Train Brakeman - 2:40 am crushed between brake knuckles of train engine and rail car
November 23rd 1920	Zen KLEMENKO age 29 Russian single Fairview Cemetery DC	Labourer – smothered under earth - lived hydro camp #67 buried alive under load of dirt from dump car. Car was malfunctioning and wouldn't dump it's load when workman went to side of the dump to fix it when load dumped.
December 6th 1920	Fred E. ROGERS age 48 buried Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick	Transportation foreman HEPC - Died in truck-car crash in Niagara Falls NY. while on duty -skull fracture - was in charge of trucks and transportation on hydro project
December 11th 1920	Hydro Canal At Full Blast All Winter - ...the commission decided to maintain the full work force of 3,600 men. Sir Adam Beck left orders to give all workers possible employment with one stipulation that returning soldiers and married men with families should have first consideration in manning the staff.
December 18th 1920	Gordon Stanley CHANDLER age 24 Fourth Ave. Niagara Falls English married Fairview Cemetery DC	Brakeman -11:25 pm fell 36 feet from trestle at new disposal plant while helping to dump cars - died of shock from head and lung injuries

1921 42 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

January 5th 1921	Paul E. BOWER age 24 American - married buried Ossington Ave.Toronto DC	Drill Runner - killed instantly when crushed by a channel drill fell into channel pinning him at bottom. A passing work train caught one of the channel drills at shovel #9 knocking it on top of him
January 17th 1921	Joe TAVANNI age 32 Italian	Was working on Victoria Ave bridge when struck by hydro train and run over. His body was knocked into canal cut falling fifteen feet
February 2nd 1921	Louis Thomas EMERY (EMARY) age 36 French-Canadian single Fairview Cemetery DC	Fell into canal while lowering drills from NS&T bridge at 10 am when one caught on his clothes causing him to lose his balance. Legs badly crushed - died of shock
February 10th 1921	6,200 men at work on Chippawa Hydro Canal project - Sir Adam Beck
February 21st 1921	Alfred SLAYTER age 26 English single buried Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto Ont. DC	lived at camp 219 was a returned soldier - run over by train - was deaf- working behind hydro offices on Stanley Ave Stamford – was walking on tracks & didn’t hear hydro train. Was struck and cut in two pieces.
February 22nd 1921	George NAOFF	At main disposal site at 1:30 am - was knocked down and crushed by hydro dump car
February 22nd 1921	George YOUNG age 42 English – married St. Catharines Cemetery DC & Thomas Carlisle "Lyle" AUSTIN age 25 of Camp 180 Canadian Gorrie Ontario Cemetery DC	Last night Electric engine#13 running into the back of dinky engine#50 near Whirlpool at shovel#1. The Dinky engine and cars caught fire and were thrown over the bank and fell over the side of the gorge Young was labourer on repair gang - Young was burned to a crisp. His body was recovered an hour after accident. Railcar had landed on Young's body. Austin was a railway fireman - Austin was badly burnt and sustained fractured skull
March 12th 1921	Frank SKERRY age 35 Coleman, Prince Edward Island Fairview Cemetery DC	Shovel Operator - Saturday night was crushed to death while unloading poles. He was accidentally caught and crushed by rolling logs
March 18th 1921	George Richard LINDLEY age 62 English widow buried Avon Ont. DC	HEPC Train Engineer - American Car worker -severe shock following accident between two hydro trains
April 1st 1921	Russell James FRAZER?? age 20	Touched high voltage wire at 4 pm on Saturday
April 5th 1921	Norman Charles CURTIS age 32 buried Newmarket Ont.	Rigger HEPC - killed by fall at Lundy’s Lane this morning –was standing on an small elevated platform on top of steam shovel #12 and had just unhooked chains for a large dump elevator when he lost his balance and fell
April 7th 1921	Roscoe LEIGH age 26 American buried Newmarket Ont. DC	Engineer Construction Boom - Both legs cut off when struck and run over by a hydro work train engine at Victoria Street crossing over hydro canal. Lived half an hour after accident
April 8th 1921	Tony KARCETTO age 26 Italian single	Crushed by rock fall into canal cut where he was working. Came to Canada four months ago.
April 16th 1921	PASCEGTO (TASCGATO) (first name unknown) Italian	Crushed to death when one ton rock falls from shovel
April 20th 1921	Guissepini MARCANI (Giovanni Battista MANCINI) Italian Fairview Cemetery	was laying rails at the bottom of the canal cut and was using a monkey-wrench when the rail on which he was working sprung and forced his wrench into his lung causing his lung to be puntured
May 28th 1921	Herbert DEANE	On morning of May 20^th died at NF General Hospital from shock and hemorrhage caused by accidentally thrown from a speeder at hydro electric construction works
May 30th 1921	Hydro Canal Is Rapidly Nearing End - Army of Seven Thousand Working Feverishly Day and Night Against Time
June 1st 1921	Peter MURRAY (McMURRAY) age 22	Was injured Monday died at Memorial Hospital NF NY of a crushed pelvis and internal injuries. Lived at hydro camp 180
June 4th 1921	Patrick MORIARTY Quebec	A driller - was drilling when he walked away from his work where rock trimming was taking place above him - struck in the head and crushed by a large section of falling rock on the hydro job on Monday, died at the Memorial Hospital NF NY last night
June 11th 1921	Robert Leo DORAN age 34 Amherst, New Brunswick buried West Bathhurst NB	Died last night as a result of a small "spring shot" rock blast. He took cover 400 feet away under shelter with another worker. The blast propelled a rock that pierced his cover striking him dead and breaking the arm of the other workman.
June 12th 1921	Arthur KNIGHT age 27 Newfoundland buried Toronto Ont. DC	Carpenter Scalar –was killed yesterday afternoon when erecting a scalar when it collapsed – fell sixty feet - shock hemorrhage fracture femur & skull perforation wounds
June 17th 1921	E. CLOUTIER???	was at work near Queenston Power House when in a fit of bravado grabbed hold of an insulated wire and completed the circuit either by standing on a wet floor or touching another wire. He received 6,000 volts and killed instantly and badly burned. He was not an electrician. Co-worker received severe shock was taken to Hydro Hospital in a precarious condition.
June 23rd 1921	William BRANDT	Was with two other HEPC employees operating a drill when crushed and killed by rock fall on Sunday. Right leg amputated and right arm broken. Died at Memorial Hospital NF NY - Other workmen William Kirkpatrick (skull fracture) and William Lewis (cuts and bruises)
June 23rd 1921	Sydney FARR age 27 England - single buried - Thorold Ont.	Cableman HEPC - died of injuries received when accidentally caught in the cog-wheels of a big steam shovel #3 on the hydro canal
June 23rd 1921	William George GRANT Fairview Cemetery	HEPC - scaler - died as a result of injuries as result of rock fall
July 1st 1921	Hugh MARTIN age 34 -married Scotland Fairview Cemetery obit	Machinist Helper HEPC - died of Septicaemia and other injuries from rock fall on hydro canal
July 2nd 1921	Everton BRATHWAITE age 33 British West Indies single Fairview Cemetery DC	Shovel Man -killed by a rock slide of rock at big cutting of rock near Montrose Rd. on Saturday night. Four others buried were rescued
July 9th 1921	Robert MORRELLI age 24 Italian	At 3 am killed when buried in sand near Whirlpool Rapids - was shoveling sand into an open pit to a belt line that carried sand away. The sand was being dropped from cars 12 feet above when he lost his footing and fell across pit opening blocking the outlet and was buried in sand - smothered to death - body recovered 1 hour 45 minutes later
July 12th 1921	Thomas COLIGAN age 60	Working in hydro forebay and had heart attack while climbing ladder
July 12th 1921	Adrian LEFEBVRE age 22 brakeman Berryman Ave. St. Catharines St, Catharines Cemetery DC & Sgt. Alfred E. BAKER England Fairview Cemetery	Hydro train was backing up towards Queenston pushing several railcars. At Thorold Stone Road first car derailed causing entire train to derail killing both men instantly Baker had been employed on the hydro for about 6 months - Sgt Major of the Royal Garrison Artillery, Imperial Army. Was first internment in the veterans plot set aside by the city for that purpose.
July 20th 1921	\| Big Staff Reduction To Be Made On Hydro - Slackers To Be Let Out On Hydro 1,300 workmen released last week from project nearing completion. Night shift is being eliminated releasing another 3,000-3,500 men (nearly half of the workforce). Special consideration being given to family men and former soldiers.
July 30th 1921	Russell James FRASER age 20 Canadian single buried Havelock Ont. DC	Rock Driller HEPC - electrocuted at 4 pm in the afternoon when he accidentally touch a high voltage line while working on the hydro canal.
August 16th 1921	John HARRISON age 28 50 Ryerson Ave., Niagara Falls married only two weeks buried in Toronto	Killed last night when buried under a load of a dump car. He had a fractured skull, broken leg and internal injuries. Louis Miller, 43 years was badly hurt at the same time when he was trapped by the engine which turned over at the same time the car capsized.
August 28th 1921	Daniel LIVERMORE age 42 married buried Clinton Ont.	Was Pitman on hydro canal was killed when falling rock crushed him early this morning
September 7th 1921	Napoleon PELLETIER age 44 married French buried Montreal DC	Carpenter - fell into shovel belt pulley at Queenston and was crushed to death
September 21st 1921	William DIMMICK age 62 - married St. John, New Brunswick buried St. John, New Brunswick	Carpenter – working on cement abutment near Montrose. Three cars of sand broke away at Lundy’s Lane going 60 miles per hour and crashed into the end of the track where victim was working. Victim was buried and suffocated. Died at Memorial Hospital NF NY. Had worked on hydro for 2 years
November 2nd 1921	Alonzo (Lonz) Frederick Charles OFFICE age 29 English single buried Trinity Church Cemetery Chippawa Ont. DC obit	Ironworker/Rigger – fall from hydro works at Queenston Power House - fell 30 feet from central floor landing on his head
November 3rd 1921	Peter Lee SHANNON age 21 England - single buried - Tweed Ont.	Rigger HEPC - fracture of base of skull as a result of being crushed between a submarine drill and a boom of Bay City train #8 on the hydro canal site.
November 11th 1921	John Walter REID age 28 married All Saints Church Cemetery obit	Pipefitter HEPC - at 5:30 pm had gone into the blacksmith shop near Lundy's Lane to put his tools away. Other employees in the cutting were blasting and a piece of pipe is said to have come through the roof of the building striking him in the head. He died at Memorial Hospital Niagara Falls, NY several hours later of surgical shock.
November 12th 1921	Michael OGONOSKY age 39 Russian - married Port Colbourne Cemetery DC	Killed this morning when he fell from scalar near Winery Road crossing
November 12th 1921	John Walter REID age 28 Glenholm Ave. Niagara Falls married with 3 small children	Pipe fitter -killed last night when he went into blacksmith shop at 5:30 pm where Lundy’s lane cut is located to put his tools away for the day. Blasting in the area sent a piece of pipe through the roof from the outside striking him on the head. Taken to Memorial Hospital NF NY where he died.
November 21st 1921	Dominick MIRISHIGNI (MUICCIBNI) age 29 Italian Fairview Cemetery DC	Driller – killed between Lundy’s Lane and Convent Road when working on ledge of rock 4-5 feet from the bottom of the canal. Big shovel swung over and he was crushed between the shovel and the wall – fractured skull and crushed chest
November 27th 1921	Thomas HIPWELL age 41 Page St., St. Catharines English St. Catharines Cemetery DC	Carpenter - Killed instantly yesterday when he fell to the bottom of the hydro canal - fractured skull
December 22nd 1921	Hydro Canal Now Empty Of Machinery
December 28th 1921	Completion Of The Great Hydro Canal Today Sees End Of Work Which Has Lasted For Three And A Half Years
December 29th 1921	Thrilling Moment When The Giant Turbines At Queenston Turned At 1:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon the generation of electric power began in the Chippawa-Queenston power canal when Premier Drury and Miss Beck, daughter of Sir Adam Beck turned a small bronze wheel to start the generation station below the cliff at Queenston (started two generators - eight more to be built)

1922 9 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

January 6th 1922	John MCKAY age 29 Scotland 159 Victoria Avenue Niagara Falls parents & sister in Scotland Fairview Cemetery obit	Ironworker HEPC - died at Memorial Hospital NF NY as a result of accident that occurred on November 23^rd 1921 after falling 70 feet into the hydro canal near Queenston
January 26th 1922	Generator #1 is installed at Queenston and Operational

February 3rd 1922	William RICHARDSON age 36 married buried Hamilton Ont.	Lineman HEPC – died of fractured skull as a result of fall from pole at St. David’s Thursday evening. Lived at 206 forest Avenue, Hamilton Ont.
March 16th 1922	Generator #2 is installed at Queenston and Operational
April 19th 1922	Ludwick (MADUL) MAAZURITURY need to research age 30 Port Colborne Polish Victoria Lawn Cemetery DC & Elia (OPOVONICH) SPOVONICH age 36 Toronto Polish Victoria Lawn Cemetery DC	Two Polish workers were killed today crushed by rock and another worker, James BAINE has his legs broken at the power house. The deadly accident was as a result of a rockslide at Queenston last night at about midnight. The men were scaling rock in conjunction with the #4 unit at the powerhouse when the slide occurred. The bodies of foreigners were taken to the St. Catharines Hospital today where an inquest will be held
July 25th 1922	Joe DROZDA (DAROSBIK) age 37 Austrian buried - Welland Ont.	Labourer HEPC - died of accident at hydro intake in Chippawa. Died yesterday afternoon at hospital following a blasting accident at the big intake project by a blasting accident earlier in the day. The victim lost his arm to the shoulder but received massive internal injuries. Was an employee of sub-contractor - Tomlinson, McGAW & McDONALD
August 10th 1922	Victor McCleary WILLSON age 26 Port Robinson Port Robinson Cemetery DC	Fireman Construction Boom - Died after being scalded to death while working on a suction dredge near Montrose. While in the process of firing one of the water tubes, the steam tube blew out covering him in boiling water from head to foot. He was taken to the hospital where he died last night. The deceased is one of five brothers who have died by accident: Two died of drowning one killed in railway accident one killed overseas
September 24th 1922	Harper MARACLE age 24 buried Deseronto Ont.	Carpenter HEPC - Fell from scaffold in screen-house at forebay on the hydro works. Taken to the hospital unconscious but died a short time later
October 2nd 1922	Generator #3 is installed at Queenston and Operational
October 20th 1922	William THOMPSON age 31 - married 732 Ferry Street, Niagara Falls Drummond Hill Cemetery obit	Pipefitter - on hydro for eighteen months – died instantly yesterday at the forebay when he touched a live wire carrying 12,000 volts and fell 13 feet. He was working on a dead transformer and somehow moved through it to the live transformer - fractured skull & burns
November 30th 1922	Generator #4 is installed at Queenston and Operational
December 7th 1922	William “Bill” George MCRAE age 18 Stamford family came from England Fairview Cemetery DC obit	Dredgeman - Drowning in the hydro canal at 5:30 pm last night when he slipped on a frozen platform and fell through the side rail of the swinging bridge where the hydro canal meets the Welland River at Fraser Station. He was following a fellow worker who had successfully crossed when he slipped and fell into the water. The water was dredged but his body was not recovered. On May 2^nd 1923 the body was recovered from the hydro canal just south of Lundy's Lane .

1923 1 Death

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

January 29th 1923	Premier Drury Gave Consent For Generators Fifth Big Machine Is Now being Installed Four generators are now operating and a fifth is being installed. Three more will be added
April 10th 1923	Generator #5 is installed at Queenston and Operational
September 25th 1923	Albert STANSFIELD age 18 - single English Buried in Hamilton Woodlawn Cemetery	Carpenter – was found at 7 pm last night on hydro grounds laying face down on the ground on top of a wire clothes line beside #1 bunkhouse on Portage Road-body burned to a crisp One end of the clothes line was connected to a pole that carried 2,200 volt transformer which was fenced off with chicken netting. The clothesline was only 15 feet long and the end was lying on the ground. The ground was electrified. The victims face was almost entirely burned away with his legs, abdomen and feet burned to cinders. The skeleton of a burned cat was also found. Stansfield had been employed for only one week. Had come to Canada three months ago from England.

1924 1 Death

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT

January 8th 1924	Generator #6 is installed at Queenston and Operational
January 19th 1924	Agostino DE STEFANO married 102 Park Street, Niagara Falls	Scalar - was beginning work and was going down the cliff on a rope. Was working on a narrow ledge of rock on the face of the cliff when the ledge broke off. He was instantly killed at Queenston after falling 120 feet down the side of the cliff. The rope was found in good condition.

1926 2 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
January 7th 1926	Generator #9 is installed at Queenston and Operational
July 12th 1926	John Henry HORTON age 33 Fairview Cemetery obit	HEPC - was a pipefitter by trade but was assigned as a painter since April 1926. died of fractured skull after falling from ladder at the forebay of Hydro Power House in Queenston. Had been employed at Hydro for eighteen months
October 22nd 1926	George Seymour HICKEY age 25 single Fairview Cemetery	HEPC - was killed instantly when he touched a live wire carrying 120,000 volts at the Queenston Power House in Queenston while working on the gallery. He had thought the lines were dead when he was about to make repairs. He touched a knife switch and was electrocuted and wfell twenty feet to the ground badly burned on his hands and shoulder.

1927 1 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
October 21st 1927	James MORTON age 40 Fairview Cemetery obit	HEPC - painter was painting girders under hydro bridge at Lundy's Lane from scaffold when he fell striking a scaffold 15 feet below and continued to fall another 45 feet to the rock side of the canal - killed instantly

NIAGARA FALLS THUNDER ALLEY NAVIGATOR
INFORMATION INDEX	HISTORICAL ARCHIVE	PICTURES & SLIDESHOWS
SITE MAP

1925 0 Deaths

DATE OF DEATH	EMPLOYEE NAME	DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT