SPIRIT OF THE BIG DITCH: The Story of the Welland Canals in Pictures, Poems and Songs
An Anthology of Poems, Songs and Illustrations Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Mr. Merritt’s Big Ditch.
· 44 poems and songs tell the story of the Welland Canals from 1829 to the present
· 73 full colour artwork reproductions, early photographs, and other illustrations
· prepared by Prof. (Emeritus) Robert R. Taylor, the Welland Canal’s leading authority
· features QR code links to audio recordings of the poems and song
· 116 pages, including an index and endnotes
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Spirit of the Big Ditch is Out-of-Print as of February, 2024
It is anticipated that SPIRIT OF THE BIG DITCH will be made available for downloading as a digital PDF and as a Print-on-Demand hard copy. If purchasers would like to be advised when these options are available, please email the Historical Society of St. Catharines at: HSSC.contact@gmail.com
Include the following SUBJECT HEADING: “SPIRIT OF THE BIG DITCH – Please Notify re Availability of Future Copies”
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The Book Launch for Spirit of the Big Ditch was held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Click here to see pictures of the launch.
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Click on the link below to read the poem and to see or hear it performed.
| Author and Title | Performed by |
|---|---|
| Anonymous. Died. Tiffney. Drowned, at Thorold | Peter Murray |
| Anonymous. In Loving Memory of Little Willie Wallace | Peter Murray |
| Anonymous. Welland Canal Celebration Song | David MacKenzie |
| Anonymous. A New Song Called the Strike on the New Canal | Maja Bannerman & Rusty McCarthy |
| Bain, A. Sutherland. Up and Down | Oliver Porteus |
| Bengough, John W. A Word to the Premier | Maja Bannerman |
| Blair, John Jr., On Drowning of W. V. | Louise Waldie |
| Burrows, Charles. Port Dalhousie | Keith Inman |
| Buzzard, Captain Edward J. On Gravelly Bay | Lee Murdock |
| Cavanaugh, Captain Jeremiah. The Schooner John Bentley | Ian Bell |
| Clark, (a sailor). The Mules That Walked our Fo’c’sle Deck | Ian Bell; Lee Murdock |
| Coventry, George. The Hon. Wm. Hamilton Merritt | David MacKenzie |
| Dimand, Istvánné. Valedictory for Károly Kádi | Rusty McCarthy |
| Dix, James. The Mules That Walked our Fo’c’sle Deck | Ian Bell; Lee Murdock |
| Drummond, Frank S. Thorold Lock | Ted Yates |
| Engel, Howard. That Meritorious Work: The Welland Canal | Charlotte Engel Jacob Engel John Goodyear |
| Fraracci, Howard. I Think of You | N/A |
| Green, Ernest. Twilight on the Tow-Path | Louise Waldie |
| Grol, Lini. Port Robinson | Karin Brenninkmeijer |
| Grol, Lini. Port Weller | Karin Brenninkmeijer |
| Grol, Lini. St. Catharines … as it was and is | Karin Brenninkmeijer |
| Grol. Lini. Welland | Karin Brenninkmeijer |
| Loftus, Jimmie. The Drifting Legion | RN Wagner |
| Loftus, Jimmie. The Great Saint’s Medal | RN Wagner |
| Loftus, Jimmie. The Port of Call | RN Wagner |
| Marten, Harold F. The Welland Ship Canal | Irene Romagnoli |
| McArthur, James S. Victims of Lock 6. New Welland Canal | Peter Murray |
| McClure, William. The Welland Ship Canal | Brenda Schultz |
| McIntyre, James. Lines on Thorold | Oliver Porteus |
| McIntyre, James. St. Catharines | Maja Bannerman |
| Nunnamaker, Wesley F. The Welland Ship Canal | Ted Yates |
| Paola, Ennio A. canals | Ennio A. Paola |
| Parnell, Frederick R. The Ten Mile Stream | Armand Romagnoli |
| Parsons, John S. A Trip on the George C. Finney | The Golden Eagle String Band |
| Scribe of N.B. St. Catharines, Shun! | Guy Bannerman |
| Shanahan, Mary’s Grandfather. The Old Welland Canal Song | Mary Shanahan |
| Shipley, Robert J.M. May Mountain Locks Walk | Robert J.M. Shipley |
| Sinclair, Alex. Shovelling Mud | Alex Sinclair |
| Sinclair, Alex. The Annie and Jane | Alex Sinclair |
| Sinclair, Alex. The Stuff of Dreams | Alex Sinclair |
| Sinclair, Alex. William Hamilton Merritt | Alex Sinclair |
| Skrzeszewski, Stan. My Grand Canal | Stan Skrzeszewski |
| Swart, Morley L. In Lock 6 | Bishop Gerard Bergie |
| Taylor, Robert R. Building the Welland Canal c. 1828 | Andrew Porteus |
| Thompson, Clarence A.D. Martyrs of Progress | Rusty McCarthy |
“Spirit of the Big Ditch” section of the website developed by Andrew Porteus, curator of the Niagara Falls Poetry Project.
The Historical Society of St. Catharines 