Memories of Leamington Dock

By C. Scott Holland

LEAMINGTON — Despite numerous tragedies throughout the years, and a vast number of changes since its beginnings circa 1869, the Leamington Dock as a landmark, is still a highly popular place to visit.

Leamington’s Lake Erie waterfront has undergone a multitude of changes and developments since the first settlers arrived over 200 years ago. Several docking facilities graced the shores initially.

Scott’s Dock and Robson’s Dock were among the first to offer mooring for ships that brought and hauled away goods. While those two survived, a third pier was built by Lewis Wigle.

Wigle’s dock sat a bit west of the present Leamington Dock until 1901 when a newer dock was erected at the present location. Wigle sold the original dock to the federal governent in 1891.

With the H. J. Heinz Company’s arrival in Leamington, railroads and ships became used more extensively. Heinz’s shipping business expanded immensely when the Leamington factory became Heinz Canada’s export centre.

The Canadian government aided Leamington’s request for waterfront development in 1932 when it dredged the harbour, built a warehouse and extended the dock from 707 feet to 1,065.

Ocean freighters soon started appearing regularly at the dock. The warehouse, itself, was extended in 1939 as more improvements to the dock were made.

The opening of the Leamington Dock in 1933. Scott Holland photo

Yet during all this time, there was not any kind of breakwall to provide protection and stability for the dock and the ships using it.

That would change in 1957, when the Federal government’s Department of Works announced it would embark on a program of harbour improvements here. The new rock breakwall, located about 2,500 feet from the end of the dock, was slated to run 1,000 feet across.

The Canadian Dredge and Dock Company of Toronto was awarded the tender with a bid of $649,521. The armour stone used for it was to come mainly from quarries on Pelee Island. The work on it lasted almost a year.

The dock’s major shipping useage ended around 1971 when truck and rail transportation became more feasible. But it has always served as a focal point for the ferries which connected the mainland to Pelee Island. Millions of dollars were spent in repairs and construction when Leamington created its marina in 1984.