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Secord SignificanceThe DeCew Falls Generating Plant II was an extension of the original DeCew project started in 1898. Phase 2 of the hydroelectric project is much larger than Phase 1, and required significant widening and straightening of the 12 Mile Creek below the Niagara Escarpment in order to accommodate the waterflow from energy production. Laura Secord famously walked through the 12 Mile Creek valley to reach DeCew House. On her walk she would have seen a much more narrow and meandering creek than what exists today . |
DeCew Falls Generating Plant I, adjacent to this station, is the oldest continually running hydroelectric power station in Canada.
A second phase of the plant, DeCew Falls Generating Plant II, was initiated in 1943 to aid in the war effort. It was completed in 1947. Lakes Moodie and Gibson were expanded still further, and Twelve Mile Creek was dredged, widened, and straightened all the way to Lake Ontario.
The old red brick power house contained the original DeCew I generators. Adjacent are the newer transformer buildings and powerhouses of DeCew II.
Lookout from Tailrace Road at bottom of Power Glen:
From Toronto, QEW (Niagara) to Glendale Ave. Exit
Right on Glendale across 12 Mile Creek to Pelham Street
Left on Pelham Street to Power Glen Road
Left on Power Glen Road until you see an Ontario Power Generation sign indicating a right turn into the DeCew Falls Generating Station complex at Tailrace Road (the street name may be unmarked).
Travel south on this dead-end road as far as the gates of the DeCew Falls Generating Station.
Through the fence at the bottom of Tailrace Road, you can see the old red brick Power House which housed the original generators. Further right are the newer transformer buildings and powerhouses of DeCew II.
Please be careful not to block access or to trespass on power plant property!
Lookout from the Bruce Trail by Lake Moodie to see headworks:
From Toronto, QEW exit 49 to Hwy 406 and drive about 11 km
Right on St. Davids Road West
Left on Merrittville Hwy at the second stop light and drive about 1 km
Right on DeCew Road at lights, just before Lake Gibson and drive about 2 km
Right into the Morningstar Mill's little parking lot beside the Beaverdams Creek mill pond
If you come to the three way stop at Cataract Road you have gone too far
From the Morningstar Mill parking lot walk eastwards on the Bruce Trail following the Niagara Escarpment
The lookout is at a turn-around point on top of the escarpment.
IEEE (pronounced Eye-triple-E) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. History Centre: history_center aboutus web www.ieee.org
http:/www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history_center/decew.html
Mayer, Tiffany.DeCew marks 110 years of producing power. The Standard. Retrieved from
history_center aboutus web www.ieee.org
http:/www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1277542
history_center aboutus web www.ieee.org
http:/http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2183854230049197489QKmFzU
Ontario Power GenerationThe Niagara Plant Group
DeCew Falls Generating Station No. 2
15 Lockhart Drive
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2T 4C6
| Latitude: | 43.118474003 |
| Longitude: | -79.2645259787 |
| UTM easting: | 641185 |
| UTM northing: | 4775433 |
DeCew Falls Generating Station No. 2
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