Construction delays

A three-year construction project

As with any construction project, delays were inevitable. Delays on the construction of this power plant, however, were somewhat intentional. Since hydroelectric power plants were a radical new concept in the early 1900s, the longer this project was delayed, the more work crews would benefit from lessons learned from the hydroelectric power plant projects happening on the American side of the river.

Another factor at play was that rapid technological advances over the 1890s necessitated plans for the plant to be completely reconfigured several times over the course of its construction—from the number of generators that would be used, to the size of the powerhouse and wheelpit, along with the amount of excavation that would need to be painstakingly engineered for the project.

By the time preliminary construction was finished in 1904, the plant was 296 feet (90 metres) long and big enough to house five generators that were brought into operation between 1905 and 1906.

OPENING CEREMONY

On January 2, 1905, the “Canadian Niagara Power Company” held a discreet opening ceremony at the power station.

Although construction was still ongoing and power was not generated that day, the purpose of the event was to take a few pictures demonstrating to the provincial government that substantial progress had been made on the plant’s construction.

The power station’s generators did not operate until July 27, 1905.