**Note: Visitor’s will have to explore the Midland Town docks to find the 4 plaques at this location.
In the early 1900’s, Midland was a hive of activity. The shores of the bay were crowded with lumber mills, shelters, a grain elevator and a steel works, all of which required access to water for transport. The current town dock housed docks specific for shipping and receiving of lumber and coal. Mid-century, the town dock had transformed into a tourist destination for cruise and passenger ships sailing the Great Lakes. Currently, Midland Harbour is a winter berth for grain ships with the town dock being a tie-up for recreational vessels and the occasional Coast Guard ship.
Dog races in Midland Harbour, date unknown.
Midland Town Dock, date unknown. Use is still mainly industrial. In the background is the 5-10 ton shipbuilding crane of the Midland Shipyards.
The Polar Bear Open, February 1992. The Harbour is a place of leisure and entertainment year-round.
The Midland Town dock as it was dominated by industry. To the left we see the Midland elevators and Copeland Flour mills.
30,000 island boat cruises are conducted from the Midland Town dock. Cruises were run by PMCL (Penetang-Midland coach Lines), a locally owned and run family business.
Construction of the covered pier at the Midland Town dock, c.1982.
Aerial view of Midland Harbour, post-industry. We can see that the harbour is mainly being used here for docking of pleasure craft.
Postcard of passenger ship ‘City of Detroit’ leaving Midland Harbour
A tourist boat at the Town Dock C. 1940.
Passenger ships in Midland Harbour. Midland Harbour was an important starting point to passenger tours and cruises of Georgian Bay (30,000 islands) and the Great Lakes.
Midland Harbour C. 1900. Lumbering was a very important industry to Huronia. The shores of Midland were dotted with numerous sawmills. Water was important to moving and storing logs, and shipping cut lumber out of the area.
The SS Leonard B Miller and others at winter berth in Midland Harbour.
Ice cutting in Midland Harbour. Photo by J.W. Bald. Ice blocks were cut from the Bay before the thaw. They were stored in ice houses and used through-out the year for personal use in home ice-boxes, to keep food cold.
Midland Harbour C. 1905. Photo taken by J.W. Bald.
Brochure for boat tours leaving Midland Town Dock, on the boat, City of Dover.
City of Dover boat cruises, 30,000 islands, leaving from the Midland Town Dock.
The Ice Harvest photo was the inspiration for one of the Midland Murals located at the Town Dock
The photo of the town dock with the crane in the background was taken between 1932 and 1937 as I can see the Brentwood in the background and she was laid up in Midland during that time period
The DS Pratt is also in the foreground and she was still in Midland until about 1937. The City Of Dover can also be seen behind the town dock.
well done. Until now, I didn’t realize the crane in the first pix was part of the shipyards…always thought it was just used for coal. thanks
Clifford Weatherell sailed on the City of Dover and after retiring from grain boats on the great lakes he sailed the Miss Midland for many years. Cliff and his sons sailed the boat owned by Jack Frame from Gananoque to Midland . His son Steve can give testemonial to this.