As you explore Port Dalhousie this summer, take a stop to admire and appreciate “the Pull”, funded in part by a Niagara Community Foundation- David S. Howes Fund Grant.
‘The Pull’ is a sculpture located in Port Dalhousie, paying homage to the towhorses that played a crucial role in the history of the Welland Canals. Sculpted by Veronica and Edwin Dam de Nogales Dam from Barcelona, Spain, and Floyd Elzinga from Beamsville, Ontario, this artwork combines bronze and weathering steel. The sculpture, completed in 2022, stands as a tribute to towhorses and their significant role in the history of the Welland Canals. During the construction of the canals, both human and animal workers suffered injuries and casualties.
Historical significance
The sailing ships of the early canal era were pulled through the channel with their sails furled. In 1842, there were 150 teams of horses stabled at the west end of Lakeside Park, near the entrance to the canal. Teams of horses, mules, or oxen – driven by a towboy – would move along a tow path that ran beside the canal all along its length. Teams were exchanged at locations along the route.
The canal passage between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario was a grueling experience for both humans and equine. The tow paths and canal banks were often covered in sticky mud, creating a treacherous and exhausting environment. The use of towhorses waned as sailing ships were replaced by steam and later diesel ships capable of transiting the canal under their own power.
Symbolism and design
‘The Pull’ is representative of the historically working-class neighbourhood in which it resides. The sculpture depicts a horse in mid-stride, with its head leaning forward, and its harness affixed to the ground, symbolically pulling the neighbourhood into the future, while evoking memories of its past.
Commission and support
Commissioned by the Kiwanis Club of St. Catharines and Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee, with support from the Harbour Club, Niagara Community Foundation, private donors, and volunteers.
~’The Pull Port Dalhousie‘: https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/arts-culture-and-events/pull-port-dalhousie.aspx
