A tiny town. A rich family. A murder trial. All the makings of a great story and exactly what you’ll find at Port of Newcastle, Ontario!
First peoples recognized the safety of this natural harbor, setting up camp near today’s breakwater and fishing the salmon. They fished in relative peace until the mid-19th century, when reports of LaSalle’s historic 1777 voyage tempted schooners and barges to dock at Newcastle. Milling, weaving, distilling and machinery manufacturing turned Newcastle into a boomtown.
Taking full advantage of this industrial boom, Daniel Massey started his first foundry, which produced ploughs and a Canadian necessity: cauldrons for syrup! Massey noted some of the same qualities that originally attracted first peoples tribes: the long, deep docks, the safe waters and the convenient location for trade both across and along the lake. The one dirt road that cuts across town would eventually become Highway 2 of the Trans-Canada highway system. With a solid foundation and optimized natural resources, Massey set about building an empire.
