Cemetery tours give glimpse of fallen canal workers
In every cemetery lies an abundance of history just waiting to be brought back to life.
For many of those people who died during the construction of the Welland Canal, it was an unfortunate series of events or an unlucky decision.
For some, it was the simple fact they could not understand the language.
When Estafy Eliashevich, an immigrant from Russia, was warned in English about live wires, it was too late, and the 19-year-old worker was electrocuted in 1915.
His story was just one of the many that guide Isabel Bachman expanded on as she led a group through Victoria Lawn Cemetery early Saturday morning.
The Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force teamed up with local museums for a series of cemetery tours bringing to life the stories of workers who died while building the fourth Welland Canal, which opened 85 years ago, on Aug. 6, 1932.
“This is about 137 faceless men who most people don’t know about except for reading the weekly instalment,” Bachman said of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers series which runs in this newspaper Saturdays.
She said a lot of research on the accidents but also the workers’ backgrounds has been undertaken, including interviews with descendants.
“There’s a lot of personality traits that I would like to bring out.
“When I read the bios it was overwhelming the kind of severe injuries they were suffering,” said Bachman.
“I don’t want to feel depressed about these men. I want to celebrate their life talk and about what they did.”
Bachman, a history buff, has a particular interest in Merritton, where she grew up.
Her connection with the area is deep, her mother’s home one of the old lockmaster’s houses.
“People here take the canal for granted,” said Bachman.
“It’s always been there, but the only time you think about it is when the bridge is up.
“I want people to understand it is a world-known monument.
“People go and see the Pyramids, the Parthenon and people come see the canal because it’s that important.”
Elizabeth Fraser from Niagara Falls said it’s important to remember the people who died building the canal.
“We learn from our mistakes/ Safety is No. 1 now, (back then) they expected deaths.”
Tours continued Monday Old Lakeview Cemetery on Thorold Town Line Road West in Thorold and at Woodlawn Cemetery on Niagara Street Welland, and at Holy Cross Cemetery across the intersection with Woodlawn Road.