When Nature and Humans Collide
Love Canal Neighbourhood in Niagara Falls, New York Covers 36 square blocks in far S.E. corner of the city (along 99th Street & Read Ave.) Bergholtz Creek to N. & Niagara River (1/4 mile) to S.
Love Canal 1890’s Wm. T. Love wanted to build a canal connecting 2 levels of Niagara River Supply area with Hydro - for industrial use
Love Canal Congress passed regulation - no water removed from Niagara River (preserve Niagara Falls) 1892 - Love wanted shipping lane to bypass N.F. & reach L. Ontario Envisioned urban area --> Model city
Love Canal Plan was to build a system of beautiful parks and homes along L. Ontario Love only built 1.6km of canal (15m wide & 3-12m deep) Plan abandoned as Love ran out of $$$$
Love Canal Canal filled with water - used for recreation (swimming, skating) 1920’s - site used as dump for city of N.F. 1940’s - Hooker Electrochemical Company granted permission by Niagara Power & Development Company to dump its waste into Love Canal
Love Canal Canal drained - lined with clay 55 gallon metal or fibre barrels Site in operation for 10 years (1952) 22,000 tons chemicals from manufacturing of dyes, perfumes, solvents for rubber and synthetic resins added 1947 Hooker bought canal and 70’ wide banks on either side
Love Canal 1952 canal covered with dirt and Vegetation started to grow N.F. school board wanted to buy a piece of the canal site to build new school Hooker said No & brought School board to site - drilled holes to show toxic chemical Finally Hooker sold property for $1
Love Canal Hooker (April 28th, 1953) included a 17 line caveat explaining dangers of building on site & releasing them from any legal obligations 1955-school completed & 400 students began to attend Same year - 25’ area crumbled exposing toxic chemical drums - filled with rainwater and children played in
Love Canal 1957 construction of housing near the canal began Residents moved in not knowing the dangers that lay beneath them Clay cover began to crack - 1977 (wet winter) canal became a overflowing pool --> people reported puddles of oil or coloured liquid in basements & backyards
Love Canal 1978 Lois Gibbs began to survey neighbourhood regarding health of children High cases of miscarriages (56% of children born with defect of some kind) 1979 Environmental Protection Agency declared found 33% of pop. Had chromosome damage (where 1% is avg)
Love Canal 1980 - 800 families relocated Houses & school demolished Clay & plastic covered site, material from demolished houses and school placed on top Fenced in area to keep people out
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal
Love Canal