Explore the History of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York
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In 1759, Daniel Joncairs was the first recorded person to have harnessed any type of power in Niagara. He did this by digging a narrow ditch above the falls, on the American side, and from this was able to draw enough water from the river to turn a waterwheel to power a small sawmill. Joncairs did not invent the waterwheel, however before he arrived; the power of Niagara was being used for nothing more than washing.
Some facts about the power generating in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York.
The Porter brothers were the first to develop an idea for power generation, find out what they thought here.
The entire history of the first power plant, from construction to destruction
Read about the 1886 plan submitted by Thomas Evershed.