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.
A privately owned power company which is now out of commission.
Read about the first publicly owned power plant in Niagara and the story of Sir Adam Beck
Read about the first generating station developed by Sir Adam Beck in 1917.
The Porter brothers were the first to develop an idea for power generation, find out what they thought here.