The Old Meritton Mill was a part of the 19th century boom of technology, industry, and mills. Strongly influencing trends in transportation and communication, the Welland Canal provided sufficient connections to water power generation for the industries in the town of Merritton. In the 1850s investors saw the natural advantages to the area of Merritton. This awareness led the development of many mills, a cement plant and also textile mills.

The Beaver Cotton Mill, built in 1857, was the site of a large cotton plant which produced yarn, batting and wadding. It finally became known as the Merritton Cotton Mills. In 1881 there was a fire and the mill had to be rebuilt and reopened in the year of 1885. The building went unused through the Great Depression and only in 2001 was it renovated and reopened as The Keg restaurant.

The Old Merritton Cotton Mill depended on water for hydraulic power and electricity generation, and there are remnants of an old dismantled weir onsite. These structures assisted in channeling water into the millrace from the canal nearby. The Keg restauarant sits at the bottom of the Niagara Enscarpment and is the focal point of a suburban strip mall development. Nearby are hiking trails that connect to other Escarpment lands within the biosphere reserve.

Monday-Thursday 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

Friday 4:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.

Saturday 3:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.

Sunday 3:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Across the street is Mountain Locks Plaza. Further east along Glendale Avenue is Mountain Locks Park.

Many automotive workshops still exist south of Glendale Avenue on Merrit Street. Some small manufacturing shops still function in the neighbourhood.

From Toronto:

Take the QEW towards Niagara.

Take exit 49 for ON 406 toward Thorold/Welland/Pt.Colborne

Merge onto King's Hwy 406

Take the County Rd-89/Glendale Avenue

Left at Glendale Ave

The Keg Resturant will be located just before Merritt Street on the right hand side

From Buffalo, USA:

Take Peace Bridge toward Ft Erie Canada

Slight right towards Peace Bridge Plaza

Continue Straight onto the Peace Bridge Plaza(Entering Canada, Ontario)

Continue on to Peace Bridge(toll road)

Continue on QEW

Take exit 38 for Glendale Ave/County Rd-89 toward Niagara-on-the-lake

Left at Gllendale Ave

Slight left to stay on Glendale Ave

Continue until you pass Merritt Street and you will arrive at the Keg Restaurant on the left

The Lazarus Effect: An Exploration of the Economics of Heritage. Prepared for The Heritage Resource Centre and Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. January 2006.

Mountain Locks Park Walking Tour

This page was prepared by Rob Munro and Ken Ho in December 2009

Wheelchair Accessible

The Keg
344 Glendale Avenue St. Catharines
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2T 4E3