1860's Man made canal used for bringing tourist ferry boats from Detroit to the mineral springs. (Windsor, Ontario)

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In 1866, the town of Sandwich sunk a well 900 feet deep near Russel street, hoping to strike oil that would greatly benifit the community. However it was not oil but a gyser of mineral water which sprung up from the ground. Believing the healing qualities of the sulfur springs, tourist began to gather from all over the area, including the United States. To encourage more visitors, this large canal was dug to within yards of the spring, to accomidate ferry ships coming from Detroit, Michigan.
Soon 10,000 to 20,000 people could swarm the tiny town on a Sunday or a holiday to relax in the spring. Hotels, manicured lawns with shade trees and walking paths marked with gaslights soon took over the area. The canal of today bears little resemblance to the picturesque,tree lined link to the spring that it was back then.

It is believed the spring dried up sometime in the 1880's.