the Love canal was first created by a man named William T Love. His plan was to connect two parts of the niagra falls. He believed it would produce hydro electricity to burgeoning companies. Sadly, his goal was never met due to limitations of direct current. Also the depression of 1893 had a big part of the canal failing. Due to all these problems, the canal just became a pit of water and a swimming hole for vacationers. It was then auctioned off to hooker Electrochemical CO. The company then used the canal as a toxic dumping site.
After roughly ten years, the pit was filled with 21,000 tons of toxic waste! Hooker then had the idea to put a clay cap on top of the canal for safety reasons. At the time, the city was expanding and needed cheap land. Hooker sold the land for 1.00$ ( The contract mentioned the toxic waste land). In the years to follow, the city built a school and  homes for the community on or around the site. After a few more years passed, the residents of the homes started complaining of odd smells and feeling sick. Soon enough, the government declared the area in the sate of emergency.  pregnant women and children under the age of two were evacuated right away. The area now is now surrounded by a fence and is off limits to the public.