February Meeting – “Charting the Great Swivel Link – Maps of the First Welland Canal”

February 25 – “Charting the Great Swivel Link – Maps of the First Welland Canal” by Alun Hughes – Society Member.  What better way to explore the history of the early Welland Canal than through a look over the maps of this important system by Brock University’s resident cartography expert and local historian.  

7:30 p.m. at the St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3, 1932 Welland Canal Parkway, St. Catharines, Ontario. Free admission.  Doors open at 7:00.  Guests are welcome.

Summary of January’s Talk – “Cholera Reaches Niagara, 1832″

By: Elizabeth Finnie

In the summer of 1832, the dreaded cholera came to Niagara. Its arrival was inevitable. The Second Great Cholera Epidemic had started in the early 1800s in the Ganges River area of India and spread across Asia and Europe. Medical knowledge was so primitive that no one was able to stop it. In 1832, emigration to North America rose to over 50,000, mostly desperate British emigrants seeking a better life across the Atlantic. Ship owners were often corrupt, packing their ships with this human cargo but with no regard for any illnesses they might be carrying.

The quarantine island Grosse Ile, on the St. Lawrence River, was meant to screen and ‘purify’ incoming passengers, but it was overwhelmed. Ships bearing cholera victims got through, and in June of 1832, several arrived on our doorstep, the wharf of Niagara. Sir John Colborne, lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, had hastily created some local boards of health to deal with the invasion. This was the first instance of organized public health in Upper Canada, which had almost no hospitals at the time except for a few military ones such as Butler’s Barracks at Niagara. There were some scuffles with local ‘mobs’ attempting to stop vessels from landing.

Hardest hit by the disease were the Irish canal labourers who were the poorest and lived in the worst conditions, many in shanties.  When cholera struck, they frequently fled. Burials of the dead were hasty and many went unnamed in paupers’ graves. William Hamilton Merritt in a July 1832 letter to his wife provided a graphic description of his attempts to look after his workers.

The St. Catharines Board of Health records for 1832-33 are a good illustration of events. We see Nathan Pawling and Jonathan Woodhull attempting to be reimbursed for provisions to the temporary Port Dalhousie hospital; Dr. Chace’s list of medical supplies – laudanum, Peruvian bark, coffin boards and nails…and much more.

St. Catharines was spared many deaths. Although millions died across the world, and thousands in Lower Canada, the disease was limited mostly to the ports, rivers and canals. By late autumn, 1832, it ebbed away.

Programs for Winter 2010

Happy New Year from the Historical Society of St. Catharines.  We hope to see you out at many of our meetings this year.

Meetings in the Winter 2009 – 7:30 p.m. – all held at the St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3, 1932 Welland Canal Parkway, St. Catharines, Ontario. Free admission.  Doors open at 7:00.  Guests are welcome.

January 28 – ” Cholera Reaches Niagara 1832″ by Elizabeth Finnie – Society Secretary.  With all of the pandemic talk these past few months, this is a timely look at a serious outbreak in Niagara over 170 years ago.

February 25 – “Charting the Great Swivel Link – Maps of the First Welland Canal” by Alun Hughes – Society Member.  What better way to explore the history of the early Welland Canal than through a look over the maps of this important system by Brock University’s resident cartography expert and local historian.  

March 25 – “History of St. John’s Anglican Church in Port Dalhousie” by Brian Leyton – Society Member - Come out and learn about the heritage of this well established church, its congregation and its connection to the community in this “fire-side” style presentation.   

For further information on Society gatherings, click on “Special Events”.  Check back often for future presentations.

* Note: the St. Catharines Museum will generously open its traveling exhibit gallery for viewing a half hour before each meeting at no cost to the Society.

November 26 – Annual Show and Tell Program

November 26 – Show and Tell Christmas Social - Our popular Show and Tell event features artifacts brought in from the private collections of our members.  If you would like to bring an item, contact the Committee to let them know how much time you will need to “Show and Tell.”  Committee members – Gail (egailb@sympatico.ca) or Elizabeth (finnies@sympatico.ca).  You can also bring something for the dessert table for the social portion of the program.

Meetings @ 7:30 p.m. – all held at the St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3, 1932 Welland Canal Parkway, St. Catharines, Ontario.  Doors open at 7:00.  All are welcome.

“Walk-About” of the Historic St. John’s Cemetery

Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 p.m. – Come out for a 70 minute tour of the St. John’s Cemetery in Port Dalhousie (at the corner of Main Street and Cole Farm Boulevard).  Presented in conjunction with the St. John’s Cemetery Board.  Please wear appropriate footwear.  Rain date will be Tuesday, September 15.

Meetings in the Fall 2009

Meetings in the Fall 2009 – 7:30 p.m. – all held at the St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3, 1932 Welland Canal Parkway, St. Catharines, Ontario. Free admission.  Doors open at 7:00. 

September 24 – “Forts and Families in Upper Canada” by Wes Turner, past Society President.  Who lived in the forts in Upper Canada in the early 19th century and what was their life was like.

October 22 – “A Brief Introduction to the History of Passenger Travel on the Great Lakes and Upper St. Lawrence… with some sightings of the River Palace” by Walter Lewis – marine historian and co-recipient of the 2009 Save Ontario Shipwrecks Marine Heritage Award.  From the earliest days of settlement in New France to the opening of the Seaway, in a heavily illustrated, we will explore the experiences of travel through this magnificent waterway.  

November 26 – Show and Tell Christmas Social - The Programme Planning Committee would like to hear about ideas from members for the popular Show and Tell event.  If you would like to bring an item, contact the Committee to let them know how much time you will need to “Show and Tell.”  Committee members – Gail (egailb@sympatico.ca) or Elizabeth (finnies@sympatico.ca).  You can also bring something for the dessert table for the social portion of the programme.   

For further information on Society gatherings, click on “Special Events”. 

* Note: the St. Catharines Museum will generously open its traveling exhibit gallery for viewing a half hour before each meeting at no cost to the Society.

Happy Birthday Mr. Merritt – July 3

The Historical Society will be celebrating William Hamilton Merritt’s birthday on Friday, July 3. The event will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Merritt statue on St. Paul Street at the east end of the Burgoyne Bridge (opposite of the Cenotaph). It will include a historical walk across the Burgoyne Bridge with some historical facts about it and the area.

All are welcome to attend.

Honour Roll of Members of St. Catharines Sports Hall of Famers

Compiled by Bill Stevens:

1990 – Jack Gatecliff, Walt McCollum, Rudy Pilous, Ashton Morrison, Roy ‘Pung’ Morton, Stan Mikita, Peter Neumann, Leroy Pickard

1991 – Rex Stimers, Lloyd Alguire, Vic Teal, Bill Whitaker, Jack Lowrey, Neil Campbell, Gerry Cheevers, Dennis ‘Duke’ Diggins

1992 – Tom Garriock, Marianne Allen, George ‘Mooner’ Manoogian, Douglas ‘Percy’ Favell Sr., Joseph Thomas James ‘Joe’ Cheevers, Brian Cullen, Warren Dell

1993 – Craig Swayze, George Howard, Bill DeMars, Joe & Rose Engemann, Peter Cameron, Bobby Thorpe

1994 – Walter Marsh, Jim Minards, George ‘Toughy’ Hope, Frank ‘Geezil’ Madsen, Douglas Cove, Christine Jurgenson, Marilyn Bodogh

1995 – Angie Pastore, Doug Favell Jr., Ed Dixon, Frank Martin, Fred Conradi, Joe McCaffery, Douglas J. ‘Ozzie’ Hill, Bill ‘ Whitey’ Frick

1996 – Peter Bicknell, Marty Calder, Steve Oneschuk, Wendy Wiebe, Wilfred Garrett, Alen Kelogg, Tim Rigby, Marg Schram

1997 – Susan Erskine, Edgar L. ‘Ed’ Moir, George Stauffer, Davey Moore, Helen Chyplik, Edward ‘Ted’ Howe, Douglas Court

1998 – Joan Gray-Brunshaw, Harvey Hutcheon, Jack Rountree, Bill Sadler, Ross Wilson, Elmer Vasko, J. Stan Elliott, David Howes, Benny Newman, Armand Difruscio

1999 – Chris Critelli, Marvin Edwards, Carl ‘Gus’ Madsen, Ivan Little, Douglas McNichol, Ronald French, John Newman, Dale House

2000 – WBC Burgoyne, Brian Bellows, Gerry Hinton, Hector Pothier, Mike Martyk, Jim Lamore, Ted Collins, Jerry Fitzgerald

2001 – Harry Edmonstone, Jim McNulty, Gil Boa, Karen Strong, Jim Robertson, Dennis Hull

2002 – James Douglas, Ken Hodgkins, Bob Davis, John Stevens, Harry Argent

2003 – Clint Page, Chester Warchol, David Dore, Bill ‘Lefty’ Allen, Virginia Thompson

2004 – Tom Smelle, Carl Smelle, Donald ‘Nip’ O’Hearn, Craig Woodhouse, Levio ‘Red’ Ferracuti

2005 – Bob Luey, Jimmy Joy, Terry O’Malley, Doug Robinson, Al McDonough

2006 – No inductees

2007 – Peter Berge, Gloria Campbell, Dean McBride, Rob Stoddart, Hap Walters

2008 – Ken Croft, Norm Defelice, Bob Gear, John Mouradian, Neil Stevens

2009 – Bruce Erskine, Marianne Groat, Robert ‘Buff’ McCready, George ‘Clickey’ Taylor, Mark Walters

33rd Annual Oille Fountain Potting Ceremony – May 23

The 33rd annual Oille Fountain Potting Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of King and James Streets in St. Catharines.  This event commemorates the contribution to the well being of the citizens of St. Catharines through donation of the City’s first public drinking fountain in 1878 by Dr. Lucius Oille – the second mayor of the city and first chairman of the waterworks.  This gift marks the establishment of the city’s waterworks system in 1875-1876.  Descendants of the Oille family are invited to participate along with City representatives.

There will be a small ceremony followed by the planting of a geranium on the top of the fountain. 

All are cordially welcome to come and take part in this tradition.

Meet the 2009 / 2010 Board of Directors

Historical Society Board of Directors 2009-2010

President – John Burtniak
Past President – Bill Stevens
Vice President – Paul Lewis
Secretary – Elizabeth Finnie
Treasurer – Chris Loat
Director – Membership – Mary Leighton
Director – Publicity – David Sharron 
Director – Director – Joe Muskat  
Director – John Calvert 
Director – Gail Benjafield