Historical Society of St. Catharines

Roster of Speakers for the 2011-2012 Season

dsharron — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:02:15 +0000

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

Thursday, September 22, 2011 – Lecture: Anne McPherson, who is a direct descendant of the McCordick Family, will tell us about the McCordick family and the McCordick business. The McCordick leather works remained active in St. Catharines for many years … do you remember it?

Thursday, October 27, 2011 – Lecture: Dr. Wesley B. Turner, noted WAR of 1812 author and researcher, will provide insights into the life of Sir Isaac Brock the subject of his newly published book “The Astonishing General, the life and legacy of Sir Isaac Brock“

Thursday, November 24, 2011 – Show and Tell – an opportunity for members and guests to bring along their own item of interest and spend 3-5 minutes telling us about it … this fun evening has proven to be very entertaining in the past and is followed by a Christmas Social. (Members are encouraged to bring a small contribution to the bake table!) There will also be a book sales table for that little Christmas gift purchase.

Thursday, January 26, 2012 – Lecture: David Hemmings will bring John McFarland to life in his lecture titled: “The House of John McFarland, Niagara’s Timber Trader.” The lecture covers shipbuilding, boat repairs, prisoners in 2 wars, Fort Niagara, 2800 acres of timbered land, farms in Niagara and Thorold/Port Robinson, tea trading, his family, Keefer Mansion and various other houses and of course the newly refurbished McFarland House on the Niagara Parkway.

Thursday, February 23, 2012 – Lecture: Brian Nahri will present a unique lecture using actual diaries of two local black families, Talbot and Mills, to tell their story. This program coincides with February being Black History month.

Thursday, March 22, 2012 – Lecture: Janis Barlow will share with us her collection of information on the Kiwanis Horse Show, this once famous horse show that will surely bring back memories to those who once attended this event.

Thursday, April 26, 2012
7:30 p.m. – ANNUAL Meeting – presentation of annual reports and elections. (note: elections this year will be for up to 6 Directors only as the executive positions do not expire until 2013. If any member is interested in standing for a directorship, please advise any executive member).

8:00 p.m. (estimate) – Lecture: Alun Hughes – his lectures are always well attended and very “animated” …. stay tuned for the title!

Thursday, May 24, 2012
6:30 p.m. – Oille Fountain Potting Ceremony will take place at the Oille Fountain on the corner of James Street and King Street.

7:30 p.m. – note: this will take place at the Downtown Centennial Library – Mills Room. Lecture: “Oille and Water; the rest of the story” – Dr. Lucius S. Oille – his life, career and legacy. Long time Society members John Burtniak, Dennis Gannon and Bill Stevens will be collaborating on this presentation.

Thursday, June 28, 2012
6:30 p.m. – Celebration of William Hamilton Merritt’s Birthday 219 years ago on July 3, 1793 – a brief ceremony will take place at the National Historic Plaque outside the museum’s canal side entrance, followed by serving of birthday cake!

7:30 p.m. – Lecture: John McKenty, author of a book titled Canada Cycle & Motor, The CCM Story will tell us about the Welland Vale Manufacturing Company, which merged with five bicycle operations to form CCM in 1899. As the Greater Circle Route passes by the museum, if you have a CCM bicycle, why not bike to the meeting (or bring it along) and show it to us!

Program is subject to change without notice.

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.

Fall Meetings 2011

dsharron — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:01:11 +0000

Meetings – 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.

Thursday, September 22 – Anne McPherson will be speaking about the McCordick and Smith families of St. Catharines.

Thursday, October 27 – Dr. Wesley Turner will talk about his new book, The Astonishing General: The life and legacy of Sir Isaac Brock.

Thursday, November 24 – “Show and Tell” and Christmas Social. Everyone is invited to bring and show an item of historical interest (preferably a local item). Anyone wishing to bring treats for the social afterward are encouraged to do so.

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.

Extra Meeting Scheduled for June 23

dsharron — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:25:07 +0000

Due to the severe wind storm in April, the Annual General Meeting was cancelled. The Annual General Meeting has been re-scheduled for May 26. The speaker will be Gail Collins on the topic of home children. On June 23, John Burtniak will present on the April topic of the historic churches of Merritton.

Meetings – 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.

Thursday, May 26 – Gail Collins will be speaking about British Home children with a particular focus on local descendants. A “Home Children” quilt will be shown. The Annual General Meeting is also on this date.

Thursday, June 23 – John Burtniak will be presenting on the historic Merritton Churches.

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.

Spring Meetings 2011

dsharron — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:45:04 +0000

Meetings – 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.

Thursday, April 28 – Annual General Meeting and John Burtniak will be presenting on Merritton Churches.

Thursday, May 26 – Gail Collins will be speaking about British Home children with a particular focus on local descendants. A “Home Children” quilt will be shown.

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.

New Website Page – History Tidbits

dsharron — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:39:52 +0000

At the top of the Society website, you will see a new tab entitled “History Tidbits”. This section will feature interesting historic pieces that were featured in the Society’s newsletter over the years.

Check in from time to time to see the new entries. Enjoy.

Winter / Spring Meetings 2011

dsharron — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:28:05 +0000

Meetings – 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.

Thursday, January 27 – dann j. Broyld, a PhD candidate from Howard University, will speak about Black Americans and Canadians along the border during the ten years before the American Civil War. The presentation is entitled, “Borderland Blacks: Rochester, New York and St. Catharines, 1850 to 1860.”

Thursday, February 24 – Harald Ensslen, a local architect, will present “Why architecture matters: mid-century design in St. Catharines”. Gain an understanding of our city’s unique structures.

Thursday, March 24 – Alun Hughes, Brock University geography professor and local historian, will speak about Joseph Pell and the Inception of the Welland Canal.

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.

The Women’s Literary Club of St. Catharines

dsharron — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 21:33:07 +0000

By: Bill Stevens

Shaeffe's "Path to Victory" monument

The Women’s Literary Club of St. Catharines was organized when Mrs. J. G. Currie, considered the founding member, held a meeting at the YMCA on Queen Street on December 3, 1892 at which fifteen women attended. Mrs. Mary E. McClive became the first president. The group grew to forty-one members within the first year. The Club met in the afternoon in various halls: the Banner Hall, the Beaver Hall, Y.M.C.A., Wherry’s Hall, Church Sunday Schools, the Oban Inn when it was where C.K.T.B. is now, Mill’s Memorial, Camera Club, Chamber of Commerce, and St. Hilda’s School for Girls on Yates Street. When Mrs. Currie suffered an accident in 1898, and was unable to go out she invited the Club to her home. Others followed suit and it became the custom of members to entertain the Club in their homes.

The 1890′s was an era of horse and buggy, but many of the members also had bicycles. They would go cycling all the way to Grimsby Beach where one of the members had a summer cottage. In 1896 the Club decided to hold a Pilgrimage to see historical sites in Niagara On-The-Lake where William Kirby acted as their guide. It was such a success that this became an annual affair known as The Pilgrimage to Historical sites. Livery stables, Sanderson’s on Mary Street and Traceys, would provide the club with vans or large carioles for these outings. In 1898, five vans assembled to convey the members to Queenston Heights.

It was through the study and promotion of this area’s history that resulted in the Club installing several markers at historical sites. The Club placed markers at historic spots: at St. David’s commemorating the Burning of St. David’s by the Americans in 1813; one at Mackenzie House; one at the Homestead of Laura Secord; and one at the foot of Queenston Heights to commemorate the strategy of General Sheaffe’s Path to Victory.

It was also during the first decade of the Club, that Mrs. Currie wrote the “Life of Laura Secord and Canadian Reminiscences.” When this was published she used the funds to promote the erection of a monument to Laura Secord. She importuned the Government to help and in 1910 the present monument at Queenston Heights was unveiled. The Literary Club attended and laid a wreath. Newspapers reported that over 3000 attended the ceremony.

The club held its last official meeting on February 19, 1994. The archival records of the Club are available at the Special Collections and Archives in the Brock University Library.

Shaeffe's "Path to Victory" monum

Monument Sheaffe’s Path to Victory

Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe was born in 1763 in Boston, Massachusetts.He was a member of the British 5th Foot that came into Upper Canada in 1787. By 1802 Sheaffe was in command of part of the 49th Regiment stationed at Fort George. When the American force invaded at Queenston and General Brock was killed, it was Sheaffe who took command and eventually led the British forces to victory at Queenston Heights. In 1908, The Women’s Literary Club of St. Catharines erected a marker near the site where Sheaffe led his forces up to the heights of Queenston. The Club minutes of June 5, 1909 read: ”At the lowest spot on the mountain range there will be a marker to show where General Sheaffe ascended the Heights taking the enemy in the rear, producing such a glorious results. This will be called “Sheaffe’s Pass” to commemorate the third engagement of the 13th October 1812.” The marker reads: “Sheaffe’s Path to Victory October 13th 1812″

Historical Society of St. Catharines General Meeting, 23 September 2010

dsharron — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:45:50 +0000

Held at the St. Catharines Historical Museum.

President John Burtniak welcomed members and guests at 7:30 p.m. There were 49 in attendance.

First on the agenda was Dr. John Bonnett from Brock University’s History Department. He gave a presentation on the 3D Virtual Buildings project that his students will be working on this year. They will be doing research on the Canada Hair Cloth building and the hope is that members of HSSC might be of some assistance. Dr. Bonnett also invited the Historical Society to participate in the War of 1812 conference which will be held at Brock University in November of 2012. We are to contact Renee Lafferty of the History Dept regarding this event.

Next, Kathy Powell of the Museum made a brief presentation related to the evening’s main topic. She brought a wine bottle from the museum’s collection, dating from 1920 – 1939. Its origin was a winery belonging to Frank Langdon Furminger, former chauffeur to the Woodruff family. She gave an interesting history of this man and his winery.

Our main speaker of the evening, Linda Bramble, was introduced by Elizabeth Finnie. Linda gave a presentation, “How we got here from there,” based on her extensive research and writing on the history of the local wine industry, starting in the 1800s through prohibition up until recent times. Her presentation was informative and entertaining, with some interesting photos from the early days of our wine trade. She brought along some copies of her latest book, Niagara’s Wine Visionaries. Paul Lewis thanked the speaker.

Announcements followed:

- The newsletter is now out, thanks to Gail Benjafield, Bill Stevens and John Calvert. John Calvert made some comments regarding a questionnaire in the newsletter.

- October is Canadian Libraries Month. Kevin McCabe announced the Literary and Heritage Book Fair which will be held at the St. Catharines Public Library Saturday Oct. 23. HSSC will be participating.

- November 11, Remembrance Day. HSSC always lays a wreath at the Cenotaph. If any of our members are veterans of any wars or peacekeeping endeavours, and would like to lay the wreath, they are asked to contact John Burtniak.

- John Burtniak announced there is now a city bus running to the museum from the Pen Centre.

- The Burgoyne Bridge is to be replaced. There is a possibility that the Merritt monument may have to be moved at that time and HSSC should be prepared with some input regarding its future.

- Joanne Atkinson announced that 2010 is the Year of the Home Child, and that there is a commemorative stamp as well as an event at Niagara College in May of the coming year. Apparently 1/10 of Canadians are descended from Home Children.

- Elizabeth Finnie announced that Prof. Gordon Barker of Bishop’s University will be speaking at Brock University Fri. Oct. 15, (Sankey chamber, 3 p.m.) on the topic of Anthony Burns. HSSC members are invited to attend.

- Tom Malcomson will be the special guest for the next HSSC general meeting, Oct. 28, 2010.

The meeting closed at 9:15 with a short interval for socializing and refreshments.

FRIENDS OF LAURA SECORD

dsharron — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:43:59 +0000

A special public meeting has been planned to establish a new Friends of Laura Secord group. All members of the public are welcome to attend and learn more about plans to preserve, strengthen, and honour the story of Laura Secord. Refreshments will be also served. Please join us:

Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Queenston Chapel – 14419 Niagara Parkway, Queenston, Ontario
Complimentary Parking available on site

Information: Caroline McCormick 905-468-0994 or Melissa Bottomley 905-262-4851

http://www.niagaraparks.com/heritage-trail/friends-of-laura-secord.html

Poster: Friends_of_Laura_Secord_2

Society Fall Programmes

dsharron — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:11:11 +0000

Meetings – 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.

Thursday, September 23 – Linda Bramble, a noted oenologist, will be presenting “How We Got Here From There” -the beginning of Prohibition in Ontario in 1927 and the development of Niagara’s wine industry.

Thursday, October 28 – Tom Malcomson of George Brown University and a military historian, will present a unique view of how the Brock Monument was designed. The talk is entitled: “Dueling Columns: Horatio Nelson vs. Isaac Brock, Parallel Monuments a World Apart.”

Thursday, November 25 – “Show and Tell” night. The evening will be open for the display and presentation of artifacts or records that are not just related to Niagara but from all over the world.

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.