Members of Historical Society of St. Catharines may be available to assist with historical research requests within reason. In depth genealogical queries are better answered by a local genealogical group. If you have a question, please submit it to this page. Please ensure that your questions are very clearly stated, that you provide us with any supporting information possible and that you leave us with some contact information.
Time of response depends on the complexity of the question and the member’s time to conduct the research.
Any answers will be sent directly to the person asking the question. If time and space allows, some answers will be posted to the website. Be sure that we consider all questions and respond to those that we are able to accommodate.
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The Historical Society of St. Catharines 
Hello there,
I am researching Carnegie Libraries across Ontario and I’m looking for information on the former Merritton Public Library (located at 344 Merritt St., St. Catharines), which is a Carnegie building. From my research, I know that this building was built in 1924, but I’m hoping to find out the specific month it was finished being built. Any information on this building would be helpful!
Thanks for your help!
Hello there,
I am researching Carnegie Libraries across Ontario and I’m looking for information on the former Merritton Public Library (located at 344 Merritt St., St. Catharines), which is a Carnegie building. From my research, I know that this building was built in 1924, but I’m hoping to find out the specific month it was finished being built. Any information on this building would be helpful!
Thanks for your help!
I am looking for an older Restaurant called the Trocodero. I have photos of the outside with employees from 1928, my Aunt worked there, only parts of the restaurant are in photo on the back of it says the name & year & some names of employees. Please can you try & find out some information for me. Thank you in advance Carol Keller
Hello,
I am trying to find some history or pictures of my home.
174 york st St Catharines
Hello,
Thank you for this forum. I am looking for any and all information you have on freedom seeker Henry Ball, father of Rev. Richard Amos Ball and Henry Ball. My research has led me to St. Catharines where I found out he died in 1854. He was a lay preacher at Bethel, now Salem BME Church and he was married to Sophia Hussey from Liverpool, England. His US roots are very spotty. I believe he was born in 1818 in Fairfax Parish, VA. I am much more confident about the accuracy of the date than I am of the location. Henry Ball is my 3rd great grandfather. Thank you for your efforts,
Joanne Ball Artis
Looking for any information on Reason Williams and Mirinda Brady Williams 1825-1900
They left the US by way of Virginia in 1825 and never returned. I have a broad story from my research, however looking for more about their journey
The lived in London Ontario and settled with their family in St Catharine Ontario. Any information will be appreciated.
I just did a quick check of St. Catharines city directory listings for 1851, 1863, 1865, 1884, 1887, and 1896 and could find no entries for Reason Williams. Do you know where Mr. Williams and his wife were when they died? Do you have any idea when they left London, Ontario, and moved to St. Catharines? Further research on this is difficult at this time since the Covid-19 epidemic has caused the St Catharines Library and Museum to close for the foreseeable future, but I can search further for the Williams family when those institutions re-open — maybe in February…