This is part three of a four-part series on the research, scripting, writing, and staging of the 15th annual Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Read part one: character biographies and part two: source material.

Each year our annual Guided Spirit Walks feature a fresh, new script featuring original research. Sometimes familiar names make a return to the walks, especially when the script is set in an era similar to their previous appearance. The script for 2026 only has one historic person previously featured, however. This is especially remarkable considering the tour route through the cemetery is similar to the last few years, highlighting just how historic and important Victoria Lawn is to the story of our city.

In part three of this year’s accompany blog series I’m sharing some more of the biographies and obituaries of the historic personalities included on this year’s tour.

Don’t miss our annual theatrical tours through Victoria Lawn Cemetery, September 10-12 and 17-19. Tickets and information are available on our website.

Elizabeth (Lily) Wilson Borrowman, 1847-1900
Old Cemetery, Section B

Unfortunately, little historical record survives from Lily Borrowman’s life. She died somewhat young at age 51 after an unnamed illness in 1900. Lily will be portrayed by Elisa Davis.

The Museum’s archival collection, however, holds the 1876 diary of Lily’s husband Adam Borrowman (1842-1911) his whole career and according to his diary, worked for John Adams in 1876, a local merchant, who happens to by buried steps from the Borrowman’s. The diary wasn’t particularly relevant at first because there is very little observation recorded about incorporation, except the results of the mayoral election in May 1876. The diary does however provide a glimpse into the young lives of a courting couple in St. Catharines swept up in the Methodist and Baptist revival happening throughout North America at the tail end of the Second Great Awakening. Prayer meetings, camp meetings, and evening walks in nice weather filled the spare time of Mr. Borrowman and his soon-to-be bride. The diary and their story is an unexpected divergence from what I assumed to be great political upheaval resulting from incorporation. Instead, it shows not everyone was paying as close attention as we might think.

Their obituaries – death notices – reveal little about their personalities but kind words were printed at Adam’s death which noted that the couple enjoyed a wide circle of friends.

Martha Ann St. John, 1828-1902
Old Cemetery, Section A

Wife of Samuel Leonard St. John (1820-1881), Martha Ann is listed on several committees and organizations including the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary. Like many of the other women on this year’s tour, she was a participant in the social gospel movement and used her family’s wealth and influence to fund and energize charitable works. Several St. John donations are recorded to both the hospital and the Protestant Home for Orphans. The family’s primary residential property was eventually enveloped into the Hotel Dieu hospital site on Ontario Street.

Her death notice reads:

“The Last Resting Place

The funeral of the late Mrs. S. L. St. John on Thursday.

Martha Ann Seaman St. John was the daughter of Benjamin and Jane Rhinehart Seaman, and consequently came of a good old Quaker family. Her birth took place down by the sea in a little village of Jerusalem, Queen’s County, N.Y. on the 21st day of April, 1828 and a few years later, when still but a child she removed with her parents to Apulia, Onondaga County, N.Y. Some years afterwards, while on an extended visit to the home of her brother Israel Seaman, in St. Catharines, and while attending the well known Grantham Academy here, she met the late S. L. St. John, who at that time was conducting a flourishing mercantile establishment at the corner of St. Paul and Geneva Streets, and who on the 12th of October, 1848 at Middleport, N.Y. became her husband. From this happy union came nine children.

For over 37 years the family home in this city was the well-known residence on Ontario Street, from which on Thursday afternoon the remains of the deceased lady, which had arrived on an early morning train from Chicago, were tenderly carried to their last resting place.

Rev. N. I. Perry conducted the religious services, and the handsome home was thronged with friends who had gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom to know was to love. Among these who came were several of the sweetest voices in the city and during the service those beautiful hymns of consolation “Abide With Me” and “Nearer My God to Thee” were softly sung. The floral offerings were perhaps the most tasteful and exquisite St. Catharines has ever seen, and their delicate purity was in perfect harmony with the sweet life that had passed away.

After the conclusion of the services the remains were conveyed to Victoria Lawn Cemetery, where surrounded by relatives and friends, and to the accompaniment of the solemn and impressive committal, as read by Mr. Perry, they were lovingly consigned to a verdent bed of evergreen, which, lined with beautiful flowers, had been prepared for their reception; and there in the shadow of the magnificent monument, which marks her husband’s grave, and beside the body of her youngest son, lies all that is mortal of a loving mother and a true wife, quietly sleeping “the sleep that knows no waking.”

The Daily Standard (St. Catharines), March 29, 1902.

Robert Lawrie, 1818-1905
Old Cemetery, Section L

Someone who would notice things in a city like St. Catharines would be a postmaster. One can imagine them getting to know everyone and perhaps even intimate details of people’s lives. This long-time postmaster will be portrayed by Dan McKnight.

It’s easy to capture the character of Robert Lawrie from his obituary:

“POSTMASTER LAWRIE GOES TO HIS REST
The Aged Official Passed Away Sunday Morning at 8:15
HE WAS CONSCIOUS TO THE LAST-A VERY OLD CITIZEN OF THIS DISTRICT-TOOK PART IN THE MACKENZIE REBELLION-FUNERAL ON TUESDAY
Postmaster Lawrie is dead. The news, as it swept through the city Sunday morning was received with expressions of the most profound regret. Few men in St. Catharines were more highly esteemed than the veteran postmaster, who has just passed to the Great Beyond, and his death has cast a gloom over the community. Taking ill a week ago Thursday evening, there were evidences then of pneumonia, but it was confidently expected by his physician that the dread disease could be warded off. It looked for several days as if the efforts were to prove successful, but the disease had apparently taken a firm hold upon the aged patient. Mr. Lawrie breathed his last quietly and resignedly at 8:15 Sunday morning. He was quite conscious to the last, and up to the very end recognized those of his friends who stood around him. Mr. Lawrie first saw the light of day in Innerwick, Scotland, in April, 1818, and came to America with his father, the late John Lawrie, in 1837. The family landed at New York after a voyage across the Atlantic ocean in a sailing vessel, which lasted nine or ten weeks. From New York they came to Buffalo on the Erie Canal, there being no railways then, and the rest of the journey to St. Catharines was made on foot. The story is told that on their arrival at the Western Hill, Mr. Lawrie’s father said to him, “Here, lad, go up to the toon an’ see if you can buy half a stane of oatmeal from a merchant miller.”

Young Robert started off for the village and meeting a Scotchman at the foot of St. Paul street hill, asked him if he knew where there was a merchant miller where he could get half a stane of oatmeal for porridge for his father.
“Hoots, mon,” exclaimed the Scotchman, “ye’ll no get oatmeal from a merchant miller. You can get it at druggists where they sell it for medicine.”
It was the year of the Mackenzie rebellion, and one of the first things young Robert did upon his arrival here, was to don an Indian blanket and a Glengarry cap and march off to defend his newly adopted country. He was on guard the night the rebel supply boat Caroline was set on fire and sent over the Falls.

One day a brother soldier dared him to go to Buffalo in his highlanders’ uniform and show himself to the people. He wouldn’t take a dare, and as may be imagined his appearance created a great deal of excitement in the Bison City. Next day the Buffalo papers came out with a story that he was a Royal Highlanders’ officer who had deserted from his regiment and had come across the line to raise a regiment to fight alongside the rebel, William Mackenzie.

Mr. Lawrie and his brother, John, for many years carried on a milling business in Port Dalhousie and was very prominent in the commercial life of the district. They owned two mills at Port Dalhousie. Twenty-nine years ago he was appointed postmaster, which position he held up to his death. He was as active as many a man half his age, and it was a common thing for him to distribute mail matter and do other clerical work in the post office.
He was the oldest member of Maple Leaf Lodge, A.F. & A.M., being a charter member. In Knox church his death will create a wide gap. He was always, when health permitted, to be found in his pew, and he was also a regular attendant of Sunday School, being leader of the Bible class for many years. Mr. Lawrie was twice married and his second wife survives him. He leaves no children. The funeral will take place to-morrow at 2:30 p.m.”

The Daily Standard (St. Catharines), June 12, 1906, p. 1

Daniel Webster Bixby, 1834-1908
Old Cemetery, Section D

Portrayed by Des Corran, D.W. Bixby is one of those merchant-millers whose soft skills and business acumen carried him into the new era of incorporation. Industrious, creative, and experienced, he and others like would-be partner John Latham Ranney (also buried steps away) were ready to take on this new age of industrialism and trade brought to Niagara by the Third Welland Canal.

His obituary reads:

“THE DEATH OF MR. D.W. BIXBY

Has Been in Business in This City for Forty-Five Years-Was Respected by Everyone.

The news of the death of Mr. Daniel Webster Bixby will come as a shock to his numerous friends and acquaintances throughout the city and surrounding municipalities. Mr. Bixby had been ill for some years with a complication of diseases, but it was only a week ago that he was compelled to take to his bed, and since that time he has rapidly declined and death peacefully resulted to-day.

The deceased was born in New York City, of Anglo-Scotch ancestry on the fifth of February, 1834. When a young man he went to Stratford and engaged in the book and stationery business, but soon after, with his partner, the late Mr. Izard, came to St. Catharines and established a business, which he conducted till his death.

Mr. Bixby was married to a sister of Mr. Izard, but she died on March 17th, 1871. On November 16th, 1882, he married Miss Caroline Clench, a sister of Mr. Johnson Clench, County Clerk, etc., and she, with one son, Charles Sinclair, of Louisville, survive him. His son was summoned when it was seen that his illness was serious, and arrived home in time to see his father before he died. He is also survived by a sister Miss Saphonia, who had resided with him.

The deceased was a member of the Masonic order, being connected with St. George’s Lodge for a number of years.
With the exception of Mr. Robert McLaren no other citizen has been continuously in business since Mr. Bixby came to St. Catharines forty-five years ago. The deceased first opened a store in the Oddfellows’ building on Ontario Street; later he moved to the corner of Queen and St. Paul streets, where the Bank of Commerce in now located, but some twelve or fifteen years ago he moved into his present premises.

Mr. Bixby was also a man of quiet disposition; he was widely known and was esteemed by all who knew him. His many excellent characteristics won for him many warm friends, who will be sincere in their expressions of sorrow to the bereaved widow, son and sister.”

The Daily Standard (St. Catharines), January 30, 1908, p. 4

Mary Drysdale McCalla, 1832-1921
Old Cemetery, Section A

So often it is the men of the history of our city that are recognized for a life of service or great contributions to civic life but it’s impossible to overlook Mary McCalla and the contributions of leadership, energy, and service she made to founding and developing the Protestant Home for Orphans.

The 1870s to the 1890s was the peak of the Social Gospel movement in St. Catharines and in Canada. It was a time of industrial upheaval, rapid population growth, and increasing wealth. The Social Gospel movement was an effort to apply Christian ethics to social problems. It saw Christian-based charities establish associations, hospitals, schools, and orphanages in response to what they saw as the worst of capitalism. These efforts were simultaneously genuinely devout and a means of growing social capital in St. Catharines. Its legacy was long lasting: woman’s suffrage, prohibition and temperance, and establishment of public health were all sparks of the Social Gospel Movement.

At the same time, some of its ideas were linked to the preservation of the dominance Anglo-protestant culture in the province.

This ground swell of charity was alive and well in 1876 and several organizations took up the work of fundraising for different causes including the hospital, public health, and orphans. You can learn more about the Protestant Home from our History from Here series.

Mary McCalla served on the board of directors of the St. Catharines Christian Ladies Association, which organized and ran the home, for more than 30 years.

Her obituary reads:

“A great host of friends will hear with very sincere regret the removal by death of Mrs. John McCalla, late of 170 Queenston St. For some time, she had been in failing health, but her friends clung to the hope that springtime and bright sunshine would bring about a full recovery. It has proved otherwise. The end came quite suddenly yesterday at noon.

In her case, death has no meaning. It was not death but translation. How large a place Mrs. McCalla filled in the worthwhile life of this end of the city, even strangers knew. Every good cause found in her an ardent supporter. Haynes Avenue Church was founded through the efforts of herself and her husband, who predeceased her some 18 years ago. A great host of those whose lives have been helped and brightened by her will long cherish lovingly and gratefully her memory.

Praise she never sought. Good deeds were performed for their own sake, for the joy of doing good. One of her favourite hymns best expresses the secret of her beautiful useful and Christ-like life: “Only remembered by what I have done.” Judged by this fair test her memory long will be fresh and fragrant. Mrs. McCalla was the daughter of the late Matthew Drysdale of Dublin. She came to St. Catharines as the bride of Mr. John McCalla, fifty-four years ago and resided continuously in this city. She is survived by one brother, W.H. Drysdale of St. Catharines with whom she lived for the last ten or twelve years.

Due notice of the funeral will be given through the medium of the Standard as soon as arrangements have been completed.

Haynes Avenue Presbyterian Church will hold a memorial service on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.”

The St. Catharines Standard, Saturday, February 19, 1921, p. 3.

We’re looking forward to sharing more about the historic persons included on this year’s annual Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery as we approach the performances this September. For more information and tickets, please visit our website.

Adrian Petry is a public historian, Visitor Services Coordinator for the St. Catharines Museum, and is the writer and director of the annual Guided Spirit Walks.