This week on Hydrating Through History, we are looking at a rhubarb juice recipe from a 1983 cookbook by the Mack Alumni Association of graduate nurses. The Mack Training School for Nurses, founded in 1874, played a key role in nursing education. Although the Alumni Association disbanded in 2024, their contributions to the community continue to impact St. Catharines today.
The Daily Grind: Summary of Jessie’s Recollections from 1913 – 1919
In this edition of the Daily Grind we take a look back into Jessie Morningstar’s memories from 1913-1919.
Hydrating Through History: Grape Juice (1897)
This week on Hydrating Through History, we are looking at an 1897 recipe for Grape Juice from Southcott’s Almanac and Cookbook. Written by a local businessman, Harry Southcott, the cookbook combines advertising for his drugstore with domestic hints, recipes, and astrological charts.
Hydrating Through History: Bettie’s Banana Punch (2000)
This week on Hydrating Through History, we’re looking at Bettie’s Banana Punch from Chorus Niagara’s 2000 fundraising cookbook. More than a recipe collection, the cookbook is a historical record of local food traditions, showing how community recipes bring neighbours together, support shared goals, and promote the choir’s role in Niagara’s arts scene.
The Daily Grind: The Mill through the Eyes of an Artist
In this edition of The Daily Grind we explore a poem written by TH Wilkinson.
Hydrating Through History: Switchel (1916)
In August 1916, the St. Catharines Standard featured a recipe for switchel, a refreshing summer drink popular among farmhands in New England. The recipe combines ginger, sugar, and vinegar, often enjoyed with rum. Today, switchel is revisited with modernized ingredients for contemporary enjoyment, highlighting its historical significance.
Welcome to Hydrating Through History!
Welcome to Hydrating Through History, our summer mini-series all about cooling off with recipes from the past!
The Daily Grind: Childhood Memories at Decew Falls
In this edition of The Daily Grind Jessie delights in recalling lazy summer days at Decew Falls.
The Daily Grind: A September Wedding
In this edition of the Daily Grind we share the romantic story of the relationship and wedding of Nora Morningstar and David Robson.
The Daily Grind: Getting to Know Nora and Jessie Morningstar
In this edition of the Daily Grind we meet Morningstar children Nora and Jessie.
The Daily Grind: Getting to Know Rebecca Troup Morningstar
In this edition of The Daily Grind we meet Rebecca Elizabeth Troup the first wife of Wilson Morningstar
The Daily Grind: Getting to Know Emma Morningstar
Get to know Emma Morningstar, one-half of the Emma-Wilson Morningstar power couple at the historic Morningstar Mill.
The Daily Grind: Getting to Know Wilson Morningstar
Explore the legacy of Wilson Morningstar, a pioneering millwright who transformed Decew Falls with his innovation and community spirit.
They Said Canada Was…Part 4: But They Have Gardens and Raise a Great Deal of Stuff.
Explore the crucial role of kitchen gardens for Freedom Seekers in 19th-century St. Catharines, as they overcame myths about Canada.
They Said Canada Was…Part 3: Everything They Had There Was Imported
Explore the culinary history of Freedom Seekers in St. Catharines, focusing on the significance of sweet potatoes in their diet.
The Daily Grind: Introducing the Morningstars
Explore the rich history of the Morningstar family and their iconic Mountain Mills at Decew Falls in our new blog series, The Daily Grind.
They Said Canada Was… Part 2: That’s How It Came to Grow There
Explore the role of corn in 19th-century St. Catharines as culinary historian Abbey Stansfield uncovers the truths for Freedom Seekers.
They Said Canada Was… Part 1: No Hogs, No Cows, and All Such Stuff
Celebrate Black History Month by exploring important dishes that link together food, celebration, and history for Freedom Seekers in 19th century St. Catharines.
People of the Parks Part 4: The Southeast
Click HERE for Part 1, HERE for Part 2, and HERE for Part 3 Welcome to our People of the Parks […]
People of the Parks Part 3: The Southwest
Click HERE for Part 1 and HERE for Part 2 Welcome to our People of the Parks blog series. This four-part […]
People of the Parks Part 2: The Northeast
Click HERE for Part 1 Welcome to our People of the Parks blog series. This four-part series is a companion to […]
People of the Parks Part 1: The Northwest
Welcome to our People of the Parks blog series. This four-part series is a companion to “You are Here,” our temporary exhibit […]
Museum Chat Live! E1005 – Food, Glorious Food Blog Series Wrap-up
On this episode of Museum Chat Live! we’re chatting local food history and baking as we wrap up our (now beloved) Food, Glorious Food Blog Series. The series was a chance for Abbey Stansfield (public programmer) and Kathleen Powell (curator) to explore local food history by baking through historic recipes in our collection. This bake-off was a way to explore food history in a first-hand way and draw attention to our temporary exhibit of the same name, on display at the Museum through the autumn of this year. Listen in for a chat about food history, writing a blog series together, challenges in baking historic recipes, the things we learned, and most importantly: our favourite desserts!
Food, Glorious Food! Part 8: Peach Pie Ontario
Throughout the series, Curator Kathleen Powell and Public Programmer Abbey Stansfield (both the expert bakers here at the Museum), have been exploring Victorian-era recipes and local food history to help us all appreciate the importance of food and its history in our daily lives.
Please enjoy the final installation of the series, Part 7: Peach Pie, baked by Abbey Stansfield.
Thank you to Abbey and Kathleen for an engaging and tasty blog series. And a big thank you to all of our readers for their support, participation, and sharing food memories with us!
Food, Glorious Food! Part 7: Calla Lillies
Things are about to become a whole lot sweeter with Part 7: Calla Lillies, written and baked by Curator Kathleen Powell.
Food, Glorious Food! Part 6: Wartime Cake
In this edition of Food, Glorious Food, we’re back with another sweet treat: Wartime Cake, written and baked by Curator Kathleen Powell.
Food, Glorious Food! Part 5: Cheese Timbals
In this edition of Food, Glorious Food, Kathleen tries a recipe for Cheese Timbals from the St. George’s ACW Jubilee Cookbook.
Hiding in Plain Sight Part 4: Hiding Our History
In part four of our annual Black History Month blog series we explore the persistence of myths and their contribution to our national identity.
Food, Glorious Food! Part 4: Pink Velvet
In this edition of Food, Glorious Food, we discover the strange world of Jello in the 1920s with a post written by our curator Kathleen Powell.
Hiding in Plain Sight Part 3: Living in Plain Sight
In part three of our annual Black History Month blog series, we explore the experiences of life for those Freedom Seekers who publicly settled in St. Catharines.
Hiding in Plain Sight Part 2: Extradition
In part two of our annual Black History Month blog series, we explore the history of extradition in Upper Canada/Canada West and the legal protections afforded to Freedom Seekers once they “crossed that line.”
Food, Glorious Food! Part 3: Lemon Tartlet
Things are about to become a whole lot sweeter with Part 3: the Lemon Tartlet, written and baked by Public Programmer Abbey Stansfield.
Hiding in Plain Sight Part 1: The Rumour Mill
In part one of our annual Black History Month blog series, we explore the root of the myth that Freedom Seekers remained in hiding even after arriving in St. Catharines on the Underground Railroad.
Food, Glorious Food! Part 2: Baking Powder Biscuits
Welcome to the Food, Glorious Food blog series. This new, limited series is a companion blog series to the Museum’s […]
Food, Glorious Food! Part 1: Almond Macaroons
Welcome to the Food, Glorious Food blog series. This new, limited series is a companion blog series to the Museum’s […]
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 4: Change Management
In part four of our series about what happened to the old canals, we discover the complexity of managing change against a sense of place.
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 3: The Dumping Ground
In part three of our blog series about the old canals, we look at how and why the old canals have been abandoned and slowly erased from the landscape.
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 2: The Modern City
In part two of our blog series about what happened to the old canals, we look at the establishment of the modern city and its impatience for the old canals.
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 1: Apathy and Indifference
In part one of a new series examining the fate of the old canals, we look at the centuries of “apathy and indifference” stuck to the Welland Canal.
Art in St. Catharines: The Merritt Family
While the Merritt family is revered for their contribution to the building of the canal, their relationship to the artistic […]