History InSite: 17-21 Queen Street, S1963.42.17.2

A crowd gathers to a read a news bulletin on the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy in November, 1963.| STCM S1963.42.17.2

News bulletins, with top stories and breaking news, were once posted to a bulletin board in the front window of the St. Catharines Standard offices. Bulletins were posted, and sometimes read aloud to crowds in the street, throughout both World Wars. In this photo, a crowd has gathered to read the announcement of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. The Standard moved from this location in 2013.

Another group reacts to the news of the President’s assassination. STCN 1963.42.17.5

Experiencing the News

“A President is slain……And a President is Sworn In.”

“Ex-Marine Charged with Murder”

“Body of Slain President Lies in White House”

The world was in collective shock. It was November 22, 1963. These were the headlines of the St. Catharines Standard. News had just broken:  John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America, has been assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

To passersby on the streets of downtown St. Catharines, seeing a news bulletin posted in the front window of the St. Catharines Standard offices meant that something significant had just happened. That the news could not wait for tomorrow’s paper; the people of the city needed to be informed now.

Maybe the passersby were walking to work, or doing a bit of shopping, or meeting friends for lunch. But, upon seeing something posted in the Standard window, whatever their previous engagements were, they now did not matter. Seeing this bulletin would have fostered feelings of curiosity, of dread, of possibly fear.

There’s More to the Story

Check out the entire History InSite installation and find the other panels.

About History InSite

A permanent, site specific installation, History InSite juxtaposes historical photographs with modern streetscapes by presenting the photo in, or close to, the place which it was taken.

St. Catharines has a rich photographic history and when compared to the changing streetscapes around the City, that history becomes much more meaningful, poignant, and relevant to our modern eyes.

History InSite is presented by the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre.

Graffiti Report

If you spot any graffiti on our purple History InSite signs, please send us a message and photo via email museum@stcatharines.ca.