In Canada, Delos White Beadle of St. Catharines, a prominent figure in horticulture and gardening, exemplified how legitimacy in horticulture became increasingly tied to institutional affiliation, publishing, and participation in formal associations.
Know Your Neighbours – Sidney Rose Badgley
The architect of Massey Hall in Toronto, Sidney Rose Badgley was born in 1850 in Ernest Township, Ontario near Kingston. As a young boy however, the family moved to St. Catharines. Badgley attended Grantham Academy on Church Street, a building that still stands today and is home to Bridges Niagara.
The Remarkable Estelle Cuffe Hawley
Estelle Cuffe Hawley, here forever known as the ‘remarkable’ Estelle Cuffe Hawley (according to me, anyway) was described as strong-willed, engaged in the community, caring and hardworking. Cuffe Hawley led a life filled with energy, drive, poise, and, of course, hats! Estelle Cuffe Hawley’s penchant for hats won her pride of place in our ‘Hold onto Your Hats’ exhibit, now on display here at the Museum.
General Tubman: St. Catharines, 1858 – Part I
At the start of 1858 Tubman was living in the boarding house she rented in St. Catharines, Canada West (now Ontario) with her elderly parents; Benjamin Ross Sr. and Ritta ‘Rit’ Green Ross. The town of St. Catharines was a hub for abolitionist activity. With a population of about 6,500 in 1857, around 600 were people of African descent, and the majority of them were self-liberated African Americans.
We Did Our Bit: WWI Exhibition Favourites Part 5 – Olive Weller’s Travel Diary
This is the fifth installment of the We Did Our Bit WWI exhibit-closing series. This post was contributed by Adrian […]
One Dominion: On the Path to Confederation
In our research, we found a handful of St. Catharines politicians and businessmen whom were adamantly against Confederation. These men were part of a movement usually referred to as the Anti-Confederate movement. Plenty of politicians across the new Dominion, now vilified by time and memory, were against a political union for a surprisingly wide variety of reasons.
Narratives of Fugitive Slaves – Part 2
I have seen hundreds of escaped slaves, but I never saw one who was willing to go back and be a slave. I have no opportunity to see my friends in my native land. We would rather stay in our native land, if we could be as free there as we are here. I think slavery is the next thing to hell. If a person would end another into bondage, he would, it appears to me, be bad enough to send him into hell, if he could.
Betty Lampard: St. Catharines’ first drama critic
Born in New York City, Betty’s interest in all things entertainment began at a young age. She was the daughter […]
St. Catharines’ own historic election
A historic election season is in full swing south of the border, with Hillary Clinton becoming the first woman to be a […]
Know Your Neighbours – Solomon Northup
Solomon Northup was born on July 10th, 1808 to a manumitted black slave named Mintus who took on his former […]
Three Marys, Leading the Way
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre’s exhibition “Leading the Way: Pioneering Women in St. Catharines” features three Marys, […]
Ask Alicia – John N. Jackson
Alicia, I am have come across a number of books about St. Catharines written by John Jackson. I know he […]
Know Your Neighbours – Lt. Col. Frank Case McCordick
Frank Case McCordick was born to parents Mr. and Mrs. William Henry McCordick on June 2, 1873. McCordick was born […]
Lillian Phelps: St. Catharines’ own suffragette
St. Catharines’ Lillian Phelps was a well-known activist and speaker at the turn of the century. Throughout most of Lillian’s […]
Know Your Neighbours – Air Commodore Leonard Joseph Birchall, Savior of Ceylon
Leonard Joseph Birchall was born in 1915 and raised in St. Catharines. He attended Connaught Public School the St. Catharines […]
Know Your Neighbours – Neil Edward Stevens
(b. 1947-) Neil Edward Stevens was a reporter who documented hockey all over the world for over three decades. He […]
Know Your Neighbours – John Charles Rykert, K.C.
John Charles Rykert was born in St. Catharines on March 10, 1831 to parents George R. Rykert (b.1797 in Rhinebeck, […]
The Emotional Power of a Spirit Walk
5 Years of Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery For a good part of a year, probably close to […]
Know Your Neighbours – Charles Blisset Millner
Charles Blisset Millner was born in Bristol England in 1805. He arrived in St. Catharines around 1820. On the 2nd […]
Know Your Neighbours – Frank Edward Poynton
Frank Edward Poynton was the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Poynton of 20 Tame Road, Witton, Birmingham, England. Frank […]
Gwendolyn Mulock: St. Catharines’ first female doctor
I first became aware of Gwendolyn Mulock, St. Catharines’ first female doctor, during preparation for the Museum’s 2014 Guided Spirit […]
Know Your Neighbours – George Keefer
George Keefer was born in 1774 in New Jersey. His family had remained loyal to the King during the Revolutionary […]
Ask Alicia – Notorious Criminal or Local Folklore?
Dear Alicia, Over the years I’ve heard a lot of what seemed to be “tall tales” about a local criminal […]
Know Your Neighbours – C. Bruce Hill
C. Bruce Hill was born in Ottawa in 1895 and attended school there until he went to Trinity College School […]
Wilson Morningstar’s Blacksmith Shop
Wilson Morningstar operated Mountain Mills (Morningstar Mill) from 1883 – 1933: he ground wheat grain into flour in his gristmill […]
Know Your Neighbours – Mary Cameron Burgoyne
Mary C. Burgoyne, daughter of William Bartlett Camerom Burgoyne, was born in 1920. She attended St. Hilda’s School in Toronto, […]
Know Your Neighbours – Dr. Heime Geffen
Dr. Heime Geffen was born in South Africa on August 3, 1930. He studied medicine at the University of the […]
Know Your Neighbours – John Kretz
John Kretz was born in Merritton on December 7th, 1928, the second youngest of 17 children in a rather […]
Know Your Neighbours – Harry J. Carmichael
Harry John Carmichael was born in the United States on September, 19th, 1891 to Canadian parents. He was an outstanding baseball […]
Know Your Neighbours – Oliver Phelps Esq.
Oliver Phelps was born December 12, 1779 in Simsbury, Harford, Connecticut. He married Abigail St. John on January 16, 1800. […]
Know Your Neighbours – Charles Complin
Charles Douglas Complin was born the son of Montague Russell Complin (d.1955) and Sophia Anne Milner Slack De Cou […]
Know Your Neighbours – Dr. Lucius Oille
Dr. Lucius Oille was born in 1830 and was one of St. Catharines most prominent citizens. He served as a […]
Know Your Neighbours – Robert Stanley Kemp Welch O.C., Q.C., LL.D., O.St.J., O.L.J.
Robert Stanley Kemp Welch was born in St. Catharines on July 13th, 1928 at the General Hospital to parents Bob […]
Know Your Neighbours – James S. Smiley
James S. Smiley was born in Port Dalhousie on September 19th, 1884. His father had operated a boat works and […]
Know Your Neighbours – Sydney George Chambers
Sydney George Chambers, a man from Toronto who had only been living and working in St. Catharines for 7 months […]
Know Your Neighbours – Albert Adams
Albert came to Canada in 1909 from Scotland where he had been a gardener. Albert began working for the florist […]
Know Your Neighbours – Alexander Muir – Muir Bros.
Alexander Muir was born on April 26, 1819 on a farm near the town of Stevenston, Ayrshire in Scotland. He […]
Know Your Neighbours – Charles and Edith Annie Draysey
Charles Henry Draysey was born in Bethnal Green, London England to Charles Frederick Draysey (1862-1929) and Susannah Lineman (1964-1953) in […]
Know Your Neighbours – Richard B. Wright
Author of 13 published novels and 2 children’s books. Richard B. Wright was born in Midland, Ontario on March 4, […]
Isabella Frampton Hawken: The Original #Girlboss
In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re profiling Isabella Frampton Hawken, a trailblazing businesswoman who is featured in the St. […]