The plans continue to remain an important resource in my work as a public historian at the Museum today. I often find myself considering research questions by first checking the city’s business directories spanning the last 150 years, and the fire insurance plans. They aren’t perfect – they are static and only cover certain geography – but the visuals are priceless.
And that’s why we just couldn’t keep these plans to ourselves.
Excerpt from “Walk P” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on August 21st […]
Excerpt from “Walk O” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on August 14th, […]
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.
Our Fall 2017 Books & Brews series opens space for the voices of Indigenous, female, and French-Canadian authors to consider the impacts of colonization on what it means to be Canadian. The books we have selected explore Canadian-ness and the Canadian experience through the intersections of race, class, culture and identity.
Excerpt from “Walk N” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on August 7th, […]
Excerpt from “Walk M” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on July 31st, […]
Excerpts from “Walk L” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on July 24th, […]
Excerpts from “Walk K” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on July 17th, […]
The Museum’s vision and mission are a bit different than it was 50 years ago. Our community’s identity, how we study and present history, and the nature of museum-going have changed drastically over the last 50 years. And the Museum has changed with it. We now focus on an inclusive narrative for all those who live in our diverse city. The exhibit serves as a reminder of where we have come from and where we hope to go.
Excerpts from “Walk J” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on July 10th, […]
Excerpts from “Walk I” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on July 3rd, […]
Excerpts from “Walk H” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on June 26th, […]
Excerpts from “Walk G” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on June 19th, […]
Excerpts from “Walk F” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on June 12th, […]
If you’re a history keener (like us) and are interested in taking a guided walking tour, you can meet Museum historians at the Festival Hub/Interactive Village on James Street on the hour between 11 am and 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30, 2017
Excerpts from “Walk E” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on June 5th, […]
Excerpt from “Walk D” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on May 29th, […]
Excerpt from “Walk C” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on May 29th, […]
Excerpt from “Walk B” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on May 22nd, […]
“I think slavery is the worst and meanest thing to be thought of. It appears to me that God cannot receive into the kingdom of heaven, those who deal in slaves. God made all men – He is no respecter of persons – and it is impossible that he should, on account of my colour, intend that I should be the slave of a man because he is of brighter skin than I am.” – Henry Atkinson, (pp 94).
Excerpt from “Walk A” in “St. Catharines A-Z” by Junius, originally published in the St. Catharines Journal on May 15th, […]
“Rents and provisions are dear here, and it takes all I can earn to support myself and my children. I could have one of my children well brought up and taken care of, by some friends in Massachusetts, which would much relieve me, but I cannot have my child go there on account of the laws, which would not protect her. This is a hardship: but had I to struggle much harder than at present, I would prefer it to being a slave. Now I can lie down at night in peace – there I had no peace even at night, on account of my master’s conduct.” – Mrs. Ellis (pp 63-64).
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.
As you may recall from a past blog post on Oliver Seymour Phelps (1816-1902), “A Walk Around Town” was a […]
St. Catharines played an important part in the success of the Underground Railroad. In railroad speak, the city was a destination, or terminal for refugee slaves. Many who made it to Canada settled in the city, which for reasons associated with the success of the Welland Canal, was, by mid-19th century standards, a thriving and bustling city rivaling Hamilton and London in population and industrial activity.
Born in New York City, Betty’s interest in all things entertainment began at a young age. She was the daughter […]
A historic election season is in full swing south of the border, with Hillary Clinton becoming the first woman to be a […]
The Last aMUSE of 2016 Our final aMUSE pop-up exhibition of 2016 focused on the lost and remaining 19th century […]
Living in the heart of Niagara’ fruit belt, one can easily imagine the stress to farms and food production caused […]
Solomon Northup was born on July 10th, 1808 to a manumitted black slave named Mintus who took on his former […]
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre’s exhibition “Leading the Way: Pioneering Women in St. Catharines” features three Marys, […]
Alicia, I am have come across a number of books about St. Catharines written by John Jackson. I know he […]
Frank Case McCordick was born to parents Mr. and Mrs. William Henry McCordick on June 2, 1873. McCordick was born […]
Decew Falls has been a tourist destination for over 150 years. Mary Kelsey, visiting from Michigan on July 16, 1866, […]
St. Catharines’ Lillian Phelps was a well-known activist and speaker at the turn of the century. Throughout most of Lillian’s […]
Leonard Joseph Birchall was born in 1915 and raised in St. Catharines. He attended Connaught Public School the St. Catharines […]
Our first Books and Brews series (and my first Book Club) came to a close with a discussion of David […]
(b. 1947-) Neil Edward Stevens was a reporter who documented hockey all over the world for over three decades. He […]
John Charles Rykert was born in St. Catharines on March 10, 1831 to parents George R. Rykert (b.1797 in Rhinebeck, […]
