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.
Artifact of the Week: Lunchbox
This week’s artifact is a metal lunchbox. which is similar to the ones used locally between the 1900s and 1940s. […]
One Hour in the Past E804 – The Electronic Wave Organ
Bet you didn’t know how an electronic organ works! Well, now you do! In another attempt at explaining science, Kathleen and Adrian explore the history of this impressive instrument, talk family electronic organs, and sports!
14th Annual Guided Spirit Walks – Historical Profiles
The challenge, which I always enjoy, is simultaneously selecting historic persons to include on the tour whose burials are located on an enjoyable walking tour route that also fit into the theme of that year’s tour, and whose life story can appropriately carry a relevant historical narrative.
Artifact of the Week: Box Making Machine
This week’s artifact is a box making machine from the Warren Bros. Ltd a knitting company that was based in […]
One Hour in the Past E803 – The Route Reference Computer
How does the mail get sorted? One of the first computerized and automated mail sorters was the Route Reference Computer. Despite its “state secret” level of confusing technical aspects, we learned a lot about the mail in this episode.
14th Annual Guided Spirit Walks – The Source Material
It’s this imbalance of the application of justice, which runs through all the source materials – letters, diaries, court records, jail lists, summaries of convictions, and most of all, newspapers – that threads the many narratives of crime together in this year’s walks. Hundreds of pages of newspapers and handfuls of letters, testimony, and court records show us a St. Catharines that in some ways is unrecognizable, and in other ways, show us that society still has a long way to go.
Artifact of the Week: Ship Adze
This week’s artifact is a shipwright’s adze used in the Niagara region. It was tool used for smoothing decks and […]
One Hour in the Past E802 – The Electric Powered Wheelchair
On this episode we’re explore the important history of the electric powered wheelchair, and our research takes us through the history and importance of mobility aids today.
Artifact of the Week: English Style Concertina
This week’s artifact is an 1894 English style concertina owned and played by Joseph Clunie who carried the instrument with […]
One Hour in the Past E801 – The Egg Carton
We’re cracking open season 8 of One Hour in the Past with the history of the egg carton. The episode is filled with a surprising amount of unintended egg puns and lots of egg-sellent history. Enjoy the episode!
Artifact of the Week: Figural Perfume Bottle
This week’s artifact is a figural perfume bottle donated by Associated Charities and is a part of the St. Catharines […]
Artifact of the Week: Electric Fan
This week’s artifact is an electric fan from the James William Johnston Jeweler, located in downtown St. Catharines. This fan […]
Artifact of the Week: Jack Haney’s Toolbox
This week’s artifact is a toolbox owned by Jack Haney, a resident of St. Catharines and an employee of the […]
Museum Chat Live! E1006 – Supercut 2: Victorian Tweets
Enjoy this look back on our Season 6 3-part miniseries about the Victorians which was produced during the run of our temporary exhibition Victorian Tweets.
Artifact of the Week: Fireman’s Smoke Mask
This week’s artifact is a respirator that was used and donated by the St. Catharines Fire Department. 1967.174.93 Find more […]
Artifact of the Week: Waffle Iron
This week’s artifact is a waffle iron made of cast iron by the Excelsior mfg. Co. St. Louis. This object […]
Artifact of the Week: “Imperial Blend” Tea Canister
This week’s artifact is a tea canister from Imperial Blend Indian & Ceylon Tea (ca 1900-1950). This model of canister […]
Artifact of the Week: Girl Guide Cookies Box
This week’s artifact is a box of Girl Guide cookies celebrating the 75 anniversary of The Girl Guides of Canada. […]
Artifact of the Week: Pro-technic Ediphone
This week’s artifact is an ediphone manufactured Thomas A. Edison Inc. and was used by staff of the Foster Wheeler […]
Artifact of the Week: Staffordshire Blue Transferware Soup Tureen
This week’s artifact is a soup tureen from the early 19th century. The artifact belonged to Jacob Keefer, who was […]
Artifact of the Week: Taylor and Bate Ltd. Ale Beer Bottle
This week’s artifact is a Taylor and Bate beer bottle. This bottle used to contain beer produced by a local […]
Artifact of the Week: Cream Whipper
This week’s artifact is a cream whipper used locally in St. Catharines c. 1915. 1978.59.14 Find more information and other […]
Artifact of the Week: Large Wine Press
This week’s artifact is a large red wine press from the mid 19th century. This press was later owned by […]
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!
Artifact of the Week: 6 Gallon Crock
This week’s artifact is a large 6 gallon crock from the late 19th century that was used locally in St. […]
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!
Museum Chat Live! E1004 – Beyond These Walls: Interpreting History Out in the Community
E1004 On this episode of Museum Chat Live! Sean discusses trends in museum outreach programming. He explores how museum interpretation […]
Artifact of the Week: Decorative Ceramic Iron
This week’s artifact is a ceramic iron that was likely used as a decorative storage container. The item is undated […]
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.
Artifact of the Week: Doultons Improved Foot Warmer
This week’s artifact is an early 20th-century stoneware foot warmer. This item was made in London and sold through the […]
Museum Chat Live! E1003 – Supercut 1: Canal Crossings
Throughout our 10th season, we will be including several “supercut” episodes which revisit clips from some of favourite episodes, themes, […]
History from Here: St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church at 49 Carlton St.
The area around Ontario and Carlton Streets is probably most remembered for McKinnon Industries and St. Catharines’ first General Motors […]
Artifact of the Week: Soap and Tray
This week’s artifact is a late 19th to early 20th century soap dish including a partial bar of soap. At […]
Artifact of the Week: Velvet Hat
This week’s artifact is a brown velvet hat owned by Mrs. Olive Davis. The hat was purchased from Wallace’s Department […]
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.
Artifact of the Week: White Dress
This week’s artifact is a dress worn by Helen Stanley Smith when she was a young girl around 1914. Also […]
Artifact of the Week: Wedding Slippers
This week’s artifact is a pair of wedding slippers worn by Elizabeth Campbell (neé Oille) at her wedding on September […]
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.