This week’s artifact might familiar to some. It’s a slide rule conversion tool for the metric system. Anyone else have one these lying around? This one belonged to Fred Davis, who worked on the Great Lakes.
The St. Catharines Women’s Literary Club
To mark International Women’s Day, we are looking at the rich history of the Women’s Literary Club, a St. Catharines institution for the education and enrichment of women in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Artifact of the Week: Commemorative Coin
This commemorative coin celebrates the third World Rowing Championships held in St. Catharines in 1970. The coin was issued by the Empire Lodge of Odd Fellows.
Artifact of the Week: Dining Tablecloth Brush
This dining tablecloth brush used locally, is similar to other types of clothes brushes used in this area, c. 1840. Brushing crumbs, dust, and lint away helped to keep the cloth clean, which was especially useful before machine washing made it easier to wash large items frequently.
Filling in the Gaps: Historical Records After the Underground Railroad
The stories told over this blog series highlight moments of success, aspiration, challenge, pride, joy, and determination in the lives of Black individuals. These are universal concepts we all feel and experience. These are stories of everyday people, People of Colour who lived, went to school, worked, made friends, and pursued a full life in St. Catharines. These were the lives Freedom Seekers aspired to for themselves and their families when they arrived in St. Catharines more than 170 years ago.
Life in the City Directories: Historical Records After the Underground Railroad
One brief line in a city directory can offer endless possibility in delving into the working experiences of the people who lived and worked in St. Catharines throughout our past. By tracing the names of Black community members from the earliest editions of our directories in the 1850s through to today, we can trace the legacies first sowed by Freedom Seekers, as well as the continuity of determination and hard work within the community.
Artifact of the Week: Cream Separator
Donated by a resident of St. Catharines, this model of cream separator was sold by Eatons, and may have been purchased at the Canadian Department Store at the corner of William Street and St. Paul Street. CDS was a division of Eatons.
Life in the Year Books: Historical Records After the Underground Railroad
As a source, high school yearbooks certainly bring light to the achievements of Black students through the decades of the 20th century, but beyond this, they also offer unique insight into how these students navigated such a formative period of their lives. Though the Black student population in St. Catharines’ high school was small through most of the 20th century, students of colour made considerable impact in their school communities, from their academic successes to contributing their talents to clubs and sports teams. Black experiences, visible on the pages of local yearbooks, shows us all aspects of student life: friendship, school spirit, team participation, and aspirations.
Life in the News: Historical Records After the Underground Railroad
Newspapers are an important source of information in finding the historical pulse of a community. While the documentation isn’t perfect, and there are always gaps of subjects that didn’t receive coverage, the news stories and photographs can tell us a lot about the tangible history of the subject of news and the history of the community’s intangible biases and interests.
Who Stayed? Historical Records After the Underground Railroad
There is no information available as to why this population change, although the historical record might help shed some light on some of the reasons, such as difficulty finding work due to discriminatory hiring practices, people moving to be closer to family or support groups in other communities, people moving back to the United States after the Civil War, etc. We can only speculate based on the historical information available. The numbers don’t illustrate motivations.
Artifact of the Day: Telegraph
This telegraph machine was used by the St. Catharines Fire Department.
Should I Stay? Historical Records After the Underground Railroad
Our series this year will look at the lives of those of the Black community left behind – those few Freedom Seekers who stayed to build a new life and those, along with their descendants, who had been the backbone of the community’s efforts to help during the Underground Railroad.
St. Catharines Museum Black History Resources
With over thirty different resources centred on Black History there is plenty of content to catch up on this Black History Month. The St. Catharines Museum has created this resource to help navigate our content by detailing where it can be accessed and what it is on. Included are Black History Blog Posts, Lectures, Presentations and Podcasts detailing Black History in St. Catharines.
Artifact of the Week: Seal Embosser
This seal embosser was used by the Waterworks Commission at 125 Welland Avenue.
Artifact of the Week: Avondale Dairy Milk Crate
A wooden milk crate used by Avondale Dairy Ltd, c. 1940.
Artifact of the Week: Kit Bag
This kit bag was used by Leslie Merritt Stull (b.1895-d.1955) who served in the 3rd Heavy Battery in 1918. Leslie Stull was born and raised in St. Catharines.
Artifact of the Week: Wicker Wheelchair
A wicker wheelchair made by Gendren Wheel Co. of Toledo Ohio. The wheelchair is from the Pattison Estate. c. 1890.
History from Here: The Independent Rubber Company
On this episode of History from Here, host Sara Nixon visits the former site of the Independent Rubber Company, now The Keg Steakhouse + Bar.
A catalyst in a golden era of industry. Powered by the waters of the Second Welland Canal. A surviving remnant of the past that has withstood fire, neglect, time, and significant change. The Independent Rubber Company building, with its towering smokestack, is an enduring testament to Merritton’s industrial heritage.
VMLS via Podcast: A Model City
On today’s episode of VMLS via Podcast we’ll hear a presentation from our own Sara Nixon with her lecture titled ‘A Model City: the 1913 St. Catharines Board of Trade Yearbook’. The lecture was originally recorded on May 11, 2021.
Museum Chat Live! E705 – Heritage Advocacy
On this episode of Museum Chat Live!, we discuss what heritage advocacy looks like on the local level, on the ground and at the grassroots. To help us navigate the many layers to identifying, protecting, and enhancing community heritage, we’ve invite Andrew Humeniuk onto the podcast. Andrew is a member of the the St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee and Executive Director of The Brown Homestead here in St. Catharines.
Stories From the Front: St Catharines’ Wartime Sources Part Four
John D. Hills was taken prisoner of war by the Germans after the raid at Dieppe in 1942. He remained a prisoner until his liberation in 1945.
VMLS via Podcast – The Fight for History with Dr. Tim Cook
On today’s episode of VMLS via Podcast we’ll hear from war historian and author Dr. Tim Cook. Tim’s book ‘The Fight for History’ looks at the significance of remembering the Second World War. This lecture was originally presented on April 27, 2021.
Stories From the Front: St Catharines’ Wartime Sources Part Three
Within days of Canada declared war on Germany in 1914 the 19th Lincoln Regiment and the 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment were placed on active duty. The men from these regiments were charged with protecting potential targets in Niagara including the hydroelectric sites, bridges, railways and the canal.
Museum Classroom: William Hamilton Merritt Biography
Explore the history and narrative of William Hamilton Merritt and his involvement with the Welland Canals through this interactive biography activity.
Stories from the Front: St Catharines’ Wartime Sources Part Two
ohn “Jack” Hardy transcribed his diaries after the war to ensure that his experience fighting in Europe wasn’t lost.
VMLS via Podcast – The General: A Symposium with the Brock University Historical Society.
Today’s lecture, is a bit different. We were happy to host the students of the Brock University Historical Society in symposium on the series on April 13, 2021. You’ll hear lots of different voices and stories on this episode. For more information on the work of the Brock University Historical Society, please visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/brockhistoricalsociety.
History from Here: Memorial Chapel at Ridley College
In honour of Remembrance Day, History from Here host Sara takes you inside Memorial Chapel at Ridley College. 🌹 Built […]
Stories from the Front: St. Catharines’ Wartime Sources Part One
This November we are using the Museum’s blog to take a more in-depth investigation over four blog posts into a selection of the sources featured in Stories from the Front.
VMLS via Podcast – Historic Welland Canals Mapping Project
Today’s lecture, originally presented on March 30, 2021, was presented by special guest Colleen Beard, map librarian emeritus at Brock University. Colleen’s Historic Welland Canals Mapping Project has mapped the routes of the three early Welland Canals and her presentation takes us through her website.
Museum Chat Live! E704 – Oral History and Community Voices
On this episode of Museum Chat Live!, consider the role of oral history in collecting community stories, and building community legacy.
We discuss the Museum’s oral history collection project, STC StoryLab, and sit down with Reverend Dr. Paul Miller, pastor of Westminster United Church located on Queenston Street in St. Catharines, and a leader in the Queenston Neighbourhood.
One Hour in the Past E506 – Museums
On this final episode of One Hour in the Past’s 5th season, Kathleen and Adrian take a deep dive – and one that is quite meta – into the history of Museums.
VMLS via Podcast – For King and Country
On this episode of VMLS via Podcast: A lecture originally presented in March 16, 2021, examines the experiences of soldiers from St. Catharines who fought in the Boer War.
History from Here: Protestant Home of St. Catharines
An organization established and led by women. A charitable cause once considered “one of the worthiest among all the philanthropies in of the city.” An orphanage that served as a place of refuge, care, and comfort for children in need.
On this episode of History from Here, your host Sara takes you to the former site of the Protestant Home of St. Catharines on Ontario Street.
Museum Classroom: Careers on Land and Sea (Intermediate)
Explore the various careers of the Welland Canals on land and sea for grades 3-8. Understand the importance of each career through interactive activities and how each career helps support Welland Canal operations.
Museum Chat Live! E703- Cemeteries and Historic Interpretation
On this episode of Museum Chat Live!, co-hosts Abbey and Sara look at the development and evolution of the museum’s Guided Spirit walks over the past 11 years. To help us understand the Museum’s Spirit Walk journey, we speak to Adrian Petry, Visitor Services Coordinator at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre. We also sit down with Guided Spirit Walk actors Ian Ashman and Kathie Leblanc to discover what is like to portray local historical figures and the impact Guided Spirit Walks has on the community.
One Hour in the Past E504 – Extreme Weather
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the history of extreme weather and whether a tornado can move a 110 ton dinosaur.
VMLS via Podcast: No Exit: Dead End Streets of St. Catharines
Today on VMLS via Podcast: the history of urban development in the city be exploring the city’s dead-end streets.
Museum Classroom: Careers on Land and Sea (Junior)
Explore the various careers people have working on the Welland Canal through this interactive career investigation activity.
The 2022 Guided Spirit Walks Roar into the 1920s
As part of the Guided Spirit Walks creative team, I can tell you that our historical interests span widely, and we are always imagining up new ways to bring the stories of those buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery to our audiences. This year, we present Roaring into the ‘20s: A New Chapter for our City and invite you into the stories of those who lived through the tumultuous period of 1920s St. Catharines. We might imagine the Roaring Twenties as a risqué period of flappers, jazz, and prohibition, and while these were dramatic parts of the era, the 1920s can be characterized by even more dramatic shifting social norms, economic and political turbulence, and rapid technological innovations. Some embraced these drastic changes as a signal of a better future, while others were apprehensive.