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.
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.
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.
One Hour in the Past E504 – Elections
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the history of elections, with some interesting rabbit-hole discussions of the Chief Electoral Officer and campaign posters.
Behind the Scenes with Museum Kids- Why we chose Soapbox Derby as our Summer Edition theme
he local chapter of the St. Catharines All-American Soap Box Derby originally intended to provide mentorship for local youngsters and encourage community participation. The races very quickly became a staple activity of growing up in St. Catharines. Every year, beginning in 1947, youngsters would race to sign up for the race in the early months of the year.
One Hour in the Past E503 – Electric Vehicles
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the history of electric vehicles.
One Hour in the Past E502 – Computers and Cell Phones
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the history of computers and cell Phones and with just one hour for their research, end up in some very strange places.
VMLS via Podcast: Myths of the Underground Railroad
Today’s lecture, originally presented in February 2021, features public programmer Sara Nixon with a lecture about the most prevalent and persistent myths about the Underground Railroad.
From the Shelves of Merritt’s Mercantile – Volume 2
For this installment of our Curator’s pick of books from our gift shop, I would like to highlight the book A Future in Doubt: The rise and demise of one small Jewish community and what it says about the future of synagogues everywhere, by Howard Slepkov. Published in January 2021, this book is not only a great history of the St. Catharines Jewish community, the building of the local synagogue, but it is also a really wonderful look at Jewish life in Canada in the 20th century.
VMLS via Podcast – Marking Time
Today’s lecture features Supervisor of Historical Services and Curator Kathleen Powell with a discussion of ‘Marking Time’ an exhibit that was on display here at the Museum, which featured textiles and fashion from the Museum’s collection which help to mark life’s significant milestones. It’s a bit more visual than our some of the other lectures, so visit our YouTube Play list to watch the lecture in-full.
Museum Classroom: The Welland Canal and Lock Building (Secondary)
Student will develop an understanding of the engineering required to build the current Welland Canal. It also see the equipment that the workers had to work with.
History from Here: Glen Ridge School
Built to meet the needs of the families moving to one of St. Catharines’ earliest residential suburbs. Designed in cohesion with the architectural features so characteristic to its neighbourhood. A lasting symbol of what can be achieved when a community works together. From its very beginning, Glen Ridge School and its surrounding greenspace have served its community as a place for learning, play, gathering, and identity.
On this episode of History from Here, Public Programmer Sara Nixon takes you to the former Glen Ridge School building at 101 South Drive in St. Catharines, Ontario.
VMLS via Podcast – Lost and Forgotten: the Third Welland Canal
Today’s lecture explores the hidden history of the Third Welland Canal. As one of the first major infrastructure projects following Confederation, the canal was a huge success but today is mostly forgotten. Please enjoy “Lost and Forgotten: the Third Welland Canal” originally presented on October 27, 2020.
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.
BHM Series Part Four- Prioritizing Education
Imagining a world where everyone isn’t guaranteed an opportunity to read and write is strange to us. While studying history, […]
VMLS via Podcast – Where They Walk: the Making of the Annual Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery
Today’s lecture features Adrian Petry, visitor services coordinator here at the Museum. In this presentation, he looks at the research that goes into creating our annual Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, and how dark tourism like ghost walks have influenced the practice public history and the public’s imagination of historical personalities.
BHM Series Part One: Welcome to St. Catharines, Canada West
Mary Shadd wrote a thirty-six-page book called A Plea for Emigration to share information on Canada. Shadd came to Canada after the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 as a means of helping Freedom Seekers who had managed to make it across the border.
Something’s Happening Here! A look at our Interpretive Plan Implementation
Let’s take a look at what’s happening at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre as we implement our Interpretive Plan and what we have coming up next.
VMLS via Podcast – Stones and Symbols at Victoria Lawn Cemetery
Today’s lecture features special guest Dr. Adam Montgomery, one of the most recognized historians on cemetery history today. Dr. Montgomery shared the history of Victoria Lawn Cemetery in a lecture titled ‘Stones and Symbols of Victoria Lawn Cemetery’. This lecture was originally presented on September 15, 2020. Enjoy the lecture.
Museum Classroom: Hold on to Your Hats – Community in St. Catharines (Jr.)
The things we put on our heads can tell an awful lot of stories. To celebrate National Hat Day, enjoy this Museum Classroom post examining the history of hats in the Museum’s collection.
How the Story Goes: Reexamining the Story of the First Welland Canal Part 4
The whole point of reexamining the story then is to show that the reduction of the narrative undervalues significant contributions and struggles and is an injustice to the memory of the people who built the canal. Can you imagine the labourers hearing the story as it is traditionally told and rightly crying out ‘what about us!? We dug the darn thing!” Or Merritt himself admitting “woah, woah, it was not that easy.” The simplified version risks undervaluing the accomplishments they all spent their lives (literally and figuratively) working for.
VMLS via Podcast – Lost and Historic Architecture of St. Catharines
This next lecture will wrap up our VMLS podcast for 2021 just as the lecture itself wrapped up our first lecture series in the spring of 2020. ‘Lost and Historic Architectures’ was presented by yours truly on June 23, 2020. After this, we’ll be taking a little break but we’ll back with more lectures in January 2022, so stay tuned, and as always, enjoy the lecture.
VMLS via Podcast – Racetracks and Runaway Carriages
Another guest joins us for the lecture today. Dr. Keri Cronin is a historian of visual culture and faculty at Brock University with a special focus on the history of animals. Her lecture titled ‘Racetracks and Runaway Carriages’ Dr. Cronin looks at the history of horses in St. Catharines. This lecture was originally presented on Jun 17, 2020. Enjoy the lecture.
History from Here: The Lake Street Armoury
On this episode of History from Here, Sara takes you to the Lake Street Armoury. Not only does this conspicuous landmark help us understand our local military history, but was also once a social hub for the community.
How the Story Goes: Reexamining the Story of the First Welland Canal Part 1
The story of the First Welland Canal has been told over and over again by historians and canal buffs so that the story has shifted and changed over time. Facts, of course, mostly have remained the same, but the way the narrative is harnessed for others, and the way the story is constructed and relayed has changed. In my study of the historiography and the public’s perception of the narrative, I have discovered a few challenges with the telling of the history of the First Welland Canal.
VMLS via Podcast – Archaeology of a 19th Century Shipyard
dramatic arts students from Governor Simcoe Secondary School appear in my discussion of the Shipyard Strikes from 1861 and how we turned some dramatic history into a play. And Dr. Kimberly Monk joins us to talk about the history of the Shickluna Shipyard, along with the thrilling story of the archaeological dig she is leading at the yard. This lecture was originally presented on June 9, 2020.
VMLS via Podcast – The Horseless Revolution
On today’s lecture, we join Curator and Supervisor of Historical Services Kathleen Powell as she talks about the history of Packard Electric and the early manufacturing of Oldsmobile and REO cars here in St. Catharines. The lecture was originally presented on June 2, 2020.
2021-2022 Educational Programs
Ready for 2021-2022! We are thrilled to announce our 2021-2022 educational program offering. We have an exciting line-up of safe, […]
VMLS via Podcast – Tracing the Tracks of the Underground Railroad
On today’s lecture, we join our public programmer Sara Nixon as she traces the tracks of the Underground Railroad and examines the legacy of Freedom Seekers arriving in St. Catharines in the 1850s. This lecture was originally presented on May 26, 2020.
One Hour in the Past E404 – Restaurants and Taverns
On this episode, we welcome Christine Girardi, Assistant Curator from the Niagara Falls History Museum to join us for a discussion on the history of taverns and restaurants.
Guided Spirit Walks 2021 Character Exclusives
This year’s Guided Spirit Walks tour theme, “Before they were Famous,” provides a diverse cast of characters.
STC StoryLab Presents: Back to School
Happy First Day of School! 🍎👩🏫🏫📚 Over the last few months, STC StoryLab sat down with a few members of […]
History from Here: The Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course
Home of the St. Catharines Rowing Club, Brock University Rowing, the Ridley Rowing Club, and the Ridley Graduate Boat Club; a training site for numerous school rowing teams, and a venue for rowing competitions of all levels, including the highly reputable Henley Regatta – the Royal Canadian Henley Course has welcomed and cultivated world-class rowers and coaches on its waters, since 1903.
On this episode of History from Here, Sara takes you to Rennie Park, across from the Henley Grandstand, to learn about the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St. Catharines, Ontario.
VMLS via Podcast – Next Stop: the NS&T
Virtual Museum Lecture Series via Podcast In the spring of 2020, we began to offer history lectures through our Virtual […]
My Year with Mrs. Beeton – Part 7 – Harvest and Preserving
Summer and Fall in Niagara are the time for harvest and to enjoy the bounty of nature. At the same time, the smart cook is looking for ways to extend the harvest so that it’s produce will last into the late fall and winter when fruits and vegetables would not have been easy to come by locally.
Mrs. Beeton has reserves two chapters of her book – chapters 36 and 37 – to all things related to preserves, jams, pickles and store sauces.
History from Here: The Welland House Hotel at 30 Ontario Street
This episode of History from Here brings you to the site of the Welland House Hotel, destroyed by a devastating fire in July 2021.
Remembering the Welland House
From what we’ve seen online and in the news over the last few weeks, it is clear that the loss of the Welland House Hotel has hit the St. Catharines community hard. It is no different here at the St. Catharines Museum. Within all the varied work of a museum, the history of the Welland House would come up at least once a week among staff, volunteers, researchers, and visitors in some way. It’s tangible loss is stark.
Eureka! Inventive Moments from our History
For Museum Week’s “Eureka Moments” theme, we’re counting down the top 5 Eureka Moments in St. Catharines history.
There are definitely more than 5 eureka moments in St. Catharines history, so if we left one out that you feel MUST be included, add it in the comments!