E106 We just can’t believe that it’s April and that we’re on to our third book of Books & Brews! […]
Museum Chat Live! E105 – Remembering Vimy Ridge
Episode 5 of Museum Chat Live! shares the stories of the St. Catharines soldiers who fought at Vimy Ridge from multiple perspectives. We are lucky enough to have letters and diary entries from soldiers including George Hibben, Charles Mercer, Jack House, and Jack Hardy, whose writings bring you right to the battle field.
Narratives of Fugitive Slaves – Part 4
“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).
Narratives of Fugitive Slaves – Part 3
“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).
Narratives of Fugitive Slaves – Part 1
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.
A Day in Collections – Archives
These past few weeks have been very busy for Snowflake and Sven, with the First Fridays Ugly Christmas Sweater Party […]
A Day in Collections – St. Catharines Standard Photographs
This week, Snowflake and Sven travel through a vibrant visual history of St. Catharines with a sneak peak of the […]
A Day in Collections – Artifacts
This week, Snowflake and Sven visit Tanya, the St. Catharines Museum’s Collection Technician – Artifacts. Tanya takes care of the […]
A Day in Collections – Digital
Snowflake and Sven Take On The St. Catharines Museum If you follow us on Twitter, you may have heard that […]
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 […]
aMUSE: Lost Architecture
The Last aMUSE of 2016 Our final aMUSE pop-up exhibition of 2016 focused on the lost and remaining 19th century […]
Niagara’s Farmerettes
Living in the heart of Niagara’ fruit belt, one can easily imagine the stress to farms and food production caused […]
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, […]
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 […]
Ask Alicia -Grapes Anyone?
Alicia, It is Grape & Wine Festival time again which got me wondering about the history of this popular local […]
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 […]
Special Announcement: “Caption This!” Contest
We’re recruiting our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram audiences to be our co-curators! For the month of September, help us caption […]
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 […]
Revisiting the Construction of the Welland Ship Canal through 400 Photographs
Next time you find yourself caught up in the hustle of life, waiting endlessly for a bridge to lower and […]
A Farmer’s Life: Summer Snaphots
Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) […]
Ask Alicia – Prisoner of War John D. Hills
Dear Alicia, Do you have any information about a man named Jack Hills of St. Catharines who was a Prisoner […]
A Farmer’s Life: Summer Snapshots
Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) […]
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 […]
Know Your Neigbours – Anthony Burns
Anthony Burns was born into slavery in Virginia in 1834. He ran away from his owner and went to Boston. […]
A Farmer’s Life: Summer Snapshots
Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) […]
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 […]
A Farmer’s Life: Summer Snapshots
Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) […]
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 […]
A Farmer’s Life: Summer Snapshots
Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) […]
A Farmer’s Life: Summer Snapshots
Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) […]
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, […]