In part one of our annual Black History Month blog series, we explore the root of the myth that Freedom Seekers remained in hiding even after arriving in St. Catharines on the Underground Railroad.
Food, Glorious Food! Part 2: Baking Powder Biscuits
Welcome to the Food, Glorious Food blog series. This new, limited series is a companion blog series to the Museum’s […]
Food, Glorious Food! Part 1: Almond Macaroons
Welcome to the Food, Glorious Food blog series. This new, limited series is a companion blog series to the Museum’s […]
Artifact of the Week: Regatta Badge
This week’s artifact is a badge promoting the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Regatta (also know as “School boy”) held […]
Museum Chat Live! E906 – Merritt’s Speech, November 30th, 1824
Today’s episode of Museum Chat Live! brings a reading of an excerpt of Merritt’s speech from 200 years ago to our ears. Edited and read by museum volunteer Des Corran, you can hear the optimism with which Merritt would cling to over some very challenging years of construction ahead.
Artifact of the Week: Plough Plane
This week’s artifact is a wooden wedge-stem plough plane with screw stop used locally in St. Catharines between the years of […]
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 4: Change Management
In part four of our series about what happened to the old canals, we discover the complexity of managing change against a sense of place.
VMLS via Podcast – Unearthing Niagara’s Industrial History
On today’s episode we’re sharing to provide a lecture presented on December 13, 2022 which provided an update on her work at the Shickluna Shipyard archaeological dig.
Artifact of the Week: Softball Badge
This badge denotes participation in the 1971 East End Girls Softball league in St. Catharines. 2011.20.26 Find more information and […]
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 3: The Dumping Ground
In part three of our blog series about the old canals, we look at how and why the old canals have been abandoned and slowly erased from the landscape.
VMLS via Podcast – Ponderous Fraus, Mynheers, and Jaded Farm Horses
On today’s episode we’re sharing “Ponderous Fraus, Mynheers, and Jaded Farm Horses, or Early St. Catharines Before the First Welland Canal” with special guest Brian Narhi.
Artifact of the Week: Commemorative Coin
This week’s artifact is a coin commemorating the Third World Rowing Championships held in St.Catharines in 1970. It was issued […]
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 2: The Modern City
In part two of our blog series about what happened to the old canals, we look at the establishment of the modern city and its impatience for the old canals.
History from Here: Yale & Towne Lock Factory
The early Welland Canals had helped set St. Catharines up as a manufacturing powerhouse in the mid 1800s. But by […]
VMLS via Podcast – In the Public Interest
On today’s episode we’re sharing “In the Public Interest: Public Works in St. Catharines” presented by Kathleen Powell.
Artifact of the Week: Porcelain Basket
This vitro-porcelain glass basket was donated by Mr. Murray Sherwin, of St. Catharines in October of 1970. 1970.58.380 Find more […]
What Happened to the Old Canals? Part 1: Apathy and Indifference
In part one of a new series examining the fate of the old canals, we look at the centuries of “apathy and indifference” stuck to the Welland Canal.
One Hour in the Past E705 – Sewing Machines
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the local history of sewing machine manufacturing, a patent war, and the pivotal role of the lock stitch!
VMLS via Podcast – Our Gallant Employees
On today’s episode we’re sharing “Our Gallant Employees: Corporate Commemoration in Port-War Canada,” with special guest Jonathan Vance.
Artifact of the Week: Championship Crest
This crest was given to members of the championship team of the 1963 basketball tournament sponsored by the St. Catharines […]
One Hour in the Past E704 – Plastics
They said they weren’t a science podcast, but Kathleen and Adrian are back with some more fascinating science-based historical research into the history of plastics. Specially on this episode: how not to pronounce “phthalate.”
VMLS via Podcast – Queenston: A Working Neighbourhood
On today’s episode we’re sharing “Queenston: A Working Neighbourhood” presented by special guest Paul Miller, minister of Westminster United Church.
Artifact of the Week: Silver Clip
This silver clip, which has the initials F.D., was owned by Fredrick William Davis. 2004.13.93. Find more information and other […]
One Hour in the Past E703 – Canning
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the local history of canning and a long list of all the weird things that come in cans today.
VMLS via Podcast
On today’s episode we’re sharing “Discovering Niagara’s Freedom Trail” with special guest Rochelle Bush. Special Guest Rochelle Bush, trustee and historian of Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site and proprietor of Tubman Tours Canada, will speak about Niagara’s Freedom Trail – the loosely connected network of important heritage sites, museums, and other historical places connected to the story of freedom and the Underground Railroad throughout Niagara.
Artifact of the Week: Airline Service Sticker
This week’s artifact is a sticker for the Airport Airlines Services at St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls. 2006.77.2002 Find […]
One Hour in the Past E702 – Gyroscopes
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian try to muster all their brainpower to tackle the interesting yet complex history (and functions) of the gyroscope. Science!
VMLS via Podcast – One Dish, One History
On today’s episode we’re sharing One Dish, One History: There Were People Here Before 1876 with special guest Karl Dockstader. Radio host, and of the Oneida bear clan Centre Karl Dockstader will walk us through a part of Niagara history that is underexplored. We’ll talk about the friendships and agreements that formed to make settler people living here in Niagara possible and how that friendship may need to be rekindled to keep Niagara viable.
Artifact of the Week: Flashlight in Leather Case
This week’s artifact is a flashlight in a leather case donated by Malcolm H. Campbell of St. Catharines. Malcolm Campbell […]
History from Here: 7-9 Queen Street
Before the era of suburbanization, the automobile, and economic globalization, people’s worlds were much smaller. In St. Catharines, if you […]
One Hour in the Past E701 – Paperclips
On this episode of One Hour in the Past, Kathleen and Adrian explore the history of paperclips, with a special guest appearance by Clippy!
Artifact of the Week: Horseshoe Champion Badge
This badge was awarded to the horseshoe champion of the St. Catharines Playgrounds in 1939. 2011.20.30 Find more information and […]
What Good is History? Let us count the ways!
After another hugely successful production of our annual Guided Spirit Walks, we’d like to say a big “THANK YOU” to the many volunteers – cast and crew – who make it all happen. In case you missed the walks this year, we’d also like to share a bit about the people who are buried at Victoria Lawn that we included this year.
Artifact of the Week: Discharge Certificate
This week’s artifact is a discharge certificate for John Fitzgerald, who enlisted in St. Catharines and served in France. He […]
Artifact of the Week: Cavalry Spurs
These spurs are part of an accession of items used by Lieut. Harold Montgomery Campbell of St. Catharines during World […]
Artifact of the Week: Roses Lime Juice Bottle
This week’s artifact is a Roses Lime Juice Bottle, c. 1870. 1979.88.7 Find more information and other artifacts like this […]
Artifact of the Week: Hand Plunger
This week’s artifact is a hand plunger for an Apex Clothes Washer, ca. 1912-1940. 1975.29.32 Find more information and other […]
Artifact of the Week: Student Privilege Card
This student Privilege Card from 1956 granted Hazen Dividson [sic] a special student price at the Niagara Peninsula Theatres and […]
Artifact of the Week: Fitzgerald’s Garage Ruler
This week’s artifact is a ruler promoting a local garage called Fitzgerald’s Garage located at Ontario and Manchester Streets, St. […]
Museum Chat Live! E905 – Hearing History: Internal Combustion Engine
This episode is in our Hearing History series, taking full advantage of the podcast format by exploring local history through sound. Today’s […]