History Notes

The following are short essays and notes on various aspects of Niagara Falls history. Many of these were complied in the 1990's, so we apologize if there are some statements that date them. However, they do provide great information about some of our most asked about topics. 

Conflict

• The Battle of Lundy's Lane
• Butler's Rangers
• Drummond Hill
• The Fenian Raids
• Major-General Sir Isaac Brock
• Joseph Willcocks
• Niagara's Doomsday Book: War Losses in Niagara Falls
• The Italian Canadian Experience in Niagara Falls during World War II
• The field cannon in front of the Victoria Street Armouries
• Niagara Falls Women in the War of 1812
• Causes of the War of 1812
• Brief history of the Battle of Queenston Heights
• Weapons and Tactics in the War of 1812
• Confederates in Niagara Falls 
• Call to Alarm: Rebellion in Niagara

Geography and Natural History

• Navy Island
• Going "Behind the sheet of falling water"
• When the Falls Were Dry
• Luna Falls

Industry

• Bottling Works and Breweries
• Spirella Corset Company
• The Leander Colt Waterwheel
• Ontario Power Company

Tourism & Attractions

• Marineland
• Jeff the Seal at Marineland
• The Green Book and Niagara Falls Accomodations
• The Biddle Staircase (stairs)
• The Burning Springs
• The Niagara Spanish Aerocar
• The Maid of the Mist Incline Railway
• The Maid of the Mist

Politics

• City of Niagara Falls
• A brief history of Drummondville
• The City of Niagara Falls Project
• The Niagara Movement
• The Mexican Revolution Peace Conference of 1914

Places of Spirituality

• Early Anglican Churches
• Early Methodist Churches
• Early Presbyterian Churches
• Early Roman Catholic Churches

• Congregation B’Nai Jacob

Schools

• Niagara Falls High Schools
• Early Schools
• The Loretto Academy

Building and Bridges

• Some Early Hotels
• Street's Pagoda
• The Toronto Powerhouse
• Hydro Plant Industrial Accidents
• Oak Hall
• Rosbergs and the Rosberg Family
• The Observatories on Lundy's Lane
• The Lower Niagara Bridges
• The Upper Niagara Bridges
• The Pavilion Hotel
• The Lafayette Hotel
• The Memorial Arch
• The Clifton Hotels
• The Queen Victoria Fountain
• The Mowat Gate
• Fall of the Honeymoon Bridge
• The Casino Niagara Property
• The Hydro Canal and Bridges
• Terrapin Tower and Bridge

Parks

• Oakes Park
• Stamford Park

Recreation

• Sweating in the Summer - Our Canadian Shredded Wheat Baseball Uniform
• Stamford Park - Racing in the Falls

Transportation

• The Great Gorge Route
• The Scow
• The Erie and Ontario Railway
• The Burning of the of the Caroline
• Some Street Names
• The Hydro Canal and Bridges
• A Brief History of Public Transit
• A Brief History of Transportation in Niagara Falls
• A Brief History of Railways in Niagara Falls
• Sodom Road

Indigenous History

• Reclaiming Cultural Identity Project - includes sections on the Creation Story, Beadwork and Wampum
• The Indian Ossuary
• Pauline Johnson in Niagara Falls

People

• Thomas Barnett
• The Barnett Collection at the Niagara Falls History Museum
• Barnett v Davis
• The Great Farini
• Bobby Leach
• Benjamin Lett
• Sir Harry Oakes
• Stephen Peer
• Ruth Redmond
• Laura Ingersoll Secord
• Thomas Clark and Samuel Street
• Edgeworth Ussher
• Samuel Zimmerman

 

People who visited the Niagara Falls Museum

These are short articles on the famous and not-so-famous people who visited the first Museum in Canada. The Niagara Falls Museums now own these registries which start in 1838. To find out more, check out the database.

• The First Visitor - Jonathan Blatchford
• Abraham Lincoln
• The Confederates in Niagara Falls
• Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
• Queen's Own Rifles
• Daniel C. Haynes
• The Macklem Family
• Benjamin & Mary Spencer
• The Brown Brothers
• Citizens of the World
• Grand Duke Alexis of Russia

Interesting Material in the Collection

Artefacts in the Collection

• Scherenschnitte at the Willoughby Historical Museum

Guide Books and Tourism information for Niagara Falls

• L985.D.059.014- Fort Niagara Guide: Historic Fort Niagara and Illumination article/ pamphlet
• L993.D.009.001- The Great Gorge Trip and Whirlpool Rapids (White water walk) Brochure: Colour pamphlet, no date
• L993.P.114- Illustrated Guide of Niagara Falls:Tugby’s Illustrated Guide to Niagara Falls no date
• L998.D.031.002- Carillon Tower Info: 1968 recitals and times
• L998.D.031.003- Illumination Ceremony: Itinerary for the event (Friday June 20^th 1958)
• L2001.P.091- Foxhead Hotel Pamphlet:No date
• L2005.06.006- Royal Mail Steamboats:1847 fares and charges

Local Government

• L995.D.061.010- Goodwill Tour to USA: 1930's, itinerary of trip
• L985.D.060.005- Taxi Services By-Law: Tariff of Charges for hire automobiles, cabs and vehicles By-Law No. 3 City of Niagara Falls. Dated this 19^th day of December, 1914
• L991.D.343- Judicial and County Officers: List of magistrates, coroners and constables of Welland County. 1906

Local Business and Industry

• L970.D.011.283- Rail Burning Kerrio Welding: Describing the modern method of streetcar rail removal by oxy-acetylene cutting (recommendation from City Manager, Niagara Falls). Began construction in 1948.

Military

• L966.D.022.002- Volunteer Militia Pay List (No. 2 Company 19th Battalion): 1865-66 pay roll for volunteer militia (ending June 1866)
• L966.D.022.003- Active Militia: Recommendation for Appointments in the 44^th Welland Battalion (10 May 1872)
• L996.D.070- Battle of Bridgewater Map (Battle of Lundy’s Lane): From July 25^th 1814, unknown source