Whether it was horses, dogs, goats and even bears, animals played a role in military life during both World Wars, whether as transportation, messengers or mascots.

The swim across Lake Ontario, covering 51 to 52 kilometres, remains one of the world’s most challenging open-water swims.

People have been fishing Lake Ontario and the Niagara River for as long as people have lived along these shores. The river, lake and creeks once teemed with fish, providing food, supporting the local economy and shaping a way of life for generations.

This bank on Queen Street was here during the First World War, when it was the Imperial Bank of Commerce, and likely much earlier, making it a familiar fixture on Queen Street for generations of Niagara-on-the-Lake residents.

At the time of the First World War, there was no hospital in Niagara-on-the-Lake. After the devastation of the Spanish flu pandemic, the community realized it needed a permanent hospital.

Inspired by the successful Chautauqua movement that began in New York State, the Niagara Assembly transformed an area of town into a summer destination that brought together education, religion, music and recreation.

While today’s summer fruit harvest still relies on baskets, few people realize they were once made right here in town.

Girl Guides have been a familiar part of community life in Niagara-on-the-Lake, participating in parades, public celebrations and service activities throughout the year.

Established in 1877, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Lawn Bowling Club was among the first lawn bowling clubs in Canada and is still active to this day.

During the war, the YMCA sponsored a variety of sporting events, including football matches. Rivalries between battalions at Camp Niagara could be intense.

Built under the leadership of Janet Carnochan and the Niagara Historical Society, Memorial Hall was constructed to provide a permanent home for the community’s artifacts, documents and stories.

Constructed around 1782 as a grist mill, this building was one of the first “King’s Mills” in what would later become Upper Canada. The mill was originally operated the Secords.

This week’s image captures a familiar moment from childhood that many of us have likely experienced: summers at the beach or at the wading pool at Queenston Heights, running through sprinklers on hot days and more.

In 1914, Queen Street became the focus of a major local improvement project: paving. The project ultimately saw Queen Street paved from King Street to Simcoe Street.

In 1901, when the future King George V and Queen Mary (then the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York) visited Niagara-on-the-Lake for the royal visit, they entered a floral wonderland with installations everywhere.

Located at the corner of Mississagua and Mary streets, Pepe’s was once a favourite stop in town, where locals could satisfy a sweet tooth with penny candy or ice cream.

This section of Queen Street is known to this day as the Sherlock block — back in the day, the Sherlock family operated a dairy, a livery stable, and several storefronts along Queen Street, including this one.

The Apollo 11 mission stood as a defining benchmark in human spaceflight for more than half a century. That is, until the Artemis II mission returned safely to Earth on April 10.

In the summer of 1930, to demonstrate the viability of transatlantic commercial airship service, the British R-100 left Britain on a three-day journey across the Atlantic.

The Carnochan House, built by Janet Carnochan, stands as a testament to her lifelong dedication to preserving Niagara-on-the-Lake’s history.

Constructed entirely of wood, with heavy timber framing and no iron gearing, the mill reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness of early Loyalist settlers.

Around 1900, John Larkin of the Larkin Company began purchasing land in Niagara and eventually acquired several properties in Niagara-on-the-Lake, including Glencairn.

The “Pumphouse,” built along the Niagara River in 1891, used steam-powered pumps to provide filtered drinking water to residents for more than 90 years.

William Harrison and his three sons operated a hardware store from this building and property on Queen Street.