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Thursday, January 16, 2025

History

Exploring Photos: Niagara Township Credit Union, est. 1945

The Niagara Township Credit Union was created in 1945 with 18 members and total assets of $24, to fill the need for banking services in the growing community.

Exploring History: Mulholland’s Store

This local department store was founded in 1867. The family-run business was such a success that they eventually opened another location in Virgil.

Exploring History: Christmas at Niagara Camp, 1899

This detailed work shows a celebration within the camp with bright lights and soldiers in formation. The painting was created by Sir Edmund Wyly Grier.

Exploring History: Post office interior, circa 1920

This week's Exploring History is a photograph of the interior of the post office that was located in the Rowley Block at 27 Queen St. in the Old Town area of Niagara-on-the-Lake, featuring Joseph Healey, the postmaster from 1904 to 1930.

Exploring History: Queenston, circa 1910

This week’s image of Queenston originally had very little information attached to it. From our local sleuth, this photo was determined to be taken from the corner of Kent and Queenston streets, looking towards Queenston Heights.

Exploring History: Burning of Fire Hose Tower, 1953

On July 26, 1953, the local fire hose tower burned down. It is not clear what started the fire.

Purple poppies remind us animals served our country, too

The purple poppy, first introduced by Animal Aid of the United Kingdom in 2006, recognizes the contribution of animals throughout history in battles and wars.

Exploring History: Hose Tower, 1948

This watercolour, by John Freeling Hunt, shows the back of the Queen Street Court House. The tower in front was used by the fire department to dry its hoses and stood 65 feet tall.

Exploring History: Armistice Day, 1918

Many celebrated across the country on Nov. 11, 1918 as the First World War came to an end. However, many soldiers on the front lines were almost stunned with the anti-climatic silence that ensued.

Exploring History: River Beach Waterfront, 1972

This week’s photo shows some of the summer cottages on River Beach Drive from the Niagara River perspective.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 6: Brock’s Monument through the years

"Brock’s Monument atop the heights at Queenston acts as a reminder, not only of the endurance of the structure itself but also of the memory of the people and actions which shaped the outcome of Canadian history," writes Andrew Laliberte.

Museum to host book launch of new Indigenous anthology

“It is amazing to think that for some 13,000 years, my ancestors have been living within the beautiful environs of the Niagara Peninsula," says co-editor Rick Hill, who will be at the Oct. 26 book launch.

NOTL heritage home at risk of crumbling to the ground

“We simply haven’t enforced the laws that we have to protect this building,” says Brian Marshall of the 225-year-old David Secord home in St. Davids.

Exploring History: Our Western Home/former courthouse, circa 1920

Maria Rye, a social reformer from London, England arrived in Niagara in October 1869, purchased the abandoned second courthouse and converted it into an institution called Our Western Home.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 5: Brock’s second monument

In the fifth installment of the Brock Chronicles, Gavin Watson writes about the efforts to build a new monument for Sir Isaac Brock — this one, to stand as the second tallest of its kind and notably taller than any monument raised to a military figure in the British Empire.

Doors Open gives free access to NOTL destinations

Once again, on Saturday, Oct. 19, Doors Open Niagara-on-the-Lake is inviting locals and visitors to celebrate the many heritage treasures that this historical town has to offer.

Exploring History: October 1813

After the Battle of Queenston Heights, Sir Isaac Brock, and his aide-de-camp, John Macdonell, laid in state at the Government House until their burial service on Oct. 16, 1812.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 4: The destruction of Brock’s first monument

In the fourth installment of The Brock Chronicles, Amanda Gamble writes about how Brock's Monument in Queenston Heights became a popular destination for visitors coming to Upper Canada — and the ensuing public outcry when it was destroyed in 1940.

Exploring History: House where Brock died, 17 Queenston St.

This Queenston Road home was identified as the place where Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock’s body was concealed after he fell at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 3: The funerals of Brock, Macdonnell and the first monuments

In the third installment of The Brock Chronicles, Andrew Laliberte shares how Sir Isaac Brock's death in the Battle of Queenston Heights inspired an outpouring of grief — and commemorations both in Upper Canada and back home in Britain.

Exploring History: Indian Council House, 1864

The Indian Council House, seen in this 1864 painting, served as an embassy and a meeting space for the British Indian Department and the local Indigenous Peoples.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 2: Battle of Queenston Heights

"For the British forces that day ... approximately 20 lost their lives. However, the losses of Brock and Macdonnell made the British victory less triumphant," writes Andrew Laliberte about the Battle of Queenston Heights in the War of 1812.

PHOTO GALLERY: NOTL’s heritage celebrated at estate garden party

It was the sight of legendary and lavish parties almost a century ago, and on Sept. 13, its history as a gathering place for the social scene of Niagara-on-the-Lake was revitalized.

Exploring History: N.I.A.G.A.R.A. flag signal

Signalling through flags helped with communication when soldiers could not speak due to distance, safety or security reasons.

Descendant of Josiah Henson to speak at NOTL Museum

In the museum's final lecture of its annual series, Saladin Allah will discussthe importance of everyday people finding a sense of agency in their legacy as modern-day freedom seekers.

Exploring History: Cavalry at Niagara Camp, 1909

Although the polo games at Niagara Camp were for the spectator’s enjoyment, polo was a training tool for the cavalry to hone their riding skills on the field.

The Brock Chronicles: Part 1: Who was Brock?

"Throughout the 10 years that Brock was stationed in Canada, he continued to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself as an able and empathetic leader," writes Amanda Gamble.

Exploring History: Niagara Belt Line’s Car #684, 1906

The Niagara Belt Line car in this image was part of a series of 18 similar cars, all built at the same time for the Niagara Falls Park and River Railway.

Feds giving $100k to NOTL Museum for enhanced history education

As the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum treads along the path of its $10-million expansion plans, the federal government has pledged $100,000 to aid in its growth.

Exploring History: Great Gorge Route, Part 2

This week's edition of "Exploring History" includes a postcard image of one of the cars of the Niagara Belt Line, which went through the Niagara Gorge, Niagara Falls, Lewiston and Queenston.

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