This photograph, captured at Queenston Heights around 1908, looks like it inspired a scene in the 1968 movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” In the background is a tiny sign that says, “Have your photo taken in motorcar.” But there are so many Edwardian-clothed children with wide-brimmed hats posing in front of it that we can barely see the phantasmagorical machine! It was around this time that the Niagara Parks Commission pushed tourists to visit Queenston Heights for the picturesque views rather than the site’s history. This “attraction” likely came about to encourage people to take home a souvenir as a reminder of their visit. This was just one of several private business ventures at the Heights at the turn of the 20th century. In fact, there were so many vendors operating stands that the Niagara Parks Commission decided to purchase the road leading up to it in order to have control over the number of souvenir stands.

While we can’t be sure who the young girls are in this photo, their ages and the date of the image may suggest that it is a photo of some of the girls who went through the “Our Western Home” orphanage. This was a centre for British home children who underwent training to be servants or farm labourers. Looking at this image, you can almost imagine that, at any moment, this scene could take flight. Just like the famous flying car, Chitty. (Apologies in advance if the catchy song gets stuck in your head).