With the help of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, you can witness this town's history come alive, through every house, street corner and sign post in some of its oldest and most distinctive settlements.
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.
"Fort Mississauga stands as a tower of strength on Lake Ontario. Built just after the War of 1812, this unique site reflects 150 years of British and Canadian military activity," writes Tony Chisholm.
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.
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.
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.
"Today, Canadians spend the Christmas season elaborately decorating their homes to the delight of many of us. However, historically decorations have not been as grand as they are today."
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.
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.
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.
"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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
