Barbara Worthy
Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report
Lecture programming is one of the most popular offerings at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, both virtual and in-person. This year’s virtual lectures will be held, via Zoom, on Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26.
In keeping with the NOTL Museum’s current exhibit “The Prettiest Town: Beyond the Bricks and Mortar,” the lectures will shine a light on some of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s most prized — and often controversial — homesteads.
Feb. 5: Glencairn Hall, Queenston
Linda Fritz, a Queenston resident for more than 15 years, brings her years of research and library skills as a University of Saskatchewan librarian emerita, to uncover the mystery and charism of Glencairn Hall, a well-known, but rarely seen stately home in Queenston.
The original 2,500 square-foot home was designed by John Latshaw in 1832 and built for John Hamilton, founder of the Queenston Steamboat Company, and heir to one of Upper Canada’s most powerful merchants, Robert Hamilton.
Feb. 12: The Rand Estate
David Hemmings is the author of eight books and more than 50 documents on local history, with a strong focus on family origins and ancestry. He brings his unique research skills to the colourful history of the property also known as Randwood.
A treasure among Canada’s historic estates, this magnificent property was the summer home of the Rand family over multiple generations between 1910 and 2016.
Recently, it has been the focus of media attention and community interest.
Feb. 19: “Living, Dying and Gone”: The Plumb House & the Peter Secord and David Secord Houses
Brian Marshall, well-known columnist, author and consultant on architectural design, restoration and heritage, will compare the “living” built heritage of carefully preserved homes — Peter Secord’s 1782 historic landmark — with the gradually “dying” heritage of the 1799 David Secord House, both in St. Davids, and the ultimate loss of the magnificent Josiah Plumb House in the 1940s.
Dating back to 1865, the Plumb House boasted eight bedrooms, several “modern” bathrooms, and entertainment spaces that included a billiard room measuring 20 by 30 feet and a 608-square-foot ballroom.
Unpaid taxes and the depression eventually led to this beauty being razed, making way for the Parliament Oak School.
Feb. 26: The Wilderness
Richard D. Merritt has had a life-long passion for Niagara’s history. A retired ophthalmologist, he has authored several books on the subject and was named a Living Landmark by The Niagara Foundation for his documentation and preservation of Niagara’s heritage.
The Wilderness is a local landmark, partially hidden behind overgrown land and streetscapes, on both King and Regent streets.
Merritt will reveal the remarkable saga of this extraordinary remnant of natural and built heritage, with its various residents from more than 200 years of occupation, including updates on the status of this extraordinary property.
All lectures start at 11 a.m. Participants must register with the museum to receive a Zoom link: notlmuseum.ca
For help signing up, call the NOTL Museum at 905-468-3912.