Niagara Falls/Niagara Power, 1792, 1798, 1829, 1832, 1836, 1838, 1848, 1852-1853, 1855, 1859, 1871, 1873, 1875-1876, 1878, 1880-1881, 1883, 1885-1888, 1890-1909, 1916-1917, n.d.

A finding aid for collection RG 86. This archive contains materials relating to Niagara Falls and its development during the late 19th and early 20th century, with particular focus on power operations.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of October, November and December, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Jan. 8, 1855

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of October, November and December, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Jan. 8, 1855.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of October, January, February and March, 1855, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Mar. 22, 1855

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of October, January, February and March, 1855, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Mar. 22, 1855.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of April and May, 1855, signed by S.D. Woodruff, June 13, 1855

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of April and May, 1855, signed by S.D. Woodruff, June 13, 1855.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of June, July and August, 1855, signed by S.D. Woodruff. There is an envelope included with this document, Aug. 21, 1855

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of June, July and August, 1855, signed by S.D. Woodruff. There is an envelope included with this document, Aug. 21, 1855.

James D. Tait Company Limited Fonds, 1890-1939 [non-inclusive]

James D. Tait (1836-1907) came to Canada in 1855 from Scotland. He worked in the dry goods business until he established the James D. Tait Company in 1864. The business was first located on Ontario street and specialized in furs. The business expanded to include dry goods and dress-making. After the building was destroyed by fire, Tait established and expanded the business into the Prendergast building on the corner of St. Paul and William Streets. James D. Tait died in 1907 while on vacation in Muskoka. In 1912 upon the resignation (or removal) of Benjamin Brick and Arthur Harbour, Stanley G. Smith joins the company as a director and secretary-treasurer. 1918/1919 vice-president E.J. Dignum dies. 1919 S.J. Inksater becomes a director of the company (His stock was purchased by the J.D. Tait Co.) By the 1930s the business, still in the same location, was under the leadership of Malcolm Stobie, President, Samuel J. Inksater, Vice-President and Stanley G. Smith, Secretary-Treasurer. The James D. Tait Company Limited ceased operations on 17 August 1933. The 1935 St. Catharines city directory records John Stobie, a former manager of the James D. Tait Company, operating a dry goods business at the same location, but with one-third the size of the original store space.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Archibald Johnston

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Archibald Johnston which was enclosed with a cheque for the amount of the windows which Mr. Woodruff enclosed to him, Mar. 2, 1855.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt at the Legislative Assembly in Quebec. Mr. Merritt asks who has investments in the town and he says “we will get the road through to Port Colborne in due time (3 pages, handwritten), Apr. 19, 1855.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt in which he says he could have carried the bill last fall but he postponed it (2 pages), May 3, 1855.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt in which he says that Jack Killaly says that he spoke to Mr. Woodruff to continue drudging to accommodate both the canal and the railway. Mr. Merritt says he sees no obstacle in opening the line for local traffic (2 ½ pages), Aug. 2, 1855.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from William Hamilton Merritt in which he says he feels disposed to using every effort to complete the road to the Great Western Railway as originally designed (4 pages), Aug. 29, 1855

Letter sent to S.D. Woodruff from Francis Lalor

Letter sent to S.D. Woodruff from Francis Lalor regarding the last estimate of work. Mr. Lalor points out some additional work that was done, including: cart-road, culvert excavation and ditching, Mar. 29, 1855.

Chart of bill of timber in bridges, culverts, cattle-guard and roadways, signed by S.D. Woodruff

Chart of bill of timber in bridges, culverts, cattle-guard and roadways, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Oct. 18, 1855.

Letter from Francis Lalor to S.D. Woodruff

Letter which gives an addition to the estimate for work done by John Brown for Dec. 1855. This is made out to S.D. Woodruff from Francis Lalor. The request is for money for extra ties, fence posts, stone and labour. The letter is slightly singed at the bottom. This does not affect the text, Jan. 3, 1856.