Fairview School class photograph, ca. 1930

Individuals in the photograph are identified as follows: Front Row, L to R: Stuart McDonald, Pete Burtch, Carl Schwenker, Bill Davey, Jim Barnes, ? McDonald, Marie Youngblutt, Lorraine Havens, Margaret Sinclair, Carla Prince, Verna Sinclair, Helen Welsh, Margaret Welsh, Elsie Backshall, Smith girl, Amy McDonald. 2nd Row, L to R: Nelson Sinclair, Gordon Wilson, Ivan Burtch, ? Smith, George Corman, Roy Burtch, Mort Corman, Bob Bell, ?Wilson, Jim Combe, Murray Combe, Jack High, George Welsh, Larry Downes, Gordon Schwenker, Albert Davey, Harvey Davey. Back Row, L to R: Bert Sinclair, Jim Mason, Len Corman, Johnny Corman, David Hallett, Lloyd Graham, Paul Harndon?, Gordon Dormes, George Bell, Doug Garriock, ?McDonald, Mary? Honsberger, Mary Backus, Hilda Wilson. The teacher may be Beatrice Armstrong. Fairview School was built in 1919 in Louth Township, Lincoln County, Ont. It may have been built around the time the county constructed other schools, namely, Grapeview and Glenridge. Nicholson and Macbeth may have been the architects of this school, as some features on the building, ie. the carved stone children’s faces below the lintel of the front door , appear in another known and proven Nicholson and Macbeth building, the former YMCA on Queen Street in St. Catharines. The school remained in operation until 1979 when it was purchased for a church, the Fairview-Louth Community church, which later became Southridge Community church, now located on Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ont. Today the building is occupied by the Niagara Korean Presbyterian Church.

Photograph of Rev. and Mrs. Wright and Family signed to Mrs. Mary Bell [n.d.]

An undated black and white studio portrait of Rev. and Mrs. Wright and family presented to Mrs. Mary Bell. The photograph is mounted in a decorative board frame and bears the handwritten inscription "Mrs. Mary Bell from Mrs. and Rev. Wright" on the reverse. This photograph was included in memorabilia owned by the Richard Bell family of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Photograph of Unidentified Woman by C. Arthur, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

An unidentified young woman is featured in this undated black and white studio photograph by C. Arthur, Photographer, of St. Catharines, Ontario. This small cabinet card photograph was in the possession of the Iris Sloman Bell family of St. Catharines. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell families include former African American slaves who settled in Canada.Two photographers by the name of Arthur are listed as working in St. Catharines, Ontario in the second half of the 19th century. Charles A. Arthur was a photographer from 1880 - 1883, while Charles P. Arthur (possibly a son?) is listed as a photographer in 1898. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Girl by Edwin Poole, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

This unidentified girl is featured in a photograph taken by St. Catharines photographer Edwin Poole. This cabinet card was among the memorabilia in the possession of the Rick Bell family of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Bell family is descended from Black slaves from the United States who settled in southern Ontario.Edwin Poole was a photographer in St. Catharines from 1877 - 1900. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Young Woman by R. F. Uren, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Undated black and white cabinet card portrait of an unidentified young woman. This photograph was taken by R. F. Uren whose studio was located at 79 St. Paul St., St. Catharines, Ontario. This item was among the memorabilia in the possession of the Rick Bell family of St. Catharines. Relatives of the Bell family are descended from former Black slaves from the United States.Richard Frank (R.F.) Uren was a photographer in St. Catharines from 1886-1895. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.

Photograph of Two Girls by R. F. Uren, Photographer, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Two unidentified girls are featured in this black and white cabinet card style photograph by R. F. Uren, of St. Catharines. The photograph is not dated, however, the address of the photographer is printed at the bottom of the cabinet card. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell family descendants include former African American slaves who settled in Canada.Richard Frank (R.F.) Uren was a photographer in St. Catharines from 1886-1895. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990. "Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services." Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Photograph of Bell Family Relative [n.d.]

Small black and white photograph mounted on black card of an unidentified Bell family relative, possibly a sibling of Irene Bell, whose photo is similarly featured. This undated photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, whose relatives include former Black slaves from the United States.According to the 1911 Census of Canada, Irene Bell had the following siblings: Ernest Bell, born 1889 Archie Bell, born 1895 Allen Bell, born 1901 Kenneth Bell, born 1910

Photograph of Irene Bell age 16 years, 1909

An unidentified girl, believed to be Irene Bell, is featured in this small black and white portrait photograph. Handwritten inscription on the reverse indicates the photo was presented in August 1909. The name of the recipient is illegible. This photo was in the possession of the Rick Bell family of St. Catharines, Ontario.According to entries in the Bell Family Bible, Irene Frances Bell, daughter of George A. Bell and Nellie F. Bell, was born on Jan. 19, 1893. This would make her 16-years-old at the time this photograph was presented in 1909.

Photograph of Charles Bell with Horse and Cart, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Charles Bell is pictured in this black and white undated photograph with his horse and cart. Mr. Bell ran an ice and coal business on Geneva St. in St. Catharines, Ontario. This photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, of St. Catharines.Handwritten inscription on the reverse reads: "Grandpa Charles Bell ran ice and coal business, Geneva St. St. Catharines"

Photograph of Richard, Iris and Albert Sloman [n.d.]

An undated photograph of Richard, Iris and Albert Sloman taken outside what is believed to be a holiday cabin in Parry Sound, Ontario. This photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, of St. Catharines.

Photograph of Mary Bell by F. Pfaff, Photographer, Erie, Pa. [n.d.]

A cabinet card believed to be of Mary Bell, photographed by F. Pfaff, Artistic Photographer, of Erie, Pennsylvania. A handwritten entry on the reverse of the photo lists the address "231 Duke St.", however, the company's logo identifies its address as 1011 State St., Ground Floor Gallery. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell family includes relatives who are former Black slaves from the United States."Cabinet card photographs were first introduced in 1866. They were initially employed for landscapes rather than portraitures. Cabinet cards replaced Carte de visite photographs as the popular mode of photography. Cabinet cards became the standard for photographic portraits in 1870. Cabinet cards experienced their peak in popularity in the 1880's. Cabinet cards were still being produced in the United States until the early 1900's and continued to be produced in Europe even longer. The best way to describe a cabinet card is that it is a thin photograph that is mounted on a card that measures 4 1/4″ by 6 1/2″. Cabinet cards frequently have artistic logos and information on the bottom or the reverse of the card which advertised the photographer or the photography studio's services. " Source: http://cabinetcardgallery.wordpress.com/category/cabinet-card-history/

Photograph of Mildred Sloman [n.d.]

Mildred Sloman is pictured with three unidentified gentlemen in this undated photograph, believed to be taken in London, Ontario. This black and white snapshot was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, whose ancestors include Black slaves from the United States.

Photograph of Josephine Sloman [n.d.]

Josephine Sloman pictured in this undated photograph taken in Niagara Falls. Josephine (Ellen Butler) Sloman was born in 1891 in London, Ontario. This small photo was among the family memorabilia in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose ancestors include former Black slaves from the United States.

Photograph of Robert Bell, Airborne Regiment, World War II [n.d.]

A photograph of Robert Bell (kneeling, front row, third left) with his airborne regiment in the Second World War. The date and location of the photo is unknown. This photograph was among those recovered from the attic of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines, in the 1980s and kept in the possession of her son, Rick Bell. The Bell- Sloman family is descended from former Black slaves from the United States.

Photograph of Unidentified Man by J. W. Cole, Photographer [n.d.]

This is a small cabinet card of an unidentified man, photographed by J. W. Cole, of Brampton, Ont. He is possibly a relative of the Bell - Sloman family, whose descendants include former Black slaves who settled in Canada. While this photograph is undated, it is believed to be taken between 1865 and 1884. The photographer's stamp is printed in gold lettering along the bottom of the card. This photograph was in the possession of Iris Sloman Bell, of St. Catharines.Two photographers by the name of Cole are known to have worked in Brampton, Ontario in the latter half of the 19th century. J.F. (John W.?) is listed as a photographer in 1882, while John W. Cole operated from 1865-1884. John W. Cole is also listed as a daguerrean artist, that is, he produced daguerreotypes. He also dabbled in commerce, selling fancy goods. Source: Phillips, Glen C. The Ontario photographers list (1851-1900). Sarnia: Iron Gate Publishing Co., 1990.