Welland Canal Survey of Lands Jacob Tenbroeck, 1828

Survey map and description of Jacob TenBrock's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; tow path, 12 mile creek, property line between Peter May and Jacob Tenbroeck. The land includes part of lot no.22 in the 2nd and 3rd concession of Grantham. The land is a total of 26 acres and contains 1 road. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Hannah Secord 1828

Survey map and description of Hannah Secord's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; line between Parnell and Secord's land, lock no.6, tow path, line between Clendenning and Secord's land. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map. The deed for the land is dated February 28th, 1828. The land is located on part of lot 16 in the 6th concession of the township of Grantham. In total there are 12 acres, and 17 perches.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Thomas Ker 1826

Survey map and description of Thomas Ker's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; line between Jacob I. Ball and Thomas Ker's land, line between Widow Ball and Thomas Ker's land, part of the land taken for hydraulic purposes is marked. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map. The survey for the land was signed and submitted August 23, 1826. An additional piece of land was surveyed on November 28, 1834 for 2 1/4 acres. The land was used by the Welland Canal Company for both canal and hydraulic purposes in lot no.10 in the 10th concession of Grantham.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Widow Elizabeth Ball, 1834

Survey map and description of Widow Elizabeth Ball's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; locks no. 28, 29, 30, 31, line between Widow Ball and Thomas Ker's land, township line between Grantham and Thorold, waste weir. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map. The land was originally surveyed in 1826(?) and then re-surveyed on November 28th, 1834. The land was used by the Welland Canal Company for canal and hydraulic purposes and was located in lot 9 in the 10th concession of Grantham township.

Image of Niagara Falls n.d.

In 1818 Parkhurst Whitney built stairs leading to the river’s edge at Prospect Point. In 1825 Porter Brother replaced that staircase with a spiral one. In 1844 Whitney started a water powered incline railway there although the staircase was also used until 1890. In 1906 the water wheel was replaced by an electric power plant. There were lower buildings which included Shadow of the Rock which was a concession stand and also rented raincoats to the tourists. This was destroyed by fire and ice in 1892 and replaced by a chalet-style building in 1894-95. On July 6th, 1907 a cable on the incline railway broke. One person was killed and several sustained injuries. An elevator was constructed and it opened in January of 1910. It was condemned in 1954 when water entered the shaft, this was at the time of the collapse of Prospect Point which occurred at 4:50 pm. on July 28, 1954. This photograph was taken prior to 1954. Today the New York State Observation Tower stands at Prospect Point and The Maid of the Mist boat ride is available from the base of the tower. with information from: Niagara Falls Canada: a History by the Kiwanis Club of Stamford, Ontario

Lincoln County Records

The County of Lincoln dates back to 1798, when the first Lincoln County was formed. It was comprised of the townships of Clinton, Grimsby, Saltfleet, Barton, Ancaster, Glanford, Binbrook,Gainsborough, Caistor, Newark (Niagara),Grantham, Louth, Stamford, Thorold, Pelham, Bertie, Willoughby, Crowland, Humberstone and Wainfleet. The County boundaries were revised over the years, and the formation of Welland County in 1856 left only 7 townships in Lincoln County (Niagara, Grantham, Louth, Clinton, Gainsborough, Caistor and Grimsby). A County Council was also established at this time, which consisted of a Clerk, Warden, and a representative from each township. In 1862, the County Seat was moved from Niagara-on-the-Lake to St. Catharines. In 1970, Lincoln and Welland Counties were amalgamated to form the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

Merritton Municipal Records collection

In 1874, Merritton, Ont. was incorporated a village with W.W. Waite as the first reeve. On July 1, 1918, the village was incorporated a town. The first mayor was Thomas F. Hastings. In 1961, Merritton, Grantham and Port Dalhousie amalgamated with St. Catharines, despite the opposition of the town councils and citizens.

Public Notices - Niagara Region collection

This is a collection of public notices posted by various villages, towns and townships in the Niagara Region. The notices alert residents to various civic events and initiatives.

Letter to Mr. Henry H. Collier, 1837

Henry Haight Collier, was born in Howard, Steuben County, N. Y., November 28, 1818. His father, Richard Collier, was from Green County, in the same State. His grandfather, Isaac Collier, and his great-grandfather were originally from England. His mother, Mary Haight, was of Dutch origin. In 1835, Henry went to St. Catharines, where his elder brother, Richard Collier, resided. He spent two years at Grantham Academy, and then returned to Steuben County, to read law in Bath, with Edward Howell, and subsequently with Hammond and Campbell. Mr. Collier never opened a law office. He studied law for two years and in 1839 he went to Texas where he was connected with the State and Treasury Departments. In 1845 Mr. Collier returned to St. Catharines and opened a general store called St. Catharines Agricultural Works with his brother. The store remained open until May, 1877. He added the manufacturing of lumber in 1850, and manufacturing of agricultural implements in 1869. He built one of the first saw mills on the canal, on Lock No. 5, in St. Catharines. In July, 1877, he was appointed Collector of Customs. He became a Village Councilor for St. Paul’s Ward in 1859, and held that office from fifteen to twenty years. He was Deputy Reeve and member of the County Council for two terms. He was the Mayor of St. Catharines in 1872 and 1873. He was also Chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners of the city, during the time that the works were being built. He was a Justice of the Peace for twenty years or more. Mr. Collier was affiliated with the Reform Party and he was a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity and an Odd Fellow. He was also active in the Methodist Church. On June 1, 1858, he married Cornelia, daughter of Moses Cook, of "Westchester Place," St. Catharines, and had a daughter and son. Mary J. (married name: Mrs. Frank Camp) was a graduate of the Female Seminary at Hamilton, and Henry Herbert was a student in the University of Toronto. Henry H. Collier died on July 15, 1895 and is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario. Sources: www.accessgeneology.com "Historical Profiles from Victoria Lawn Cemetery" by Paul E. Lewis "Sincerely Lamented St. Catharines Obituaries 1817-1918" by Paul Hutchison

The 19th Century Tombstone Database Project Records, 1790-1890 (non-inclusive)

The 19th Century Tombstone Database project was funded by the program Federal Summer Youth Employment scheme in the summer of 1982 and led by Dr. David W. Rupp, a Professor at the Classics Department, Brock University. The main goal of the project was to collect information related to various cemeteries in Niagara region and burials that took place from 1790-1890. Data was collected and presented in the form of data summary forms of persons, tombstone sketches, photographs of tombstones, maps, and computer printouts. The materials created as a result of a research completed for the 19th Century Tombstone Database project are important as a number of the tombstones have been damaged or gone missing since the research was finished. Before Dr. Rupp retired from Brock University, he donated project materials to the Brock University Special Collections and Archives.

Papers and Practical Illustrations of Public Works of Recent Construction, both British and American (1856)

Memoirs of the late Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Bentham, with an account of his inventions -- The Paddock Viaduct / by John Hawkshaw -- Lockwood Viaduct / by John Hawkshaw -- Denby Dale Viaduct / by John Hawkshaw -- Tithebarn Street Viaduct, Liverpool / by John Hawkshaw -- Newark Dyke Bridge on the Great Northern Railway / by Joseph Cubitt -- Mountain top track in the state of Virginia / by Charles Ellet -- Preliminaries to good building / by Edward Lacy Garbett / Suggestions for increasing the circulating medium in aid of commerce and mechanical enterprise

Program of a Commemorative session of Lincoln County Council, November 19, 1969.

The County of Lincoln dates back to 1798, when the first Lincoln County was formed. It was comprised of the townships of Clinton, Grimsby, Saltfleet, Barton, Ancaster, Glanford, Binbrook, Gainsborough, Caistor, Newark (Niagara), Grantham, Louth, Stamford, Thorold, Pelham, Bertie, Willoughby, Crowland, Humberstone and Wainfleet. The County boundaries were revised over the years, and the formation of Welland County in 1856 left only 7 townships in Lincoln County (Niagara, Grantham, Louth, Clinton, Gainsborough, Caistor and Grimsby). A County Council was also established at this time, which consisted of a Clerk, Warden, and a representative from each township. In 1862, the County Seat was moved from Niagara-on-the-Lake to St. Catharines. In 1970, Lincoln and Welland Counties were amalgamated to form the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

Photograph of St. Catharines Collegiate Institute students, October 20, 1925

The origins of the St. Catharines Collegiate Institute can be traced back to the formation of the Grantham Academy on Church St. in 1829. In 1845, the name was changed to the St. Catharines District Grammar School and in 1890 the Grammar School was renamed the St. Catharines Collegiate Institute. The current site of the school on Catherine Street was built in 1923 to accommodate the increasing demand for technical education, and became known as the St. Catharines Collegiate Institute and Vocational School. The school was enlarged with additions in 1945, 1965 and 1969. In 2006, the school underwent major renovations, which were completed in 2008. It is currently a secondary school administered by the District School Board of Niagara.

Recreation at Crystal Beach - Postcards

Board with six postcards of Crystal Beach. First postcard, Steamer "Americana" leaving foot of Main St. Second postcard, Divers at Crystal Beach, Canada. Third postcard, Cyclone Coaster, Crystal Beach, Ontario. Fourth postcard, Scenic Railway, Crystal Beach, Ont. Fifth postcard, Scene in the Park, Crystal Beach, Ont. Sixth postcard, Scene on the Midway, Crystal Beach, Canada.