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.

Niagara Symphony Orchestra fonds, 1926, 1948-1998, n.d.

In 1948, The St. Catharines Civic Orchestra was founded by Jan Wolanek who was also the first conductor. Initially, this was a community orchestra and in 1963 its governing body assumed the name St. Catharines Symphony Association. In 1978 the name was again changed to The Niagara Symphony Association to reflect regional responsibilities. Wally Laughton was named Assistant Conductor in 1952/53. R.C. Clarke took over the orchestra for an interim period after Wolanek left in 1957. In 1958 Leonard Pearlman became the Music Director. It was under his direction that the Niagara Symphony Chorus came into existence in 1963. Milton Barnes succeeded Pearlman in 1964 and he was responsible for directing the symphony’s first opera production. He also made a concerted effort to attract younger people to symphonic music. In 1972 Leonard Atherton became the Music Director. He started the Cantata Choir and the Madrigal Singers. It was under his tenure that the orchestra became professional. When Atherton left in 1980, there were three seasons of guest conductors, the most notable of these conductors was Uri Mayer. In 1981 James Vincent Fusco was appointed as composer in residence and in 1983 Ermanno Florio became the Music Director. He retained this position until 1995 when Michael Reason took over. Daniel Swift was appointed as Music Director and Conductor in 1999 and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra became the orchestr in residence at Brock University. Laura Thomas was appointed as Associate Conductor 1n 2004. Daniel Swift’s resignation in 2008 began a search for a new Music Director. Bradley Thachuck was appointed as Music Director Designate and Principal Conductor in 2010. The orchestra is a fully professional, charitable institution with 52 members.The orchestra has also been led by Victor Feldbrill and Howard Cable. A junior symphony was first formed under Leonard Pearlman in 1960/61, but it wasn’t until 1965 that The St. Catharines Youth Orchestra was founded. The orchestra has consistently been an award winner in music festivals. The musicians range in age from 12 to 18 years. The highlight of the 1973-74 season was the orchestra’s participation in the first Canadian Festival of Youth Orchestras at The Banff School of Fine Arts. The St. Catharines Youth Orchestra has evolved from the St. Catharines School String and Brass Ensembles to a full scale symphony under the direction of conductor Paul van Dongen. In 1974 the Symphony House music program came into existence. It was 1976 when Richard Grymonpre was hired as the principal violinist of the St. Catharines Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the St. Catharines Youth Orchestra. Tak Ng Lai took over the position as conductor in 1978. Laura Thomas is currently the Music Director of The Niagara Youth Orchestra. Source: Niagara Symphony, Orchestra in Residence, Brock University website and notes from Niagara Symphony files

Letter - A.H. Van Cleve to A.M. Grier, 9 February 1906

A letter from resident engineer A.H. Van Cleve to A.M. Grier concerning a ventilating apparatus requested for the Power House. Van Cleve discusses the agreement with the company William Grace that includes the ventilating apparatus. Van Cleve is now requesting the apparatus be ordered at the companies expense and installed as soon as possible.

Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada at the annual convocation, 1890

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1890. The title varies slightly and convocation is held at different cities or towns in Canada. Thirty-third annual convocation.

Annual report of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, 1890 (1891)

The reports are also published in the Annual report of the Department of Agriculture of the province of Ontario, and in the Sessional papers of the province of Ontario "Printed by order of the Legislative Assembly" [-1923]. "Printed by order of ... Minister of Agriculture" [1924-]. 25th, 1893- pub. by the Ontario Department of Agriculture, Toronto. 1890 -1908 reports are bound with the corresponding annual reports of the Entomological Society of Ontario. 1894 -1905 reports are bound with the corresponding annual reports of the Fruit Experiment Stations of Ontario. 1906 -1910 reports are bound with the corresponding Report of the Fruit Branch, Dept. of Agriculture, Ontario.

The Van-Guard (poem)

A poem "written at the front in memory of comrades fallen in action while fighting with the First Battalion of the 5th Field Artillery". The final verse of the poem reads, "But the van-guard on before you, who you follow as is meet, They're the lads you left behind you With the poppies and the wheat!"

T van Diik

Light brown sample with clasts ranging from angular to sub-rounded. Clast size ranges from small to large. Lineations are commonly seen throughout the sample. Minor amounts of rotation structures can be seen. Grain crushing is also common.

Letter to the Honourable William Dickson from Charles Vincent

Letter to the Honourable William Dickson from Charles Vincent requesting money. There is a small hole in the letter that does not affect the text, Jan. 21, 1818.

The Weekly News, December 18, 1890

The Weekly News, Toronto, Ontario. This is just one leaf from the paper. It is fragile and crumbling but the text is not affected, December 18, 1890.