The Garden of Canada: Niagara, St. Catharines, and Toronto Railway (1909)

Descriptions and photos of places to visit in Niagara, St. Catharines, and Toronto, including the railway services that connect them.

St. Catharines and District Labour Council fonds, 1957-1986

The St. Catharines and District Labour Council was founded in May 1957 by unionized workers from St. Catharines, Thorold, Merritton, Port Dalhousie and Grimsby. They sought to improve the social and economic welfare of workers; promote the organization of workers into unions for their mutual benefit, regardless of race, creed, colour, or national origin; encourage the sale of union-made goods and services; promote worker education; provide workers with a voice in politics; and safeguard the democratic nature of the labour movement. The Council, affiliated with both the Canadian Labour Congress and the Ontario Federation of Labour, was instrumental in assisting local workers with their labour disputes, including Canadian Pulp and Paper workers at Abitibi Provincial Paper in Thorold [1975-76], and Gallaher Paper [1999], workers at the St. Catharines Eaton’s store [1985], as well as smaller disputes such as that between the part-time secretarial staff and the Welland County Roman Catholic Separate School Board [1972] and workers of the Skyway Lumber Company [1972]. The Council also assisted the community at large by offering a Community Counseling Service [1971-1976] to help citizens with issues concerning various government agencies, social services and Acts, such as the Vacation Pay Act, Landlord and Tenant Act, Employment Standards Act, unemployment insurance claims and workman’s compensation claims. Other projects that the Council organized included an annual Education Institute [1958-1965] and the annual publication of Labour Review, a summary of the Council’s past year. The Labour Council continued to operate until 2010, when several local Labour Councils merged to form the Niagara Regional Labour Council.

St. Catharines and District Chamber of Commerce records, 1943-1992, n.d.

The St. Catharines and District Chamber of Commerce merged with the Thorold Chamber of Commerce in 2006. In 2012, they joined a region wide Chamber, becoming part of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is a "is a non-partisan, non-sectarian association of businesses, groups and individuals who support business growth and effective government fostering a sustainable and vibrant Niagara."

Meeting Minutes July 7th, 1972

The first "business arising out of the minutes" is a protest made by Mr. W.R. Barnes concerning action taken at a previous meeting by the Directors. In the meeting in February, he had been replaced as Vice-President after 20 years in the role and 38 years as a Director. His record of attendance was called into question and would be discussed and shown at the next meeting. The second issue discussed is the "proposal with respect to purchasing the assets of the Corporation". A letter was received from F.L. Laundry Real Estate Limited with interest from a Central European client in "acquiring the assets of the Corporation, and indicating that if the circumstances warranted, a figure of 3.5 millions would not be beyond their capabilities". The offer would be explored by the solicitor. The next agenda item discusses was the Sault Ste. Marie store. Another issue discussed was the "Withdrawal from Valley Rouge Wines Limited".

Indenture between The St. Catharines and Niagara Central Railway Company and Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff

Indenture of deed of land situate between The St. Catharines and Niagara Central Railway Company and Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff of St. Catharines regarding parts of Lots no. 12 and 13 30 in the 8th Concession of the Township of Grantham. This was registered at Merritton on Feb. 2, 1891 – instrument no. 1021, Aug. 16, 1890.

Indenture between St. Catharines Cemetery of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines and Samuel D. Woodruff

Indenture between St. Catharines Cemetery of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines and Samuel D. Woodruff, cemetery deed no. 1253, May 18, 1883.

Indenture between Victoria Lawn Cemetery of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines and Samuel D. Woodruff

Indenture between Victoria Lawn Cemetery of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines and Samuel D. Woodruff for 112 sq.ft. known as part of section P. This is deed no. 1905, Oct. 21, 1901.

Indenture between Victoria Lawn Cemetery of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines and Hamilton K. Woodruff

Indenture between Victoria Lawn Cemetery of the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines and Hamilton K. Woodruff for 216 square feet, Lot no.2 in division 9, section G of the Victoria Lawn Cemetery. This is a handwritten copy. The deed no. is 1937, Jan. 6, 1903.

Indenture between Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines and H.K. Woodruff

Indenture between Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines and H.K. Woodruff for Lot no. 1 in the north part in section L which included 108 feet. This is cemetery deed no. 261, March 8, 1910.

Approximate cost of completing the railway from Port Dalhousie to St. Catharines and an estimate of the cost of the piers at Port Dalhousie signed by William Hamilton Merritt

Approximate cost of completing the railway from Port Dalhousie to St. Catharines and an estimate of the cost of the piers at Port Dalhousie signed by William Hamilton Merritt (5 pages, handwritten), July 8, 1854.

“Frisco Line” St. Louis and San Francisco Railway the direct line through St. Louis schedule

“Frisco Line” St. Louis and San Francisco Railway the direct line through St. Louis schedule, Jan. 9, 1882.

Wabash St. Louis and Pacific Railway schedule

Wabash St. Louis and Pacific Railway schedule, 1882.

List entitled “Balance acct.” including taxes, trips to St. Catharines and produce

List entitled “Balance acct.” including taxes, trips to St. Catharines and produce, 1870.

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.

George Upper collection, 1989, 1995, undated

George Upper is a Niagara area artist. His limited edition prints feature local scenes, many from Port Dalhousie, Ontario.