Canadian Niagara Power Company fonds

Power at the Falls: The first recorded harnessing of Niagara Falls power was in 1759 by Daniel Joncairs. On the American side of the Falls he dug a small ditch and drew water to turn a wheel which powered a sawmill. In 1805 brothers Augustus and Peter Porter expanded on Joncairs idea. They bought the American Falls from New York State at public auction. Using Joncairs old site they built a gristmill and tannery which stayed in business for twenty years. The next attempt at using the Falls came in 1860 when construction of the hydraulic canal began by the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Co. The canal was complete in 1861 and brought water from the Niagara river, above the falls, to the mills below. By 1881 the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Co. had a small generating station which provided some electricity to the village of Niagara Falls and the Mills. This lasted only four years and then the company sold its assets at public auction due to bankruptcy. Jacob Schoellkopf arrived at the Falls in 1877 with the purchase of the hydraulic canal land and water and power rights. In 1879 Schoellkopf teamed up with Charles Brush (of Euclid Ohio) and powered Brush’s generator and carbon arc lights with the power from his water turbines, to illuminate the Falls electrically for the first time. The year 1895 marked the opening of the Adam No. 1 generating station on the American side. The station was the beginnings of modern electrical utility operations. The design and operations of the generating station came from worldwide competitions held by panels of experts. Some who were involved in the project include; George Westinghouse, J. Pierpont Morgan, Lord Kelvin and Nikoli Tesla. The plants were operated by the Niagara Falls Power Company until 1961, when the Robert Moses Plant began operation in Lewiston, NY. The Adams plants were demolished that same year and the site used as a sewage treatment plant. The Canadian side of the Falls began generating their own power on January 1, 1905. This power came from the William Birch Rankine Power Station located 500 yards above the Horseshoe Falls. This power station provided the village of Fort Erie with its first electricity in 1907, using its two 10,000 electrical horsepower generators. Today 11 generators produce 100,000 horsepower (75 megawatts) and operate as part of the Niagara Mohawk and Fortis Incorporated Power Group.

Plan of the river from Niagara to Fort Schlosser

1 map :|bdigital, JPEG file

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Mill Scibes Grand River Dam, n.d.

Survey map of the land for the Mill Scibes Grand River Dam. Created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; Sulphur Creek, post, bridge, Grand River, lot divisions, inside face of embankment. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Plan of a cut at the mouth of Chippewa or Welland River, n.d.

Survey map and description of the land at the cut of the Chippewa or Welland River. Created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a drawing of the land along with brief surveyors notes. Noteable features include; bridge, Welland River, road, Stone house, J. Cummings Esq. house, military line, military land, Old Fort, old military draw bridge. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Niagara River and Falls from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario : a series of one hundred and fifty-three original etchings (1886)

A portfolio of 50 folio and 103 vignette etchings, printed on fine china paper, which has been pressed into a sturdy hand-made paper. The plates were printed by J.H. Daniels of Boston in black, brown, sepia or blue ink. All prints are dated, numbered, and signed or initialed in the plate by Sangster, and the folio prints have pencil signatures. Vol. 1. Vignettes (nos. 1-53) -- vol. 2. Vignettes (nos. 54-103) -- vol. 3. Plates (vol. 1 and 2, nos. 1-50).

Niagara River and Falls from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario : a series of one hundred and fifty-three original etchings (1886) Vol.2

A portfolio of 50 folio and 103 vignette etchings, printed on fine china paper, which has been pressed into a sturdy hand-made paper. The plates were printed by J.H. Daniels of Boston in black, brown, sepia or blue ink. All prints are dated, numbered, and signed or initialed in the plate by Sangster, and the folio prints have pencil signatures. Vol. 1. Vignettes (nos. 1-53) -- vol. 2. Vignettes (nos. 54-103) -- vol. 3. Plates (vol. 1 and 2, nos. 1-50).

Niagara River and Falls from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario : a series of one hundred and fifty-three original etchings (1886) Vol. 3

A portfolio of 50 folio and 103 vignette etchings, printed on fine china paper, which has been pressed into a sturdy hand-made paper. The plates were printed by J.H. Daniels of Boston in black, brown, sepia or blue ink. All prints are dated, numbered, and signed or initialed in the plate by Sangster, and the folio prints have pencil signatures. Vol. 1. Vignettes (nos. 1-53) -- vol. 2. Vignettes (nos. 54-103) -- vol. 3. Plates (vol. 1 and 2, nos. 1-50).

Niagara Falls Next to the River - Postcards

Board with six postcards of Niagara Falls. First postcard, In Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Ont, Canada. Second postcard, entrance to Ontario Power Co. 's Works, Niagara Falls, Canada. Third postcard, The Refectory, Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Canada. Fourth postcard, Niagara Glen Inn, Niagara Glen, Canada. Fifth postcard, The Restaurant, Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Canadian Side. Sixth postcard, The Administration Building, Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Canada.

Photograph - Shequaqknind. [This was the Mohawk name given to Rev. Nelles)

A photograph taken by Park & Co. Brantford of a male identified as Shequaqknind. [This was the Mohawk name given to Rev. Nelles], taken by Park & Co., Brantford] Dated May 24th/84. Reverse of photograph reads: "Artists and Photographers 110 Colborne Street, Brantford, Ont. Further orders can be obtained at any time. Enlargement of photographs in either oil or water colors."

Niagara River (Ontario) Remedial Action Plan fonds, 1984-1997, n.d.

The Niagara River Remedial Action Plan was part of an initiative to restore the integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. In 1972, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was signed by both Canada and the United States to demonstrate their commitment to protecting this valuable resource. An amendment in 1987 stipulated that Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) be implemented in 43 ecologically compromised areas known as Areas of Concern. The Niagara River was designated as one of these areas by federal and provincial governments and the International Joint Commission, an independent and binational organization that deals with issues concerning the use and quality of boundary waters between Canada and the United States. Although the affected area included parts of both the Canadian and American side of the river, Remedial Action Plans were developed separately in both Canada and the United States. The Niagara River (Ontario) RAP is a three-stage process requiring collaboration between numerous government agencies and the public. Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority are the agencies guiding the development and implementation of the Niagara River (Ontario) RAP. The first stage is to determine the severity and causes of the environmental degradation that resulted in the location being designated an Area of Concern; the second stage is to identify and implement actions that will restore and protect the health of the ecosystem; and the third stage is to monitor the area to ensure that the ecosystem’s health has been restored. Stage one of the RAP commenced in January 1989 when a Public Advisory Committee (PAC) was established. This committee was comprised of concerned citizens and representatives from various community groups, associations, industries and municipalities. After several years of consultation, the Niagara River (Ontario) Remedial Action Plan Stage 2 Report was released in 1995. It contained 16 goals and 37 recommendations. Among them was the need for Canadians and Americans to work more collaboratively in order to successfully restore the water quality in the Niagara River. Stage three of the Niagara River (Ontario) RAP is currently ongoing, but it is estimated that it will be completed by 2015. At that point, the Niagara River Area of Concern will be delisted, although monitoring of the area will continue to ensure it remains healthy.

American and Luna Falls, and River, from Goat Island, Niagara, U.S.A.

The image is described as "(9) Marble whiteness of the seething Waters-American and Luna Falls, and River from Goat Island, Niagara, U.S.A."

Whirlpool and River View from Canadian side, Niagara

The description of the image reads "(18) Looking over the 'Whirlpool' and down the River - from Canadian side - Niagara, U.S.A."

Printed blank from the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Express Freight Line, New York for shipping packages of brackets and racks to S.D. Woodruff of St. Catharines

Printed blank from the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Express Freight Line, New York for shipping packages of brackets and racks to S.D. Woodruff of St. Catharines. This document is signed by R.L. Crawford, agent, Aug.11, 1876.