Lighting recommendations for the Ryan Electric Scintillator and Fireworks Program for the official dedication Niagara Falls illumination, 1925

Walter D’Arcy Ryan was born in 1870 in Kentville, Nova Scotia. He became the chief of the department of illumination at the General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York. He was a founder in the field of electrical illumination. He built the electric steam scintillator which had numerous nozzles and valves. The operator would release steam through the valves. The nozzles all had names which included: Niagara, fan, snake, plume, column, pinwheel and sunburst. The steam scintillator was combined with projectors, prismatic reflectors, flashers and filters to produce the desired effects. In 1920 a group of businessmen from Niagara Falls, New York formed a group who called themselves the “generators’. They lobbied the American and Canadian governments to improve the illumination of the Falls. They were able to raise $58, 000 for the purchase and installation of 24 arc lights to illuminate the Falls. On February 24th, 1925 the Niagara Falls Illumination Board was formed. Initially, the board had a budget of $28,000 for management, operation and maintenance of the lights. The power was supplied free by the Ontario Power Company. They had 24 lights installed in a row on the Ontario Power Company surge tank which was next to the Refectory in Victoria Park on the Canadian side. The official opening ceremony took place on June 8th, 1925 and included a light parade in Niagara Falls, New York and an international ceremony held in the middle of the Upper Steel Arch Bridge. Walter D’Arcy Ryan was the illuminating engineer and A.D. Dickerson who was his New York field assistant directed the scintillator. with information from American Technological Sublime by David E. Nye and the Niagara Falls info website Location: Brock University Archives Source Information: Subject Headings: Added Entries: 100 Ryan, W. D’A. |q (Walter D’Arcy), |d 1870-1934 610 General Electric Company 650 Lighting, Architectural and decorative 650 Lighting |z New York (State) |z Niagara Falls 700 Dickerson, A.F. 700 Schaffer, J.W. Related material held at other repositories: The Niagara Falls Museum in Niagara Falls, Ontario has a program (pamphlet) dedicating new lighting in 1958 and it has postcards depicting the illumination of the Falls. Some of Ryan’s accomplishments can be seen at The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco. Described by: Anne Adams Date: Sept 26,Upper Steel Arch Bridge. Walter D’Arcy Ryan was the illuminating engineer and A.D. Dickerson who was his New York field assistant directed the scintillator. with information from American Technological Sublime by David E. Nye and the Niagara Falls info website

Indenture between Jacob Canniff and Susan Canniff

Indenture (vellum) of bargain and sale between Jacob Canniff and Susan Canniff of Niagara to Lewis Clement of Niagara, the south half of Lot 69 Town of Niagara - Instrument no. 7072, June 21, 1827.

Indenture between Timothy Street and Abigail Street to Stroughton Moore

Indenture of bargain and sale between Timothy Street and Abigail Street of Toronto to Stroughton Moore of St. Davids for one part of Lot no. 1 in the town of St. Davids and part of Lot no. 90 in the Township of Niagara - instrument no. 8709, June 1, 1832.

Indenture between John Baptist Clement and William Woodruff

Indenture of bargain and sale between John Baptist Clement of Niagara and William Woodruff of St. Davids for part of Lot no. 90 in St. Davids. Instrument no. 9050, February 23, 1833.

Indenture between Stroughton Moore and George Jackson

Indenture of bargain and sale between Stroughton Moore of St. Davids and George Jackson of St. Davids for part of Lot no. 90 in the Township of Niagara - instrument no. 10.818, July 27, 1835.

Indenture between George Jackson and William Woodruff

Indenture of bargain and sale between George Jackson of Saint Davids and William Woodruff of St. Davids regarding the sale of part of Lot no. 90 in the Township of Niagara - instrument no. 12.482, March 21, 1839.

Indenture between Margaret Stewart and Elizabeth Clench Stewart and Archibald Gilkison

Indenture of bargain and sale between Margaret Stewart and Elizabeth Clench Stewart of the Town of Niagara to Archibald Gilkison of Niagara regarding the westerly half of Lot no. 24 in the 5th Concession of the Township of Brooke. May 12, 1841.

Indenture between Joseph Jackson and William Woodruff (B)

Indenture of bargain and sale between Joseph Jackson of Buffalo, New York and William Woodruff of St. Davids regarding Lot no. 90 in Niagara Township. This was registered in the County of Lincoln on April 30, 1842 in Book B, folio 299. The instrument no. is 732. It was written 17 March 1842.

Indenture between Joseph Jackson and William Woodruff (A)

Indenture of bargain and sale between Joseph Jackson of Buffalo, New York and William Woodruff of St. Davids regarding Lot no. 90 in St. Davids. This was registered in the County of Lincoln on April 30, 1842 in book B, folio 300. The instrument no. is 733. It was written 17 march 1842.

Indenture between Samuel Street and Eunice Price

Indenture (vellum) of bargain and sale between Samuel Street of Stamford and Eunice Price widow of the late David Price of Willoughby regarding a part of Lot no. 15 in the 5th Concession in Humberstone - instrument no. 1141, June 14, 1842.

Indenture between Maria Moore and Richard Woodruff

Indenture of bargain and sale between Maria Moore of St. Davids and Richard Woodruff of St. Davids, executor of the Last Will and Testament of Stroughton Moore, deceased regarding land in the town of Hamilton - instrument no. 298, July 8, 1843.

Indenture between Jacob Huffman and Margaret Huffman

Indenture of bargain and sale between Jacob Huffman and Margaret Huffman formerly of Bertie Township but moved to Grand Island, New York to Benjamin Troup and John Troup, both of Bertie Township regarding approximately 50 acres of land in Lot no. 3 of the 5th Concession in the Township of Bertie - instrument no. 2295. This was registered on June 25, 1845 in Book E folios 321, 322 and 323, June 25, 1845.

Indenture between Duncan and Margaret McFarland and Duncan Campbell

Indenture (vellum) of bargain and sale between Duncan and Margaret McFarland of Port Robinson to Duncan Campbell of Port Robinson for part of Lot no. 202 in the township of Thorold - instrument no. 673, November 30, 1847.

Indenture between Captain Thomas Bushby and Sarah Bushby and Edward Clarke Campbell

Indenture of bargain and sale between Captain Thomas Bushby of the Island of Jersey and his wife Sarah Bushby to Edward Clarke Campbell of the town of Niagara regarding 100 acres in Sherbrooke Forest in the District of Niagara, also Lots 6 and 7 in the town plot of Sherbrooke. This document was registered in the Township of Sherbrooke on December 28, 1849 - instrument no. 503, March 17, 1849.

Indenture between Orson Phelps and Calista M. Phelps and Owen Clifford

Indenture of bargain and sale between Orson Phelps formerly of St. Catharines, but at the time of the transaction, was living in Buffalo, New York and Calista M. Phelps (his wife) and Owen Clifford of Grantham for lots numbered 12 and 13 in the 8th Concession in Grantham Township. The instrument no. is 3411, July 11, 1851.