Hansler Indenture Daniel Robins to George Hansil, 1814

Indenture of property in Wainfleet between Daniel Robins of Township of Thorold and George Hansel of the township of Pelham. The cost to Hansel for the purchase was 40 pounds.

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.

Donald Ziraldo Fonds, 1968-2012, n.d.

Donald J. P. Ziraldo, C.M., BSc., LLD was born in St. Catharines, Ontario on October 13, 1948 to Fredrick and Irma (Schiratti) Ziraldo. He graduated Denis Morris High School in St. Catharines in 1967, and received his B.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Guelph in 1971. In 1974, Ziraldo was running Ziraldo Nurseries when he met Austrian born schoolteacher, chemist and winemaker Karl J. Kaiser. They realized that there was a gap in the premium varietal wine market and decided to plant a premium traditional European variety of grape vine species, the Vitis vinifera. This was an innovation in the Niagara region because the current wine producers were not using premium European grapes at the time. Ziraldo and Kaiser founded and then formally incorporated Inniskillin Wines Inc. in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on July 31, 1975. Ziraldo successfully lobbied General George Kitching, CEO of the LCBO, for a winery license. In 1975, Kitching granted him a winery license, the first in Ontario since Prohibition ended. From the beginning, there was a division of labour where Kaiser focused on the winemaking and Ziraldo focused on the marketing and promotion of the wines. Ziraldo also became president of the company. Ziraldo and Kaiser worked on improving their winemaking techniques and promoting their products and company. Ziraldo has been called ‘one of the founding fathers of the Canadian wine industry’, and it is widely acknowledged that both men played a large role in the success and growth of the Canadian wine industry. Together they pioneered the estate winery movement in Canada. A major turning point Inniskillin came in 1984 when Karl Kaiser successfully harvested the first Icewine crop from frozen grapes on the vine and bottled Eiswein Vidal (Icewine). In 1990, Inniskillin received worldwide recognition for this Icewine when their 1989 Vidal Icewine won the most prestigious award in the wine world, the Grand Prix d’Honneur, given at Vinexpo in France. This victory has been called ‘the award heard round the world’ and it launched Inniskillin into the international wine arena. At the same time, this helped lift the profile of Canadian wines in general. Inniskillin not only became Canada’s leading producer of Icewine, but it also became known for producing ‘one of the world’s great wines’. After the 1990 award, Ziraldo began a major public relations campaign to promote Inniskillin and build Icewine into a worldwide brand. He travelled broadly every year to promote the brand and products and networked extensively with politicians, celebrities, chefs, sommeliers, etc. To ensure worldwide and long-term success, Ziraldo introduced Icewine to Asia and the United States which were new markets. He developed a new Icewine glass with George Riedel. Tony Aspler has called Ziraldo ‘Canada’s Wine Ambassador’. Ziraldo was President of Inniskillin Wines Inc. (Niagara) from 1975 to 2006. In 1992, Inniskillin merged with Cartier Wines, and in 1993 Cartier Inniskillin Vintners Inc. merged with T.G. Bright & Co. Limited, forming the new company Vincor International Inc. Inniskillin wines was now a subsidiary of Vincor. Ziraldo became a Director at Vincor International Inc. from 1993 to 2004. From 1989 to the mid 1990s, Ziraldo also became President of Inniskillin Napa, in Napa Valley, California. Inniskillin purchased Napa Valley vineyards and produced wines under the Terra label. In 1994, Ziraldo set up a subsidiary estate winery of Inniskillin in Oliver, British Columbia which was called Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc. He became President of the winery. This started as a partnership between Inniskillin and the local Inkameep Indian Band in the Okanagan. In 2006, Ziraldo left Inniskillin and since that time he has been involved in other Icewine related ventures such as running Ziraldo Estate Winery and producing Ziraldo Riesling Icewine 2007. He also is in partnership with the Niagara based Equifera Estate Winery to produce Equifera Icewine. His most recent projects include planting Picolit grapes in his parent’s hometown, in a project called Picolit Di Fagagna and becoming Managing Director of the Senhora Do Convento Port Winery in Portugal. Donald Ziraldo was instrumental in the creation of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) in Ontario and was its founding Chair from 1988-1995. The VQA was established as a regulatory and appellation system which secured the quality and origin of Canadian wines made under this system. The VQA designation and bottle label gave the consumer confidence that the wines they were purchasing were 100% local products. The VQA system was set up first in Ontario and then in British Columbia.

Letter written by Mahlon Taylor to Samuel Clarke commenting on US troops during Fort George occupation, July 26, 1813

Fort George, situated on the west side of the Niagara River in Niagara-on-the-Lake, served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army during the War of 1812. On May 25, 1813, the Americans launched an artillery attack on the Fort, destroying most of the buildings. Two days later, the Americans invaded the Town of Niagara and occupied Fort George. They remained in the Fort for almost seven months, but suffered defeats at the Battle of Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. Only a small number of militia remained stationed at the Fort. Fearing an attack by the British, the Americans retreated back across the Niagara River in December, 1813. The Fort remained in British possession for the rest of the War.

Letter written by Mahlon Taylor to Samuel Clarke commenting on US troops during Fort George occupation - July 26, 1813

A letter written by Mahlon Taylor to his uncle, Samuel Clarke, dated at Marcellus [New York], July 26, 1813. Mahlon Taylor writes that he believes the mail he has sent out is not making it past Princeton, as he has not had a reply to any of his sent correspondence. He also writes that he has heard there are 3500 men at Fort George, 1000 are unfit for duty, and that there is skirmishing daily. He comments that the general opinion is that the troops will withdraw from Canada entirely. The letter is signed Mahlon C Taylor and is addressed to Mr. Samuel Clarke, no. 227 South Front Street, Philadelphia.

St. George's Parish Church, St. Catharines. Jubilee Celebration and Historic and Centenary Review

Inside the front cover H.K. Woodruff has signed the book and there is a label with the name , Mrs. Percy C. Band of Toronto, Ontario. The book contains some images and also has a list of matrimonial records from the St. Marks Church Register.

Niagara Falls Stereo Cards collection, 1885-1903, n.d.

This collection contains 40 stereo cards of Niagara Falls and the Niagara River. Images include Niagara Falls in winter (the ice bridge); Prospect Point; the Whirlpool Rapids and the Whirlpool; the Upper River rapids; the Maid of the Mist; and Dixon crossing the Niagara River on a tightrope below the Great Cantilever Bridge. Twenty of the cards were published by Underwood & Underwood. The remaining cards are from various publishers including Keystone View Company, American Stereoscopic, Griffith & Griffith, H.C. White Company, E. & H.T. Anthony & Company, and Realistic Travels Publisher. George E. Curtis and Geo. Barker are listed as photographers on a few of the cards.

Indenture of Land Sold by David Secord to George Shaw, Richard Woodruff, Timothy Street, Josiah Brown, Henry Pope

Indenture regarding land sold by David Secord of St. Davids to George Shaw, Richard Woodruff, Timothy Street and Josiah Brown, all of Niagara Township and Reverend Henry Pope of York. The land includes part of Lot no. 90 in the Township of Niagara. September 5, 1820.

Indenture of Land Sold by George Shaw to Richard and William Woodruff

Indenture stating that George Shaw of Niagara sold 1 acre, 2 roods and 1 perch in the Village of St. Davids to Richard and William Woodruff. The price was 66 pounds - instrument no. 6926, June 9, 1824.

Indenture of Conveyance between George Shaw and Richard Woodruff and Company

Indenture of conveyance between George Shaw of the Township of Niagara and Richard Woodruff and Company, merchants of the Township of Niagara, all living in the Village of St. Davids for a share of water ("course of water running in a hole one inch diameter"), April 15, 1825.

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 The Honourable George Moffatt and Samuel Street

Indenture (vellum) between The Honourable George Moffatt of Montreal and Samuel Street of Stamford for the sale of 200 acres in Lot no. 12 in the 4th Concession in the Township of Beverly, County of Halton, June 13, 1836.

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 George Upper and Joseph Augustus Woodruff

Indenture (vellum) between George Upper of Niagara to Joseph Augustus Woodruff of Niagara for the sale of the west half of lot no. 20 in the 2nd Concession in Nissouri. This was registered March 17, 1853 - instrument no. 113. December 1, 1852.

Indenture (vellum) between George Upper and Joseph Augustus Woodruff

Indenture (vellum) between George Upper of Niagara to Joseph Augustus Woodruff of Niagara for the sale of the east half of lot no. 28 in the 2nd Concession on Nissouri. This was registered March 17, 1853 in folio 128 - instrument no. 114, December 1, 1852.