By Laws of the Corporation of the Town of Welland, 1878 [fragment]

The fragment appears to be part of a larger group of bylaws for the Town of Welland, 1878. The fragment includes bylaws Cap. I and Cap. II. Cap. I is a bylaw appointing auditors for the town for the year 1878. Due to paper loss only a portion of the title of the Cap. II bylaw is extent but appears to be a bylaw appointing a Hey…….trustee for the town. Welland was incorporated in 1858 as a town and became a city in 1917.

Florence P. Dolmage estate papers, 1878, 1945-1946

In 1852 Robert Dolmage (ca. 1821-1889) a merchant of Palermo, Halton County, Ontario married Frances Palmer of Toronto. Together they had four daughters: Carrie, Fanny, Laura and Florence. The family resided in Halton County until they moved to Grimsby, Ont. after 1871 and before 1881. Robert Dolmage died in 1889 and his wife, Frances died in 1904. After Robert’s death the family continued to reside in the family home on Main Street in Grimsby, Ont. and the business interests were looked after by Claude A. Boden. Mr. Boden became one of the prime beneficiaries of Florence Palmer Dolmage’s estate after her death in 1945. Florence Dolmage was buried in Queen’s Lawn Cemetery on July 7, 1945. As she was the last remaining member of this family her estate was dispersed to extended family members as well as charitable organizations. At this time, no information is known about the connection between the Dolmage and Sillett families.

Gilbert Field House research collection, 1823, 1966, 1968, n.d.

In 1968 the National Historic Sites, Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development undertook to learn more about its recent acquisition, the Gilbert Field House. The house is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. along the Niagara Parkway, on what was part of the original land grant to Gilbert Field, a United Empire Loyalist. The house and contents were severely damaged during the War of 1812. After the war Gilbert’s widow, Eleanor, submitted claims for war losses.

Proceedings : Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario - 1878

On spine : The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

Proceedings of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York, 1823

Seven pages of proceedings of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York dated February 27, March 1 and March 6, 1823. Proceedings include a report of the Committee of the Canal System , Memorial of Samuel Wilkeson on the subject of Black Rock and Buffalo Harbors, a report from the Surveyor General of the land reserved to the state at Black Rock, and an Act to incorporate the Niagara Canal Company.

Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company fonds, 1875-1876, 1878, 1884

In 1846, the governments of Upper Canada and the State of New York initiated the creation of two companies that would be authorized to build a bridge over the Niagara River. The bridge was to be owned by both companies, respectively known as the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company (Canadian) and the International Bridge Company (American). A suspension bridge was completed in 1848. This bridge was later replaced by a second suspension bridge that accommodated railways, built in 1853-54. However, the increasing weight of trains made it necessary for the bridge to be redesigned, and a third bridge was completed in 1886. Eventually, this bridge was replaced by a steel arch bridge, which was completed in 1897.

Niagara Falls/Niagara Power, 1792, 1798, 1829, 1832, 1836, 1838, 1848, 1852-1853, 1855, 1859, 1871, 1873, 1875-1876, 1878, 1880-1881, 1883, 1885-1888, 1890-1909, 1916-1917, n.d.

A finding aid for collection RG 86. This archive contains materials relating to Niagara Falls and its development during the late 19th and early 20th century, with particular focus on power operations.

Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada at the annual convocation, 1878

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1878. The title varies slightly and convocation is held at different cities or towns in Canada. Twenty-First annual convocation.

William Hamilton Merritt Welland Canal circular, July 12, 1823

William Hamilton Merritt (1793-1862) was a soldier, merchant, and politician who was instrumental in the promotion and development of the Welland Canal. After serving with the Lincoln militia during the War of 1812, Merritt became a merchant in St. Catharines, and purchased some land on Twelve Mile Creek on which he ran a sawmill and constructed a grist mill. He initially envisioned a canal between the Welland River and Twelve Mile Creek, which evolved into a plan to link Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This would enable goods from western Canada to be conveniently shipped to Montreal and Great Britain through the St. Lawrence, while bypassing the Niagara portage. His plan met with opposition for financial and political reasons, as well as from those along the Niagara portage whose businesses would suffer if the canal were built. Despite this opposition, the Welland Canal Company was chartered by the Upper Canadian assembly in January, 1824. Construction on the canal began later that year, and was completed in 1829.

William Hamilton Merritt Welland Canal circular, July 12, 1823

William Hamilton Merritt (1793-1862) was a soldier, merchant, and politician who was instrumental in the promotion and development of the Welland Canal. After serving with the Lincoln militia during the War of 1812, Merritt became a merchant in St. Catharines, and purchased some land on Twelve Mile Creek on which he ran a sawmill and constructed a grist mill. He initially envisioned a canal between the Welland River and Twelve Mile Creek, which evolved into a plan to link Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This would enable goods from western Canada to be conveniently shipped to Montreal and Great Britain through the St. Lawrence, while bypassing the Niagara portage. His plan met with opposition for financial and political reasons, as well as from those along the Niagara portage whose businesses would suffer if the canal were built. Despite this opposition, the Welland Canal Company was chartered by the Upper Canadian assembly in January, 1824. Construction on the canal began later that year, and was completed in 1829

Letters to Reverend William Proudfoot, 1823, 1842-1843, 1846

A 2 ½ page letter addressed to The Editor of the Presbyterian Magazine, care of [illegible], London, C.W. The writer describes the Village of Chippawa and its location in Ontario. He writes that there are many people there of Scotch [Scottish] descent. He says that a congregation was formed and 39 names were on the roll. The letter is from J.P. [John Porteous] with an added note from Wm. Porteous. The letter is from St. Catharines. There is one postmark – St. Catharines, April 6, 1823 A 1 ½ page letter addressed to Rev. W. Proudfoot, Ed. Of Presbyterian Mag., London, C.W. This letter is from Walter Mitchell in St. Catharines. He sends a list of peoples’ names and the amounts that they have paid toward the Presbyterian Magazine. Mr. Mitchell is acting as an agent for the magazine. This letter has 1 postmark – St. Catharines, Sept. 13, 1842 A 2 page letter addressed to Rev. W. Proudfoot, London, C.W. This letter is from John Jennings of St. Catharines. The writer claims that he is ill but he makes plans to meet Reverend Proudfoot in Toronto in order to go to a meeting in Rochester. The writer expects that Reverend Proudfoot will preach in Rochester. The letter has 1 postmark – St. Catharines, Aug. 14, 1843. A 2 page letter addressed to The Rev. Professor Proudfoot, London, C.W. from John Porteaus of St. Catharines. The writer says that he will not preach in Detroit. He says that the people of Detroit are expecting Mr. Dalrymple [who was sent as a missionary to Canada from Scotland in 1846] and also, he doesn’t want to leave his congregation for 2 Sabbaths. The letter has 2 postmarks – St. Catharines, August 1846 [this postmark is very faint] and Hamilton, August 2, 1846.