Inniskillin Hall (June 1999)

The building, which is attached to the Mackenzie Chown complex, holds facilities for Brock's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. The Institute, which studies grape growing and wine production, is the only one of its kind in Canada, and only the third of its kind in North America. It includes specialized research laboratories, a climate-controlled wine cellar, a wine library, and a museum. The building is named after a Niagara winery, Inniskillin Wines.

Niagara Historical Society and Museum papers, 1898, 1914, 1969, n.d.

The Niagara Historical Society and Museum papers include a revision of a publication originally prepared by Janet Carnochan, a poem by Janet Carnochan written to commemorate the battle of Lundy’s Lane, one item of correspondence and a scrapbook of historical documents on microfilm.

Harrison Hall Opening (January 1999)

The people involved in opening Harrison Hall.

Welch Hall

View of Welch Hall from the southwest before the Walker Complex and South Block existed.

Welch Hall Overhead

This view from the Twer facing southwest shows the College of Education, now Welch Hall, and the former parking lot situated west of it (behind it).

Welch Hall Northern View

View of Welch Hall from just north of it where Scotiabank Hall is now.

Welch Hall South Entrance

The main entrance to Welch Hall and the David S. Howes Theatre, formerly the Playhouse. The Schmon Tower can be seen in the background. Note the sign reading 'St. Catharines Teachers College. This photograph thus precedes the amalgamation of the College with Brock University.

Welch Hall South Entrance

The main entrance to Welch Hall and the David S. Howes Theatre, formerly the Playhouse. The Schmon Tower can be seen in the background. The 'St. Catharines Teachers College' sign is no longer present. This photograph was taken at some point after the College joined Brock University.

Welch Hall South Entrance

A view of the south entrance from Thistle Complex in 1999.

Harrison Hall (January 1999)

Harrison Hall holds the new Student Health Centre and Athletic Therapy Clinic. The centre provides the University's Health Services Department with a greater amount of space for students and staff, and the building is designed to make treatment more comfortable and efficient. The centre includes four examination rooms as part of the increased space. It is named after Bernard Harrison, a former Brock physics demonstrator who has donated over $1 million to the University.

A. S. Whiting Manufacturing Company Limited, minute book, 1872-1909.

The Cedar Dale Scythe Works was the second manufacturing company that A.S. Whiting had established in Oshawa, the first being the Oshawa Manufacturing Co. in 1852. The Oshawa Manufacturing Co. was eventually taken over by the Joseph Hall Works in 1857. In 1862, the Cedar Dale Works was built after being in a rented space in the Hall Works for two years, building scythes and hoes. With the building of the firm, the village of Cedar Dale was established. In 1867, the firm became Whiting and Cowan when John Cowan bought into the company. After the death of Whiting in 1867, his son-in-law, R.S. Hamlin headed the company. By 1872, it became the A.S. Whiting Manufacturing Co. when Cowan withdrew from the business. Before Whiting’s death, the company had been profitable but due to new machinery being developed, hand tools were becoming obsolete and the business only lasted for a few more years (source: Oshawa Community Museum and Archives Web site).

The Welland Canals Foundation, Honourable William Hamilton Merritt and the St. Catharines Historical Society and Museum, 1971-1990, n.d.

‘The Father of Canadian Transportation’ is a term commonly associated with William Hamilton Merritt. Although he is most known for being one of the driving forces behind the building of the first Welland Canal, he was many things throughout his life; a soldier, merchant, promoter, entrepreneur and politician to name a few. Born on July 3, 1793 at Bedford, Westchester County, N.Y. to Thomas Merritt and Mary Hamilton, Merritt’s family relocated to Canada shortly after in 1796. The move came after Merritt’s father petitioned John Graves Simcoe for land in Upper Canada after serving under him in the Queen’s Rangers during the American Revolution. The family quickly settled into their life at Twelve Mile Creek in St. Catharines. Merritt’s father became sheriff of Lincoln County in 1803 while Merritt began his education in mathematics and surveying. After some brief travel and further education Merritt returned to Lincoln County, in 1809 to help farm his father’s land and open a general store. While a farmer and merchant, Merritt turned his attention to military endeavours. A short time after being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Lincoln militia, the War of 1812 broke out. Fulfilling his duty, Merritt fought in the Battle of Queenston Heights in October of 1812, and numerous small battles until the Battle of Lundy’s Lane in July 1814. It was here that Merritt was captured and held in Cheshire, Massachusetts until the war ended. Arriving back in the St. Catharines area upon his release, Merritt returned to being a merchant, as well as becoming a surveyor and mill owner. Some historians hypothesize that the need to draw water to his mill was how the idea of the Welland Canals was born. Beginning with a plan to connect the Welland River with the Twelve mile creek quickly developed into a connection between the Lakes Erie and Ontario. Its main purpose was to improve the St. Lawrence transportation system and provide a convenient way to transport goods without having to go through the Niagara Falls portage. The plan was set in motion in 1818, but most living in Queenston and Niagara were not happy with it as it would drive business away from them. Along with the opposition came financial and political restraints. Despite these factors Merritt pushed on and the Welland Canal Company was chartered by the Upper Canadian Assembly on January 19, 1824. The first sod was turned on November 30, 1824 almost a year after the initial chartering. Many difficulties arose during the building of the canal including financial, physical, and geographic restrictions. Despite the difficulties two schooners passed through the canal on November 30, 1829. Throughout the next four years continual work was done on the canal as it expended and was modified to better accommodate large ships. After his canal was underway Merritt took a more active role in the political arena, where he served in various positions throughout Upper Canada. In 1851, Merritt withdrew from the Executive Council for numerous reasons, one of which being that pubic interest had diverted from the canals to railways. Merritt tried his hand at other public works outside transportation and trade. He looked into building a lunatic asylum, worked on behalf of War of 1812 veterans, aided in building Brock’s monument, established schools, aided refugee slaves from the U.S. and tried to establish a National Archives among many other feats. He was described by some as having “policy too liberal – conceptions too vast – views too comprehensive to be comprehensible by all”, but he still made a great difference in the society in which he lived. After his great contributions, Merritt died aboard a ship in the Cornwall canal on July 5, 1862. Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=38719 retrieved October 2006 Today numerous groups carry on the legacy of Merritt and the canals both in the past and present. One such group is the Welland Canals Foundation. They describe themselves as: “. . . a volunteer organization which strives to promote the importance of the present and past Welland Canals, and to preserve their history and heritage. The Foundation began in 1980 and carries on events like William Hamilton Merritt Day. The group has strongly supported the Welland Canals Parkway initiative and numerous other activities”. The Welland Canals Foundation does not work alone. They have help from other local groups such as the St. Catharines Historical Society. The Society’s main objective is to increase knowledge and appreciation of the historical aspects of St. Catharines and vicinity, such as the Welland Canals. http://www.niagara.com/~dmdorey/hssc/dec2000.html - retrieved Oct. 2006 http://www.niagara.com/~dmdorey/hssc/feb2000.html - retrieved Oct. 2006

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Estate of Hall Davis and Jeremiah Adley 1834

Survey map and description of the Estate of Hall Davis and Jeremiah Adley's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. Noteable features include; Holland road, Adley's house, waste weir. The total land for the Estate of Hall Davis is 27 acres and 2 perches. The total land for Adley is 3 acres. The deed for the Estate of Hall Davis is dated August 16th 1834 and contains Samuel Swayze's name. Swayze's name is also written under Hall Davis' name. The deed for Adley's land is dated December 1st 1827. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.