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.

Niagara Parks Commission annual report, March 1885.

Printed by Order of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Annual report of the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara, 1885.

Report year irregular.

How Niagara was made free : The passage of Niagara Reservation Act in 1885 /

Reprinted from the Buffalo Historical Society Publications.

Niagara Parks Commission annual report, September 1885.

Printed by Order of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Proceedings : Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario - 1885

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

William Van Every fonds, 1784, 1804-1806, 1815-1816, 1828, 1832, n.d.

William Van Every, son of McGregory and Mary Wilcox (Jaycocks) Van Every, was born in New York state in 1765. During the Revolutionary War he joined Butler’s Rangers and served under Captain John McDonnell. He was granted three lots of land in the Township of Niagara, with additional lands granted at later dates. William married Elizabeth, daughter of George Young. Elizabeth was the widow of Col. Frederick Dochstader and mother of Catherine Dochstader, b. 1781. William Van Every died in 1832, his wife Elizabeth in 1851. Both are buried in the Warner Cemetery, in present day Niagara Falls. The children of William Van Every and Elizabeth Young were Mary, Elizabeth, Phoebe, John, Peter, William, Rebecca, Samuel and Joseph. Source: Mary Blackadar Piersol, The Records of the Van Every Family, Toronto : Best Printing, 1947. And, Patricia M. Orr, Historic Woodend, sponsored by Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, 1980?

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Oliver Phelps, 1832

Survey map and description of Oliver Phelp'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; Vanderburgh's land, hydraulic ditch, locks 15-20, lot divisions. The land totals 50 acres. The deed for the land is dated June 8th, 1832. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.See also page 161. Please note the measurments listed under "overall dimensions" are for the text only if the text appears on a seperate page from the drawing.

Niagara Falls Park: Notice to Treat to Sutherland Macklem, Esquire, 1885

The Niagara Parks Commission administrative headquarters are located in Oak Hall which is on the cliff above Dufferin Islands. In 1798 this land was granted by the crown to United Empire Loyalist James Skinner until 1898. A century later it was the home of the Clarks, Streets and Macklems. These families controlled the mills of Bridgewater which was a pioneer industrial village located at Dufferin Islands. Then, it was known as Clark Hill. Colonel Thomas Clark, commander of the Second Lincoln Militia in the War of 1812 is the earliest known occupant of the house. When Clark died in 1837, the house went to Thomas Clark Street who was the son of the Colonel’s partner. Mr. Street was a bachelor and his sister, widow of Dr. T.C. Macklem, managed his household. Mrs. Macklem had 2 sons. The eldest son drowned in the Niagara River at the age of 8 and the younger son, Sutherland became heir to the estate. Mr. Macklem opened Cynthia Islands and Cedar Island to the public and had roads built to reach them. Two suspension bridges connected them to the mainland and tolls were charged on the bridges. The improvements to the land cost Macklem $18,962. He called the bridges “Bridge Castor” and “Bridge Pollux”. There was also an office built at the end of Bridge Castor. Macklem also spent $454 fixing up the Burning Spring Building (the burning spring is enclosed in a barrel which collects gas and lets it out through a tube at the top). Macklem received a yearly income of $56,378.79 from tourists and visitors. In 1887 Cynthia Islands and Cedar Island were deeded to the crown and became part of Queen Victoria Park. The name Cynthia was changed to Dufferin in honour of Lord Dufferin. Sources: www.niagarafrontier.com/parks.html www.niagarafrontier.com/burningsprings.html

Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada at the annual convocation, 1885

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1885. The title varies slightly and convocation is held at different cities or towns in Canada. Twenty-eighth annual convocation.

A Guidebook Containing Information for Intending Settlers (1885)

A Guide Book containing information to aid intending Canadian settlers.

Lake View House, Ontario Methodist Camp Ground : the Chautauqua of Canada, Grimsby, Ont. (1885)

Contains information about the campground, the hotel, church services and includes advertisements.