Office of the City Clerk, St. Catharines Records, 1928-1974, n.d.

The site of present-day St. Catharines was settled by 3000 United Empire Loyalists at the end of the 18th century. From 1790, the settlement (then known as "The Twelve") grew as an agricultural community. St. Catharines was once referred to Shipman's Corners after Paul Shipman, owner of a tavern that was an important stagecoach transfer point. In 1815, leading businessman William Hamilton Merritt abandoned his wharf at Queenston and set up another at Shipman's Corners. He became involved in the construction and operation of several lumber and gristmills along Twelve Mile Creek. Shipman's Corners soon became the principal milling site of the eastern Niagara Peninsula. At about the same time, Merritt began to develop the salt springs that were discovered along the river which subsequently gave the village a reputation as a health resort. By this time St. Catharines was the official name of the village; the origin of the name remains obscure, but is thought to be named after Catharine Askin Robertson Hamilton, wife of the Hon. Robert Hamilton, a prominent businessman. Merritt devised a canal scheme from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario that would provide a more reliable water supply for the mills while at the same time function as a canal. He formed the Welland Canal Company, and construction took place from 1824 to 1829. The canal and the mills made St. Catharines the most important industrial centre in Niagara. By 1845, St. Catharines was incorporated as a town, with the town limits extending in 1854. Administrative and political functions were added to St. Catharines in 1862 when it became the county seat of Lincoln. In 1871, construction began on the third Welland Canal, which attracted additional population to the town. As a consequence of continual growth, the town limits were again extended. St. Catharines attained city status in 1876 with its larger population and area. Manufacturing became increasingly important in St. Catharines in the early 1900s with the abundance of hydro-electric power, and its location on important land and water routes. The large increase in population after the 1900s was mainly due to the continued industrialization and urbanization of the northern part of the city and the related expansion of business activity. The fourth Welland Canal was opened in 1932 as the third canal could no longer accommodate the larger ships. The post war years and the automobile brought great change to the urban form of St. Catharines. St. Catharines began to spread its boundaries in all directions with land being added five times during the 1950s. The Town of Merritton, Village of Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township were all incorporated as part of St. Catharines in 1961. In 1970 the Province of Ontario implemented a regional approach to deal with such issues as planning, pollution, transportation and services. As a result, Louth Township on the west side of the city was amalgamated, extending the city's boundary to Fifteen Mile Creek. With its current population of 131,989, St. Catharines has become the dominant centre of the Niagara region. Source: City of St. Catharines website http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/governin/HistoryOfTheCity.asp (January 27, 2011)

Proceedings : Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario - 1902

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

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Widow Griffith, 1824

Survey map and description of Widow Griffith'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; the Chippewa river, canal, bridge, road. The deed is from Jonathan and Sarah Silverthorn and is dated August 15, 1824. The survey was completed by George Keefer. The land totals 1 acre and 38 perches. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map.

Niagara Postcards, 1902, 1908, 1910, undated.

Consists of 33 postcards featuring various scenes and landmarks in the Niagara region. The postcards feature the Great Gorge Route, the Niagara River and Falls, Queenston Heights, Ridley College, military camps in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and a Catholic Church in Port Colborne. Most of the postcards are blank, but four have been postmarked. One of these is addressed to Miss Ada Misner, Espanola, Ont., from M.G. and is postmarked August 18, 1908. Another postcard is addressed to Mr. Alfred H. Smith, Stamford Hill, London N., from Hedley Smith, France and is postmarked 1902. Another is addressed to Miss Annabel Bishop, Buffalo, N.Y. from Irene Lalour(?), and is postmarked April 30, 1908. The last postcard is addressed to Miss Edna Lackie, Toronto, from R.M. and is postmarked August 1, 1910.

Letter - A. Monro Grier to W.B. Rankine, 20 March 1902

A letter from A. M. Grier to W.B. Rankine referencing the purchase of granite for the "Tunnel Portal Lining". Grier discusses the purchase of granite with MacIntosh Granite and Marble Company for Stanstead Granite. Grier also discusses a wire sent to a Mr. Brock in regards to the purchase and supply of granite for the project.

Letter - C. Sellers to W. B. Rankine, 26 September 1902

A letter from chief engineer C. Sellers to W. B. Rankine discussing the bid of I. P. Morris Co. Sellers discusses conversation with Mr. Hand of I.P. Morris.

Letter - F. Nicholls to W.B. Rankine, 17 January 1902

A letter from Second V.P. Frederic Nicholls of Canadian General Electric Co. to W.B. Rankine in regards to transformers. The Canadian Niagara Power Co. has agreed to an order of nine transformers (1250 Killowatt) to be installed in the Power House at Niagara Falls. The transformers will cost the Canadian Niagara Power Company forty three thousand two hundred dollars.

Annual convocation 1902 Proceedings (1902)

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1902. The title varies slightly and convocation is held at different cities or towns in Canada. Forty-fourth annual convocation.

Farmers and Business Directory for the Counties of Haldimand, Lincoln, Welland, and Wentworth (1902) Volume 12

Farmer and business directory of Haldimand, Lincoln, Welland, and Wentworth for the year 1902.

Property Lost, Captured, or Destroyed by the Enemy 1812-14 (1824)

Government report in congress discussing property lost, captured, or destroyed by the British during the War of 1812.

Payment for Property - War of 1812-14 (1824)

Government report in congress discussing payment for property during the War of 1812.

Annual report of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, 1902

The reports are also published in the Annual report of the Department of Agriculture of the province of Ontario, and in the Sessional papers of the province of Ontario "Printed by order of the Legislative Assembly" [-1923] "Printed by order of ... Minister of Agriculture" [1924-] 25th, 1893- pub. by the Ontario Department of Agriculture, Toronto 1890 -1908 reports are bound with the corresponding annual reports of the Entomological Society of Ontario 1894 -1905 reports are bound with the corresponding annual reports of the Fruit Experiment Stations of Ontario 1906 -1910 reports are bound with the corresponding Report of the Fruit Branch, Dept. of Agriculture, Ontario

Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company Official Guide, 1902

Descriptive of that delightful trip down the River St. Lawrence and up the world-famed Saguenay. The finest inland water trip in the world.

St. Ursula's convent, or, the Nun of Canada: Containing scenes from real life. (1824)

"...the first novel ever written by a native-born Canadian"