Richard Nelson Bell - Iris Sloman Wedding Day Photo, 1939

A black and white photograph taken in 1939 on the occasion of the marriage of Richard Nelson Bell to Iris Sloman. Pictured in the photograph, from left to right, are: Bert Sloman; Richard Nelson Bell; Iris Sloman Bell; and Helen Beatty Sloman. This photograph was in the possession of Rick Bell, the son of Richard Nelson and Iris Bell. The Bell - Sloman family descends from former Black slaves from the United States.Bert Sloman (Albert Edward Sloman) passed away in 1986 at Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. His wife Vera Matilda Sloman passed away January 4, 2011 at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. They had a son, Ron Sloman.

Richard and Iris Bell Wedding Day, 1939

Richard and Iris (Sloman) Bell are pictured on the grounds of unknown gardens, possibly in Niagara Falls, on their wedding day in 1939. This photo was among the family memorabilia in the possession of their son, Rick Bell, of St. Catharines.

James D. Tait Company Limited Fonds, 1890-1939 [non-inclusive]

James D. Tait (1836-1907) came to Canada in 1855 from Scotland. He worked in the dry goods business until he established the James D. Tait Company in 1864. The business was first located on Ontario street and specialized in furs. The business expanded to include dry goods and dress-making. After the building was destroyed by fire, Tait established and expanded the business into the Prendergast building on the corner of St. Paul and William Streets. James D. Tait died in 1907 while on vacation in Muskoka. In 1912 upon the resignation (or removal) of Benjamin Brick and Arthur Harbour, Stanley G. Smith joins the company as a director and secretary-treasurer. 1918/1919 vice-president E.J. Dignum dies. 1919 S.J. Inksater becomes a director of the company (His stock was purchased by the J.D. Tait Co.) By the 1930s the business, still in the same location, was under the leadership of Malcolm Stobie, President, Samuel J. Inksater, Vice-President and Stanley G. Smith, Secretary-Treasurer. The James D. Tait Company Limited ceased operations on 17 August 1933. The 1935 St. Catharines city directory records John Stobie, a former manager of the James D. Tait Company, operating a dry goods business at the same location, but with one-third the size of the original store space.

Township of Crowland. Petition and letter regarding a land dispute, 1854, 1855.

Consists of a petition by residents of the Township of Crowland, and a letter addressed to the Hon. Commissioner of Crown Lands. Both items concern a dispute of a land survey. The petition is dated May 26, 1854, and is by inhabitants of the fourth concession in the Township of Crowland. The petition is signed by 9 residents. The names include James Cook (?), Samuel Buchner, James Rock (?), Wm. Vanalstine (?), Seth Skinner, Daniel Holcomb, P. Skinner (?), Henry Buchner, and Cornelius McHay (?). The letter is dated July 20, 1855 and is addressed to the Hon. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Quebec. It is signed by Arthur Johnston, Town Reeve, Bertie.

Crowland Municipality : an act for regulating and governing auctioneers, and other persons putting up for sale, goods, wares, and merchandise to the highest or best bidder., 1854

On February 1st, 1854 an act was passed in order to regulate the sale of goods, wares and merchandise. Section I pertained to the fact that any merchant would first obtain a license. Section II deemed that no merchant should sell any wine or spirituous liquors, beer or ale within the municipality of Crowland in any less quantity than 5 gallons or less than 12 bottles in any place other than a House of Public Entertainment without having obtained a license. Section III was in regard to licensing any person who would use a billiard table which was set up for hire or gain. Section IV stated that all sums of money paid by the keepers of Houses of Public Entertainment plus the imperial duty of 2 pound would be payable to the Treasurer of the Municipality of Crowland. Section V was written regarding the continuance of the act to regulate inns, taverns, temperance houses and other Houses of Public Entertainment. Section VI specified that all recesses (not authorized to sell liquor) would pay the sum of 2 pounds. Section VII declared that Peter Benedict was appointed Revenue Inspector of the township and section VIII stated that recess-keepers who took out liquor licenses would be required to pay 6 pounds 5 shillings and for violating this they would pay a penalty. This document was written by Leonard M. Matthews, Township reeve and Alex Reid, clerk.

Hydro Electric Commission of Niagara Falls Ontario Scrapbook, 1936-1939, 1943-1951

Sir Adam Beck ( a London, Ontario manufacturer, Mayor and Conservative member of the provincial legislature) was a champion of municipal and provincial power ownership. Beck become the “Power Minister” and chairman of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario which was the world’s first publicly owned utility. In 1925 the first unit of the Hydro Electric Power Commission’s Queenston Chippawa hydro-electric development on the Niagara River went into service. The station was renamed in 1950 as “Sir Adam Beck #1”. This marked the 25th anniversary of Beck’s death. This is one of 2 generating stations in Niagara Falls. There is also Adam Beck Plant #2. The Niagara generating stations supply one quarter of all power used in New York State and Ontario.Ontario Hydro has two water tunnels which traverse the entire City of Niagara Falls from the Village of Chippawa in the South to the Sir Adam Beck Hydro Electric Generating Stations in the North. Also they are in the process of building the third tunnel. In addition, Ontario Hydro has a 13.6 km open canal which traverses the entire City of Niagara Falls. Source: http://www.hydroone.com/OurCompany/Pages/OurHistory.aspx

Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada at the annual convocation, 1939

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1939. The title varies slightly and convocation is held at different cities or towns in Canada. Eighty-first annual convocation.

Contract between John Cronyn and Nelson Forsyth, December 16, 1854.

John Cronyn (1827-1898) emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1837. He studied medicine at the University of Toronto, but was not granted his degree upon completion of the requirements. He refused to take the test oaths meant to exclude Catholics from the profession and was not granted his degree until several years later, when the discriminatory laws were rescinded. In 1850, he married Elizabeth Willoughby of Toronto. They settled in Fort Erie and he established a successful medical practice there. He was active in the community, serving as Superintendent of schools and one term as Reeve. In 1859 he relocated to Buffalo and continued to practice medicine there. Cronyn was instrumental in the establishment of a medical department at Niagara University, where he was a professor and president of faculty. Nelson Forsyth was the son of William Forsyth (1771-1841), a prominent businessman in Niagara who owned and operated the Pavilion Hotel (later known as Forsyth’s Inn). Nelson was also a businessman and lived in Fort Erie with his wife Archange Warren.

Henley Bridge blueprints, 1939 [photocopies]

Four pages of photocopied blueprints of the Henley Bridge on the Queen Elizabeth Way in St. Catharines, Ontario. A note below the title indicates the bridge was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on June 7, 1939. Three of the pages are part of the same blueprint and can be fit together to recreate the complete blueprint. The remaining page is an incomplete blueprint drawn by William Lyon Somerville, Architect, and dated March 24, 1939.

Estimate of work done on the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway by Messrs. Brown and McDonell, contractors, on sections 1, 2, and 3 ending at St. Catharines for the month of Oct. 1854

Estimate of work done on the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway by Messrs. Brown and McDonell, contractors, on sections 1, 2, and 3 ending at St. Catharines for the month of Oct. 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Nov. 1854.

Chart of estimate of work done on the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway by Messrs. Brown and McDonell, contractors, on sections 1, 2, and 3 ending at St. Catharines for the month ending Dec. 1, 1854

Chart of estimate of work done on the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway by Messrs. Brown and McDonell, contractors, on sections 1, 2, and 3 ending at St. Catharines for the month ending Dec. 1, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Jan. 1855.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of June, July, August and September, 1854

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of June, July, August and September, 1854.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll the months of April and May, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, May 31, 1854

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of April and May, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, May 31, 1854.

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for the months of June, July, August and September, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Sept. 30, 1854

Port Dalhousie and the Thorold Railway pay roll for services of engineering and contingencies furnished for the months of June, July, August and September, 1854, signed by S.D. Woodruff, Sept. 30, 1854.