William B. Rollason fonds, 1930-1934, 1936, 1941-1947, 1950-1952, 1956-1958.

William B. Rollason was a businessman from St. Catharines. His business interests included insurance sales, real estate and housing development. He was an active Rotarian, serving as president from 1945 to 1946. He served on the Niagara Parks Commission Board from 1944 until his death in 1959. Mr. Rollason was the president of the St. Catharines Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lincoln County Conservative Association, a member of the Navy Island Peace Capital Group, vice chairman of the War Savings Committee and part owner of the Welland House Hotel in St. Catharines.

Welland Canal/St. Lawrence Seaway Authority fonds, 1826-1880, 1905-1951

The Welland Canal Company was formed in 1824 by William Hamilton Merritt. Construction of the first Welland Canal began in 1829 and was completed in 1834. The canal ran south from Port Dalhousie along Twelve Mile Creek to St. Catharines. An extension was built in 1833 to Gravelly Bay, now Port Colborne. As ships became larger and the wooden locks deteriorated, the need for a new canal became apparent. In 1839, the government purchased the Welland Canal Company’s assets and began making plans for the construction of a second canal. Construction began in 1841 and was completed by 1845. In 1887, a third Welland Canal was completed, which operated until 1932, when a fourth canal was completed. This canal remains in operation today.

Letter to William Collver or John Roberts, 1849

A letter to “my dear Mr. Collver and co.” The writer mentions the “circuit” that she has traveled, and a conference which she attended. In regard to the circuit, she talks about her interest in the Welland Canal. The references all seem to be religious in nature. She asks Mr. Collver how he likes the new preacher and says that in a letter that the preacher published in the newspaper he refers to the “breaking of Jordan Chapel”. She says that a society of teetotalers has been established in her town and they are known as “Sons of Temperance”. She also mentions “my man Brown” who was there but has left, leaving her to have the circuit by herself. She signs off with “I am yours affectionately [Eleanor Corman]. The second part of the letter is addressed to “my dear Mr. Roberts”. She asks him for some music that she would like, but cannot find in Kingston. She would like him to “come down and teach singing” this winter. She also asks him to give her regards to Mr. P. Beamer and family. She ends this part of the letter with “Nothing further yours affectionately [Eleanor Corman]”. There are 4 red postmarks on the outside of the letter and they are: Picton, July 31, 1849 Cobourg, August 2, 1849 St. Catharines, August 4, 1849 There is one other postmark which is too faded to be legible.

Photograph - Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald, 1872.

Photograph of Ethelwyn Wetherald at age 15 in the year 1872. The same year her youngest sibling, Herbert, was born.

Photograph - William Bliss Carman and Miss M. B. Stevenson, September 1927

A photograph of poet William Bliss Carman and M. B. Stevenson in New Canaan, Connecticut. The photograph from September 1927 was sent to fellow poet Ethelwyn Wetherald in 1932. It was included in a four page letter from Carman to Wetherald. Carman, also Canadian, spent most of his years in the United States, but in his letter he mentions that he "regrets" he cannot keep in closer touch with his fellow Canadian poets.

Letter - Nikola Tesla to William B. Rankine, 19 April 1904

A letter from Nikola Tesla to William B. Rankine in the year 1904. Tesla discusses the worth of his patents/companies. Tesla also remarks on the power of several of his machines including "Tesla Coil", "Tesla Transformer", and "Tesla High-Potential Methods".

Letter - William Lyon Mackenzie King (Deputy Minister of Labour) to The Niagara Power Company, 5 October 1903

A letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to The Niagara Power Company in the year 1903. Mackenzie King is Deputy Minister of Labour for the Department of Labour Canada and in this letter he discusses issues with importing of men from the United States to Canada for employment. The letter warns of penalty if found guilty of unlawfully importing men for employment.

Letter - Frederic Nicholls (Canadian General Electric) to W.B. Rankine, 17 December 1897

A letter from 2nd Vice President and General Manager of Canadian General Electric Company, Frederic Nicholls to W. B. Rankine regarding a bid for contract. The letter mentions that the bid for two alternating generators for the Canadian side of Niagara Falls was won by Westinghouse Eletric and Manufacturing Co. Nicholls also mentions that there will be other opportunites to win contracts as more machines are required. Nicholls also implies that Westinghouse may have bid under cost in an effort to secure the first of many contracts with the Canadian Niagara Power Company.

Photograph - Mr. William Field

A photograph of Mr. William Field, photographed by A.L. Lehnkering, no. 158 East Main St., Rochester, New York. The photograph reads "conductor" on back.

Residence of William W. Kitchen & Residence of Charles Kitchen - Vignette

A vignette two homes in Grimsby. There are two homes in the image, one the residence of William W. Kitchen, the second the residence of Charles Kitchen.

Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada at the annual convocation, 1872

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1872. The title varies slightly and convocation is held at different cities or towns in Canada. Fifteenth annual convocation.

Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada at the annual convocation, 1919

Annual Convocation proceedings for the year 1919. The title varies slightly and convocation held at different cities or towns in Canada. Sixty-first annual convocation.

Annual report of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, 1919

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

The true history regarding alleged connection of the order of ancient, free and accepted Masons: with the abduction and murder of William Morgan in western New York, in 1826... (1886)

Cover title: Masonic light on the abduction and murder of Wm. Morgan.