SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER

• March 15: Lecture, 7:30 pm

• March 18: Famous & Infamous,

2 pm

• March 30: Good Friday,

Museum Closed

• April 1: Easter, Museum Closed

• April 15: Famous & Infamous,

2 pm

• April 12: Info Session for

England Trip

• April 26: Volunteer

Appreciation Lunch, 11 am - 1 pm

• May 17: Lecture, 7:30 pm

• May 18: International Museums

Day

• May 20: Famous & Infamous,

2 pm

Drew Chapman installing storms

Chronicles UPCOMING EVENTS

MUSEUM

NIAGARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM

Historical Society opens Endowment Fund

The Society has opened the “Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum Fund” at the

Niagara Community Foundation thanks to a special donation of $10,000 from

Faith & David Bell specifically for this purpose. The endowment will be held in

trust by the Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) and will enable us to add

donations, including bequests, and be paid interest from the fund annually.

The creation of an endowment is something that the Society has had on our

strategic plan for years. With this directed donation from Faith & David, it

brings us one step closer to more sustainable funding. Being part of the NCF,

the fund will appear in their Annual Report, making us more visible to donors in

the philanthropic community. There is no minimum donation for adding to the

fund.

For more information, including the terms and conditions of the fund or if you

would like to make a donation to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum Fund, please

contact Museum staff.

Restoration complete!

The final piece of our restoration project - the installation of the door on the Link

Building - will happen in March, 2018. All other work is complete including the

construction of new storm windows! We want to thank Drew Chapman

Carpentry for all the work that went into this project. For those who may not

have taken a close look at these elements before, we can assure you the impact

is huge. Plus, the addition of storms on the windows will help with the overall

climate control of the facility. This project would not have been possible without

funding from the Ontario150 Community Capital Program grant, the Town of

Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Region’s Heritage Restoration program and

donations made in memory of the late John Walker.

museum at the

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happening Chronicles

FAMOUS & INFAMOUS 2018 Season | 3rd Sunday at 2 pm

Join us in the gallery each month for a presentation by a local resident, followed by a lively discussion about the life

and times of a famous or infamous person from the past. **FREE**

18 March Gen. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck 15 April Nancy Langhorn Astor 20 May Eliza Fenwick (Biography of a House) 17 June Richard Feynman 15 July Conn Smythe 19 August Maria Rye 16 September Frederick Banting 21 October John Stanislaus Joyce 18 November Robert Mondavi

2018 LECTURE SERIES This year’s series focuses on the unique story of Camp Kosciuszko, the Polish training camp in NOTL during the First World War.

March 15 | Piotr Wrobel A long way to freedom: Poland before 1918

April 19 | Paul Valasek - Haller's Army at 100: End of WWI, Beginning of Polish-Soviet War

May 17 | Richard Merritt – Camp Kosciusko: Why Colonel Butler would be spinning in his grave

June 21 | Stan Skrzeszewski – Everyday Life at Camp Kosciuszko with Elizabeth Ascher

July 19 | Sarah Kaufman The Spanish Flu and Niagara Camp

August 16 | Roman Baraneicki Not Only Soldiers: Women's Organizations in Camp Kosciuszko, Niagara-on-the-Lake 1917-1919

September 20 | Anthony Adamsky Falcons of Freedom Tickets are $10 for the general public or free for Niagara Historical Society Members. Reservations required as seating is limited.

Spring 2018

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The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has set aside a significant site in the heart of the Old Town to understand, celebrate, and honour its Black history. Voices of Freedom is an experiential art installation designed to engage, educate, and challenge visitors about this most important aspect of our history. Voices from the past will tell their stories, enriching visitors’ understanding of how they shaped our town and nation.

But Voices of Freedom isn’t just about looking back. Ongoing research and programming will allow today’s and tomorrow’s voices to impact our nation’s future. It is a tragic injustice that, amidst the celebrated historical importance of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Town’s significant and nation-shifting Black history has not been given a proper “hearing.”

Voices of Freedom is intent on righting this wrong. Individually and collectively, all of Canada will benefit from listening to the Black voices of Canada’s past, present, and future. Such a hearing is essential for our nation to move towards a fair, just, and free society.

2018 will be the 225th anniversary of the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada so what a time to honour this piece of history. A campaign has begun to raise $650,000 for the park. If you would like to donate, or for more information, visit VOFPARK.ORG.

Raffle winners

Congratulations to the winners

of the Society’s annual wine

hamper raffle, held Dec.2, 2017.

First prize ws Dieter Hiemer

and second prize was Kathy

O’Marra. The raffle raised over

$1,900 for the Society!

Chronicles

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Phoenix Circle Armstrong, J. Richard & Diane Bell, David & Faith Enns, Amalie Hinchliffe, Steve Jackson, Chuck & Sandra Lawrence James, Janet Kam, Dennis Murray, David & Elizabeth Surtees Paine, Deborah & Peter Corbiere Sayers, John & Judith

General Donations Ann-Louise Branscombe Fund at the

Niagara Community Foundation Bader, Irene Blaney, Betty Bongard, Nancy Bosley Real Estate Brass Bell Niagara B&B Bray, Marilyn Butler, Rob Catling, Donna Chapman, Lois Cushing, Jean Deyholos, Richard Egan, Mary Gayle Finora, Brian & Monique Garrett, Beverley

Gaudet, Mark & Monica Goodwin, Nicole Hemmings, David & Dianne Hill, Mary E. Holden, Jo & Rai Lauge Horton, Janine Hutchinson, Carol Johnson, Fred & Sonia Joyner, Geoffrey & Lorraine Lewis, Charlotte Lindsay, Ann MacNeil, Jack Meloen, Rick Merritt, Richard & Nancy Mitchell, Sally Monette, Richard Morrison, Barbara Murray, David & Elizabeth Surtees Nitsche, Charles Nixon, Miriam NOTL Horticultural Society Phibbs, Doug & Christine Press, Joel Rand, Cynthia Reynolds, Jim & Patricia Hartman Sayers, John & Judith Sears, Robert Slack, Nina & Bill Steele, Rita Stevenson, David & Sonia Sullivan, Sandy Tallman, Craig & Sue Turner, Wes United Way Walker, Margaret Young, Mac

Memoriam

IN MEMORY OF KELLY JAMES Joyner, Geoffrey & Lorraine Paine, Deborah & Peter Corbiere

IN MEMORY OF RICHARD TAYLOR Merritt, Richard

In Kind Allan, Carol & Bobby Aquabella Bed & Breakfast Ascenzo, Denise Babin, Mona Bader, Irene Baker, Jean Barberian, Helen Baxter, Steven Bell, David & Faith Bonnell, Robert & Julie Butts, Shawna

New Life Members Armstrong, J. Richard & Diane Deglmann, Ludwig Alexander Gardner, Judy Kurtz, Edward Lemon, Garry & Anne Sherlock, Kevin Sweetman, Debra Watson, Robert Wiacek, Andrew

Sponsors Consulate General of the Republic of

Poland in Toronto Elltoft, Tom & Kim Niagara Bridge Commission Niagara-on-the-Lake B&B Association Polonia Canadian Institute for Historical

Studies Royal Canadian Legion Branch 621—

Polish Veterans

2017 Donors

Collection Agnew, Carley Allen, Chris Baraniecki, Roman Bennington Museum Bridgeford, W. Caldwell, Jennifer Chamberlain, Mary Jane Dodd, Susan Dutton, Harold Ellis, Robin Fontyn, Herman Ford, Gordon Harris, Wayne Huronia Museum King, Sandra Knight, Bob Mactaggart, Terry Merritt, Richard Niagara Foundation Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library Parliament, Isabelle Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124 Sayers, John Smith, Henry M. Smith, Jim Swayze, Margaret Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Woodruff, Richard

Endowment Bell, Faith & David

Spring 2018

In Kind Carleton, Linda Catling, Paul & Margaret Finora, Brian & Monique First Ontario Performing Arts Centre Fraser, Luba & Warren Gardner, Judy Grill on King Hemmings, David & Dianne Howe, Marsha Jackson, Chuck & Sandra Lawrence Joyner, Lorraine Kam, Dennis & Kathy Heit Kaufman, Sarah Kilmer-Tchalekian, Mary Klassen, Amy Knight, Bob Livesey, Mike Mactaggart, Terry Martin, Geoff & Clare Masson, Betsy May, Nancy McQuaig, Tom Meloen, Rick Meuris, Ann Moody, Kenn Morgan, Cecilia Moulson, Bud & Leslie Mundy, Pam Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre Nogas, Fred & Val Oliver Malone, Elizabeth Packard, Victor Phibbs, Doug Pietrobon, Loretta Redekop, Debbie Remple, Douglas Richardson, Martin Rigby, Caroline Rumble, Neil Sayers, John & Judith Scarlet Tunic Bed & Breakfast Sentineal Carriages Simpson, James R. Tallman, Craig & Sue Taylor, Marnie Thornbur, Philip Tierney, Sheila Vintage Hotels Walker, Dorothy Williamson, Diana

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Curator’s Corner

Ledger from the Woodruff General Store, ca. 1831 On behalf of the Collection Committee, I would like to thank all the individuals that thought to donate to the Museum’s collection in 2017. As the community museum for Niagara-on-the-Lake, we continuously strive to collect objects and documents that represent the history of all NOTL’s communities. This 1831 Ledger from the Woodruff General Store came into our collection last year. This ledger tells us a lot about the people who lived in, or frequented the St. Davids area. It lists the individual customers and the entries include date, type of transaction, and monies credited and debited. Items purchased include tobacco, sugar, flour, coffee, salt, cotton, and fabric. Work was sometimes accepted in account settlements instead of cash. The Museum is always looking for more artefacts and documents, like this one, that pertain to the history of Queenston, St. Davids, Virgil, Homer and McNab. If you have any items in your collection that you are willing to donate to the museum let us know and maybe yours will be featured in our newsletter!

- Shawna Butts, Assistant Curator

P.S. Now that Sarah is back from Maternity Leave, I am still here! This position is permanent!

The Woodruff-Lowrey General Store located in St. Davids, was a two-story brick building on the East side of Creek Road. Richard Woodruff, known as "King Dick", conducted business here until his death. The store (pictured below) stood at this location until it was demolished in 1961.

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Chronicles

From the Managing Director I’m so glad to be back at the Museum once again! Thank you for all the well wishes on the safe arrival of Madeline! A huge thank you to Amy and Shawna who did an amazing job throughout my 10-month absence. Their hard work has made my transition back very smooth. We were disappointed in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s decision not to continue the 3-year phased in approach of funding the museum’s operational expenses. The 2017 budget showed a 2018 grant increase to $209,790. Alternatively, the grant for 2018 is $158,535, an increase of about 2.5% from 2017. We are thankful for the municipality’s support of the local museum and hope to work with them to get back on track to meet benchmark funding of the community’s local museum. There have been questions on Social Media about the Museum’s involvement in the controversial events surrounding the Parliament Oak and Randwood properties. We have been providing research and support to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and community members on the properties throughout the process. We have also written a letter of support for the Community Hub proposal for Parliament Oak. Furthermore, members of our Board of Directors have been involved directly in both matters. We’re getting excited this year for NIAGARA POLO on September 8th! After a successful event in 2016 we are anticipating even more sponsors and attendees. Those who attended in 2016 will remember the exciting Polo matches on the local Commons, the delicious food and drinks, and amazing entertainment and vendors! Remember that the Beau Chapeau lounge ($240/table for 6 guests) will sell out fast. Make sure to buy your tickets soon!

- Sarah Kaufman

We are working again with CAA Tuxedo Tours to offer a special 14-day trip to England . The trip was designed by David Murray & Elizabeth Surtees as a fundraiser for the Society. Last year, it could not run as we needed 15 people to participate so we hope that this year we can reach that goal. The trip will run September 9 - 23, 2018.

If you are interested in joining the tour this year, please come out to the information session on Thursday, April 12th. For details and to RSVP, please contact the Museum

Double: $6,099 | Single (limited availability): $7,129 Includes all transportation, accommodations, fees, taxes and gratuities, plus a $500 donation to the Museum (tax receipt will be provided for donation portion).

Spring 2018

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President’s Message Faith Bell, Society President

SPRING! As life wakes up from winter in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Museum is humming along. With the return of Sarah Kaufman, our Managing Director and Curator, from maternity leave, roles and responsibilities will shift back to a new normal. Our strong team of three, Sarah, Amy and Shawna will be taking us into a busy year.

We are all stewards of the cultural heritage of the Town of Niagara-On-The-Lake. There has been much conversation in Town over the past year on the preservation of our heritage – Parliament Oak School and the Randwood Estate just to mention two. As the Niagara Historical Society, we have a commitment to the upkeep, the interpretation and preservation of the heritage of NOTL. This not only includes collecting, storing, and providing resources for the interpretation of our heritage. It also includes the care of our own buildings. Our current restoration work is very near completion. We must show our heritage buildings the respect by keeping and maintaining them and we must grow this institution to house the many artifacts and records of our historical town. We are working forward on the plans for an addition where the barn stood behind Memorial Hall and will soon be able to introduce these concepts to the public. Those who attended the AGM in October, 2017 were given a look at these concepts during the presentation by our architects, Lynch+Comisso. This is an exciting time and we all have to remember that to respect our heritage we must also have the room to grow our archives, to preserve our artifacts and the show what Niagara-on-the-Lake is all about.

At our AGM in October, the membership voted that an advisory committee (Municipal Museum Advisory Committee) be formed to gather information about Municipal funding and being a Municipal Museum. This committee was to be headed by Julian Rance. Unfortunately, Julian is having to pull back from commitments for health reasons and we are in need of a person to head this advisory committee. Could you lend your talents to this committee? Do you like doing research and hunting down facts and information? We could use your expertise on this committee. If you are interested please call the Museum with your contact info. We have a base study that was done in 2016 that will give you a basis to work forward.

I look forward to seeing you all during the coming year of activities around the Museum.

DIANA BELLERBY We are saddened to announce the passing of past volunteer Diana Bellerby on Dec. 15, 2017. In her career, Di worked at the AGO as an Education Officer and also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario College of Art. After moving to NOTL upon her husband Gordon’s retirement, she rented studio space in the town’s old waterworks building. Realising the potential of the lovely old building as an artists’ workshop and gallery space, she was an influential partner behind the establishment of the Niagara Pumphouse Visual Art Centre. She also volunteered here at the Museum and enjoyed working with our art collection. She added some wonderful descriptions of our paintings to our database. Diana will surely be missed!

CONTACT US 43 Castlereagh Street, PO Box 208 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 Phone: 905-468-3912 | Fax: 905-468-1728

contact@nhsm.ca

Visit us at www.niagarahistorical.museum

Niagara Historical Society & Museum

MUSEUM HOURS The Museum is open daily year-round . May-October: 10 am to 5 pm | November-April: 1 pm to 5 pm

The Museum is closed: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, NEW** Closed December 18 - 31

@NHS_Museum /NHSMuseum

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Faith Bell, President David Hemmings, VP Museum Suzanne Hebert, VP Society Mona Babin Treasurer Ted Rumble, Secretary John Sayers Lorraine Joyner Denise Ascenzo Doug Phibbs Chris Pratt Ron Dale Paolo Miele - Town Rep.

HONORARY LIFE SUPPORTERS Joy Ormsby Dr. Richard Merritt Christopher Allen Robert Knight

MUSEUM STAFF

Sarah Maloney Kaufman Managing Director skaufman@nhsm.ca

Shawna Butts Assistant Curator sbutts@nhsm.ca

GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM:

www.niagarahistorical.museum

Amy Klassen Society Administrator

aklassen@nhsm.ca