Today is the 200th anniv.of General Isaac Brock's battlefield death

The cairn of Canada's War of 1812 hero Gen. Isaac Brock glows in a ghostly blood-red light, on the bloody slope where he was mortally wounded exactly two hundred years ago, in fierce battle with attacking American forces. The cairn reads:

"Near this spot, Sir General Isaac Brock, KCB, Provisional Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, fell on 13 October 1812 while advancing to repel the invading enemy"

This stone cairn was placed here by His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince Of Wales, on September 18, 1860.

In the upper right distance, overlooking the battlefield from the top of Niagara's Queenston Heights, towers the Brock Monument, where General Brock's body lays interred.
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Barn fire near Niagara College

Just after 6 pm on Jan.8, 2010, there was a fire in a barn at the rear of the Royal Niagara golf course property (which is opposite to Niagara College's vineyard along Taylor Rd.) The barn was located almost at the bottom of the escarpment rise, on the west side of Taylor Rd., north of Garner Rd. Taylor Rd. was shut down to all traffic for several hours as firefighters doused the blaze in the below freezing weather.
Amongst several outbuildings here, there is also an old brick farmhouse (seen below, Jan.9, 2010)... .... which fronts onto Taylor Rd.; I remember that about ten years ago there was still a farm here. The course opened in June of 2001. The barn that had the fire is in the rear to the left, out of frame.
A large portion of the golf course's land is leased from the St.Lawrence Seaway, which had assembled, through purchase and expropriation, huge swaths of land in anticipation of building the fifth Welland super-canal along here.


Above photos and videos further below taken about 6:30 pm, Jan.8, 2010, by R. Bobak.
Below: same view on Jan.9, 2010; the barn was still smouldering. The golf course is seen in the background.

Olympic Torch runs through Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

above: Dec.20, 2009 - crowds line Hwy.55 in Virgil, NOTL, cheering as the Olympic Flame Torch Run arrives.

above: Dec.20, 2009; in Virgil, one of the torch runners leaves the bus

above: Dec.20, 2009 - in Virgil, the passing of the Olympic flame, as another torch is just about to receive the flame. If anyone knows the names of some of the particpants here, please let me know

above: Dec.20, 2009 - as the Olympic flame was making its way down Hwy.55 from Virgil, people were already assembling in Niagara-on-the-Lake, waiting for its arrival along Queen St. by the Courthouse.

above: Dec.20, 2009 - awaiting the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a girl proudly displays a sign reading "My Mom is an Olympian and She is carrying the Olympic torch today"!

above: Dec.20, 2009 - crowds gathered by the NOTL Cenotaph as the Olympic Torch run approaches

above: Dec.20, 2009, people stand on the steps of the Old Courthouse, awaiting the Olympic Torch.

In both Virgil and in Niagara-on-the-Lake's Old Town, there truly was a palpable and authentic joyfulness in the crowds as they assembled in anticipation for the arrival of the Torch. Celebratory outbursts of cheers, hoots and hollers were heard as the Olympic Flame approached, rising in joyous, awe-inspiring support as the Torch bearers came into view and passed. It was amazing, and humbling, to have seen our spirited, local contribution within such a memorable, national chain of events.

It was a proud day to be Canadian.

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Penny Coles wrote in "NOTL vet carries torch on behalf of War Amps" (Niagara Advance, Dec.22, 2009, here):

"Percy Rescorl, a 90-year-old Second World War veteran from NOTL, has the flame passed to him by a young girl on Queen Street.

In the distance, the flashing lights of a police vehicle could be seen making its way toward Virgil, as hundreds of people lined the streets, waving flags in anticipation of the Olympic Torch Relay as it passed through town Sunday.

After the police came the red Coca Cola trucks, loud speakers blasting and employees handing out souvenir Coke bottles, the blue RBC truck with tambourines, all designed to whip the crowd into a frenzy as the torch bearers arrived.

It wasn't necessary - the crowd was there to cheer on their family, friends and neighbours who had been chosen for the honour, already excited and thrilled to witness the flame on its journey to Vancouver, igniting the country as it goes.

Some of the torchbearers were from Grimsby, Beamsville and Jordan, others - like Virgil Public School student Daniel Unger who jogged easily with his torch proudly held high - were from Niagara-on-the-Lake and were swarmed by locals, all were united by the exhilaration of being part of the excitement and Olympic spirit that is uniting Canadians.

Sunday was not the first time Percy Rescorl had proudly represented his country. He fought for Canada in the Second World War, and lost a leg in France. A member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, he was made a member of the Legion d'Honneur, a French order established to reward soldiers for exemplary service in 2007.

He brought up his family in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and has always been and continues to be an amazing man, says his daughters Florence, Lynn and Susanne.

He was proud to be chosen by War Amps Canada to participate in the torch relay, and excited that his family, including children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, friends and neighbours would be cheering him on.

"What an honour for this 90-year old vet to be nominated to carry the Olympic Torch for Canada and for the best athletes of the world," said Rescorl, adding that he would carry it with the same pride that he had fighting for his country.

He was taking part in the relay, he said, on behalf of all War Amps, including the young children, The Champs, whose courage and spirit he found inspiring as they learned to adjust to their new limbs.

Due to some confusion about where he would be passed the torch, more than 40 of Rescorl's family and friends waited to cheer him on at Navy Hall, and were saddened to learn, too late, that his turn came along Queen Street, fittingly enough leading up to the NOTL Cenotaph.

But although Rescorl was disappointed not to see his family as he carried the torch, the camaraderie on the shuttle from other torch carriers and the support from Kimberly Ribble, a 2000 Olympian who represented Canada in the sport of judo, helped to make the day a positive experience."

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For his friends and family, I have a video of Mr.Rescorl proudly holding high Canada's Olympic Torch as he passed by the Cenotaph in Niagara-on-the-Lake, on Dec.20, 2009.

Thank you, Sir.

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For more photos of Day 52 (Niagara's portion) of the Olympic Torch Run, see the official Vancouver 2010 website here.

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Revisiting "Old Niagara on the Lake"

A favourite book of mine is Peter John Stokes' 1971 hardcover Old Niagara on the Lake, which was illustrated with sketches of a number of local historic structures drawn by Robert Montgomery. Stokes chose to focus on 58 various properties, providing a well-detailed historical commentary alongside each of Montgomery's sketches. The sketch on the book's cover, above, was for example, property number 14, the MacDougal-Harrison House at 165 Queen st., as also seen later below.
In this essay, I re-visit the historic properties which Stokes and Montgomery had commemorated some thirty-eight years ago.
The 'today' photos, taken in Nov.2009, follow the same order in which Stokes presented them in his book.
For the history and context to the original sketches of each featured property, consult the book! It is a great read, and the 1971 sketches, compared to today's photos, do show some surprises. It is amazing the extent to which so much architecture has remained in-situ all these years in this historic town. Enjoy.
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Below is one photo from Stokes' book, Old Niagara on the Lake, showing the south side of Queen St., looking eastward from Regent St., ca. 1870. Note the Courthouse, with its cupola, in the centre.
above: same view, Nov.2009 - many of the same buildings remain. The Courthouse (with its cupola undergoing some maintenance) is still in the centre.

1. (above) The Niagara Apothecary, 1820, formerly Field's Drugstore, is seen at the right, on the north-west corner of Queen St. (seen along the front) and King St. (seen at the right) in Niagara On The Lake, Ontario.

2. McKee-Dodson House, ca. 1835, 18 Prideaux St.

3. Stewart-McLeod House, ca. 1830, 42 Prideaux St.

4. The Promenade House, ca.1820, 55 Prideaux St.

5. Kerr-Wooll House, ca. 1815, Demeath, 69 Prideaux St.

6. Dobie-Campbell House, ca. 1835, 83 Prideaux St. 7. Davidson-Campbell house, ca. 1845, 87 Prideaux St.

8. Winterbottom-Gullion House, ca. 1835, 134 Queen St.

9. Kirby House, ca. 1818, 130 Front St.

9. Historical Plaque in front of the Kirby House on 130 Front st., reads:

"In this house built in 1818, William Kirby, F.R.S.C., historian, novelist, poet, and editor of the Niagara Mail, lived from 1857 to 1906. His historical romance, The Golden Dog, stimulated interest in Canada's history and won for him international renown."

Stokes, though, wrote in his book that Kirby lived here from 1855 to 1906.

Kirby also wrote Annals Of Niagara and Canadian Idylls.
9. Another plaque dedicated to William Kirby can also be found located on the east-side wall of the Courthouse building on Queen St.

10. Wilson-Kent House, ca. 1816, 175 (now177) Victoria St.

11. McClelland's West End Store. ca. 1835, 106 Queen St.

12. The Customs House, ca. 1825, 126 Queen St.

13. Rogers-Harrison House, ca.1823, 157 Queen St.

14. MacDougal-Harrison House, ca. 1820, 165 Queen St. This is the home which was on the cover of Stokes' book.

15. Crysler-Rigg House, ca. 1822, Roslyn Cottage, 187 Queen St.

16. Richardson-Kylie House, 1832, 209 Queen St.

17. Camp-Thompson House, 1818, 307 Mississauga St.

18. Breakenridge-Ure House, ca. 1823, 240 Centre St.

19. Breakenridge-Hawley House, ca. 1818, 392 Mississauga St.

20. The Creen House, ca. 1817-25, 363 Simcoe St.

21. St.Andrew's Church, 1831, Simcoe St.

22. Lockhart-Moogk House, ca. 1817, Storrington, 289 Simcoe St.
23. Butler House, ca. 1817, 275 Simcoe St. (was originally on the Butler lands at 590 Mississauga St.)

24. Clench House, ca.1824, 234 Johnson St., under renovation in Nov.2009

25. MacMonigle-Craik House, ca. 1818, 240 Gate St.

26. Greenlees-Craik House, ca. 1822, 135 Johnson St.

27. Varey-Thalmann Houses, ca. 1840, 115-19 Johnson St.

28. Carlisle-Brook House, ca. 1850, 315 Victoria St.

29. Blain-Lansing House, 1835, The Post House, 95 Johnson St. 30. Vanderlip-Marcy House, ca. 1816, 96 Johnson St. 31. Jones-Eckersley-Brownell House, ca. 1833, 58 Johnson St.

32. Barker Hall, ca. 1831, 46 Johnson St.

33. The Angel Inn, ca. 1825, Market St.

34. Dee-LeDoux Building, ca. 1843, 54-8 Queen St.

35. Alma's store, 1825, The Yardstick, 46 Queen St.

36. Sherlock Block, ca. 1850, 34-6 Queen St.

37. The Courthouse, 1847, Queen St.

38. above - The Sign of the Pineapple, ca. 1830, 16 Queen St., as seen Nov.14, 2009.

Two neighbouring buildings to the left, which had burned down in Oct. 2009, have been torn down and hoarding has now been put up along the sidewalk. Smoke damage can still be seen on the sidewall of the building now housing The Owl and the Pussycat shop. Note the pineapple!

38. above - As seen on Oct.26, 2009 - the Owl and Pussycat with the burned out remains of the storefronts which had stood at the left. (see also here) Firetrucks are still at the scene.

38. another view of the Sign of the Pineapple, seen centre-left above. This perspective looks westward along Queen St., from King St. The Cenotaph can be seen along the right, and the buildings which burned down in 2009 are seen on this side of the Pineapple; a tip of the former firehall's brick parapet can be seen set back at the upper left. At the lower left is the building on the south-west corner of Queen and King which survived the fire. The Courthouse is seen in the left distance. Date not known, probably early fifties.

39. Bank of Upper Canada. ca. 1817, 10 Front St.

40. The Whale Inn, 1835, 66 King St., right beside the Niagara River; Fort Niagara, on the American shore, can be seen across the river at the left.

41. The Anglican Rectory at St.Mark's Church, 1858, 17 Byron St.
42. St.Mark's Church, 1805 & 1843, looking from the north-west

42. St.Mark's Anglican (Episcopalian) Church in Niagara On The Lake, Ont., seen from Byron St. Sign notes "Parish 1792 - founded - building 1805"

42. St.Mark's Church historical plaque. (click any photo to enlarge!)

43. St.Vincent de Paul Church Historical Plaque, Picton St.
43. St.Vincent de Paul Church, 1834, Picton St.

44. Moffat's Hotel, ca.1835, 60 Picton St.

45. Baike-Borsook house, ca. 1842, 230 Davy St.

46. Dover-Daley House, ca. 1839, 20 Platoff St.

47. Malcolmson-Walker House, ca. 1845, 16 Platoff St.

48. Moore-Bishop-Stokes House, ca. 1828, 244 King St.

49. Stewart-Anderson House, ca. 1835, 507 Butler St.

50. Miller-Taylor house, 1817, 46 Mary St.

51. Cameron-Farren house, ca.1817, 708 King St.

52. Miss Young's School, 1816, 630 King St.

53. Dickson-Potter House, ca. 1860, 94 John St.

54. Dickson-Rand House, ca. 1825, Randwood, 178 (was 120) John St.
55. Commissariat's Quarters, ca. 1817, on the Military Reserve

56. Powell-Cavers House, ca.1818, 433 King St. Stokes wrote that this property was also "known as Brockamour, the allusion being to John Powell's sister-in-law, Sophia Shaw, believed to be [Isaac] Brock's fiancee, who had been staying in the Powell's summer house on the River Rd. near Queenston." Stokes wrote that part of the original house survived the holocaust of 1813, when the Americans burned the town.

57. above: seen in deep lush green of the summer of 2009, the white gate at left marks house and lot at 407 King St., which was known as The Wilderness, ca.1816.

above: same view as previous shot, The Wilderness gate in an autumn 2009 view.

above: same view as previous two shots - this postcard (date undetermined) shows The Wilderness area at the left, with the row of magnificent trees along the west side of King St. which is still seen there today. In this view, note that the railway tracks of the former Michigan Central railroad can be seen running along the east side of King St. The railroad line once ran all the way from the Niagara On The Lake docks at the Niagara River to Niagara Falls, Ont. At the right (east) is the edge of the Military Reserve.

58. Lyons-Jones House, ca.1835, 8 Centre St.

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Above recent photos by R. Bobak, were taken in November, 2009, and based on the book Old Niagara on the Lake by Peter John Stokes.

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