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THE NIAGARA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
It is dated the 13th of October, 1896, and I quote as follows: "It is much to be regretted that an Historical Society had not been formed here a score of years ago, when Pioneers and Veterans were alive, who could have told us so much that we have no means of obtaining. Our thoughts tonight must be both retrospective and prospective. We speak of what has been done and what we hope to do. In 1892, a small society was formed, chiefly with the view of giving assistance to the Centenary proceedings on July 26th. It is believed only two meetings were held and one open meeting, at which a paper was read, "Niagara, One Hundred Years Ago", which was printed by the Lundy's Lane Historical Society. The Officers were: President: William Kirby; Secretary: Dan Servos; Treasurer: D. MacDougall.
"In November, 1895, a meeting was called by all interested, as it was felt strongly by a few that in this historic spot, such a Society should exist. I had thought of a suitable President to propose, but found to my astonishment and dismay, that I was selected for the position. It was with feelings of great diffidence that I engaged in the task, for we had been assured that it was useless to try to break down the cold, dead wall of apathy and indifference that we everywhere encountered and as to collect relics, everything valuable had disappeared, was either destroyed or given away."
I think that Miss Carnochan was regarded by the people that were associated with her in the actual work of the Society as its Founder. Certainly, she was the driving spirit and following along reports and papers, she was so regarded. You will see from her address that this Society was not a revival or renewal of a previous organization, but an entirely new one and it has been the only one that has collected relics and established a Museum and has played a major part in putting our Town on the Map, Historically. I do not wish to be regarded as one belittling or ignoring the good work done by another eminent historian of our Town, for his work was excellent.
Here is the List of Officers for the Society for the years 1896 to 1897:
Patron - William Kirby, F. R. C. S.
President - Miss Janet Carnochan
Vice-President - Henry Paffard
Secretary - Alfred Ball
Treasurer - Mrs. A. Servos
Curator - Russell Wilkinson
Committee - Rev. J. C. Garrett
James B. Secord
John D. Servos
W. F. Seymour
Mrs. Ascher
In her address, Miss Carnochan pays tribute to a large number of people who had come forward with articles of historical interest. It speaks well for the co-operation of her staff of officers of the Historical Society and of the public of the whole surrounding territory that so much has been done. Certainly, Miss Carnochan must have had the confidence and trust of her fellow members, for they kept her in the position of President until she passed away in 1926.
TOWN OF NIAGARA PUBLIC LIBRARY
One of our institutions about which not much is said is our Public Library. So I thought it might be well to say something about it. It is one of our oldest institutions, as the first one we had dates from the year 1800. We do not know much about it, although our eminent historian Miss Carnochan wrote pretty fully about it. One thing we do know, however, is that it is one of the Firsts of which our Old Town can boast, it having been the first of its kind in Ontario. What I am concerned about mainly are the people that conceived and created it.
In the closing years of the nineteenth century, things about here were in a pretty crude state and those early citizens must have missed many of the comforts of life which they had enjoyed before coming to the Canadian wilderness. Books must have been pretty scarce and the people who thought of them must have been those of some education with a taste for literature. I have before me, Miss Carnochan's article on the First Library, written in 1894. One of the outstanding men of the time seems to have been Andrew Heron. He seems to have been a stayer in the business as when the Library was in danger of collapse, owing to the failure of its members to support it properly, he finally took it over and ran it.
He was a newspaperman, his paper being the "Gleaner", which existed for a long time. All of our early library existence was on a membership basis, and while from time to time we received grants of public monies, membership had to be paid. It is only of late years that our Library was really a public one and run and paid for by the public.
Many of the names of the men of that day are or were fairly familiar ones, such as Crooks, Muirhead, Butler, Young, Powell, Hamilton, Wagstaff, McClelland, Burns, McEwan. One must recollect that in those days, there were not the many books of light reading that now adorn our bookshelves. The reading matter furnished for and by that first Library was usually pretty heavy stuff, books of sermons, poetical works, historical works, legal commentaries, etc. Of course, those were serious days and in the midst of them, along came Uncle Sam and burned up our Town, Library and all. Rather discouraging don't you think, for the people who had started our Library and who survived the War of 1812? At one time, that early Library had nearly 1,000 volumes, copies of old country periodicals, letters of various people, books of travel, lectures, etc. Miss Carnochan has a catalogue of them and while much of the material would be considered dry nowadays, it shows good taste in the selection of reading matter.
I would not think of belittling the men and boys of our day, but it would be nice to be able to look ahead a bit and make up our minds to do something that would benefit those who came after us. I used to hear these two men spoken of in my early days and I never heard anything about them that was not creditable. Mr. Young was not buried in St. Andrew's graveyard as he met his death by drowning in Lake Ontario. But anyone and everyone who attends St. Andrew's can see his memorial and the many men who have ministered to the people of St. Andrew's could think of John Young who gave them a lift in a very material way.
Andrew Heron seems to have carried on that first Library for quite a number of years after he became the sole proprietor of it and we later on find, as old age crept up on him, that he relinquished not only the Library, but also his newspaper, "The Gleaner". This paper was advertised for sale by a nephew of his, another Andrew Heron. There is evidence that between 1818 and 1848, there were several Libraries carried on. None of these were strictly speaking, "Public Libraries", as they were all membership organizations, carried on by and for their members. In fact, not until 1938 did we have a really Public Library. But through all the years, there seem to have been people who loved books and reading, some of who regarded books and libraries as means of education and uplift. Thus it came about that those so interested conceived the idea of founding a substantial library. I have copies of addresses by Miss Carnochan and William Kirby, delivered on the occasion of the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the present Library. I should like to mention that Miss Carnochan in her address gives the name of Hon. W. H. Dickson as the first President, while William Kirby gives the name of Robert Dickson. Another thing we might mention is that Andrew Heron became Vice-President in 1850. This must have been the nephew of the first Andrew Heron who had passed away in 1846. This similarity of names sometimes causes one "furiously to think, " and I must confess that I did some thinking and searching before clearing up matters to my satisfaction.
Some of those who served in the various positions in the Library Organization did so for lengthy periods. Judge E. C. Campbell was President for ten years, while Mr. Kirby served in the capacity for thirty years. I myself served nine years and William Harrison ten years. Mr. T. P. Blain was Secretary for nineteen years. Miss Carnochan for thirty-five years, myself for ten years. Henry Paffard was Treasurer for thirty-six years, Miss Carnochan for fifteen years and I served ten years.
The List of Presidents with the year of their appointment is here given: Walter H. Dickson, 1848; Judge E. C. Campbell, 1850; Henry Paffard, 1860; Judge J. M. Lawder, 1864; S. H. Follett, 1866; W. H. Withrow, 1870; William Kirby, 1873; Rev. J. C. Garrett, 1903; Jos. F. Greene, 1910; Rev. A. F. MacGregor, 1912; J. DeW. Randall, 1914; E. H. Shepherd, May 9, 1914; Jos. F. Greene, 1917; C. W. Inksater, 1918; Jos. E. Masters, 1919; W. H. Harrison, 1928; and Jos. E. Masters, 1938 to 1944. This last was under the modern library set up.
Vice-Presidents: Judge E. C. Campbell, 1848; Andrew Heron, 1850; Geo. Boomer, 185l; John Whitelaw, 1853; Edward Dixon, 1855; A. Martin, 1856; Wm. Kirby, 1857; William Turner, 1858; F. G. Nash, April 30, 1859; Henry Paffard, Nov. 8, 1859; Captain Baxter, 1862; F. G. Nash, 1864; Wm. Kirby, 1866; Dr. R. M. Willson, 1870; W. Graham, 187l; Wm. Kirby, 1872; George B. Boyle, 1873; Geo. A. Clement, 1875; Forbes Geddes, 1880; H. A. Garrett, 1883; Rev. J. C. Garrett, 1892; J. F. Greene, 1903; Alfred Ball, 1907; Dr. H. L. Anderson 1909; Rev. A. F. MacGregor, 1910; J. DeW. Randall, 1912; E. H. Shepherd, 1914; A. Onslow, 1914; C. W. Inksater, 1917; G. S. Bale, 1918; E. H. Shepherd, 1919; Rev. A. F. MacGregor, 1923; J. F. Greene, 1925; Jas. L. Craise, 1928; Rev. A. MacFarlane 1932. I may remark here, that Mr. Randall died in office as President and was succeeded by Mr. Shepherd as Vice President, Mr. Onslow becoming Vice-President.
The offices of Secretary and Treasurer were not often held by the same person, except the first and a few of the last. W. G. F. Downs was the First Secretary and was also Treasurer, but only for a short time. Next came Henry Mellville, Dec. 5, 1848; John Whitelaw, Nov. 5, 1850; James Dunn, Nov. 21, 1851; Wm. Kirby, Nov. 2, 1852; Wm. Turner, Nov. 11, 1856; J. S. Dawley, Nov. 9, 1858; John A. Blake, Mar. 28, 1860; E. C. Campbell, Nov. 1861; Nelson Burns, Oct. 21, 1862; John Currie, Nov. 27, 1862; John R. Monroe, Nov. 5, 1864; Henry Paffard, Nov. 13, 1866; A. R. Willson, Nov. 14, 187l; T. P. Blain, Nov. 12, 1872; Miss Janet Carnochan, May 1, 1891; Mrs. M. M. Brown, April 8, 1926; J. E. Masters, May l5, 1928 - 1938.
W. G. F. Downs was the first of the Treasurers and was also Secretary and Librarian, but only for a short time, from Oct. 24th, 1848. Next came Thomas Eedson, Nov. 2lst, 185l; J. S. Dawley, Nov. 8th, 1858; John A. Blake, March 28th, 1860; E. C. Campbell, 186l; Nelson Burns, Oct. 21st, 1862; John Currie, Nov. 27th, 1862; John R. Monroe, Nov. 5th, 1864; Arch McMurchy, Nov. 13th, 1865; Henry Paffard, Nov. 13th, 1866; R. E. Dennison, Jan. 13th, 1902; Wm. Miller, May 6th, 1904; W. J. Wright, Jan.9, 1905; Miss Janet Carnochan, Jan. 10th, 1910; Mrs. M. M. Brown, April 8th, 1926; Jos. E. Masters, May 15th, 1928.
The Librarians have been as follows: W. G. F. Downs, Oct. 24th, 1848; Thomas Eedson, Nov. 22nd, 185l; John McKenzie, Nov. 13th, 1866; Miss Mary Follett, May 3rd, 2886; Miss M. B. Hutton (Curtis), Aug. 12th, 1886; Miss Ada Blake (Davidson) May 3, 1887; Miss A. C. Winterbottom, Oct. 30th, 1893; Miss Janet Carnochan, Jan. 16th, 1908; Alfred Ball, April 15th, 1908; Miss V. E. Carnochan (O'Donnell), Oct. 19th, 1914; Miss Emily Bayley, Mar. 29th, 1917; Miss E. C. Masters (Jarvis); Feb. 19th, 1923; Miss C. M. Masters (Woodruff), Sept. 29th, 1926; W. D. Caskey, Mar. 18th, 1933; the present Librarian, Miss K. Duddy, (1955).
I should like to comment a little about these people, many of whom were known to me. Among the Presidents, I remember them all from Mr. Paffard down except Rev. Mr. Withrow. Mr. Dickson was a Lawyer and one of the outstanding men of his day. Judge Campbell seems to have been the leading spirit in Library matters.
As for Mr. Paffard, he was for many years the financial mainstay of the Library and we must not forget that he found time to serve the Town for twenty-six years as Mayor. He was head of the Western Home Committee for years and was active in Church Matters. A quiet, unassuming man, a perfect gentleman he was, respected and looked up to by everyone. I never knew Judge Lawder, personally, but I often saw him while he lived here retired. Steve Follett was one of the solid men of the community. He served the Town for twenty-two years as Mayor, Reeve and Councilor, besides running his grocery business. William Kirby was a newspaperman at first, but when I knew him, he was Collector of Customs. He is best known however, as a writer and historian. He made himself useful to the community in many ways and stands out among his fellows as a man of note.
Canon Garrett was best known as Rector of St. Mark's. I was closely associated with him for many years in Church and Sunday School and came to know him well and to like and respect him. Joe Greene was one of the best known men in the District and was President in 1910 and 1917. Joe was a fine man and served in Council for some years. He was County Warden in 1907. Rev. A. F. MacGregor was a fine, scholarly man, much interested in literature and pleasant to work with. John Randall was another useful man, busy in Church, Politics and Council work. He was Mayor several times and served on the Western Home Committee for years. Unfortunately he died soon after becoming President of the Library. W. H. Shepherd was elected in his stead and served for three years. He was our local Magistrate for a number of years until he passed on. Bill Inksater was President in 1918. Many will remember him, as he had the Dry Goods business in the building where the Greaves factory is now. In 1919, I, Joseph E. Masters, became President and carried on until 1928 when Will Harrison took over and I became Secretary-Treasurer until the new arrangement came along. Mr. Harrison and I are still here and I shall only say about us, that we have served many long years in the various organizations of the Town. Mr. Harrison first entered Town Council in 1908 and finished in 1938. I first sat on the School Board in 1904, and finished up in 1944 and finished up in 1944 as Town Clerk and Treasurer.
Now, in regard to the status of the Libraries that have served us, may I say that we never had much money to carry on. To be sure, we received Provincial Grants from time to time, but these were not always easy to get, as they depended upon a certain amount being raised locally. By the time the new regulations were put into effect, we found ourselves up against it for cash and the Town took over and the Library became a real Public Library. Under this new arrangement, I was one of the Town appointees and was President from 1938 to 1944 when a failure of health forced my retirement.
Forbes Geddes held the office for three years. Mr. Geddes was agent for the Railway and was quite a scholarly man. He used to sit as Lay Reader in St. Mark's in Dr. McMurray's time. In 1883, H. A. Garrett became Vice-President. He was quite a fussy old gentleman in my time who had not much to do, but managed to put in thirteen years in Town Council, two of them as Mayor. Next we have Canon John C. Garrett, Rector of St. Mark's, who served from 1892 to 1902 as Vice-President and then as President from 1903 to 1909 inclusive. Then came Joe Greene in 1903, followed by Alfred Ball and then Dr. Anderson, the beloved physician. Among the rest of whom I have not written specifically is Arthur Onslow, a very fine chap, who was a fruit farmer and a very cultivated man. Another was G. S. Bale, who was the High School Principal, a good teacher, who was here for some years. Then there was Jas. Craise, a retired farmer who was prominent in School Board matters in the Township for many years. Then there was Rev. Alfred MacFarlane, Minister of St. Andrews and a very good friend of mine. Many a chat we had together and I was sorry when he passed away too quickly. Some of the Secretaries and Treasurers I have already mentioned. John A. Blake was Secretary in 1860 and Treasurer in the same year. I remember him very well as I used to see him out fishing quite often during the season. He used to be connected with the Tannery that was at the Dock. Tom Blain was Secretary from 1872 to 188l, when he became County Gaoler and moved to St. Catharines. He was a Dry Goods Merchant in the Bates store and was a very useful and public spirited citizen, active in many of the Town Organization, including the Town Council, where he served nine years, two of them as Reeve.
Miss Janet Carnochan came next as Secretary and served from 189l until her passing away in 1926. I was President during the latter years of her life and can speak of her zeal in and for the Library. Between my having been a pupil of hers in High School and our close association in Library matters, I came to know her very well indeed. She was a fine woman and a great loss to the whole Town when she was taken away. Milly Brown was Secretary Treasurer for the next two years. She too had been one of Miss Carnochan's pupils and was a contemporary of mine at School. After her came your humble servant, Joseph E. Masters from 1928 to 1938.
Three of the Treasurers I should like to mention. There was R. E. Dennison, a private Banker, who was Treasurer in 1902-3. While here he served five years in Council and was a Churchwarden of St. Mark's. Then there was William Miller, who was a Tailor. A very popular fellow, he was and put in four years in Council, two of them as Mayor. Lastly, there was W. J. Wright, who was High School Principal, who went from here to St. Mary's. He went overseas in the First Great War and gave his life for us. He came to see me just before he went overseas, as we had become very close friends. I was on the High School Board was Principal.
I should like to give you the addresses given by Miss Carnochan and William Kirby at the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of the present Library and will probably do so. So far, I have tried to give you some idea of the kind of people who ran our Library in times past.
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBRARY, December 12th, 1898
KIRBYThe Fiftieth Anniversary of the Mechanics Institute and Public Library offers two subjects of desirable consideration - one of thankfulness that our Institution has lived fifty years of usefulness in the cause of education; and the other a cause of pleasing retrospect of the men who have guided its course and the events that have marked its career.
It was in 1848 that a few gentlemen in Niagara met together and resolved to establish a library of books and courses of public lectures in all suitable for the promotion of useful knowledge among the inhabitants of the Town -- to furnish the means of reading and study -- to take the place of much empty, if not vicious amusements.
It was remembered that Niagara had once possessed a large and good public library which had been highly prized and extensively used by the old Townsmen, the First Library in the Province. It was an enviable distinction of the one time Capital of Upper Canada. That Library was burnt by the public enemy in the general conflagration by the order and act of General McClure, when he was defeated and fled across the river on that memorable December night of 1813. The Town was slowly rebuilt and reoccupied, but it was not until 1848 that a Public Library was again established.
The want was keenly felt. A large and intelligent class of people had settled in the Town, Mechanics at the great Dock works, retired Military Officers and Merchants of public spirit, Lawyers and others who loved books and reading and found themselves cramped for want of a Library to supply their literary requirements.
The chief promoters of the Public Library were the late John Simpson, Captain Melville, Dr. More with Robert Dickson, Judge Campbell and other spirited gentlemen, who met and organized a Library -- at first with gifts of books which form now the oldest and most solid and classical part of our Library.
A society was formed called the Mechanics Institute -- Mr. Dickson was the first President under a Constitution, which with change of name, has practically regulated the Government of the Library to the present time.
The Library was first placed in the room generously given by Mr. John Simpson, the corner room upstairs now of Mr. John Bishop's store. Its successive Presidents were Judge Campbell, a most judicious and painstaking manager, Judge Lawder, Rev. Dr. Withrow and myself.
The Secretaries were at one time - myself, Mr. T. P. Blain and Miss Janet Carnochan, the present Secretary, who in zeal and industry excels us all. Mr. Henry Paffard has, for a generation past, been our good and safe Treasurer. I cannot recall the name of our first Librarian, but for many years, that office was faithfully performed without fee or reward by Mr. Thomas Eedson, Miss Ada Blake, Miss Follett, Miss Hutton and that fine old Highland Veteran, John McKenzie, who all admired and some feared if they in any way broke the rules of the Library. Miss Winterbottom, the present Librarian is doing the library good service by her faithful attendance to its duties.
The Library has had to move its location several times before it was granted the room it now occupies. After removing from Mr. Simpson's building, it occupied a portion of the present residence of Mr. Henry Paffard, and then a room in Mr. Harvey's building -- then the present Custom's Office -- next as it grew in size, the Corporation granted it the Grand Jury Room in the Court House -- and lastly, the present Library Room, formerly part of the Market House and I am safe in saying that much is the growth of our Library, now exceeding 4,000 volumes, that in a few years, it will be crowded out of even that large room. It will be the task of the future members and managers of the Association to consider how to acquire the enlarged accommodation that will be needed. Let us hope that they will succeed and that long before the Centennial Anniversary of the Public Library, they may have a large, handsome building of their own, worthy of the Town and worthy of the cause of education to which it will be devoted.
As with all mundane societies, our Library has seen many vicissitudes in its career and suffered a slow starvation for many years after its foundation, a great dearth of books and not much money to buy them. At length, the Union Government of Canada came to the relief of the Institute with an annual grant of fifty pounds, that is 200 dollars, which enabled us to make rapid and extensive additions to the Library and its management became of business of pleasure and stability. Those grants continued until the Confederation of the Provinces, when the support of our Mechanics Institutes devolved upon the Province of Ontario. Another period of scarcity ensued and the Library had again to economize, but all lent a willing hand to keep things together. All services were performed gratuitously and soon relief came. When the Province of Ontario was established in 1867, Niagara, which had a separate representative in the Legislative Assembly, wisely elected the Honorable Stephen Richards as its member. He was also a member of the Government as Commissioner of Crown Lands.
The officers of the Library thought it a good plan to propose to the Government of Ontario through their representative Mr. Richards, to place all Mechanics Institutes in Ontario on a similar footing as Agricultural Societies and ask that a grant in aid to them be made yearly on the basis of one dollar from Government granted for every dollar up to two hundred spent on certain classes of books by the Library Board. Mr. Richards warmly accepted the suggestion, procured its adoption by the Government and Legislature, and in that way, all the Institutes in the Province have received Government support up to the present time. To Niagara, belongs the credit for this measure. Its continuance has enabled old libraries to flourish and new libraries to be formed in every part of Ontario, to the great benefit and enlightenment of the people everywhere.
In addition to the great facilities offered by our Library by books and magazines, another source of intellectual profit and pleasure was opened by lectures of learned gentlemen on subjects of science and letters. These form pleasant memories; I recollect most of them. One of the oldest was a lecture by the able and eloquent Rev. Egerton Ryerson, on popular education. He was afterwards the Superintendent of Schools in Ontario, the founder of our Common School System in the Province.
The Master of the Grammar School, Dr. Whitelaw, a most learned and estimable scholar, used to lecture on Chemistry and the Rev. Mr. Mowatt, now Professor of Hebrew in Queen's Collage, Kingston, lectured on Literary subjects. The Rev. Charles Campbell and Mr. Mulvaney, I recall as able and pleasant lecturers. The old Sheriff Col. Kingsmill lectured on the Peninsular War, in which he served under Wellington and who also had served as an officer of the Garrison of St. Helena, during the captivity of the Ex-Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
The eloquent Irishman, D'Arcy McGee lectured for us on the poets Moore and Burns. Mr. Paffard, so long our worthy Mayor, also favoured us and Wm. Kirby on the new Philosophy of Swedenborg and many others whose names I do not at the moment recall.
Nor let it be forgotten -- the delightful concerts of music and exhibitions of "Tableaux Vivants", got up by the ladies of the Society in aid of its funds: Miss Victorine Allinson, Mrs. Robert Ball, Mrs. Daniel Servos, Miss Rye and others. Nor do I omit the theatrical performances, got up mainly by our clever artist Mr. Granger. Let him not be forgotten. He did so much for the Library and deserves more than our thanks for the scenery and decorations that he painted for the Tableaux and theatrical exhibitions.
In this brief summary of the fifty years work of the Niagara Public Library, I necessarily omit much of interest, but enough is recorded to show the great benefit the Town has derived from its existence among us. The Library extends and continues the education given by our Public Schools. It is a place where all may graduate in the possession of useful knowledge and bear the mark on their foreheads of intelligent manhood, of good loyal citizens of our happy country. May our Library exist and flourish forever.
William Kirby, F. R. C. S.
Read more about it!
ADDRESS BY MISS JANET CARNOCHAN
Moved by E. C. Campbell - that it is desirable to establish an Association in this own for the promotion of scientific pursuits, the advancement of knowledge, and the acquisition of a Library and necessary apparatus.
Other motions were made by Mr. Melville, Mr. Thomas Eedson, J. M. Lawder, Peter Shaw, John Simpson, Thomas McCormick, Sheriff Kingsmill, L. H. Mercer, George Bonner, and James Latouche. There were 100 members of whom only one is now living. The first meetings were held in the Police Office under the Judge's Room.
In 1850, Judge Campbell was President and seems to have remained for ten years. A motion of condolence is passed with the family at the loss of their President, January 1860, and a letter from his widow offering his electric apparatus.
In the Secretary's book dating from 1848 to 1862 and again from 1866 to the present time and the Treasurer's book to 1878, we find much curious information as to purchasing chairs, tables, stoves, apparatus; one item reads strangely to us now, the purchase of thirty pairs of candlesticks, snuffers and tray; lamps of Britannia metal; rent in different houses; lectures given by Dr. Whitelaw, Rev. J. B. Mowatt, Mr. Latouche, Mr. Jim Whitelaw, and Dr. Campbell.
As Secretary, we find Mr. Kirby in 1852, Mr. Dawley, Mr. John Blake, 1860; Mr. Senior, Mr. Paffard, Mr. T. P. Blain. As Librarian, Mr. Eedson for several years was paid $40.00 per year and then for several years, acting without any remuneration; then Mr. John McKenzie; then we find in later years, the help given by Miss Allinson, now Mrs. Richards in Concerts, Choral Society, etc. The Government grant was for many years $200.00, twice we see, $400.00. Then for some years, the grant was taken away and the Library was almost defunct and another trouble came as the Treasurer for 1865, decamped with the funds on hand. It was revived by Mr. Withrow. During 1866 to 1870, the receipts were very small and there is no record in the Secretary's Book, but in 187l, was a wonderful revival. An excursion to Buffalo realized $131.00, very different from one lately when the members of the Committee were glad to find that expenses were paid and a balance of $8.00 on hand.
In 1871, through the zeal of Mr. Withrow and the exertions of the officers in interesting the member S. Richards, the law was altered so that a grant of $400.00 was received and after that, the same in 1873.
In 1874 also, the money carried off by a defaulting Treasurer was returned, $134.00. Rev. Withrow was President in 1870. The writing in the Treasurer's book since 1866 is in the hand of Mr. Paffard, showing a continuous service of Treasurer for 32 years. In 1866, he was Secretary and Treasurer, while Mr. Kirby has held the position of President since 1874. In 1866, S. H. Follett was President. The Secretary in 1874 until 1890 was T. P. Blain.
The Library has gone through many vicissitudes. In 1880, there was no classification; the books came in and were placed on the shelves continuously. Three weeks were given the present Secretary in classifying, a number of young people giving their time and help in numbering and labeling. The number then was 2,300 and a printograph was obtained and by aid of Mr. Andrews, the Head Master of the High School, a catalogue was obtained. In 1894, the catalogue was revised, there being then, 4,000 volumes and a printed catalogue was obtained which has been of great service in aiding members.
Owing to the new regulations, great energy had to be shown in adding members, as 100 were required. Now there are 120, but for many years 50 to 60. A new Constitution was carefully prepared by the help of Mr. Geddes and Mr. Andrews. During many years, lectures formed a prominent feature, but of late years, these have been dispensed with. Mr. Nash was also a great friend of the Library. Great care has been taken in the choice of books, it being just as important to keep out a certain class of literature, as to try to obtain the very best. Many donations have been made to the Library of books and many books are found on our shelves that are now out of print and cannot be procured.
In Canadian History of late years, it is endeavored to make our collection rich. Donations from J. B. Plumb, Mr. Coit, Dr. McMurray and many others were received.
In the early years, we see expenses for moving books, but on the occasion of the last moving, although so many more books were to be removed, the work was done in a few hours without any expense whatever. The want of a ground floor room has been felt deeply as the third story of the Court House, although a long fine room, the old Grand Jury Room, tried the temper of many. For many years the matter was debated; how to procure a room, at once safe, suitable, commodious and we now think the problem has been solved in the present room, formerly the old market and which has become a rubbish room.
On the night of removal in April 1896, in a snowstorm, by the assistance of our own gentlemen members, assisted by a dozen stalwart Firemen, a continual procession carrying baskets and boxes of books, down the Grand Jury stairs, through the Music Hall, down through the side door to our beautiful new room where a dozen lady members of the Library arranged them on the shelves in order. Since then, more shelf room has been proved and we now number 4,600 volumes and only a few libraries in the Province have a larger collection. Few libraries can boast of having the same Treasurer for 32 years, while the President has been the same for 25 years. We owe much to the President in the selection of books and in zeal. At different times, money has been raised by subscription, the last one reaching fifty-five dollars, given cheerfully by members.
It may now be in order to tell something of the other Libraries in the Town. Instead of going back fifty years, we may unroll the page of time, as for almost a century there existed a valuable Library in the Town, which says much for its people, many of them having gone through many difficulties and yet eager in the study of literature. By the merest chance, I laid my hands one day on an old brown, leather covered record book with thick yellow pages of crabbed writing, the first entry reads thus: -- Niagara Library, 8th June, 1800. Sensible how much we are at a loss in this new and remote country, for every kind of useful knowledge and convinced that nothing would be of more use to diffuse knowledge amongst us and our offspring than a Library supported by subscription in this Town, we whose names are here subscribed, hereby associate ourselves together for that purpose and promise to pay annually, a sum not exceeding four dollars to be laid out in books as agreed upon by a majority of votes, at a yearly meeting to be held in this Town on the 18th of August, annually. The book contains a list of names of proprietors, the first year forty-one in number, their payments, catalogue with prices, rules and regulations, annual meetings and a list of subscribers. For 20 years, the record goes on. However, in 1820, a large sum was owing to Mr. Andrew Heron, the Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian, all in one and the Library became his to be used as a lending library and we know little more of it.
Also, there was an Agricultural Society and an Agricultural Library of 50 volumes, valuable books, which were added to our Library in 1805. Strange to say that though the Town was burnt, most of the Books were saved and must be scattered here and there in homes all though the land. Strangely enough, one of these has lately fallen into the hands of the Historical Society, No. 8l, by Matthew Henry. The first thirty books are Religious works, then History, Philosophy, Science, but very little fiction or poetry. The Library numbered nearly a thousand and singularly enough, two other libraries in Town, numbered about the same.
The Library of the Rev. Robert Addison is now in the Rectory of St. Mark's Church and contains many rare and curious folio editions and books, printed in Geneva, Layden, Rotterdam, etc.; books to delight the heart of the Bibliomaniac. Another library is St. Andrew's, founded in 1833, also numbering about a thousand. In the old newspapers of the Town are references to a Library Reading from about 1830 and many periodicals taken. Another book has the label "Niagara Library, 1825", so that it may be shown the History of the Library is almost continuous. We proudly recall that Niagara may boast the First Parliament, the First Newspaper in Upper Canada, almost the oldest Church Records, the First Agricultural Society, and also the First Library. May all the Secretaries, Treasurers and Librarians be as faithful and painstaking as that of the first Library, Mr. Andrew Heron.
In speaking of the benefit of books, of libraries, we cannot do better than close with the words of Ruskin: "Do you want an entree to the best Society, Education will enable us to have in our bookcases, the company of the good, the noble, the wise. Do you ask to be the companions of nobles, make yourselves noble? You must rise to the level of their thoughts, to enter this court with its society, wide as the world, multitudinous as its days, the chosen and the mighty of every place and time, here you may always enter. Into this select company, no wealth will bribe, no name overawe. You must fit yourself by labour and merit to understand the thoughts of those great minds. You must love them to become like them."
Janet Carnochan
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Streets and sidewalks do not last forever and Public Buildings need repair from time to time. Our population changes from year to year. New people come and others leave us. And more and more, I can see the need of people of vision and steadfast purpose to carry on the various institutions and organizations of and for the Community. It is so long since I attended school that I am not so familiar with the school curriculum as I could wish. I believe however, that the pupils and the teachers of our schools should be instructed in the details of Municipal Government. There are so many things about which we know little and care less.
Some years ago, I was asked by a person from out of town for a list of the things that made up the life and duty of a municipal clerk. You would be surprised at the long list. I do believe and would earnestly urge upon our teachers and governing bodies generally, that special efforts be made to stress the importance and desirability of the young people being instructed in public duties. We live in a democracy, not a commune. It is very important that our young people be made aware of their grand inheritance of personal liberty and that that same liberty that has come down to us, carries with it responsibilities. It is ours to uphold and to cherish. And we need to be taught that there are duties for every one of us.
First, we need to learn what our duties and our privileges are and that these things did not come about of themselves, but that people before us learned and laboured to bring them about. By liberty, I do not mean license. There have always been people who try to belittle our laws and to evade or disregard them. These people are the stuff of which criminals are made and it is a lamentable fact that many of our lawbreakers are our young people. I am not one to condemn our young people indiscriminately, but it does seem to me that too many of our young folks have life made too easy for them. They have many more things to amuse and entertain them than we ever had, but the do not seem to know how to put in their time, without getting into mischief.
For one thing, they have not much of anything to do, and they don't know how to play games as we did. We didn't have motor cars or bicycles; there were no radios or television sets or picture shows. They don't have to buck wood, or hoe the garden. But I could go on pointing out the advantages that boys of today have. One thing they lack, and that is responsibility. Another is discipline.
We should not overlook the good work of our Sunday school. I had a long experience as Teacher and Superintendent and I can say this: that I do not know of a single boy who attended our Sunday school who turned out badly. I remember reading long ago of a report on lawbreakers in the United States and it pointed out the infinitely small proportion of them that had attended Sunday school. Surely, between the Scouts and the Sunday schools, we should have a pretty decent lot of boys and young men. But don't forget, you who are parents, that you are the people who brought them into the world, and yours is the first responsibility.
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I have given you two Addresses by eminent people of our Town, people who have done much to make our Town known to other people and you will see from the tenor of those Addresses that the people who planned and carried on our Public Library were men and women who sought not notoriety or fame, but the good of the people of our Community. It is fine to look back upon the work of these people of old, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their unselfish work.
THE MINSTREL SOCIETY AND AMATEUR ORCHESTRA
TOWN OF NIAGARA BAND
I wrote and article about our Band some time ago, when Angleman was getting one together and I was very sorry when he gave it up. I remember that before the Second World War broke out, the Salvation Army Band from the Falls paid us several visits and on one occasion they brought a Boys' Band with them, little kids of from seven to ten years, and it was surprising how well these kids played. Somebody could get a bunch of our boys together and nothing would please the Town people better than to have such an organization.
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TOWN OF NIAGARA LIONS CLUB
IMPERIAL ORDER OF DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE
I speak of these two organizations as being nonsectarian. Of course, each of the Churches has its various Clubs and Societies and I do not need to tell you about them. There have also been various musical and literary societies. Miss Carnochan writes about those of olden times, but in my time I have belonged to several. One of them was organized by Mr. A. L. Andrews of Buffalo who was engaged as an Instructor of the Church Choir by St. Mark's Church and we put in a delightful winter under his tuition, both in Choir and Choral Society.
THE MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY
One must not forget that all these various movements and organizations were the product of people, people of vision, people who desired the betterment of their townspeople and were willing to do something about it. Wishes are all right but they, to amount to anything, must be implemented by deeds. I have no axe to grind in writing thus; my only object is to stir somebody up to do something about a Band or an Orchestra. We have had men of talent and women and there must be among our young people, some who could do something. It only needs a start. I remember once reading of the launching of a ship. The story goes that after the stays had been knocked away, the ship didn't move and the people held their breath, but one lad was so excited that he ran up and gave the bow of the boat a push and away it went. It only proves that one never knows what he can do until he tries.
Most of our people are just ordinary folks, with no pretension to greatness. Greatness after all is merely a relative term. One does not have to be superlatively smart or clever to achieve a measure of prominence in a small Town. But unless one absolutely desires to be unnoticed and lives a drab, self-centered life, ones neighbours and associates will come to see and to know any qualities in us that stand out and make us prominent. Did you ever notice that a bunch of earth or gravel, if placed in a pan and shaken, will bring to the top the big ones? Sometimes, it takes a good shake up to bring to the front, our hitherto unknown or unrecognized abilities. It does not make us great, but it does bring out the things that make us stand out among our fellows.
I have been writing a good deal about the people who did things in our Town in days gone by. One of them was certainly gave us a large measure of fame in the eyes of the World was Janet Carnochan. You all have heard a good deal about the dear lady lately. I had the privilege of attending a meeting of the Historical Society which she founded, at which meeting a portrait of her was unveiled with a suitable bronze plaque and I was honoured by being allowed to address the gathering briefly. It was an additional pleasure to meet there some old friends, some of whom I had not met for many years. I am sorry that there were no young people there and that so few of them may make history in the days and years that lie ahead. I don't think that many of our people realize what an important Town we live in. The eyes of the greater part of the World will be on us this summer when Boy Scouts gather from the four corners of the world within our limits.
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MAYOR'S CHAIN OF OFFICE
One might wonder from what walk of life these people who manned our Municipal Council came. When I was young, a good many were the Merchants who did business on our Main Street. For instance, there was George A. Clement, S. H. Follett, Henry W. Crysler, John Bishop, W. W. McClelland and his sons; T. W. Rowland and his son Fred; Tom Blain; Robert Bishop; Robert and Fred Best; Henry Paffard and J. Randall; Butchers, Grocers, Tailors; Dry Goods men; Fish Dealers and Druggists. Besides these, there were: W. J. Campbell, Blacksmith, and his son Will, Druggist, Tom Ferguson, Jeweler, Jack Schmidt, Tailor, and Bill Harrison, General Merchant. Then there was Captain W. A. Milloy and his brother Colin, in the shipping business; Harry Wilson and William Turner, Tinsmiths; and in the Livery business, there were Wm. J. Donnelly, R. J. Cumpson, M. J. Greene, Thomas May and S. H. Sherlock. We had a few from what you might call the leisured class, as J. M. Mussen and H. A. Garrett. We had the occasional retired farmer, John Morgan for instance. In the Canning business, we had John A. Black and Wm. Greaves. Hotel men who also served were Jas. Doyle, and William Long.
The Fishermen gave us three Chiefs of Police, Robert Reid, Ed. Sherlock and Ed. Ball. The same Fishermen for years furnished about half of our efficient Fire Brigade. Taking it all in all, our affairs have been managed by a pretty fair and general example of our population. We must not overlook our Bakers, however; here we find Ed. Patterson and Jim MacPhee and we mustn't overlook our E. W. Field, or our dear old Dr. Hendley Anderson.
So, whoever you are, whatever your lot, there is no one who cannot be of some use to his Community. I think of a line of an old song, "Not the ones who say I can't, but the ones who say, I'll try."
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Editor's Note: This is the last article that Joseph E. Masters wrote before he passed away.
One hears so much of late about accidental deaths, many of them in or on the water that I am tempted to reminisce a bit about water matters. I should like first of all to remind you that I spent forty-five years of my life about the lake and river and should therefore know whereof I write. Let us discuss boats. In my early days about the water, we had several kinds of boats and their propulsion was by oars and sails. There was the flat-bottomed scow, square at both ends, the bottom being rounded up. This was the rough duty boat, unwieldy, but comfortable and safe. I spent many an hour in one with my brothers, fishing or gathering driftwood. Everybody burned wood in those days. Then there was what we called a mackinaw. This was pointed at the bow and square at the stern, although I have seen one sharp at both ends. These boats were flat-bottomed and were handy and useful. They could be rigged for sail and in later years, could be furnished with a gasoline motor. Then we come to the skiffs. These were sharp at both ends and were usually well proportioned. By that I mean that an eighteen-foot skiff would be about four feet beam; a nice, handy boat and much in use at the boathouses. Then there was what we sailed; the squarestern, usually twenty-one to twenty-four feet long, about five feet beam, and about three feet deep. These were very seaworthy and we usually rigged them with two spritsails, a centerboard, and a removable rudder. Later on, we installed motors in them.
One point I wish to make is that these were all safe, commodious and seaworthy. Furthermore, they were substantially built of good materials. We read of a great many accidents to these modern, flimsily built crafts, equipped with a heavy outboard motor. What real pleasure of comfort one can get out of the darn traps I can't conceive. It is true that they go fast, but if there is any sea at all, even a small one, they go "put, put, put" and if anyone aboard moves his gum over to the other side of his jaw, over you go. Then, the racket the darn things kick up is a nuisance to anybody who loves peace and quiet. They are not roomy, either, and when people who don't know any better put too many people in them, it is just too bad.
The average person who becomes the possessor of one just does not know anything about boats or how to handle them. We learned from experienced men but a lot of people think that, because they can drive a motor car, they can sail a boat. For one thing, a road is not like the water. So many darn fools think it is all right to stand up in them. When you are on your feet in a boat, especially a small one, the least thing will topple you over. In too many cases, over goes the whole kit and caboodle, with far too many disastrous results.
Canoes are another type of craft that greenhorns should avoid. I saw an article in a paper recently illustrating the proper way to occupy a canoe. You should not stand up in one, in fact, you should not even sit up in one. The proper posture, especially in paddling a canoe, is to kneel on the bottom of the canoe and rest your seat on the thwart. If you have a passenger or passengers, they should be seated on the floor of the canoe and never under any circumstances try to change places in a canoe. Personally, I have always felt that a canoe was only fit to be used on creeks and small ponds.
One does not get a permit to drive a car on our streets and highways without having acquired a knowledge of safety rules, but any darn fool can take people out in a boat without any qualification whatever for ensuring their safety and comfort. They only knew that what they are getting into is called a boat and their only desire is that it will go and go fast. People nowadays are crazy for speed and they have not the sense of relaxation and peace that a quiet row on our beautiful river can give them.
A quiet steam yacht used to be considered something to be desired and appreciated. Now you must have one of those shiny handsome racers such as Shepherds' turns out. In their way, they are fine but the old time steam yacht had them beaten by a mile when it comes to a holiday about our lake and river. You don't get a lot of speed out of a sailing yacht but you cannot beat them for beauty and grace of movement.
It is rather difficult to find something interesting to dish up for the weekly paper at times, so I thought it might be of some interest to get back to the waterfront for a while. It is too bad that so many lives are lost through drowning and it is remarkable that so few such accidents have happened here. When I think of the thousands of pleasure seekers that we had in days gone by, it seems a miracle that so few have died through drowning around here.
I remember one incident that ended fatally during the time of the Military Camp long ago. A crowd of the men who had just arrived in camp went down to the lake just west of Fort Mississaugua and went in for a swim. Of course, there was all kinds of fooling around in the water and one chap got out quite a distance. All at once he began calling for help. There was so much fooling going on that no one paid any attention to his calls, thinking of course that like the rest of the crowd, he was just fooling. When the crowd got out of the water and proceeded to dress, one was missing. It does not pay to fool around in the water.
We have been hearing of a couple of incidents of people getting themselves into trouble on our lake lately through failure of their motive power. They remind me of a chap who was here some years ago. He started in as a fruit farmer on a piece of land between here and St. Catharines, but he didn't make much of a go of that and having had a bit of naval training in the old country, he bought a boat and entered on a piscatorial career. In those dear dead days, the only means of propulsion of a fish boat was either sail or oars. Our friend was not very partial to the long spells at the oars and when someone produced a gasoline motor he became interested, so much so that he purchased an engine from a firm in Toronto. He paid them fifty dollars down and the balance was to be paid if and when the engine proved satisfactory. But if the engine did not do the work satisfactorily, the machine was to be returned and the fifty dollars repaid to the purchaser.
Our hero went forth to the deep one fine day. There were no others near where his nets were but he set forth bravely and confidently, the motor chugging regularly as if to the manner born. In the sweet bye and bye, buoys were sighted, nets were lifted, and everything was peace and joy. But alas and alack, the concerned engine refused to co-operate. Picture our poor friend, his long back bent over the engine, perspiration oozing from his brow as well as most every part of his frame, panting from his exertions. But all to no avail: he gives up at last and sinks, exhausted to a thwart, and gazes landward with longing eyes.
The land is far distant and the breeze is blowing him down Lake Ontario to a fate unknown. Such had been his faith in that condemned motor that he had gone with only one oar in the boat and no sail. At long last he was sighted by some fishermen off Wilson, New York and towed to shore. He finally arrived at Niagara Beach, tired, sore, and plumb disgusted. He crated the disgraced motor and shipped it back to Toronto, with a more or less polite request for his fifty dollars.
After a time, the money not being forthcoming, he engaged a lawyer in St. Catharines to collect it for him. This he did and the money came along from Toronto to Niagara. So far, so good. Now this particular lawyer and our friend were fellow members of an Englishmen's Club in the City of the Saint and were supposed to be bosom friends. But when our friend got his bill for services rendered, friendship came to an abrupt end. After a time, our hero went away to the Canadian Navy and we knew him no more.
We Niagara fishermen had very few serious accidents, but I sometimes thought we were lucky. One time, Jack Bolton and Bill Thornton had an adventure. Bolton had a fishing ground at the Two Mile Creek and the whitefish were running in the springtime. They had a very successful day and the catch was loaded into a big mackinaw; a sail was set with a gentle breeze blowing off the land. Jack was at the helm, Bill was forward and both being tired, both went to sleep. They awoke in the morning with the sun beaming down and Toronto not far away. Everybody here wondered what had become of them; there was no radio in those days to broadcast their loss. However, they got into Toronto and Jack sold their cargo of fish to good advantage and they set sail for home. They were found by the early risers the following morning, tied up to the wharf, both men snoring soundly. And I mean soundly.
I think that about the most patient and easygoing man about the waterfront in my young days was Jim Marshall of Youngstown. He had a ferry privilege from that Port to Niagara and the only conveyance he used was a big, comfortable sailboat. I never knew him to row across. He was the picture of comfort as he sat at ease in the stern of the "Solid Comfort" with the tiller tucked snugly under his arm and his dog "Susie" perched on the bow. Time was nothing to that pair. What would our present-day speed demons do with an outfit like that? Like all good ships, the Solid Comfort lived her days and was scrapped. A new and smaller boat replaced her. This, Jim called the "Susie" after his canine crew. At last, Jim passed way, having made his final voyage across the River Styx and his effects were sold by his relatives.
Susie [his boat, not the dog] was purchased by Captain Billy Hoffman who commanded a Company of the 11th U.S. Infantry at Fort Niagara. Our brave Captain was a portly gentleman of German descent and rather fancied himself as a nautical expert. All the fishermen and some others on both sides of the river had sailboats and there were plenty of races. They had, at one time, a regularly constituted Yacht Club at Youngstown and they sponsored weekly races on Saturday afternoons during the summer season. Hoffman was a member and always entered the Susie, his crewman being a Sergeant Kruhn, a fellow German. He never won a race but he kept on trying. I remember passing by him when I was returning from a trip to Youngstown. A race was on from and to Youngstown and Hoffman was hopelessly outdistanced. The wind was quite light and the straight bow of Hoffman's boat had a barrel stave nicely planted across it. The other boats were already home, so it was no use hailing the bold Captain.
There was another sailboat at Youngstown owned by another Marshall, called "The Barge." This boat had figured in a tragedy that cost the lives of two officers and six enlisted men. It seems that they had a metal lifeboat at Fort Niagara and there was a heavy easterly wind blowing with a big sea, as is usual with such breezes. This lifeboat was anchored out near the Fort and in some way one of the watertight tanks became punctured and the boat was waterlogged and went adrift.
The two officers came down with a crew of six men to man the oars of the "Barge." Jim McMillan of our Town was then running a Sutler's store at Fort Niagara and he was going to accompany the rescue party. But on being informed by the officer in charge that he, not Jim, was to be in charge, Jim very wisely backed out. One officer did not want to go but his senior charged him with cowardice; reluctantly, he embarked with the party and secured himself with a piece of rope to a ringbelt inside the stern. Onlookers saw them get out onto the reef at the river mouth where the sea was very bad. They saw the boat turn before the wind and presently they upended oars, navy fashion. Of course, the boat lost steerage way and soon, over she went. The bodies were later recovered along the Canadian shore and the so-called coward's body was found still fast to the boat. They are buried in the old Fort Cemetery near the riverbank.
Another incident comes to mind but without any fatal results. There was a man living here some fifty years ago who loved the water. He owned a sloop-rigged yacht, an old style one, and he spent a lot of his spare time on the lake in all kinds of weather. One day, with a stiff westerly wind blowing, Jack Bolton was coming in from setting or lifting nets and while out several miles from the river mouth, he spied this particular boat lying several miles to windward without any sail showing. She was rolling about and there seemed to be someone or something up in the rigging. Fishermen always had an eye out for anything or anyone in distress, so Jack immediately set out to rescue the owner of the yacht. After an anxious time getting to the ship in distress, they found this hardy mariner up in the rigging, calmly smoking his pipe and painting the Crosstrees. Well you can imagine the feeling of Jack and his crew and the blessing they would shower on the head of this man.
