Members of Historical Society of St. Catharines may be available to assist with historical research requests within reason. In depth genealogical queries are better answered by a local genealogical group. If you have a question, please submit it to this page. Please ensure that your questions are very clearly stated, that you provide us with any supporting information possible and that you leave us with some contact information.
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The Historical Society of St. Catharines 
February 13, 2014
My Grandfather, Paul Bieda, came from Polish Austria (Galicia) to New York in 1910. He made a couple of Border Crossings between Ontario, Canada and Buffalo, New York where he settled. A Border Crossing document in 1913 said he came from his brother John’s residence at 257 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Can you tell me anything about that residence in 1913, and any possible official documentation of residents in the time frame between 1910 & 1913.
Thank you,
Bob
I am the research manager for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond, IN. I am trying to locate 2 actors that were in A Christmas Story. The actors are Bill Dywer and John Kennedy. Where Are They Now? They appeared in the scene of the little boy who’s tongue was stuck to the flag pole. John played the fire chief and Bill Dywer was also in the scene, This was filmed in St. Catherines and were local actors. I am trying to find out if these actors are still living in the area and contact information. Please help. Hammond is the home of Jean Shepherd and we recently had the Flick Statue installed at the Indiana Welcome Center.
Robert- I am Bill Dwyer- you can reach us at my E-mail- what can we do for you?
hello bill my name is jeremy paton my email is paton_38@hotmail..com
I am researching William Henry BATE, who may have trained as a machinist at the Shickluna shipyards or Oille machine shop in the late 1840s. Have any employment records or paylists survived from either company? Thanks!
Just had a look. It’s definitely a masonic symbol Andrea
A picture would be helpful. The only thing that comes to mind is a Mason symbol
Hi Keith, unfortunately I cannot appear to upload images here. It’s on this page: http://billiongraves.com/pages/record/JamesBracken/1242508
Keith, I think you’re right. It seems to be a Mason symbol. I will do some further research. Thanks!
Hi Andrea, although I live in Belfast, N Ireland the symbol is common around the globe. It is most likely that someone either on the stone or who placed the stone was a member of a Masonic Order. Or but this is a long shot they came from here and they were a past Grandmaster of the Orange Order. I think the first suggestion is more probable.
I have a photo from a headstone at Victoria Lawn. In the bottom left corner of the headstone there is a symbol…it is a “G” with something of a triangle around it.
I have exhausted all my known sources and continue to come up empty handed. The deceased lived in St. Catharines, died in St. Catharines and was born here. Does the letter G represent anything? Rowing? Businesses? Clubs? Any thoughts would be appreciated!! I subscribe ot this board, so please reply to this message. Thank you! Andrea
the g stands for that the person buried there was a freemason..if u can check in niagara on the lake masonic lodge no 2 might have that person in their records of where he livedand worked
Would someone know who owned Christopher’s Smoke Shop on James Street in the 1950s? Thank you, Tom
tom.. the owner of the shop passed away 15years or so i know a person who worked there part time in the 60s
do you know roughly how old that person who worked part-time at Christoper’s Smoke Shop was and do you know the name of the owner?
David Stewart, Belfast, Northern Ireland asks
I have been researching my family tree for some years and have a querie regarding a Great Aunt.
Caroline Craig nee Bullick born 1893. She had been back and forward to Canada with her husband Colin Kennedy Craig but he unfortunately died at age 34 in Belfast 1926. Caroline “Carrie” Craig sailed again for Canada in Nov 1926 and shipping list states destination Government Hostel, Toronto, where she went after that is questionable.
However she sails again to Halifax arriving 1 Feb 1932. The destination stated this time was 42 North Street, St Catherines and she is listed as a waitress. Could you possibly shed any light on wether this was a home or employment address? Why I am keen to discover this is that on both sailings there is no mention of her children. Marvin Craig abt 1918 and Doris Craig 1920. Any help would be great.
Thanks
David
Sorry she returned in Nov 1931 not 1932 and was born 1893 in Lurgan, Northern Ireland.
David
Hello David, 42 North st. is a private family home. It is about a 3 minute walk from my Church st. home. It looks like an addition was made to the rear of the house at a later date from the original house. Google street view is available for this house.
Ebeth.
I am seeking information about my great grandparents, Charles C. Coward and Anna Griffin. Anna was born in Port Dahousie February 13, 1856 to William, (1812) and Elizabeth (1812). I have nothing on Charles other than he was from either Michigan or Canada and that they were married on August 5, 1974 in Port Dalhousie and emmigrated to Buffalo. If anyone has any information, please email me at violetteacup@cfl.rr.com.
Sincerely,
Barbara Weinar-Bublyk