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 
BATE & CLEMENT Families 1834-1853
Thank you for this forum! Another researcher and I are writing up Henry Newell BATE Sr (1790-1843) who came to St Catharines in 1834 and whose children included Thomas B. (of the Taylor-Bate Breweries), Charles T. (later Mayor of Ottawa) and Sir Henry Newell, knighted for beautifying the City of Ottawa (all of whom, save Sir Henry, are buried in Victoria Lawn). As the lack of the 1851 Census returns for the area complicates research, are there any local pre-1853 records mentioning the BATE family? Also, in 1848, Charles T. married Minerva T. MUNRO, widow (with children) of James A. CLEMENT, originally of Niagara; are there any references to the CLEMENT family in the area, prior to James’ death? Many thanks again!
Ian B, Ottawa
I am looking for information about a store that had been owned by my great-grandfather, Fred Joyes, back in the 1920’s – 1930’s. He was a grocer, with his store located at the corner of Geneva St., and Welland Ave., where the Golden Grill is now located. Unfortunately, I do not know what the store was called.
If anyone has any memories, pictures, etc. they are willing to share, I would be most grateful.
Thank you!
I have since learned that my great-grandfather’s store was a franchise of the “Superior Chain Store”. I am still very curious as to whether anyone remembers this store or has any information about it.
Thank you!
In doing more research, I have discovered that my great grandfather’s store was probably not called “Superior Chain Store” , although it may have been associated with the chain.
The store was located at 111 Geneva St and he owned it from 1921 until at least 1934 (I haven’t had a chance to look any further than that yet).
If anyone has any further info, I would be grateful if it were shared with me.
Hi Paula it’s funny you ask. Was on Historical Thorold site yesterday and found out information regarding Patrick Donnelley of the Black Donnelly’s of Lucan. He owned a pub called the Mansion in Thorold but later moved to St. Catharines where he purchased the Geneva Hotel, which is the building at the corner of Welland and Geneva. The link is http://patrick-donnelly.webs.com/ The building has an interesting history.
we are putting up a new fence in our yard and began unearthing fragments of china as well as old bottles. some are from lyman and northrop toronto but half of one says greenwoods drugstore st. catharines , some words are missing and we are interested in more info. we also found a piece of pipe that says henderson montreal , we live by collegiate
Hi,
I’m researching the architectural history of the Registry Offices of the province and was looking for any information on the Lincoln County Office, specifically the ca. 1868 building which stood on the southwest corner of King and Chestnut. In particular I’m looking for photos, drawings or documents related to the construction of the building (as well as anything related to the 1923 building on Ontario). I’d be very appreciative of any suggestions as to where else I might find this sort of information. Thanks for your time,
I am looking for Information on The house located at 1 Montebello Place in St Catharines.
Researching family history- found in 1881 CAN Census my g-grandfather living with his parents, siblings: Lincoln, sub-district A, St Catherines (sic), Division 4
and also in 1900 US Fed Census living with his wife and three boys in Niagara NY, 2nd
ward.
g-grandfather John Joseph Sullivan (b. ~1864, Ireland-1934?) married Isobel “Bella” Burrows (b. 1871, Wellington, Ontario-1945, Niagara Falls, Ontario)
g-g-grandfather James Sullivan (b. 1831, Ireland-? ) married Sarah Leah (b.1841, Ireland-?)
I surmise that they came to Canada right after g-grandfather was born in aprox 1864, but don’t know for sure.
Where would Division 4, St Catharines(1881 CAN Census) be located?
Any genealogical research suggestions appreciated.
We would like to know when the Disher St bridge went in over the Second Old Canal that connects Oakdale and Moffatt?
Thanks,
Hi
I work at the Loyalist Retirement Residence at 190 King St. I was trying to update our website with some historical information about the building when we realized nobody knows exactly what the building was before it was a retirement home. The common consensus is that it might have been a hotel but we’re not sure. Do you have any definitive information?
Thanks!
I am writing to inquire about the history of a particlar building located in dowtown st. catharines. This building is located at 46 James street and is currently bein occupied by the Boot Shop. I am wondering if there is additional information on any previous owners of the building. I would be very curious to find out who owned the building and if possible would like the search to go as far back as possible.
Thank you
Melissa Bowles
There is a parking lot on Lake Street between Welland Ave and Wellington. In the 1960s it was the nightclub “The Castle” and before that it was a canning factory. In 1948 a little 9 year old girl named Marion Rusnok went missing. A 34 year old man named George Sidney Chambers who worked at the canning factory was charged with the murder. He had apparently tried to commit suicide and in a week moment confessed to the crime although her body or no other evidence was found. They had claimed he had destroyed the body in a furnace at the canning factory. He also later recanted the confession. He was tried, found guilty. appealed, failed and executed all within 11 months. He was the only person ever executed in St. Catharines at the old jail on Niagara St. He was also buried there and when they tore down the jail in the 70s his body was exhumed and reburied a short distance from the grave of Marion Rusnoks parents. It was widely believed that Mr. Chambers was innocent. Partly because of lack of evidence and partly because his lawyer was found criminally insane and institutionalized a few years later. He had sent 6 others to the gallows.
I first heard of this story as a little boy in the late 50s and although I no longer live in St. Catharines, the story still haunts me. I did contact the Standard a few years ago and they were helpful with most of the information that I have. However there must be more information about the case. Who was George Chambers, and what really did happen to little Marion Rusnok. If there is anyone who remembers this case, the family or Mr. Chambers or has information or how I can obtain old police records I would like to hear from them.
I am very interested in this case as well. I can find very little information of it. Any more would be appreciated. Thank-You
Hi Wendy
Yours is the first interest anyone has had since my origonal query. Most of the information I recieved was from the St. Catharines Standard, which is probably a good place to start. Please let me know if you find out anything else. You can also look up executions in Canada and Chambers is listed but not a lot of other information. He appaently was married with a child so he must have lived in the area. It doesn’t explain why he was living in a dormitory in a canning factory in Dec. Canning factories normally close down in off season. It is a very interesting case.
Ronn
I am also quite interested in this case and would love any information that can be found.
Hi Wendy, Ron & Christine; I was perusing historical records (Jan 27 15) to locate the any of the four offspring of Sydney George Chambers, who was executed a scant year from the time Marion went missing. You are not the only ones who think Chambers was innocent. Any information I found on the case was on micro-fish at the main library in t. St. Catharines. The case was instrumental in abolishment of the death penalty. Trial records were destroyed apparently because they had no room to store the transcripts. info is hard to find. What I do know is that the police withheld a vital eye witness account by a cab driver named Bert Mackesy. He was interviewed by the police three days after the abduction & testified that the man they had in custody was not the man with Marion when he picked them up at Karn’s grocery store. The defence was not privy to this until three months later & after the first conviction. There is much more to say but in a nut shell this case was nothing more than a judicial lynching of a innocent man. The jury in the second trial delivered a guilty verdict in just twenty minutes.
The information I got was from a reporter at the Standard about 10 years ago. The lawyer that Chambers had was later found insane and apparently spent the rest of his life institutionalized. He also sent 3 other men to the gallows. I have since lost the email with the information from a computer crash but I’m sure the standard would still have records. It’s a case I’ve been interested for over 50 years so please keep me posted on any information you might find. Thanks
Hi Ronn, My father who grew up in St. Catharines used to tell the story that the little girl, Marion, went to the store to get milk. Apparently the milk bottle that Marion had was found in Chambers room. The reason that this story was so relevant for my father was that the milk bottle was from the Sanitary Dairy in St Catharines which his father, my grandfather, owned and operated.
I am interested if you have anymore information now. It is very interesting case and I wpuld like to know