History of St Catharines, Ontario, Canada

1845 - Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria established at St. Catharines

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1867 - Church of St. Mary of the Assumption established at St Catharines

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1869 - St Catherines
"St. Catherines. — The County Town of Welland, in the Township of Grantham, on the Welland Canal, and a station of the Great Western Railway. It is beautifully situated on a tract of table land above the valley through which the canal is cut, and in the midst of a district which, for its fertility and cultivation, has been called the garden of Canada. The town is celebrated for its mineral springs and its hotels. It is well built, and has numerous manufacturing establishments, in excellent trade. Ship-building is carried on extensively. Distance from Niagara 11 miles from Hamilton 22, from Buffalo, N.Y., M. Population 8500."
The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory: Containing Concise Descriptions of Cities, Towns and Villages in the Province...
Henry McEvoy January 1, 1869 Robertson & Cook

1872 - Physician Proposition
A physician in St. Catharines, Ont., has made an innovation which has driven his copractitioners of the healing art almost crazy. He has offered to take charge of the health of the town, or as many families as chose to bargain with him, at the rate of five dollars per family, per annum.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 2, 1872

1873
ST. CATHARINES, an incorporated town of Ontario, capital of the co. of Lincoln, on the Welland Canal, and on the Great Western and Welland railways, 32 miles E. by S. of Hamilton, and 12 miles N.W. of Niagara. From its favorable situation it has become the centre of a large and rapidly increasing business. It contains churches of 7 denominations, 3 branch banks, several assurance and insurance companies, a commercial college, grammar school, convent, general hospital, 4 printing offices, from which 2 daily and several weekly newspapers are issued, and a number of stores. There are in the town 5 or 6 large flouring mills, several saw and planing mills, foundries and machine shops, sewing machine factory, soap and candle factories, tanneries, woolen mills, breweries, &c. Ship building is also extensively engaged ii. St. Catharines is celebrated for its mineral springs, and for its excellent hotels. Total value of imports for 1872 $843,634; exports $51,414. Pop. 7,864.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873

1890 - Church of St. Patrick established at St Catharines

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1895 - Saint Catharines
Saint Catharine, kath'Q-rin, a town of Ontario, capital of the co. of Lincoln, on the Welland Canal, and on the Great Western and Welland Railways, 32 miles E. by S. of Hamilton, and 12 miles N.W. of Niagara. It is the centre of a large and rapidly increasing business, and contains 7 churches, 3 branch banks, a commercial college, grammar-school, convent, general hospital, 4 printing offices, from which 2 daily and several weekly newspapers are issued, 5 or 6 large flouring-mills, several saw- and planing-mills, foundries and machine-shops, sewing-ma chine-factories, soap- and candle-factories, tanneries, woolen-mills, breweries, &c. Ship-building is also extensively engaged in. St. Catharines is celebrated for its mineral springs. Pop. in 1891, 9631.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1895 - OPERA HOUSE BURNED.
St. Catharine's, Ont., September 21 - The opera house block on Ontario street was totally destroyed by fire this morning. Adjoining buildings were severely damaged. The total loss is about $60,000. The opera house loss is half of this. Bain's hotel loses about $10,000. At onetime the Masonic block, just rebuilt after one fire, was endangered, but the fire was under control at 2 p.m.
Wheeling Register
Wheeling, West Virginia
September 22, 1895

1898 - TORNADO KILLS THREE PEOPLE.
St. Catharine's, Ontario, Sept. 26. - A tornado struck this city shortly before 4 o'clock this afternoon, and death and destruction followed. The regulation funnel-shaped cloud, accompanied by a cloudburst, struck the city on Welland Avenue, between Lake and George Streets, and traveled from that point to the southern limit of the city.

The armory of the local volunteer force was practically demolished. Falling chimneys crashed through the roof of the Collegiate Institute, narrowly missing a company of students who were drilling. McHUGH'S cigar factory lost its roof, PACKARD'S electric works were badly shaken up, and one storage warehouse was demolished. RATCLIFFE'S large ice house on the banks of the Welland Canal has completely disappeared. The St. Catharine's House was badly wrecked. In the district extending from James Street east to Queenston Street, the havoc was great. Trees, poles, and debris of all kinds render the streets impassable.

The storm struck Merriton, three... Read MORE...

1906
Saint Catharines, a city and port of Ontario, capital of the co. of Lincoln, on the Welland Canal and on the Grand Trunk and the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Electric Rs., 12 miles NW. of Niagara. It is the centre of a large business and has numerous mills, machine-shops, and manufacturing establishments. Ship-building is also extensively engaged in. St. Catharines is celebrated for its mineral springs. The Bishop Ridley College is located here. Pop. in 1891, 8631; in 1901, 9946.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1914 - Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help established at St Catharines

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1918 - Church of the Star of the Sea established at St Catharines

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1924 - Église de l’Immaculée-Conception established at St Catharines

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St Catharines
The area was first settled by Loyalists in the early 1780s. About 60 per cent of the land of Grantham Township was granted to disbanded members of the British provincial regiment, Butler's Rangers and the rest to either refugee settlers who moved out from the US after American independence or to immigrants from Great Britain.

Land surveys undertaken during this period led to a complex pattern of roads and lots that shaped the city and its building patterns. It was dominated by the pioneer survey grid of Grantham Township, which featured the standard north–south roads, with the east–west roads running parallel to the shoreline of Lake Ontario. In addition, trails used by Indigenous peoples prior to European settlement have survived to become part of the city's major arterial streets, combining a radial pattern of roads within the regular pattern of the survey grid.

By contrast, Port Dalhousie offered a regular grid oriented northeast–southwest along the spur of land that... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in St. Catharines:
1. Visit Montebello Park:

Montebello Park is a picturesque green space in the heart of St. Catharines. It's a great place for a leisurely stroll, a picnic, or to enjoy the seasonal floral displays.

2. Wine Tasting:

Explore the local wineries: St. Catharines is part of the Niagara wine region, known for its world-class vineyards and wineries. Don't miss the opportunity to sample some of the finest wines in Canada.

3. Niagara Falls:

While not technically in St. Catharines, the iconic Niagara Falls are just a short drive away. Witness the breathtaking beauty of the falls and enjoy the various attractions, including boat tours and hiking trails.

4. Port Dalhousie:

This historic neighborhood features a charming beach, a historic carousel, and a lighthouse. It's a lovely spot for a family day out or a romantic evening stroll along the shore of Lake Ontario.

5. Welland Canal Centre:

Learn about the history and significance of the Welland Canal, a key waterway... Read MORE...