In his 1828 obituary, John Breakenridge, a Niagara barrister and son of a United Empire Loyalist, was
noted for having built ‘several of the most elegant and tasty houses in town.’ Those homes, and the
story behind the couple who built them, is the subject of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum’s next
lecture, ‘Pride and Residence’, on Thursday, July 18 th , at 7.30pm.
Join Brian Marshall, local author, well-known columnist ( ‘Arch-i-text’), and consultant on architectural
design, restoration and heritage, as he tells the story of Breakenridge and his wife, Mary Warren
Baldwin. Together they built a trio of houses: the Creen House on Simcoe Street, completed in 1817;
the Breakenridge-Hawley House on Mississauga Street, completed in 1819; and the Breakenridge-Ure
House, 240 Centre Street, completed in 1823. This was a couple whose rising fortunes in the first quarter
of the 1800’s were reflected in these three landmark residences.
But who were they, and what happened to them? Especially Mary Baldwin, who, in 1828, was left an
early widow with five children to raise. Join Brian Marshall for this fascinating glimpse into the world of
19 th Century Niagara and Upper Canada, and a dramatic tale of success, struggle and a legacy which still
graces the streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake today.
Marshall is also the author of ‘The Heirloom Guide’, an indispensable guide to understanding
architectural history. His recent popular ‘neighbourhood walks’ for the NOTL Museum explored the
stories behind the bricks, evident in more than 200 years of architectural change in Niagara-on-the-
Lake’s heritage district.
Admission to NOTL Museum lectures is free for Museum members or $10 for non-members.
Registration is required as space is limited. Call 905-468-3912 to save your seat.
For more info: www.notlmuseum.ca