Lecture programming is one of the most popular offerings at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, both
virtual and in-person. This year’s virtual lectures will be held, via zoom, on February 5, February 12,
February 19, and February 26. In keeping with the NOTL Museum’s current exhibit “The Prettiest Town:
Beyond the Bricks and Mortar” the lectures will shine a light on some of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s most
prized – and often controversial – homesteads.
February 5: Glencairn Hall, Queenston
Linda Fritz, a Queenston resident for more than 15 years, brings her years of research and library skills
as a University of Saskatchewan librarian emerita, to uncover the mystery and charism of Glencairn Hall,
a well-known, but rarely seen stately home in Queenston. The original 2,500 square-foot home was
designed by John Latshaw in 1832 and built for John Hamilton, founder of the Queenston Steamboat
Company, and heir to one of Upper Canada’s most powerful merchants, Robert Hamilton.
February 12: The Rand Estate
David Hemmings is the author of eight books and more than fifty documents on local history, with a
strong focus on family origins and ancestry. He brings his unique research skills to the colourful history
of the property also known as ‘”Randwood”. A treasure among Canada’s historic estates, this
magnificent property was the summer home of the Rand family over multiple generations between
1910 and 2016. Recently it has been focus of media attention and community interest.
February 19: “Living, Dying and Gone”: The Plumb House & the Peter Secord and David Secord Houses
Brian Marshall, well-known columnist, author, and consultant on architectural design, restoration and
heritage, will compare the ‘living’ built heritage of carefully preserved homes - Peter Secord’s 1782
historic landmark - with the gradually ‘dying’ heritage of the 1799 David Secord House, both in St.
Davids, and the ultimate loss of the magnificent Josiah Plumb House in the 1940s. Dating back to 1865,
The Plumb House boasted eight bedrooms, several “modern” bathrooms, and entertainment spaces
that included a billiard room measuring 20 by 30 feet and a 608-square-foot ballroom. Unpaid taxes and
the depression eventually led to this beauty being razed, making way for Parliament Oak school.
February 26: The Wilderness
Richard D. Merritt has had a life-long passion for Niagara’s history. A retired ophthalmologist, he has
authored several books on the subject and was named a ‘Living Landmark’ by The Niagara Foundation
for his documentation and preservation of Niagara’s heritage. “The Wilderness” is a local landmark,
partially hidden behind overgrown land and streetscapes, on both King and Regent Streets.
Merritt will reveal the remarkable saga of this extraordinary remnant of natural and built heritage, with
its various residents from more than 200 years of occupation, including updates on the status of this
extraordinary property.
All lectures start at 11 am.
Participants must register with the museum to receive a zoom link:
www.notlmuseum.ca
For more information call the NOTL Museum: 905 468 3912.