Fonds consists of one account book listing property owners along side the Buffalo, Brantford & Goderich Railway in Welland County. Also included are two survey plans of the railway showing property owners. The account book was featured as "Exhibit A" in The Corporation of The County of Welland v. The Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway Company et al., October 28, 1869.
The Canada Company was responsible for the opening and settling of over two million acres of land in Upper Canada. Author Robert C. Lee focuses his attention on the extensive parcel of land on the shores of Lake Huron that became known as the Huron Tract. His comprehensive research explores the underlying forces leading to the formation of the Company, the intriguing mix of people charged with responsibilities for the Company and the overall impact of its operations, leading to its present-day legacy. The politics of the day, coupled with diverse and colourful personalities -- such as John Galt, Tiger Dunlop, William Allan, Thomas Mercer Jones, Frederick Widder, Sir Peregrine Maitland, Bishop Macdonnell and Bishop Strachan -- introduce an interesting blend of vision, intrigue, mischief and day-to-day survival strategies that make for compelling reading. Add to this the shareholders’ perspective of the Company versus the settlers’ perspective and you have a fascinating glimpse of pioneer conditions. Included are descriptions of early towns such as Guelph and Goderich, as well as background on the Huron Tract township names. "Robert Lee's outstanding book brings to life the unusual assemblage of characters who were instrumental in the development of Upper Canada's largest private settlement scheme -- the Huron Tract. Their relationships with each other, and especially with the Canada Company for which many of them worked, make a great story." - Lutzen Riedstra, Stratford-Perth Archivist "Robert Lee has vividly recreated the personalities and the political intrigues that were part of the Canada Company's operation -- the largest one of its type in Ontario's history. The most comprehensive work to date on this fascinating era, this book is eminently readable and a must-have for history lovers. - Ron Brown, author of Ghost Towns of Ontario
A must for any Canadian railroad aficionado, this special bundle gathers six books in one for a can’t-miss retrospective of the nation’s railway history. Rails Over the Mountains Explore western Canada’s rich railway history, travelling from the grand railway hotels and rustic stations to relive a time when trains used to rumble in the West. Rails to the Atlantic Explore eastern Canada’s railway heritage, including stations from the late 1850s, grand hotels, bridges, and roundhouses. The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore Once the lifeblood of Canada, railways and heritage stations are a fading part of the patrimony of communities across the nation. Rails Across Ontario Train buffs and history lovers now have a book that explores the heritage of Ontario’s railways, from its oldest stations to its highest bridges, most glamorous hotels and historic train rides. Rails Across the Prairies Canada’s rail lines were pivotal in establishing the icons that mark today’s landscape: massive bridges, sentinel-like grain elevators, pattern-book wayside stations. In Search of the Grand Trunk Discover the legacy and lore of Ontario’s railway era by exploring the lost and abandoned rail lines that once were essential to the province’s well-being.
Ron Brown is Canada’s leading literary authority on the history of Canada’s railways, particularly those now-lost branches from the golden age of steam that once ran like veins and arteries throughout the country. This special five-book bundle collects several of his titles, including: In Search of the Grand Trunk, which takes a close look at Ontario’s railway heritage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the poignant The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, an examination of the railroad’s impact on communities — when it leaves town; and Rails Across Ontario, Rails Across the Prairies, and the new Rails to the Atlantic, which trace the development of rail across the country and its economic and social impact. Brown’s books are entertaining but also meticulously researched. This bundle is a treasure trove for the railway enthusiast. Includes: In Search of the Grand Trunk Rails Across the Prairies Rails Across Ontario The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore Rails to the Atlantic
