The Homestead Journal
Winter Memories in Rural Niagara
From sleigh rides to ice skating to cozying up to the fire, wintertime invites nostalgic memories from our childhood. The Brown Homestead Oral History Project collects life stories to gather a deeper understanding of everyday life in rural Niagara, including holiday traditions and wintertime activities. Discover winter-related memories gathered from oral history interviews conducted in Fall 2024.
A Layered Approach Part I: Studying Wallpaper in Historic Homes
The wallpaper found in historic homes richly offers insight into the families that once occupied its rooms. Read along to learn about what we can draw from the 25 layers of wallpaper uncovered in the John Brown House’s Ballroom, how these layers have been documented, removed, and conserved, and the augmented reality project currently in development with Brock University Department of Digital Humanities that aims to decorate the walls of the Ballroom with these historic patterns once again.
Ice Cream Memories: A Sweet Salute to Summer
As we undergo the adaptation of our 1850s Dairy into an Ice Cream Shoppe, this summer we invited the public to The Brown Homestead for Open Door Days. Embracing our collective nostalgia for this cold treat, we also invited visitors to share their childhood memories of ice cream. Read on for these sweet memories, and for a recap of The Brown Homestead’s most successful summer yet.
Common Ground: A Brief History of Floorcloths
The decorative floorcloth is integral to a history of home design and artisan production in Canada. Learn about the floorcloth's rise in popularity through the 1700s and how it changed the way families decorated their homes. Also get a glimpse into The Brown Homestead's heritage arts workshop aimed at rekindling our collective appreciation for this traditional craft.
Natural Pigments and Watercolour Paints
Natural pigments are part of our land, found in the most obvious and wild places. They are the plants we eat and smell, the rocks we hike over and drive past, and the minerals all around us. We used such pigments in our very first Natural Pigments Watercolour Workshop!
Seedling Giveaway Initiative
This spring, The Brown Homestead’s staff, volunteers, and partners worked together to grow and distribute over 500 vegetable seedlings to Niagara families — free of charge. Explore the map to see the impact of this program in our community.
Rebuilding our Ballroom Wall
We recently rebuilt the entrance wall into the Ballroom on the second floor of the John Brown House. This project brings us one step closer to completing the home’s full restoration, while offering a great learning opportunity along the way.
Reflecting on Heritage in Ontario
The amendments made to the Ontario Heritage Act under Bill 23 has only exacerbated the issues facing our province’s heritage sector. In Niagara, it’s no different: our heritage is at risk. Lately, the TBH team has been reflecting on the state of heritage in Niagara. Read on for our reflections and suggestions.
Enough to Sink the Barrel
Niagara was one of Canada’s main whisky producing regions at the turn of the 19th century. Learn more about the different ingredients used to make whisky, the manufacturing process, quantities produced, transportation of the product and the markets it reached, starring some recognizable local names.
Christmas in the Kitchen: Fruitcake Edition
Join our Administrative Coordinator Pamela Dungao as she pens a delightful journey full of nostalgia, head-scratching historical research, and triumphant cakey-goodness at The Brown Homestead this holiday season.
Meet Our Neighbours, Part II: Electricity and Regeneration at Power Glen
Located at the base of the Niagara Escarpment on Twelve Mile Creek, the existence of this little community was inextricably tied to its surrounding landscape. Harnessing the power of the water that fell from the ridge of the escarpment and weaved its way along the creek was inevitable. Yet, what came after the mills that first initiated this tiny village was both revolutionary and unprecedented: hydroelectric power generation.
Meet Our Neighbours, Part I: An Early Hub of Industry at Reynoldsville
This is the first of a two-part series exploring the history of a community that has neighboured The Brown Homestead since the 1780s. Though the Power Glen community has cycled through different names over the centuries along with the industries that sustained it, there is continuity in the resourcefulness of people who lived in Power Glen (as it’s known today) and how they harnessed the power of the hills and waterways in this particular corner of Niagara.
Digging Into My New Job
Our new Community Engagement Coordinator Sara Nixon reflects on her first few weeks on the job, which coincided with an archaeological dig at the site.
“While it’s safe to say that this was likely a once-in-a-career onboarding process, taking part in the dig during my first two weeks here offered an entirely novel learning experience in getting to know The Brown Homestead and how I will approach my work here.”
Indigenous Canada
This year our staff took the Indigenous Canada course designed by the University of Alberta. In the lead-up to Indigenous Peoples Day next week, our staff wanted to share some of their thoughts as they walked away from these modules with a better understanding of the different histories and perspectives of Indigenous peoples throughout Canada.
Fornello Sustainable Preservation: Connecting to Culture
The Fornello Sustainable Preservation Workshop is a great example of heritage preservation in action. Read along as our Director of Programming, Theresa Felicetti, explores her roots in Southern Italy and connects the experience to her current work at The Brown Homestead.
Come Grow With Us
As part of our Victory Garden program this year, we have created a series of videos explaining the process of growing seedlings at home. Once the seedlings are planted in May, come out to the Victory Garden to learn more about how to help your vegetables flourish!
The Niagara Escarpment Biosphere
The Brown Homestead and community around us would not exist without the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere. For our stories to continue into the future, its preservation must be prioritized.
The Big Reveal
Well, we’ve gone and done it… we’ve updated the interior of the oldest house in St. Catharines…
Creating a Vibrant Culture
Our volunteers and staff are ambassadors of this organization, relaying our mission to the public and embodying our values through their daily activities. Thus, it is important that we dedicate time towards ensuring a positive work environment for everyone who is involved in this special place.
Mapping The Brown Homestead
Our latest exhibit uses GIS technology to present our historical research about The Brown Homestead.