This site is steeped in centuries of history. For years, people have traveled across this land and benefitted from the plentiful resources offered by its surrounding geography. By the late 18th century, families torn apart by war and in search of a new life came to this corner of Niagara and made it “home.” The Brown family and their neighbours rolled up their sleeves and began to cultivate the soil. They built barns and houses, joined with one another to form communities, and created stories that spill into the present. A two-storey home with a thousand stories to tell. In 1796, they started building the John Brown House, which is now the oldest house in St. Catharines. Three more families made their home here — the Chellews, the Powers, and the Jouppiens — until 2015 when this site started its new chapter as a publicly accessible historic site.

Two years ago, our oral history team started reaching out to some wonderful people with deep ties to this location. We interviewed three Brown family descendants, and two women who spent much of their childhood here on the Powers family farm. We hope you enjoy listening and learning from some of the people who consider this special place home.