On the 13th day of October, 1812, the battle of Queenston Heights, in which the Americans were defeated with a loss of about ninety men killed and nine hundred taken prisoners, occurred at this place, but the Canadians lost their leader Major General Brock, whose monument stands on the height at the foot of which Queenston is situated. During the summer months many sight-seers visit the monument. Toiling up the winding and rocky road shaded on either side by the fragrant red cedar, we come on the right to the neat lodge of the guide at the entrance of the monument grounds. We enter the grounds by a wide iron gate whose piers are surmounted by the family arms of the brave Brock. We take our way along the gravelled path to the monument and pass through a door at its base on the east side; to the right is the tomb of General Brock and on the left the tomb of the brave McDonell; an engraved plate on the tomb of each states the full name and date of death of the one who lies within. We ascend the spiral stairway leading upwards. We count the stone steps, and the two hundred and thirty-fifth brings us to a small seat at the top, where weary with stepping upwards, we are glad to rest. We gain our breath, and standing look from the circular windows, which from the ground look to be but two or three inches in diameter but which are really nearly a good in diameter.

The whole country for many miles away is spread before us as fair as nature with most lavish hands could make it. Before us, winding its way to Ontario’s waters, rolls the Niagara River, its deep blue waters eddying and foaming against the rocky shores just as they did more than three score years ago when the Americans in the gray light of an October morning launched their boats from the opposite shore, and with strong armies attempted to land their soldiers on Canada’s soil, and which was so bravely resisted by the brave Captain Dennis and Williams.

Seven miles away at the mouth of the Niagara River, the dwellings in the beautiful town of Niagara are to be seen; to the left of Niagara, Fort Mississauga, now dismantled, and on the right the ruins of Fort George appear, reminders of the days when our forefathers fought against invasion. Across the river from Niagara on the American side is Fort Niagara, whose white walls glistening under the noon-day sun can be seen from our position, and beyond Niagara the blue waters of Lake Ontario meeting the horizon in the far distance greets the eye. The city of Toronto on clear days, although upwards of thirty miles away, may be seen from the top of the monument.

Over hill and dale covered with waving grain and green woods ten miles to the west the church spires of St. Catharines are to be seen, and beyond the ribbon of water that marks the course of the Welland canal.

Almost under us as we look north and at the foot of the height on which the monument stands, overlooking the river and half hidden in the foliage of weeping willows and thorny locusts, is the little hamlet of Queenston, its stoney streets and general quietness amply redeemed by the kindliness of its people.

Across the river from Queenston is Lewiston and at our right a road leads to the former entrance of the first Suspension bridge across the Niagara River. The bridge which gave way to the more convenient one at Clifton, had its cable wire stays broken by the ice gorges in the river it spanned , and today all that is left of the bridge which excited the wonder of all when finished,, are several twisted wire cables that span the river, still securely fastened to massive stone towers on either side. The bridge was supported by ten wire cables which were each 1245 feet in length, and carried over stone towers on either side of the river. The bridge was only designed for foot and carriage passengers, and the roadway was 849 feet long, the width of which was 20 feet, and the bridge when completed was supposed to bear a weight of 335 tons without breaking. The cost of the structure was upwards of £14,000, and it was owned by a company of Canadians and Americans.

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Village of St. Davids

St. Davids, in the southern part of the Township of Niagara is a small place, numbering about two hundred inhabitants. During the war of 1812-15, it being near the frontier ti was the scene of military operatins by both Canadians and Americans, and was burnt during the war. Mr. Richard Woodruff made the first settlement of this place in the year 1800. It has a church and public school and enjoys the advantage of daily mail.