If These Walls Could Talk - Niagara-On-The-Lake Mystery Cache

BRUNSWICK PLACE -John Street In 1798 William Dickson, merchant, lawyer, and M.L.A.,bought 160 acres fronting on present day John Street. On part of this land are Randwood and its neighbour Brunswick Place. The site of Brunswick Place was William Dickson's gift to his second son, William. William Jr. sold these 10 acres of land to Robert Mellville, an officer at Fort George who became the first manager of the Niagara Harbour and Dock Company. In 1830, Melville built this three-bay,two story brick house with center hall and called it Brunswick Place. Other pre-1900 owners included Robert George Dickson, Hon. William's grandson, who renamed the estate Pinehurst (because it contained 200 pine trees planted by Melville), and Buffalo barrister Herbert Bissell. Twentieth-century owners Charles and Harriet Grenier (1902-22) and Edward H. and Ruth Abbott Letchworth (1928-65) refurbished and extended Melville's home. From the 1930's through the 1950's, the Rands and the Letchworths made their part of John Street a center of the summer scene in Niagara.

DOVER DALY COTTAGE -20 Platoff Street The Dover house, a small board and batten salt box, is situated on New Survey land southeast King Street, which was added to the town in 1823. It was built on a lot owned in 1838 by Thomas Dover, for whom it is named. The house was restored in 1970 by Mr.Geeenburger of Buffalo and master craftsman Carl Banke. Rooms were added in 2003.

FANNY'S HOUSE 177 King Street This fine house on King Street, opposite Simcoe Park was built in 1880 by Walter Davidson for Samuel Rowley, a glass manufacturer from Philadelphis, and his wife Fanny. Fanny was the granddaughter of William Riley, a slave who escaped from Virginia in 1802 and joined the balck community in town. He lived in a small log cabin on Mary Street. Fanny's house not only still stands today but is an art gallery that's open to the public.

WILLIAM KIRBY HOME -130 Front Street A plaque on the boulevard commemorates Canadian author William Kirby who, in 1857 bought this house. It was he who added the porch and French windows. His decendants lived here until after World War One. He described the town as "as near Heaven as any town whatever." British born William Kirby (1817-1906) was quite active in the Niagara community. The third editor of the Niagara Mail and later Collector of Customs, he was also a member of the School Board, president of the library for twenty-five years, and Honorary President of the Niagara Historical Society.

LAKEWINDS -328 Queen Street The house was started in 1880-81 and became the summer home for Mr. Gustav Fleischmann, a wealthy distiller from Buffalo N.Y. and member of the famous Fleischmann's yeast family. Originally named "Clarette" (in tribute to his two oldest daughters, Clara and Thornetta), the house stood on the entire 4-acre block with gardens and stables at the rear. Staff cottages and a guesthouse can still be found on properties adjacent to the original manor. In 1912, Clarette was purchased by Conrad Wettlauffer, a Buffalo physician, who carried out extensive alterations. The home has glorious views of North America's oldest golf course, where play started in 1875.

CLENCH HOUSE -corner of Johnson and Mississauga This 2-storey frame house was built about 1816 by former Butler's Ranger Ralfe Clench to replace his former house that was destroyed not in the War of 1812 but in a fire just afterward. The house is built on the banks of the One Mile Creek, which crosses the property at the bottom of the garden. On the other side of the creek is the Butler House.

THE CACHE

N43 15.ABC W079 06.DEF

A = How many chimineys does the Kirby House have? B = How many white pillars are on the front of the Clench house? Now multiply that number by two. C = How many shutters with anchors are on the FRONT of the Dover-Daly Cottage? Now multiply that number by two. D = Fanny's House has hours posted out front. Take the time the gallery opens (Tuesday to Saturday) and subtract 1 from it. E = The number of black lanterns on the white fence in front of Lakewinds. Now divide that number by two and multiply that by three. F = The number of white urns that are on the fence in front of Brunswick Place.