^•iu^'V^
IMAGE EVAUJATION TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
m
■ 2.2
^ 136 ^M
124
■ 4.0
lU
■10
Inn!
|
|L25|||£|j^ ■ ■ a^BMB^^^^ II II^HV^^I^B IIIIISS^^^S |
||
|
^ |
6" |
► |
^
e;
^,
o
71
/
/^
Photographic
Sciences Corporation
■13 WEST MAIN STREET
WRSTER.N.Y. UStO
(716) •73-4503
CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
Series.
CIHIVI/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches.
Canadian Institute for Historical IVIicroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques
^H^H
Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibllographiquaa
"Hi to
Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibiiographically unlqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may aignificantly changa tha uauai mathod of filming, ara chackad balow.
D
D D
D
Colourad covara/ Couvartura da couiaur
I I Covara damagad/
Couvartura andommag6a
Covara raatorad and/or iaminatad/ Couvartura raataurte at/ou palliculte
Covar titia mianing/
La titra da couvartura manqua
Colourad mapa/
Cartaa gAographiquaa an couiaur
Colourad inic (i.a. othar than blue or black)/ Encra da couiaur (i.a. autra qua blaue ou noira)
I I Colourad plataa and/or iiiuatration?/
D
Pianchaa et/ou iiluatrationa an couiaur
Bound with othar matariai/ Rail* avac d'autraa documanta
Tight binding may cauaa ahadowa or diatortlon along intarior margin/
La re llure aarrte paut cauaer da i'ombro ou da la diatortlon la long da ia marge intirieure
Blank iavvea added during reatoration may appear within the text. Whenever poaaibla, theae have been omitted from filming/ II ae peut que certainea pagea blanchaa ajouttea iora d'une reatauration apparaiaaent dana la texte, mala, ioraqua ceia Atait poaaible, cea pagea n'ont pea €t6 fiimdea.
Additional commenta:/ Commentalrea aupplAmentairaa:
L'Inatitut a microfilm* la melileur exemplaira qu'il iui a AtA poaaible de ae procurer. Lea d^taila da cat exemplaira qui aont paut-Atre uniquea du point da vue bibllographique, qui peuvent modifier une imagi* reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dana Ja mAthoda normale de filmage aont indiquto ci«daaaoua.
0 D D 0 D Q D D D D
Coloui'ed pagea/ Pagea de couleur
Pagea damaged/ Pagea andommagtea
Pagea raatorad and/or laminated/ Pagea reataurtea et/ou peiiiculAea
Pagea diacoiourad, atainad or foxed/ Pagea dteoiortea, tachetAea ou piquAea
Pagea detached/ Pagea d6tachiea
Showthrough/ Tranaparance
Quality of print variea/ Quality InAgale de I'lmpreaaion
Includea auppiementary material/ Comprend du materiel auppMmentaire
Only edition available/ Seuie Mitlon diaponible
Pagea wholly or partially obacured by errata aiipa, tiaauea, etc., have been refllmed to enaure the i3eat poaaible image/ Lea pagea totalement ou partlellement obacurclea par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont At* film toe i nouveau de fapon A obtenir la mellleure image poaaible.
Til pc of fill
Oi ba th ul< oti fir al( or
Th ah Til
wl
Ml dil en be rifl re4 m<
Thia item la filmed at the reduction ratio checked balow/
Ce document eat film* au taux de rMuction IndlquA ci-deaaoua.
10X 14X 18X 22X
I I I I U I M I I I I I
2fiX
aox
12X
16X
20X
a4x
28X
32X
mmm
^■n
-f-
lilS
du
difiar jn« lag*
Tha copy fllmad hara haa baan raproducad thanka to tha ganaroaity of:
Dougiaa Library Quaan'a Univarvity
Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality poaaibia eonaidarinp tha condition and iagibiiity of tha original copy and in Itaaping with tha filming contract apaciflcationa.
Origincii copiaa in printad papar covara ara fllmad baglnning with tha front covar and anding on f ha laat paga with a printad or llluatratad impraa- uion, or tha bacic covar whan approprlata. All othar original copiaa ara fllmad baglnning on tha first paga with a printad or llluatratad impraa- sion. and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or llluatratad imprasaion.
L'axampiaira filmA fut reprodult grAca k la gAnArositi da:
Douglas Library Quaen's Univarsity
Laa imagas suivantas ont tt€ raproduitas avac la piua grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* do l'axampiaira film*, at en conformit* avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga.
Laa axamplairas origineux dont ia couvarture en papiar aat ImprimAa sont filmAs en commen9ant par la premier plat at en terminant soit par la darnlA/e paga qui comporta una empreinte d'impreaaion ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, aalon le era. Tous las autres axemplalres originaux sont fiimto en commenpant par la pramlAre paga qui comporta una empreinte d'impreasion ou d'illustration at en terminant par la darniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte.
The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain tha symbol — ^ f meaning "CON- TINUED "), or tha symbol V (meaning "END "), whichever applies.
Un des symboies suivants apparattra sur la darnlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: ia symbols — ► signifie "A SUiVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN".
Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaura ara filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa required. The following diagrama illuatrata tha method:
Lea cartas, planches, tabiasux, etc., peuvent Atre fiimta k des taux da rMuctlon difftrants. Loraqua le document est trop grand pour Atre reprodult en un aaul clichA, 11 est film* A partir de I'angia supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et da haut an baa, an pranant le nombre d'imagas nAcessalra. Lea diagrammea suivants iilustrant la mAthoda.
ata
Blura,
3
ox
12 3
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
4 |
5 |
6 |
1^'
r
ig<iw>u«i>»iwnt<wiiim«itPHH'»«iwmi<|Mi'n«tin»»i>Oi >
. *i^\'mm*it»9^ -
BIRDS EYE VrEW OF KINSSTON FROM PORT HENRY, SHOWUia ROYAL MILITARY COLLKQfE
BUlLDlNGfS :N FORESROUND. Pabliihed by John H«adenon 4 Co. Kingston^ Ont.
■ .-trr*'-. ■<- ««i^W wmWh«i>w»» **'<«. ^.
rjj^^fflgjiA.Sptffe'l
\
^
^«cri
-s? "
'ip'fc .
'■^-^s^.
__.;p*^,::. :.,,".
'^'-iw-fe- ::::
PORTIOU OF HARBOR, SHOWIHS FORT HZHRY. THREE ¥ARTBLLO TOWERS, MILITARY
COLLEaE & RIYER BOATS.
■ii
\
^
MARTELLO TOWERS, ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGfE, FORT HEHRY.
•,-■>.
MARKET SQUARE.
i
fmm^wmmmm wnmm* n i' wtiMWi m niiwwiiinwwiiiiiiwifc
CITY BUILDIKGS.
\\
\ i
COURT HOUSE.
mm^^^
QUEEI'S UHlYBRSiTY.
&OYAL MILITAHY COLLESE.
wi^.mmmM^mv/n^ i iry^»to;««y » lOaiw
KIHS5T0I PEHITENTIARY.
^i'^i^l^
• P^
.a?
ROCXWOOD ASYLUM.
'■^p?
TETE DE POHT BARRACKS.
IITSRIOR OP PORT HBHRY.
\
<5 V
^•J'
/••/ i'
\4^t^*\
»Ji
ST MARY S CATHEDRAL.
it-^.
INTERIOR OF ST. MARY'S OATHEDRAI..
^MfiMili*-^^-:^^
L^
^Iifll.lll ■ ." I I l"H|ll I
LOaX ON RIDEAU CANAL k SRAHD TRUNK R. R. BRIDGE AT KINGSTON MILLS.
CHALMERS' OHURaH.
COOK'S CHURCH.
\i '
.'* 3T. ffEOfiuF'S GATHEDRAL.
FIRST METHODIST OHUROH.
II'
S^JOID METHODIST CHURaH.
THIRD METHODIST OHURCH.
«w^««
BAPTIST CHUEOH.
■h ii»
I
''2 - i
■\ •f
C3
O
t— < Eh
•*;
M
g
o to
g
Eh
04
O
>— ( 6-t
M
g
o to
mmm
o
»
o
§
gjgUa^l«gSt»-ijtW»*»~-*^
mmmmmm
mmmmm
mm^
t
%;
I
'HIJfHWi.WH ..HJJI" tft
1 1
■I
.,<•;
5
KND ITS iilCINITV,
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF KINGSTON.
The old limestone city of Kingston, crowning the gentle slope of a long iromontory, just where lake and river meet, possesses an interest not common n the new world, — tha^. of historical association. Its foundation dates from he old heroic age of Canada, when her brave French pioneers were striving igahnst terrible odds to make the continent of America a province of France. S&uebec was but a village protected by a primitive fort, and Montreal was ijittle more than a stockaded trading post, when the brave and far-sighted ^Governor, De Frontenac, determined to erect a "fur depot" with "defences" likt Katarakoui, the present site of Kingston. This fortified outpost was in- Itended at once to check the warlike and destructive forays of t^e dreaded ftroquois, which so frequently swept the country and desolated the weak |iPrench settlements, and to intercept the fur tra£ic which flowed naturally I'from the northren lakes and streams towards the young New England settle- i)nents south of Lake Ontario.
Foundina of Fort Frontenac.
It was in mid-July, i673,that De Frontenac, in full official state, led his long train of canoes and batteaux, filled with Indians and French soldiers, up the fti difficult navigation of the St. Lawrence, and through the fairy mazes of the • 'Thousand Islands. ' ' They halted where the winding, reed-grown Katarakoui — ^now spelled Cataraqui — flows out from a long chain of lakelets and streams, |to join the wide St. Lawrence, as it is here separated from the sea-like expanses of Lake Ontario by long, low, sheltering islands. The spacious bay, formed ;by the long tongue on which Kingston stands, is described in an old chronicle I as "one of the most beautiful and agreeable harbours in the world. " Here De J Frontenac had convoked a grand council of Iroquois chiefs and warriors, I who were daily harangued and feasted by him, in order to reconcile them to |Uie erection of the new fort, by representing it as a convenient depot for the
I
1
1 1
Historical Sketch of Kingston,
I !
sale of furs and the purchase of goods. The primitive stockaded fort of logs was finished in four days, occupying the site which now forms the square of the Tete du Pont barracks. It was appropriately called Fort Frontenac and the surrounding county still preserves the name of its founder.
In selecting this site, De Frontenac followed the advice of the heroic and dauntless explorer, La Salle, whose romantic and tragic career is closely interwoven with that of Fort Frontenac. He was its first commander as well as Seignior or feudal proprietor of the adjoining county and islands. He re-built the fort in stone, cleared the land, built a church and provided for the administration of religious ordinances, being himself deeply religious and an earnest Catholic. Soon a little French village grew up close to the fort, while a cluster of Indian wigwams stood not far off, and the green meadow that lay between — now the business part of the city — was often a lively scene dotted with motley and picturesque groups, — with the wild dances of the Indians, and the sports of the scarcely less savage French voyageurs and coureurs des bois.
La Salle might have amassed an immense fortune from the profits of the fur trade and lived like a little king on his Seigniory, but another and very different ambition possessed him. He had set his heart on discovering a waterway across the continent to the Eastern or Southern Ocean, — the dream of all the American explorers. As the Mississippi had just been discovered, he was resolved to explore it to the sea, and take possession of the hitherto unexplored territory, in the name of Louis XIV of France. Fort Frontenac, however, continued to be his headquarters and base of operations, during the toils and vicissitudes of the following twenty years. Again and again, he made his way on snowshoes over several hundred miles of frozen wilderness, back to Fort Frontenac, for supplies, for men, for defence of various kinds against the unrelenting and treacherous enemies with whom his life was one prolonged battle, and who succeeded in a great degree in frustrating his de- signs. His eventful career was at length closed abruptly by the bullet of a traitorous follower in the wilds of Texas, after having explored the course of the Ohio and the Mississippi to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico,— marked his way by a chain of primitive forts, and planted an ill-fated French colony on the unhealthy coast of the Southern Gulf. Perpetually foiled in his great and comprehensive plans, yet never giving way to despair, he stands out as one of the most remarkable heroes of French Canadian history.
0fter-Hlstory of Port Krontenac.
The connection of Fort Frontenac with the brave La Salle is one of its noblest and most interesting associations. It played a prominent part, how- ever, as the headquarters of the French forces in Upper Canada, while en- deavoring to defend it against the incursions of the Iroquois. The mean ana
I,
5
%
s
J
J
X
1
0
X
i
Historical Sketch of Kingston.
miserly French Governor, De Denonville, Frontenac's unworthy successor, made it the scene of an act of treachery as vile as any perpf^trated by the ignorant savages with whom he fought. Having beguiled a number of Oneida and Onondaga chiefs to meet him at Fort Frontenac in friendly con- ference,— using for this purpose the influence of two of their devoted mission- aries,— he seized his unsuspecting guests, sent them in irons to Quebec, and thence to the French Galleys, there to wear out their lives in that dismal slavery. Such a wrong naturally woke a terrible retribution, and, ere long, the avenging Iroquois were desolating the country round Fort Frontenac, covering the lake with their canoes, and blockading the garrison. In order to save the latter from perishing, a truce was arranged, but this was broken by a reciprocity of treachery on the part of the Indians, which had a fruitful crop of results in the midnight massacre of Lachine, as well as the capture and destruction of Fort Frontenac, followed, soon after, by that of Fort Niagara
When De Frontenac was recalled to rescue the almost ruined colony from utter annihilation, Cataraqui was again occupied by a French force. De Frontenac soon restored the fort, which was rebuilt in stone at a cost of about ;f6oo sterling. It is described in ah old MS. of the eighteenth century as having consisted of "four stone curtains, 120 feet each, defended by four square bastions. The walls were not good, and were defended by neither ditches nor palisades. A wooden gallery was built all round by commun- icating from one bastion to another. The platforms of these bastions were mounted on wooden piles, and the curtains were pierced by loopholes."
During the half century of peace that followed, Fort Frontenac seems to have been scarcely heard of. If a French settlement continued to exist there, it must have been of the most primitive kind. The contiguity of mal- arious swamps seems to have made the site so unhealthy that the death-rate in the garrison was extremely high. The French were bad settlers. Their lone intercourse with the Indians and experience of the free forest life had made them restless and impatient of steady labour, while the wretched mis- management of the colony retarded all progress in agriculture and the in- dustrial arts. Father Picquet gives some account of Fort Frontenac in 1758 in which he says that the bread and milk which he got at the Fort were bad, and that brandy was scarcely procurable at all, — a state of things, as regards the last particular, which the supporters of the Scott Act would heartily approve, and which, at present, they aim to restore.
But the great contest, so long protracted, for the possession of the conti- nent was now drawing to a climax, and Fort Frontenac was repaired and strengthened in preparation for it by La Jonquiere, governor of Canada in 1751. In 1758 eighty thousand British troops marched to the borders of Canada, and soon after came the last hour of Fort Frontenac.
-^ ^¥,W ^
Historical Sketch of Kingston .
'.
9
Kail of Port nront
ronienac.
An unsuccessful but determined attack on Carillon by Abercrombie had drawn off nearly all the garrison at the Fort, when the British General, fully alive to its importance as the key to the lakes and the entrepot of the French marine, sent Colonel Bradstreet to take it with three thousand men and eleven guns. This strong force landed near Cataraqui on the evening of August 25th, 1758, and, quickly erecting a battery on the site of the present market-place, beseiged the garrison of seventy men under a brave but aged and infirm commander, M. De Noyan. He had vainly warned the Governor of the impending danger, and when succour came at last, it came too late. A brief cannonade was too much for the dilapidated old walls, and De Noyan was reluctantly compelled to capitulate, stipulating however, for the safety of his men, and their transport to Montreal. By this surrender, the whole French navy fell into the hands of the British, including two 20 gun brigs and some barks previously taken by the French at Oswego, besides eighty cannon and a large quantity of small arms, merchandise and furs. Bradstreet loaded his barges with all the goods they could carry, burning nearly all the ships and the fort — the loss of which was one of the chief causes leading to the conquest of Canada.
Traces of the ruins of Fort Frontenac and the breastworks thrown up by Col. Bradstreet, were still to be seen many years after the conquest. The re- mains of the tower in the interior were removed only in 1827, and vestiges of the fort were found when the Grand Trunk Railway line was opened into the city. A few French families still clung to the ruins of the old fort after the surrender, but the place was scarcely heard of again till the enthusiastic loyalty of the U. E. Loyalists, who first settled it, had changed to Kingston its fine old Indian name of Cataraqui, which it never regained, though the river and suburban village, clustered around the pine-crowned ridge which marks the beautiful necropolis, still retain this soft sounding Indian name.
^t^J, -^H^
Ui
Pirst Drltisb
emen
t of -f^lnaston.
The first permanent British settlement of Kingston took place at the close of the American War of Independence. A party of the Loyalist re- fugees who had left their American homes rather than forsake their alleg- iance to Great Britain, were directed to Cataraqui by Captain Grass, who became the captain and guide of the party, and was long a well known settler and the founder of a flourshing family. These first immigrants made their circuitous route from New York and up the St. Lawrence, their little fleet of seven barks being nearly wrecked on the way. The men alone ascended the St. Lawrence in batteaux, to survey the new home in the wilderness,
Historical Sketch of Kingston,
where, at that time, according to an account given by the leader of the party, "no building was to be seen save the bark-thatched wigwam of the savage or the newly erected tent of the hardy loyalist." In this primitive wilderness Captain Grass "pointed out to them the site of their future metropolis, and gained for persecuted principles a sanctuary, for himself a home."
The loyalist settlers impressed their own character of conservative loyalty on the new settlement, which has retained this characteristic ever since, — though the principles of reform have also had a strong following in it. The town grew very slowly and the life of the surrounding settlement was long primitive enough ; but as it was the only place approaching the dignity of a town within hundreds of miles, it gradually became of considerable import- ance to the growing population about it. As there was an abundance of limestone, the log cabins in time made way for substantial stone houses, some of which, with their steep roofs and small windows, still stand as relics of the past. A grist mill was built by Government at the picturesque spot called Kingston Mills, about six miles from Kingston, where a foaming cascade tumbles out of a rugged gorge, and where are now the massive and capacious ntone locks of the Rideau Canal. This great public work, which, for massive masonry, is probably unexcelled by any canal in the world, was planned as a protected though circuitous route to Montreal, removed from the dangers of frontier exposure, and is said to have been suggested by the Duke of Well- ington. It now forms a pleasant means of water communication with Ottawa, to which it gave rise, and it afforded the only highway from the country northward of Kingston, previous to the construction of the Kingston and Pembroke Railway.
)\\n
as ton
a PHilitary and rtaval ^tatlon.
• _
The site of Fort Frontenac was not long left vacant as a military post. Carleton Island was first used as a station for troops and shipping, under the British occupation ; but when it was discovered that this island was within the American line, Kingston once more became a military as well as a naval station, and a large building called the "Stone Frigate" was built at the dock-yard as a sort of naval school of practice for seamen ashore. Lord Dorchester was most anxious that it should be thoroughly fortified and be- come the capital of Upper Canada on the separation of the provinces. When the war of 1812 broke out, Kingston was one of the chief points of attack, but escaped with a cannonade from a gunboat, in which the assailant got very much the worst of it. Commodore Chauncey, with a small squadron, chased the Royal George into the very harbour of Kingston, where a schooner called the Simcoe was sunk from the effects of a similar pursuit. This war, however, which checked York or Toronto and destroyed Niagara, doubled the popula- tion, buildings and business of Kingston. Fort Henry was then begun, — at
itti^
I
5
Historical Sketch of Kingston,
first a rude fort of logs with an embankment, — and a chain of old-fashioned "blockhouses" surrounded the town. Snake Island, some miles out in the lake, was fortified by a blockhouse and made a telegraph station. Twenty years later, the present stone fort — also said to have been planned by the Duke of Wellington — replaced the primitive log fortification on the hill com- manding the harbour, and a cincture of massive martello towers and stone batteries superseded the old blockhouses, and gave the city an imposing as- pect from the water. During the so called rebellion of 1837- 38, Fort Henry became an important centre of protection to the alarmed population of the vicinity ; and although no gun ever needed to be fired there, as signal of the expected "invasion", the fort became the scene of a dismal spectacle, — the execution of ten of the "rebel" prisoners. Among them was a Polish exile, named Von Shultz, who.had been a victim of designing conspirators, and whose hapless fate excited much sympathy among the people of Kingston. The city continued to be a garrison station till 1872, when the Canadian Rifles, of which it was the headquarters, were finally disbanded, and no British regulars have since then occupied its fort or barracks. It has, how- ever, a battery of volunteer artillery, and a battalion of volunteer rifles, besides being the site of the Royal Military College of Canada.
Qrowtl? of tl^e olty.
The loyal and industrious settlers of the country round Kingston, to- gether with the military importance of the site, led to its comparatively rapid growth, distancing at first the rival settlements of York and Niagara. The opening of the Rideau Canal, which, in the absence of canals on the St. Law- rence, became an important highway for the transit of merchaniise from Quebec and Montreal, gave, of course, a strong impetus to the growth of Kingston. Its situation at the confluence of four routes of water communi- cation,— the lake, the river, the Bay of Quinte and the Rideau Canal,— has always given it the lead in the ship building of Upper Canada, being second only to Quebec in that branch of Industry, The shipyards of the city, in- cluding those of its suberbs, — Portsmouth and Garden Island close by, have sent out the largest number of vessels and the greatest weight of tonnage and the yachts and skiff's of Kingston boat-builders float on many an inland lake and river. The first lake and river steamboat, built at a cost of ;f 2,000, and appropriately called the Frontenac, was launched at Kingston in 1812.
4\Inciston as i\)e ^eat of t:;covernment.
When Upper Canada, in 1792, became a separate province, Kingston, the site of the first fort, the first surveyed township and the first town in Upper
Historical Sketch of Kingston.
Canada, urged in vain its claim to become the capital of the province, not- withstanding the strong recommendation of Lord Dorchester and Commodore Bouchette. Yet, though Niagara secured for a time the coveted prize, Kingston was virtually the Jirst capital ; for '* was in an old wooden church on its market place that Govorner Simcoe was first inducted into office. Here his first cabinet was formed and the writs issued to summon the first Legislative Council which soon afterwards met at Niagara, the latter, however, yielding in its turn to "Muddy Little York" which at that time scarcely possessed the characteristics of a village.
When, however, among other constitutional changes which followed the rebellion of 1837, the Provinces were re-united in 1840 under Lord Sydenham, he made Kingston the capital of the united Provinces, and a proviso to this effect was inserted in the contract of union. The Governor's accidental death put an end to the ho|)e of Kingston becoming the seat of Government, though it retained its metr3politan position during the life time of the two succeeding Governors, Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Metcalfe, the Vice- regal residence being Alwington House, while the Parliament of Canada met in the buildings now occupied by the General Hospital. In 1843 and '44 the fine City Hall buildings were built and offered to the Government for parlia- mentary purposes, but were finally declined.
ommercia
rrosperlty.
Yet, though the removal of the seat of government was of course a great blow to the rising city, this did not permanently check its prosperity. In 1847, besides owning a City Hall which was then considered the finest edifice of the kind on the continent of America, it contained several stone churches, a large and massive Roman Catholic Cathedral, Convents, Hotel Dieu and Seminary, an infant University, a public hospital, extensive barracks and four banks. Ten first-class steamers were daily ruuning to and from it, while about 30 smaller steamers and propellers and two hundred schooners and sailing barges made a respectable fleet to fill its capacious harbour. It had also become a city, being elevated to that rank in 1846. In winter, communi- cation with Montreal and Toronto was maintained by stages having their headquarters in Kingston. The Grand Trunk Railway, completed a few years later, changed its business prospects materially, because the distance of its main line from the city proper seriously interfered with its freight and transhipment business, although several elevators show that in summer it is still an important point for the transhipment of grain. The opening up of the back country by the recent construction of the Kingston and Pembroke Rail- way, and the running of a branch line from the Grand Trunk line into the city, have of late considerably increased its traffic and stimulated its growth.
8
Historical Sketch of Kingston.
Valuable mines, too, are now being worked in comparatively new townships in the rear, rich in mineral wealth, and the commercial interests of the city are growing large and more prosperous. Several foundries, locomotive and car works, a hosiery and cotton mill and various smaller factories give em- ployment to many employees, and increase the business and importance of the city. The population however has been stationary as compared with^ many newer places, remaining for a number of years past at 14,000 or 15,000 ) and not yet having passed much beyond the latter limit.
( '
Kin
aston
as an
QcJucational oentre.
, . QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY.
It is rather as an educational than as a commercial centre, however, that Kingston boasts its highest claims to consideration. Queen's University, whose handsome buildings form one of its architectural adornments, is , one of the oldest Universities in Canada. It was established by royal Wl ' charter in 184^, in connection with the Church of Scotland in Canada, which \ eventually became the Canadian Presbyterian Church. It is however unde-
nominational in its character, though it has in connection with it a theologi- cal school for the Presbyterian Church. Its beginning was small, and though it has done good work for the country, it has had little aid from the public purse. Through the energy of its friends, however, — especially of Dr. Grant, Its present esteemed Principal, — and the generosity of many private individ- uals, it has now a large and growing endowment, urgently needed to keep abreast of the educational demands of the age. The staff of professors is being increased from year to year, and a new school of science will shortly be in operation The building for this is to be the gift of John Carruthers, Esq., and the handsome edifice in which the Arts and Theological Depart- ments are housed was erected by the voluntary contributions of Kingston citizens, who have repeatedly shown, in a substantial form, their warm ap- preciation of the insti< ''on and the benefits which its presence confers on the city Its roll annually li umbers some three hundred students, and these, with the students of the Business College, and the cadets of the Royal Military College make a considerable addition to the population of the city. Queen's University has an able staff of professors, a progressive Principal of well known ability and established reputation, and a long and honorable roll of graduates. Among its honorary graduates are the present Premiers of the Dominion and Ontario, both of whom were Kingston boys, educated in Kingston, previous, however, to the establishment of the University.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons stands close by the University building and is affiliated with it. Many medical graduates pass yearly out of its halls. A Ladies' Medical College also flourishes in Kingston
•^PPi^TWT'n'^
Historical Sketch of Kifitrston,
and has already sent out several medical ladies, three of whom are practising in Kingston.
A Business College and an Art School are also among the educational equipments of Kingston.
(^\)e l\oyal PHllitary Oolleae of oanada.
The tongue of land called Point Frederick, which extends into the har- bour between the city and Fort Henry, is the appropriate site of the Royal Military College, an imposing cluster of buildings surrounded by a neatly kept parade ground, washed on all sides but one, by the blue waters of the bay. The main building is a handsome Norman edifice, and the old "stone frigate" already referred to, of substantial cut stone, is also utilized for resi- dence purposes. A toboggan slide on the fort hill close by, and the frozen expanse of the harbour, give the cadets a spacious exercise ground in winter, while in summer they can find plenty of room for the oar and the paddle on the bay, which is generally gay with skiff and sail-boat, as well as the steamers and barks of all sizes constantly flitting to and fro. Some of the ex-cadets have won honorable distinction in the British Army and in the North-west rebellion.
..M
Port Henry.
The origin and history of Fort Henry have already been noticed. The woods on the sloping hill were first cut down in consequence of the alarm caused by the war of 1812, which also led to the construction of Fort Henry. The present fort of stone, replacing the original one of logs, was begun about 1832. It is a well planned fortification for the military needs of that time, enclosing an entensive area, with glacis, ditch. Hanking towers, and a subter- ranean passage to the water. But in modern warfare, it would be of little use, and part of the masonry of the river embankment is falling into some- what unsightly disrepair.
ourt Mouse. ^ ,. - • , - -i
One of the most beautiful buildings of Kingston is its tine Grecian Court House of chiselled water-limestone, almost as light in color as marble, for which at a little distance it might easily be mistaken. It contains ample accomodation for the various courts and court offices, and in the rear is a substantial gaol which, happily, is not often well filled with inmates. The Court House was burned down in 1876, but was speedily restored in its ori- ginal style.
i!
10
Historical Sketch of Kingston,
P
rovincia
renitentlar
/•
ifei
\
The Provincial Penitentiary contains some 600 inmates under the warden- ship of M. Lavell, M.D. It is a prominent object in approaching the city by water from the westward, its massive walls and dome towering above the pretty suburban village of Portsmouth, about a mile and a half west of the cityi A number of handsome residences with charming grounds, adorn the intervening space, one of the oldest of which is the Alwington. House which did duty as the Government House while Kingston was the metropolis of Canada, and which is the property of one of Kingston's most esteemed citi- t j(i(3^ zens, J. A. Allen, Esq., father of Grant Allen, the well known author, who is "a son of the soil," having been born at Wolfe Island in the close vicinity of the city.
• ; tiunatlc Wsylum! , ,
About a mile beyond the Penitentiary is the extensive pile of buildings which form the Lunatic Asylum, accommodating several hundred inmates, under the management of Dr.Clarke. The grounds adjoining are very extensive and comprise some of the most beautiful sites on the shore of the lake, once a favorite pic-nic resort for the Kingstonians. Spacious as the building is, it is not sufficient for the accommodation of the unfortunates for whom it is de- signed, and a branch Asylum has been opened in a building within the city limits known as Regiopolis, and originally built for a Roman Catholic College, for which it was used during a number of years.
Hospitals and ol^aritl
es.
The General Hospital occupies a pleasant site near the wide campus of Queen's Un'versity, and commands an extensive view of the lake. It was built about ha a century ago, after an alarming epidemic of "ship fever" 'vhich filled Kingston with sick emigrants, many of whom were laid in one grave in the grounds on which the hospital now stands. The building, as has been already noticed, was used as the Parliament Buildings during Kingston's metropolitan reign. It is a well arranged and well managed hos- pital, and, besides being a training r ^hool for nurses, plays an important part in the education given at the Royal Medical College close by.
The Orphan's Home, a most useful and excellently conducted institution, somewhat to the north of these buildings, has also an airy and healthy site. It shelters about sixty orphan children, whose education and moral training are carefully attended to. Another useful public charity is the House of Refuge for the infirm and aged or the temporarily homeless. This asylum
T
Historical Sketch of Kingston.
II
.a
■a,^
stands to the north-eastward of the city on the road leading to the Grand Trunk station, and commands a pleasant view of the Cataraqui as it leisurely descends from Kingston Mills. A Roman Catholic hospital — the Hotel Dieu — and a House of Providence for orphans and aged people fill up the number of Kingston charities.
Ti^e C[)urcbes.
The first church built in the sight of Kingston was the little French church built by La Salle about 1674 ; its RecoUet pastors numbering about a hundred families in their cure. Its next successor was the old French stone church of St. Joseph, still standing. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary's was begun about 1844, and is a fine Gothic building of imposing size, with a handsome interior. It has been improved from time to time, but stUl lacks the tower which would complete the harmony of its proportions. Its vault enshrines the remains of several bishops who have successively filled its episcopal chair. A handsome episcopal palace stands beside it in extensive grounds. The oldest church building in Kingston, still used for its original
Eurposes, was, up to April 18S8, St. Andrew's church, built by Scotch Pres- yterians in 1820. It was a substantial stone building, handsomely faced with cut stone, and had been for nearly seventy years the place of worship of a large congregation, when it was accidentally destroyed by fire. A^hand- some new diurch is to be erected on the same site. The first minister of St. Andrew's was the Rev. John Bvclay, who began hv? ministry in 1821. His successor was the Rev. Dr. Machar, a man of high Christian character and great influence in the community, during a long ministry of thirty seven years. Since his death, the Rev. W. M. Inglis and the- Rev. T. G. Smith have successively held the pastorate, and the present incumbent is the Rev. John Mackie, formerly of Dalbeattie, Scotland. .
ST. GEORGE'S CATHEDRAL.
The second oldest church building in Kingston is St. George's church, a substantial stone edifice in the Grecian style, built in 1825, which became a cathedral church when the Episcopal diocese of Ontario was formed, more than a quarter uf a century age* It was preceded by an old wooden building which still stands on the corner of Union and Wellington Streets. Its first pastor and rector was the Rev. John Stuart, D.D., who 'vas also Episcopal Missionary to the Mohawk Indians in the vicinity. After his death at a good old age, he was succeeded by his son, the Rev. George O'Kill Stuart, v.'ho long ministered in Kingston as Rector, Archdeacon and finally Dean He owned a large part of the ground now occupied bv the city, including the campus of Queen's University, on which he built a large and stately mansion now transformed into Professors' residences; and several of the prettiest
12
Historical Sketch of Kingston,
I
yvr^\
'■\U
::.].
streets in the vicinity are called by his name One of the earliest assistant ministers was the Rev. Robt. Cartwright, father of Sir R. J. Cartwright, ex- finance minister of the Dominion and a well known reform leader. Mr. Cartwright, though dying while still a young man, left a saintly memory which is not yet forgotten. .A man of similar character was the Rev Henry Wilson, now assistant minister in St. George's New York, to which he went from Kingston some years ago. Dean Stuart was succeeded by Dean Lauder, who in turn gave place to Dean Lvster, superannuated in 1884, but nomin- ally still holding the deanery. When the Diocese of Ontario was constituted, Bishop Lewis lived for some time in Kingston, which was made the Cathe- dral town, but eventually fixed hjs resif^Qnc*> jn Q^ta^aa The Rev. B. Buxton Smith is now acting rector, and the Rev. A. W. Cooke officiates as curate. The adjoining Synod Hall was erected about 1870. : V >.. st; PAUL'S CHURCH.
St. Paul's Church, on Queen Street, was built in 1845, partially as a memorial of the Rev. Robert Cartwright, whose remains were laid in an old churchyard on its site. The Venerable Archdeacon Stuart was also interred in its vault. Its clergymen have successively been the Revs. W. Gregg, W. Clark, J. A. Mulock and the present incumbent, the Rev. W. B. Carey.
ST. JAMES' CHURCH.
St. James' Church, corner of Union and Barrie Streets, was also built about 1845. Its first minister was the Rev. R. V. Rogers, first appointed as a suburban missionary. After a faithful pastorate of more than a quarter of a century, he was succeeded by the Rev. F. W. Kirkpatrick, a man greatly beloved, whose sudden and premature death in 1885 was deeply lamented. He was followed by the Rev. J. K. McMorine, the present pastor. The church, though a neat and tasteful one, is much too small for the congregation, and is likely soon to be enlarged.
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH. -Sydenham Street. /
I'he first Methodist Church in Kingston was built about i8i8d Its senior successor is Sydenham Street Church, a handsome edifice with the tallest spire in Kingston, built about 1850. It is too small however, and is now being greatly enlarged and improved. It has of course had a long list of clergymen, among the most eminent of whom have heen the Rev. Egerton Ryerson and the Venerable Dr. Douglass, now of Montreal. Its present pastor is Rev. J. W. Spajling.
SECOND METHODIST CHURCH.
The Queen Street Methodist Church was built about 1864 by an offshoot from the congregation of Sydenham Street Church. A new one was built close to it in 1884, but unfortunately destroyed by fire in the succeeding year. It has since been re-built, and is a very handsome and tasteful church. Its present pastors are Rev. R. Whiting and Rev. S. G. Bland.
\%-~,
Historical Sketch of Kingston.
13
THIRD METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
The former Methodist Episcopal Church was built about 1878, at a time when there was scarcely the nucleus of a congregation, and it is now well filled. It is a plain neat brick structure. When the union took place it became the Third Methodist Church, and its present pastor is the Rev. J. E. Mavety.
FOURTH METHODIST CHURCH-Brock Street.
The former primitive Methodist Church on Brock Street was built about 1861, during the ministry of Rev. G. Wood. Its style is simple, but tasteful and solid. Its present pastor is the Rev. R. Stilwell.
FIFTH METHODIST CHURCH.
The Fifth Methodist Church is a neat little building at Williamsville, whose officiating pastor is Rev, W. Sparling.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. A Congregational congregation existed in Kingston as early as 18 10. The present tasteful edifice of the First Congregational Church was built about 1 85 1. The Rev. Kenneth Fenwick was the pastor who occupied it, and after a ministry of twenty-six years was succeeded in 1877 by the Rev. Dr. Jackson, who still ministers to a large congregation.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
In 1840 the first Baptist congregation was formed, and worshipped in a small rough-cast building on Johnston Street till 1882, when the new edifice now in use was erected. The Rev. G. Gilmore, the Rev. J. Dyer, the Rev.W. Coombs and the Rev. A. Lorimer and others successively ministered in it. The Rev. George Grafitey was pastor for ten years and was much esteemed. He was succeeded successively by the Rev. C. Cook, Rev. Dr. Hooper and Rev. Mr. Walker, the present pastor.
COOKE'S CHURCH.
When a division took place in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, in 1844, an Irish Presbyterian Church was formed. Its pastors were successiviely the Rev. W. Reid, the Rev Andrew Wilson, and the Rev. S. Houston, the present minister. The church, formerly a plain structure, was much enlarged and improved in 1886 and is now a handsome edifice. Its congregation remains largely Irish in character.
CHALMERS CHURCH. ^'"
Chalmers Church had its origin at the same time with Cooke's Church, though the building was not erected till some years later. Its first pastor was the Rev. Dr. Burns, now of Halifax. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Pierce, who, after a brief pastorate was followed by the Rev, Patrick Gray, a
^T~;5T ■
H
Historical Sketch of Kingston.
I I
! H
^
(
! I
Ifej
( I
U
man of great breadth of mind and Catholic spirit, who was esteemed and beloved by all, and whose too early death was deeply regretted. The Rev. F. McCuaig succeeded him, and was followed by the Rev. M. Macgillivray, the present pastor.
BETHEL CHURCH. *
Bethel Church, near the head of Johnuton Street, is an offshoot from the First Congregational, built 1878.// Its present pastor is the Rev. Mr. McFadyen.
All Saints, St. Marks, Barriefield, and St. Johns, Portsmouth, are small suburban Episcopal churches, ministered by the Rev. F. Prime, Rev. K. L. Jones, and Rev. F. W. Dobbs respectively. The latter is one of the oldest clergymen of Kingston, uncle of Sir Richard Cartwright.
SALVATION ARMY BARRACKS.
The Salvation Army Barracks, Queen Street, were built in 1884 and have been twice burned down and twice restored with characteristic zeal and perseverance.
Kingston has several pleasant summer resorts in its immediate vicinity. The sail up the Bay of Quinte — an arm of the lake — to Belleville, is a charming one. Sharbot Lake in the back country is growing a favorite fish- ing and summer resort. The Thousand Islands are frequently visited by the citizens, some of whom have summer residences among their bosky recesses, and no doubt in time there will be a long line of handsome villas all the way along the shore to the thriving village of Gananoque, eighteen miles distant.
*'FIDELIS."
i
0
o
Jl
ed and Rev. F. ray, the
om the 'adyen.
i small K. L. oldest
id have !al and
icinity. s, is a :e fish- by the cesses, \e way listant.
isr
!,*T