Niagara Falls Butterflies
The above photograph was taken at the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory in Ontario Canada. It is part of the Ontario Parks. The beautiful domed atrium is full of all types of butterflies, free flying around visitors. If you stand still, it’s very possible that one or two will even land on you (it helps to wear bright “flower” colored clothes of course!).
Not much history here, it’s a relatively new sight. It is located on the scenic Niagara Parkway-even the drive is beautiful! If you’re traveling to Niagara Falls, this would be a great day trip!
To view items available with the beautiful butterfly photographs, click on one of the pictures (either the one above or below).
Old Fort Niagara
The above photo was taken from Niagara-On-The-Lake in Ontario, Canada of Old Fort Niagara. The fort is right at the mouth of the Niagara River, where it empties into Lake Ontario.
The fort was originally built in 1726 by France and played an important role in the struggle between Britan and France. It also was a training ground and barracks for troops during both world wars. Today, it is restored and serves as a historic monument and is open to the public year round. But it almost was lost to history in the early 1900’s as time and nature worked to destroy the oldest structures. By 1914, a corner of the seawall and a portion of the French Castle were beginning to collapse. Around 1920 the roof of the storehouse was so damaged the building was unusable. But the surrounding community of Youngstown took an interest in saving the historic landmark.
By 1922 several groups had formed and were working to get it restored. In 1924 the first victory came with the repair of the failing seawall. 1927 marked the true turnaround for the ancient fort, as federal funds were being supplemented with private funds to repair the ailing buildings. A full restoration was completed in 1934.
Today school children and tourists file through the grand gatehouse to view how life was for the earliest inhabitents-and of course, hear the inevidable ghost stories. The most commonly told is the headless ghost of the well, located in the French Castle. As the story goes, there was a fight over a woman between two soilders, to be resolved by dual. The loser was beheaded and his body disposed of in the well. He is said to still roam the roams and halls of the Castle to this day.
If you would like to purchase an item featuring this historic building, please click the photograph above. Also part of the Fort Niagara location is a lighthouse. To view items featuring the Fort Niagara Light, click the photo below.
Bridal Veil Falls (Niagara Falls)
The above photograph was taken from Niagara Falls Ontario of the Bridal Veil Falls, on the US side of the falls. There are actually three separate waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. The American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and the Horseshoe or Canadian Falls. The Bridal Veil Falls is a smaller waterfalls, situated next to the American falls between Luna Island and Goat Island. The Bridal Veil falls was the home of the original “Cave of the Winds”-an actual cavern behind the falls. Unfortunately time has eroded this cave, and although there is an attraction by the name (accessible from the US side on Goat Island), it is no longer a walk behind the falls. If you look closely at the bottom right of the photograph, you can see the “Hurricane Deck” at the base of the falls covered in winter ice from the mist.
The largest and most specatular by most opinions is the Horseshoe or Canadian falls-it flows approximately 600,000 gallons of water PER SECOND!! The best view of this, as well as the other two falls, is from the Canadian side.
The falls are beautiful any time of the year-but winter can be one of the most specatular, as the mist freezes on everything nearby. Trees and streetlamps can be coated in ice that is inches thick. The ice also builds up below the falls, occasionally causing an “ice bridge”. In fact, one of the first bridges near the falls was felled by the ice. Even more spectacular is the nightly lighting of the falls with multi colored floodlights. During the winter months it also illuminates the snow and ice surrounding the falls.
Click on the photograph above if you would like to purchase any of my items featuring the wintery photo of the Bridal Veil Falls.
Got Nuts? Goat island squirrel
I found this little guy on a recent trip to Goat Island in Niagara Falls, New York. He (she?) was sitting right by the statue of Nikola Tesla. Telsa designed the first hydroelectric power plant in the falls. There is a statue dedicated to him on both sides of the border. The one on the US side was a gift from Yugoslavia to the United States in 1976.
This adorable little squirrel seemed right at home in his shadow, and had no fear of us walking within feet of him/her. Probably pretty used to the tourists that vist the area, especially during the summer. We happened to go during one of the coldest times of the year-the mist itself was actually freezing into little pellets! It didn’t seem to bother this squirrel though, and he/she seemed well fed and happy.
Derelict or Dream? The SS Aquarama
The above photo was taken recently in Buffalo New York. At first glance, the ship looks like a common derelict-a left over from the time when Buffalo was a bustling shipping port. A closer look reveals the name “Aquarama”. Searching the internet brings a wealth of information on a ship by that name.
The SS Aquarama begin her life as the Marine Star, a “liberty ship” meant to ferry troops to the war effort. She made one transatlantic journey before the war ended and she was decommissioned. A company bought her in the 50’s and renovated her into a ferry of a different sort. She was renamed the SS Aquarama and begain ferrying cars and people between Detroit and Clevelend. She was quite a sight, with two dance floors and indoor sitting areas. She was eventually mothballed in 1963 when it was no longer cost effective to ferry travelers across the lake.
She was towed to Buffalo in the 90’s to become a floating casino, however that hasn’t materialized yet. She just sits in her mooring, waiting…
Some might think her plight is reminicent of the Crystal Beach Boat (the Canadiana), which sadly was lost a few years ago. She spent her last few years sitting intentionally scuttled in a shallow mooring in the Welland Canal before being cut up for scrap. Last I saw her, she was little more than a rusty hulk, stripped of all her trimmings. Both ships (it seems) spent time in the same Canadian Shipyard. The Canadiana’s story ended there, the Aquarama made it out in (mostly) one piece. Hopefully the Aquarama’s story has a better ending, although I did find mention in a new story of an Indian firm looking at her for scrap as well.
If you’d like to bring home a little great lakes history, click on the picture or one of the links to my photography shops in the sidebar for items featuring my photograph of the Aquarama in her berth.
Digitally altered photo (you may also click on this photo for a link to my shop):
The Olcott Beach Lighthouse
The above black and white photo was taken recently in Olcott Beach, NY. This is not the original lighthouse, it is a replica that was built in 2003 with funds raised by volunteers. The original structure was built in the 1870’s. It was moved from it’s pier location to a marina in the 1930’s but was eventually razed in 1963.
Olcott Beach is a town in transition. It had been the jewel of the Lake Ontario shoreline for many years, with a huge hotel, carrousel park and many shops. People would travel there for day trips from all over Western New York-it was THE place to be on a hot summer day. Eventually, cars got faster, people found other things to interest them and the town fell out of favor as the place to go with the family.
In 2003, the Carrousel house was restored and an original Herschell Carrousel (manufactured in near by North Tonawanda) was installed. In 2004, four vintage Herschell kiddie rides were added. Rides are .25 and oporated by volunteers. While riding the Carrousel, check out the beautiful 1938 Wurlitzer organ with also may have been made in North Tonawanda (home of one of the large Wurlitzer factories).
Saturday nights on main street are hoppin’ with activity from May-September as the street shuts down for car cruises. On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Krull Park opens up for a huge car show-usually between 500-800 cars fill the park.
With a lot of hard work and dedication, Olcott is back on it’s way to becoming a local place to be. Plans are currently in the works for a local businessman to renovate some of the buildings on main street to be rented as shops. The people responsible for the Carrousel’s return are looking into building a small ampitheatre that will offer outdoor movies from the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s as well as puppet shows. If you’d like to bring home a piece of Olcott’s historic rebirth, click the photograph or one of the links to my photography shops in the sidebar for items featuring the photograph.
