Placed in the Past

Something you should know about me: I was born and raised in Niagara and I love living there.

In the past few years, I’ve really gotten into the history of the Niagara Region. My research has taken me a number of different directions as I focus on different projects and different eras. Of course, in terms of history, the area is well known for its association with the War of 1812—between historic sites, museums, plaques, monuments and the names of streets and schools, it’s sometimes hard to forget!

But I’ve also had to opportunity to explore some lesser-known stories, such as the history of Niagara Freemasonry in the nineteenth century, the impact of tennis on elitist tourism in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the involvement of St. Catharines women in the sport of rowing during the 1900s. And as I’ve looked into these stories, I find myself becoming more intrigued with the “hidden histories” or stories about the past that aren’t generally known.

I think one of the (many) reasons why I’ve developed an interest in local history is the idea that I can physically go to the locations where the events that I’m researching took place. Whether it’s wandering through cemeteries, trying to identify practice trenches dug by Camp Niagara soldiers-in-training during World War One or hopping in my car for a plaque-hunting expedition, I like to see the places with my own eyes.

In his article “What is Spatial History?” American historian Richard White argues that although history is a study of time, it can (and should!) also be a study of space.[1] In other words, the events and people of the past are inextricably linked to the location in which they were found. Often, history is explored by following a particular person, group of people, event or movement.

But what does it look like when physical spaces become central in historical discussions?

Historic sites are one example of place-based interpretation. In Niagara, some examples include Fort George, the Mackenzie Printery, Old Fort Erie and the Brown Homestead, to name a few. The location of these sites is inherently embedded in their historical interpretations.

Another example is walking tours. Last year, I had the opportunity to design a walking tour of a section of the Niagara Parkway right beside Niagara Falls. The project combined all of my favourite things—going for walks, tracking down plaques and monuments, and digging through the archives. But my research was rooted in the concept of physical space. Each story that I wanted tell was formed around a particular place and over the course of the tour I try to focus on physical surroundings.

At the very beginning of the tour, I ask my audience to pause and look around, to notice the tall buildings, the busy parking lots, the sounds of traffic and the rushing river. But then, I want them to go beyond that and, as they listen to the different “hidden histories,” I want them to imagine what the Falls may have looked like in the past. Who was here? What events were going on? What has changed?

I think that viewing history through the lens of space has the potential to change both how we understand history and how we interact with it. Physically experiencing history through location helps me engage with what I am learning and I’m looking forward to continuing to explore how this perspective can shape the way I interpret and present the past.

[1] Richard White, “What is Spatial History?” (Spatial History Lab, 1 February, 2010), 1-2.