A little about Thorold:
The earliest communities in what is now Thorold emerged at Beaverdams, DeCew Falls and St. Johns but, after the opening of the First Welland Canal in 1829, they were superseded by the new canal villages of Thorold, Allanburg and Port Robinson. Thorold, located on the brow of the Niagara Escarpment, soon became dominant and was incorporated as a village in 1850 and as a town in 1870. When the Regional Municipality of Niagara was formed in 1970, the Town of Thorold expanded to include the former Thorold Township. In 1975 the town became incorporated as the City of Thorold. Today, outsiders regard Thorold as not much more than a growing southern suburb of the much larger City of St. Catharines, to the dismay of Thorold residents who strive to preserve their identity.

The Welland Canal passes through the heart of the city, and the Twin Flight Locks, located downtown, attract thousands of tourists annually. Thorold is also the location of the War of 1812 battle site, Beaverdams, where, on June 25, 1813, Colonel Charles Boerstler and his American troops were defeated by a force of 80 British regulars and 300 Caughnawaga Mohawks.

Brock University is a modern comprehensive university located in Thorold, Ontario, Canada. It was named for Major General Sir Isaac Brock, who lost his life during the Battle of Queenston Heights in the War of 1812 fought 30 km from the present-day site of the campus. His last words, "Surgite!" ("Push on!"), are the official university motto.

Brock offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, with a modest number of graduate and interdisciplinary degree programs. It is located on the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Many of the buildings on campus were designed by the innovative architectural firm, Moriyama and Teshima Architects. The main campus serves a student population of over 17,000 full- and part-time students. Despite unprecedented growth in recent years, which has seen the construction of several multi-million dollar expansion projects, university administration does not seek enrollment beyond the 16,000 full-time student level. A satellite campus used primarily for teacher education is located in Hamilton, Ontario.

Jack N. Lightstone became the school's president on July 1, 2006. The University Chancellor is Ned Goodman, the investment industry leader and Canadian business builder.

Some historical sites in Thorold:
Decew House was constructed in the late 1700s as a home for British Captain John B. DeCou. It served as the area's British headquarters during the War of 1812. On June 22, 1813, Laura Secord journeyed from Queenston to DeCew House to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of an impending American attack. FitzGibbon and his men were able to capture the American force and help turn the tide of the war.

The Old Fire Hall was constructed next to the second Second Welland Canal in 1878. This building once housed Thorold's police force and, to this day, contains a jail in the basement. For many years, the fire bell tolled for the town's strictly enforced nine o'clock curfew. The Old Firehall was designed by the architect John Latshaw and built for $2,483. It has a combination bell tower and hose tower, yellow and red brickwork, semi-circular wood windows, and a circular wood window in the gable end at the tower. Decorative yellow brick arches frame each window. The bell which hung in its tower remained in use until 1964, when the fire department moved into its new hall on nearby Towpath Street. In 1967 the old bell was installed outside the new firehall.

Chestnut Hall is a carefully restored 1862 building that was once home to John McDonagh, a lumber merchant and mayor of the Town of Thorold from 1881–1884. Chestnut Hall currently houses the Thorold & Beaverdams Historical Society, in addition to the Thorold Museum and part of the Thorold Public Library.

St. Johns School House is a single-room wooden school house located in the west portion of Thorold. Opening in 1804, it was the first free school in Upper Canada.

Maplehurst is a Thorold landmark and the former home of Jacob Keefer. The mansion sits on the highest rise in the city offering a commanding view of the community below. Built by Hugh Keefer in 1885, this red stone structure with elaborate gables and dormers has been variously used in the past as a residence, a hospital, and a private nursing home. Maplehurst was recently restored to its original condition and is currently known as the Keefer Mansion, a 10 room inn noted for its fine dining.

Welland Mills was constructed in 1846 on the bank of the second Welland Canal by Jacob Keefer and, at that time, it contained the largest watermill in Canada. The Keefers were entrepreneurs and are considered one of Thorold's founding families. At its height, the mill was capable of manufacturing 300 barrels (89 tonnes) of flour per day and storing 70,000 bushels (1,900 tonnes) of wheat and 5,000 barrels (440 tonnes) of flour. Today, the Welland Mills building is being restored to offer commercial space on the ground floor and residential apartments above.

Beaverdams Methodist Church and Burying Ground was constructed in 1832. Beaverdams Church is the oldest Methodist Church still standing in Ontario. The first minister to preach in the chapel was Reverend Egerton Ryerson, who is largely responsible for founding the province of Ontario's education system.

Soldiers' Monument is a war memorial monument that commemorates World War I (1914–1919), World War II (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953). Located in Memorial Park, it was unveiled on Sunday, October 30, 1921 and was erected by the citizens of Thorold to: "Honour the Memory of the Men of Thorold, who gave their lives for the cause of freedom in the great war, and in grateful remembrance of those who shared its dangers.".


For more information on the City of Thorold, visit Wikipedia.org