The City of Niagara Falls has long been famous for a variety of reasons. One such reason is the abundance and history of towers. Of course, the first tower that we all might think of is the Skylon Tower. Other well-known towers that may come to mind are the Minolta Tower and the Oneida Tower. The towers that I will be talking about today are much older and perhaps less well-known.
Throughout history, people have always had the desire to observe their surrounding scenery from high places. It might be surprising to learn that the first towers in Niagara Falls were not near the falls, but were all located on Lundy's Lane, which is quite a distance inland. The reason for this can be explained when one looks at the dates of construction.
From the time that the War of 1812 ended until the American Civil War started in 1861, the second most popular tourist attractions in our area were the Battlefields of the War of 1812. The Battle of Lundy's Lane site was the most popular, since both sides claimed victory. Tours of the Battlefield were a popular pastime for both tourists and residents alike.
One of the most popular tour guides was Captain Anderson, a retired British Artillery soldier. He decided to erect his own tower around 1845 on the north side of Lundy's Lane near the Drummond Hill Presbyterian Church. It was a crude structure made of wood and had no foundations. The tower was about 40 feet high with a staircase on the inside. Unfortunately, the wooden posts soon decayed and the tower collapsed on a stormy winter night.
In 1846, a second tower was built by Donald McKenzie on the south side of Lundy's Lane on the highest point on his property. Taller that the first tower at 80 feet, it was a much sturdier structure that had a good cellar and a solid stone foundation. The tower was covered by clapboard for two stories and the remaining structure was covered in lattice with enclosed staircases. Although local citizens and school children were free, tourists were charged 25 cents to ascend to the top viewing platform where a large telescope could be used to enhance the magnificent view. Unfortunately, on July 4th, 1851, the tower was destroyed by a spectacular fire that many thought was arson.
In 1893, the final tower to be built on Lundy's Lane was erected on the site of the former Fralick Tower by a company of local citizens. This tower had the distinction of being the first all-steel tower in Canada. Known as the Lundy's Lane Observatory, it also held the distinction of having the first ever elevator in Niagara. To the delight of visitors, the Hall's Hydro-Steam elevator made stair climbing a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the tower was not a financial success, closed after only a few years and was eventually demolished in 1921.
The third tower was built by tavern owner Adam Fralick in 1850. This tower was built on the top of a two story house and it consisted of a wooden frame enclosed with lattice work. It stood for many years, but eventually fell prey to the elements.
The mid 1850s saw the construction of the fourth tower to be built on Lundy's Lane. Mr. Davis built a tower on the north side of the street near Drummond Road. It was another frame construction built on top of a two-storey red brick building. Since it was later run by Mr. Durham, it became known as the Durham Tower. On a stormy night in 1870, several sections of the tower blew down, and it was never rebuilt.
Niagara Falls Public Library. 2017. Niagara Falls - Then & Now: A Photographic Journey Through The Years. [Lundy's Lane Towers / Lundy's Lane].
Niagara Falls Then and Now
A collaborative project
Niagara Falls Museums - Niagara Falls Public Library - Dept. of Geography and Tourism Studies,Brock University.
Original newspaper series by
Sherman Zavitz, Official Historian for the City of Niagara Falls from 1994 - 2019.
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