Niagara — Historical and Reminiscent 



In June 1812, on the declaration of war between the United 1872 

 States and Great Britain, most of the inhabitants removed to the 

 interior, but generally returned and remained until December 

 1813; when the British and their Indian allies invaded and laid 

 waste our defenceless frontier. Buildings and property of every 

 description were destroyed; many unresisting persons were 

 killed; and others only escaping with their lives, were in some 

 cases reduced to extreme want and suffering. Nothing was 

 saved, except two or three small dwellings and the log tavern, 

 set on fire, but extinguished by persons at hand, after the hasty 

 departure of the enemy. No buildings were again erected until 

 after the close of the war, in 1815. 



At the conclusion of the war most of the inhabitants returned, 

 the mills and dwellings were rebuilt, and other improvements 

 were made from time to time. Goat Island was purchased of 

 the State by Augustus Porter in 1 8 1 6. It had been frequently 

 visited both by the Indians and whites but was of no practical use 

 unless connected to the main land by a bridge. 



In 1817 the proprietor constructed a bridge near the upper 

 end of the Island. It proved insufficient to resist the rapid cur- 

 rent, and heavy masses of ice, and was partially carried away the 

 following winter. In 1818, another bridge was constructed, on 

 the site of the present iron bridge, which has proved a perfectly 

 secure position. For the old bridge of wood, an iron bridge was 

 substituted in 1856. 



A Woolen Factory was erected in 1820; a Forge Rolling 

 Mill and Nail Factory in 1822; and a Paper Mill in 1823, now 

 one of the largest in the country. 



In 1829, as a matter of experiment and curiosity, the old 

 schooner Michigan was sent over the Falls. . . . Her 

 course was well directed toward the center of the Horseshoe, 

 and though submerged from twelve to fifteen feet, she passed 

 smoothly over, proving the great depth of water at that point. 



In December 1837, during the Canadian Rebellion, an event 



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