100 years

and never an accident

The mechanics of the Aero Car have been modernized, but the actual Aero Car itself is the one and only from 100 years ago. We can thank Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres-Quevedo for this wonder. (for this reason, it is also called the Spanish Aero Car, though the name was officially changed by the Niagara Parks Commission to the Whirlpool Aero Car in 2004. Mostly, it is just known as the Aero Car) The car is suspended via six cables – three on the left and three on the right. Twenty-four wheels keep the car moving from point A to point B. You do nip in and out of the US, but because you're suspended in the air while border crossing, and both end points are in Canada, you don't need a passport. 

It has been designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Work.
And, no, I have never been on it.

aero car

We have had some beautiful fall days these last couple of weeks, though yesterday wasn't one of them. Still, I needed to restock on Niagara Falls postcards, so in spite of the wind and the darkening skies and threatening rain, I headed off to find some. 

My first stop was the gift shop at the Whirlpool Aero Car.

WEGO is the Niagara Falls/Niagara Parks transit service

and this is the Aero Car waiting for people willing to traverse along the cables over the Whirlpool Rapids

and there was this group who wanted to get as close as possible to the rapids

but all I did was buy a couple dozen postcards, one of which was this one

a little day trip for signs, signs

antique cable car

Over on my other blog, I posted photos of the Aerocar that crosses above the Whirlpool at  Niagara Falls. You can be assured that I did not go on  it.  I merely stood by and took pictures to share with all of you.

Here are two postcards of the same Spanish Aerocar from  almost 100 years ago. This card was mailed in 1921 on June 28th. Apparently it was raining, but  the sender did some sightseeing all the same. He doesn't say if he went on this cable car.

this card is probably from the same era, but I do wonder why there is only one person shown in the car?

The Aero Car was designed by a Spanish engineer, Leonardo Torres Quevedo and has been in operation since 1916. The cable car is suspended from six sturdy cables and offers a wonderful view of the Niagara Whirlpool which is formed at the end of the rapids where the gorge turns abruptly counterclockwise, and the river escapes through the narrowest channel in the gorge.

(Niagara Parks website)

something for PostcardFriendshipFriday

floral clock

I was a little disappointed in the Floral Clock at Niagara this year. 

It has a different design every year and this time it's not nearly as colourful as some years past. Although, it is nice to see the Niagara Parks in flowers.

see how good I was at getting photos without random tourists posing in front of it. wasn't easy, let me tell you!












an earlier post on the floral clock in postcards can be found here







a little something for signs, signs

floral clock

In honour of the time change this weekend (it's worth losing an hour if we get more sunshine, isn't it?) I thought I'd show some of my postcards of the Niagara Floral Clock. You can find it on the Niagara Parkway across from the Adam Beck Generating Station near Queenston.

This one shows the crests of the ten provinces. I'm not sure why the two territories were not included to make it easier to read the time - maybe that would have been too crowded and difficult to see the details. I also am not sure why they are shown in a seemingly random order.

The clock was built in 1950 by Ontario Hydro after the chief engineer made a visit to the Princes' Street Gardens clock in Edinburgh 

Since 1977, the clock has been maintained by the Niagara Parks and the design is changed each year. you can read about the history here

PostcardFriendshipFriday

Maid of the Mist

Since 1885 the Maid of the Mist has been taking tourists under Niagara Falls. But today was the last day of its operations on the Canadian side.

Though small this steamer is powerful enough to push her way against the mighty current right into the heart of the madly seething waters at the very base of the Falls. From her decl a view of the Falls is obtained at a distance of but a few yards, a sight never to be forgotten.

It has not been an amicable parting of the ways between the steamboat company and the Niagara Parks Commission. It has been owned by the same family since 1972 and they have made a deal with the New York side to continue with tours while a new company will take over from Canada.

above is a Curt Teich card sent in 1957 from Niagara Falls NY to Toronto ON
and a Geocolor card printed in Spain

and though not a postcard, a shot of the Maid of the Mist VI taken this summer

PostcardFriendshipFriday

grave post - Laura Secord

This unassuming farm house in the (now very sleepy) town of Queenston is where Laura and James Secord lived from 1803-35 and where she raised her seven children (one son and six daughters). During the War of 1812, the home was taken over by the Americans who had added to her household demands by billeting three soldiers with the family. 

The American soldiers let down their guard and discussed a planned attack. James had been seriously injured during the Battle of Queenston Heights early on in the war and Laura was still nursing him back to health. I'm sure those soldiers never expected Laura to make her way through 20 miles of rough and dangerous woods to warn the British of their plan. But she did. Her heroic deed was not recognized until 1860 when the Prince of Wales made a visit and learned of her feat. Thereafter she became the celebrated heroine of many tales, poems, drama and legends. There was story about a cow being dragged along on the journey but that has been discounted as completely impractical. After the war, the comfortably well off Secords were reduced to poverty for several years. James eventually got a position as a registrar, then judge in Niagara and finally as a customs inspector in Chippawa. Since that was about 11 mi, or 18 km, away, they sold their house and moved. After he died in 1841, Laura was again left destitute and opened her cottage as a school for the Chippawa Natives to make ends meet.







There were no portraits of Laura, so we really don't know what she looked like, but there are two busts of her - one at Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls and another in Ottawa near the NationalWar Memorial. Both James and Laura are buried at Drummond Hill Cemetery.

You can read all about her life here at Upper Canada History and also here

CemeterySunday and TaphophileTragics

street signs - Erie

These fancy black street signs belong to the Queen Street Arts and Culture District of Niagara Falls. The signs might have you expecting a little more than is offered, but this is the old downtown area that is being revitalized with restaurants, art galleries and performance venues. It is only about five minutes (by car) away from the falls but is a world away from the tackiness carnival atmosphere of Clifton Hill. (a special place for the locals, perhaps?) It is here you will find the Paris Crepes Bistro that Lesley showed last week and where I ate yesterday. My crepes - with goat cheese, walnut and honey! - were sublime.
Anyway, this is one of the north-south streets in the area named for bodies of water. Just west of Erie Ave is Ontario Ave, followed by St Clair Ave, and St Lawrence Ave with Huron Ave running parallel to Queen St.

the fifth in a series of street signs for signs,signs