https://www.fepl.ca/localhistory/files/original/f7d9b61f527059865ac6558f5f4e455a.pdf 14db85a22c7ef808ae0eeb8f7a529752 PDF Text Text OFFICIAL OPENING MATHER PARK FORT ERIE SATURDAY, AUGUST 31 MCMXL �I?ROGRRMME R Message from Rlonzo c;lark Mather A MAN is justified in alluding to his own works only to give confidence to others in him and his works. That is my excuse today for referring to some events of the past which are significant in connection with the official opening of The Mather Park and the dedication of The Mather Gate. Half a century ago, almost to the very day, I sat on the water-front of this great Niagara River and saw all the waters of the Great Lakes pouring through the narrow stone channel cut by Nature; and it dawned upon me that this was a natural spot for a bridge that could be a profitable investment, and there ought to be one built at once. So impressed was I with this fact that I bought all the land which I possibly could secure on the banks of this, Nature's great mill-race. The thought occurred to me that this bridge might be a Memorial Bridge, and still be self-sustaining by utilizing the waters which passed beneath it for energy in the form of electricity. Please remember that all this of which I speak was fifty long years ago; before those subsequent developments in hydraulic and electrical engineering had made possible the marvellous power developments at Niagara Falls. A bridge which would be a memorial to the inventors of the 19th century (then just closing) seemed to me to be most fitting. Why, I asked myself, should all the monuments in the land be erected to soldier and statesman, whose laurels would be few had not the inventor given them rapid means of destruction, publication and communication? Due to political opposition, the bridge which I envisioned and planned was not to be. And, with the defeat of the proposal went the fulfilment of all the designs for the development ·of electrical power from great water-wheels under the bridge. But the developments of time and human ingenuity are not to be denied. Today you have, almost on the very site upon which my plans were based, a great Peace Bridge making possible safe, rapid and convenient travel for the citizens of Canada and the United States. And the waters of this great river are now developing millions of horse-poweer of electricity at many hydro-electric power houses at Niagara Falls. To my profound regret, I cannot be with you today because I am still confined to my home in Los Angeles as the result of a serious accident which befell me a few months ago. But my heart is with you. In these times of strife it is good that the two great nations of the North American continent are not merely at peace, but living in harmony as friendly neighbors. le is good that we can meet here with mutual understanding and co-operation for this dedication. My ancestry is English. The first emissary sent out by England to civilize the new world was Richard Mather, in 1635. His son, Increase Mather, was granted a charter for New England, which gave him more power to control and educate the people to follow the path which was to make this New World what it is today. Cotton Mather, the son of Increase, was a great educator in the cause of world civilization. His son, in turn, followed in the work of his ancestors. All these men were devoutly religious. It is my belief that religion and civilization go hand in hand. Without the one you cannot have the other. Now, in 1940, that little group of islands we call Great Britain, surrounded by mines and threatened with destruction, is the heart and defender of civilization in the world. So long as that heart beats, so long will our civilization last and advance and progress. If all English speaking people in the world will go to the assistance of England, civilization will be preserved. God bless you all. Hon. W . L. Houck, M.L.A., Chairman INVOCATION . R ev. Henry Cotton GREETING FROM ALONZO CLARK MATHER Richard B. Mather Buffalo, N.Y. Hon. T. B. McQuesten, K.C., Chairman Niagara Parks ADDRESS Commission and Minister of Highways RESPONSE . J o hn W. VanAllen, one of the founders and an officer of the Peace Bridge; Buffalo, N.Y. INTRODUCTION OF: Niagara Parks Commissioners Ni agara Parks General Manager Architects: Carl A. Borgstrom H . S. M. Carver E. L. Sheppard Contractor: W. C. Brennan, President of The Brennan Paving Co11fp}l~Y· Ltd. Engineers: Hagey & Gray Horticultural Department Supervisor D EDICATION by raising of flags NATIONAL ANTHEMS M US IC by Band of Canadian Corps, Unit 104, Niagara Falls �Niagara ~arks ~ommission HON. Chairman T. B. M CQUESTEN, KC. Vice-Chairman DR. GEORGE B. SNYDER HON. W . L. HOUCK, M .L.A. ARCHIE J. Ross JOHN C. HAINES, M .L.A. HARSTONE M . GERMAN, A. T. KC. WHITAKER DONALD M CGILLIVRAY General Manager C. ELLISON K AUMEYER � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louis McDermott Collection Subject The topic of the resource Local history, Fort Erie and surrounding area. Description An account of the resource A collection of historical documents, photos, news clippings, letters, and writings, assembled by local historian, Louis McDermott, and donated to the Fort Erie Public Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Louis McDermott Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived FEPL-LH -Louis McDermott Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Included in this collection are writings, historical documents, news clippings, images, maps, and more. They were written and compiled by Louis McDermott into a series of binders. The digital collection has been scanned from these physical copies. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fort Erie Public Library and Louis McDermott Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mather Arch Description An account of the resource Listed here is a booklet pertinent to Mather Arch's opening in 1940 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Louis McDermott Collection 1940s Fort Erie Louis Mcdermott Collection mather arch