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OFFICIAL BLOG OF NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM |
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MR. NIAGARA FALLS
Welcome to my Blog!
By George Bailey
2008-10-06 13:30:56
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Okay, I have to admit I never knew what a Blog was. I thought someone was spelling the word Bog incorrectly. Then the folks at Niagara Falls Tourism told me no there is such a word and then explained it to me. This should tell you something about my age. But I’m game for anything and since they consider me their “Niagara Guy” I agreed to be their Niagara Blogger.
I'll be putting together my own personal experiences on what I’ve learned hanging around this waterfall for the past 50 or so years. I’ll touch on Niagara history, but I won’t live there. There are just too many exciting things happening today at Niagara Falls.
I'm writing these Blogs from my second floor home office about six kilometres from the falls. On a clear day (like today) as I look out my window I see a spectacular plumb of mist from the falls rising high into the sky. This is a sure sign it’s going to be a nice day. More about this in one of my later blogs.
If I cock my ear and open my window I can sometimes hear the falls. Help me make this Blog come alive. I welcome your questions, criticisms ( keep it gentle folks ) and comments. Thanks. Here goes...
Comments
Don Wiant
I lived in the Niagara Falls, NY area for 30 years but I am now located in Escondido, CA. I owned a cottage north of Peterborough for many years and have many fond memories of Ontario and especially the FALLS area. I will look forward to reading your Blog.
Adam White
It's nice to see another local blog pop up. I look forward to reading your posts George. Make sure you check out the great work that Graham's been doing at AccessNiagara, http://accessniagara.com/blog/
George Bailey
Don, Thanks for the note and word of encouragement. Cheers, George.
Darline
The sights, lights, sounds and steady streams of tourists still `wow` me each time I come to visit the area. Living just a stone throw away and still getting such a thrill from the spectacular falls makes me realize just what tourist from all over the world must feel.Way to go Niagara Fall!
Paul
I heard about your blog on CBC radio and thought maybe you might be able to help me. My grandparents had a restaurant in Niagara Falls during the 1920s to 40s called the King George Cafe (not sure on what street). I'd like to know more about the cafe but my mother who suffers from Alzheimers can't say too much about those days and when she does she often cries because she said her parents worked themselves to death running the place and she didn't have much of a childhood because of it. They were Chinese from China but I gather they only served western food. I calculated that the cafe was no longer owned and run by my grandfather by the time you arrived on the scene but I wonder if you have heard anything about the cafe. thanks for any help you might be able to give me.
George Bailey
Paul, I checked with Pat Simons owner of Niagara oldest restauarnt located at the foot of Bridge Street. He remembers the King George Cafe. It was located near the south east corner of Bridge Street and Zimmerman Ave. When your relatives no longer operated the business it was taken over by Niagara Riverman Red Hill Sr. for a short period of time. It was torn down several years ago and the property is still empy. Hope this helps.
Marlene
What a wonderful blog. I was impressed and mezmerized by your wealth of knowledge. I'm planning a trip with my children to Niagara Falls this summer and am looking forward to the adventures you mentioned!! Thank you.
Jerry Reeve
When I was looking at google earth I noticed what looks like an incompleted bridge across the niagra river above the falls in the vicinity of kings bridge park near the village of chippewa. What is that? is this truly a bridge to nowhere (a small island in the river)?
George
Jerry, Thanks for the excellent question. You might say it is a bridge to no where. This is referred to as The International Control Structure built both by the Canadian and United States hydro authorities in the 1950's to regulate the flow of water over Niagara Falls for the production of hydro electricity. The structure actually extends to the international boundry in the middle of the Niagara River. It consists of 18 movable gates that stop or allow water to flow over the falls. The Niagara River Water Treaty of 1950 allows for the following amounts of diversion. -no less than 100,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) from April 1 to September 15th between 8am and 10 pm. -No less than 100,000cfs Sept. 16 to Oct.31 between 8am and 8pm -No less than 50,000cfs from Nov. 1 to Mar.31. In other words, only half the water that could go over Niagara Falls at any time of the year is going over the falls. And in the colder months only one-quarter of the water that could go over the falls goes over. This ensures enough water goes over the falls for visitors to see. Hope this helps.
Joyce Semach
Hi George, Do you know anything about that gray building at the north -west corner of Dunn and Stanley? How long has it been sitting there doing nothing? Thanks!
George
Joyce, I'll check with the Niagara Falls Building Department tomorrow and get back to the blog when I have an answer.
Amy Wagner | Camping
There is nothing better that hearing about personal experiences straight from a person that has lived and done them. reading your blog has made me want to visit here even more so, so thanks for that.
Roger Woodward
My dear old friend, George. How have you been? My goodness, it has been many years since we lasted visited. We lost touch with you several years ago, but I happened across your blog just today. I am so happy to have found a way to reconnect with you. Congratulations on your new discovery and venture. George, I scrolled through the entire blog and loved it. The quality and detail are among the best. I'm confident this will become the blog for Niagara Falls. I honestly can't think of anyone who knows more about the falls than you. You certainly love it as much as anyone I know. George, to this day, one of my fondest memories is when Jonathan and I visited the falls during a documentary filming. You took Jon and I to the location where the big search lights are housed that illuminate the falls at night. While there, I watched my son take charge of the controls and for a brief moment, Jonathan was able to control the colors of Niagara Falls for all to see. What a thrill that was. We will never forget it. Thank you! Send me an email with your telephone number. I would love to call and catch up. Sincerely, Roger Woodward
Roger Woodward
Hi Geroge, I truly loved scrolling through your blog. The photograph clarity and story detail is refreshing. I'm confident your blog will become a favorite. I look forward to checking in from time to time so I can stay up with the latest news from around the falls.
George
Roger, Nice to hear from you and thanks for the kind words.I always remember fondly you and your wonderful family when you visited Niagara over the past years. Folks, In case you don't recognize the name, Roger is the 7 year old boy that accidentally went over the falls as a result of a boating accident on July 9th,1960. I can attest to the fact that he has grown up to be one of the nicest people I have ever met in my long career of hanging around the falls. Roger I'll send my telephone number and my personal e-mail in a few minutes. Love to hear from you and catch up on you and your family.
Elaine and Judy
Dear Walter Judy and I are sitting in Stratford reading your blog that says it all. We want to know if you are single and if you do personal tours of the cataracts.
Mark Scott
Hi George. I am a collector of Niagara Daredevil history, postcards, paper memorabilia, etc. I would be thrilled if you would view may collection online at the safe link provided. I have used one of your photo's of Karl Soucek's barrel as a backdrop for a autographed card I have. I hope you do not mind, but I am only promoting the amazing history of Niagara Falls all the way from here on Vancouver Island! I grew up in Welland, and have been interested in the daredevils my entire life.Great blog you have here, amazing even Roger Woodward even dropped by! Keep up the good work!
George
Mark, I'm glad to hear of your interest in Niagara. I tried to look at your site but the message I got back said that I was unable to see your images because of a high demand to look at the images.
Dan Pinney
Hi, George. This is my first visit to your site. Please accept my sincere compliments for its quality, and for quantity of interesting things. The approach of the 50th anniversary (July 9) of Roger Woodward's having survived that tragic but miraculous incident has served as a humbling reminder of just how special a person Roger is and how fortunate I, you, and many others, are to have had the privilege of knowing him. Roger is (as he might say of others) the real deal: unpretentious, purposeful, well-grounded, eloquent, a man of unwavering faith, a natural leader and mentor, an inspiration to others. My brief time working with Roger (25 years ago) made a lasting impression that changed my life, irrevocably, for the better. In over two decades of extensive travel, having met thousands of people, I have not met a finer person than Roger Woodward.
George
Dan, I couldn't agree more. Roger and his family are fine people. I have a blog posted this week on Rogers accident over the falls.
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Photos by George Bailey...
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