This week, REMEMBER THIS? take a look at the story of how a local student spotted an odd contraption outside and began researching it to find that it was one of the last visible remnants of Niagara's civil defense.
ThoroldToday regularly features local history under our 'Remember This'-headline, where we compile stories, photographs and other historical content. Are you interested in making a submission about a local historical event, or a person of significance? Email [email protected].
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The story of Niagara's last standing air raid siren
By Gail Benjafield and Justin Nicholls
Many of us are old enough to remember the TV ads to “Duck and Cover”. i.e., that is, to get under our school desks or put a huge cover or coat while we cringe should a Nuclear Bomb go off. The Canadian Federal Government of the 1950’s even put Air Raid Sirens throughout the land, strategically placed in communities. Those sirens would be tested from time to time well into the 1970s. Many will recall, even those just youngsters at the time, the Siren going off in their neighborhoods. In other countries, such as the U.K., homes had bomb shelters in their backyard gardens.
Mine did.
Then, when it was realized the air raid sirens had become superfluous the Canadian Federal Government had all of them dismantled and disposed of. Except one that remains in Kernahan Park. A local teenager, Justin Nicholls, knew exactly where it stood. Nicholls was a young Thorold Secondary School student in September 2013 and brought this to the attention of the St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee.
Now let Justin tell his own story.
'When I was younger, I used to play baseball at the diamond just below the siren. I frequently heard people say, “it was used for when people hit home runs,” which I thought seemed kind of odd for such a small park. I asked my parents, and they brought up that it was an old air raid siren. I started doing minor research on different siren designs and the Canadian Civil Defence Siren system. This is when I learned that this one is the last standing air raid siren in the Niagara Region and one of the dwindling number of them in Ontario, and it should be recognized as such.'
I offered to do some research and along with Justin’s details on Air Raid Sirens, the Heritage Committee had a plaque placed by the lone Air Raid Siren. I actually requested help from Thorold LACAC on advice as to where to have the sign made. The St. Catharines Standard did an article on this find.
Later, another Heritage Committee member joined me in getting letters of commendation from Justin’s Principal, teachers, and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association Band in order to apply for a scholarship grant of $2000 and an official honour for Justin from the Ontario Heritage Foundation/Trust. And it worked. Justin is completing his fourth year at Brock University, studying Political Science and Labour Studies, and has joined the St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee as a valued member.
Justin Nicholls and Gail Benjafield are volunteer colleagues with the St. Catharines Heritage Advisory Committee. They share an interest in both local history and heritage.
