The Capital Years: Niagara-on-the-Lake, 1792-1796

Wesley B. Turner is an associate professor of history at Brock
University and author of The War of 1812: The War That Both Sides Won.

The first capital of Ontario was Niagara-on-the-Lake, known during those
years (1792-96) as Newark, while the province was a colony named Upper
Canada. The 1992 bicentenary commemorates the arrival of John Graves
Simcoe, the first lieutenant-governor, and the inauguration of
Ontario’s organized government, laws, and legal system. The Niagara
Historical Society, with a long and illustrious tradition of producing
historical publications, sponsored this book as one way to mark the
bicentenary.

It begins with a foreword by J.M.S. Careless, who introduces the nine
chapters—each by a different author—that follow. He briefly touches
on the earlier history of French and Indian activity in the area, which
provides the “older underpinnings” for the years after 1792. The
chapters deal with the pioneer settlers; political and social leaders;
the many facets of military influence on the community; “the stirrings
of organized religion”; the means of obtaining, preparing, and serving
food; home life; inns; travel on land and water; and, finally, health
and disease. The writing is consistently of high quality, although
chapters vary in originality: some offer new information based on
archival research, while others stay close to traditional
interpretations.

The Capital Years is informative for provincial as well as local
history. This small society was part of a wider world of ambitious
pioneers; moreover, decisions taken in Newark had effects, both
short-term and long-term, on what happened elsewhere in Upper Canada.
The book does not require the reader to have background knowledge in
order to enjoy its insights into past lives. It is handsomely produced,
with numerous illustrations, maps, and plans.