The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the City of Niagara Falls. There were numerous events held throughout the year to mark the anniversary. Near the end of the year, they also published a fascinating book filled with pictures taken over the 100 years. The book is called Images of a Century: The City of Niagara Falls, Canada 1904 – 2004
Sherman Zavitz, the Official Historian of the City of Niagara Falls, was the Chair of the City of Niagara Falls Centennial Book Committee.
The book had the following contents:
- Introduction – Pre-1904 It Began With A Bridge!
- Chapter 1 – 1904-1913 “A Glorious Prospect and brilliant Future”
- Chapter 2 – 1914-1923 Paving Our Way – The War Years & Beyond
- Chapter 3 – 1924-1933 Culitvating Community Spirit
- Chapter 4 – 1934-1943 “There’s More To Niagara Than The Big Roar”
- Chapter 5 – 1944-1953 From War To Peace
- Chapter 6 – 1954-1963 The Golden Years
- Chapter 7 – 1964-1973 The Modern Metropolis: New Boundaries, Old Challenges
- Chapter 8 – 1974-1983 Changing Times Herald New Visions, New Attractions
- Chapter 9 – 1984-1993 The End Of An Era
- Chapter 10 – 1994-2004 A City In Transition
- Epilogue: A Look Into The Future
The following article appeared in the Niagara This Week at the time the book was published:
Book Celebrates Falls’ History
Paul Forsyth
11/12/04 00:00:00NIAGARA FALLS — Many of the people are long since dead, the buildings demolished and the schools bulldozed, but a new book will ensure much of the city’s rich history will remain alive for generations to come.
‘Images of a Century: The City of Niagara Falls Canada,’ covers the people, places, events and things that shaped the city over the last 100 years since the Village of Niagara Falls and the Town of Niagara Falls were joined to form a unified city.
“It’s a rich and varied history,” Sherman Zavitz, the city’s official historian, said. “We tried to cover just about every theme we could.”
The book was the brainchild of the city’s Heritage Week committee, which approached the city with the idea of putting together a book in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the City of Niagara Falls. City council liked the idea and authorized funding. Various businesses, foundations and individuals also contributed funding.
Over a two-year period, the committee toiled tirelessly, scouring photo archives at the city’s library, the Lundy’s Lane Historical Museum and in private collections. The book, a pictorial account of a city’s birth, growth and evolution, contains hundreds of photographs — many never before published — ranging from industry and recreation to sports, school classes and war-time images.
Book committee members each wrote chapters, and shared the editing, writing and photograph researching duties.
“It will be a lasting history of the city,” said Zavitz, a member of the book committee.
The book was unveiled last weekend at the main branch of the library. At nearly 400 pages and weighing in at a hefty four pounds, the book is divided into chapters by decade. It is selling for $30 and is available at the library branches in Chippawa, Stamford and the main branch, as well as at the Lundy’s Lane Historical Museum.
“We’re kind of proud of it,” Zavitz said.
I’m not sure where you could purchase this now. It was printed by Maracle Press with ISBN 0-9736479-0-6. I’m sure the Niagara Falls Library has some copies that you could take out if you wanted.