Navy Hall

Navy Hall

A Historical Piece of Niagara's Maritime History

Clara Vaz

Niagara - 2024

The Niagara Region has a vast and dense maritime history that began with Indigenous fishing practices, continued through the colonial era, the industrial revolution, new waves of immigration, Confederation, various wars, and now modern-day maritime culture. There are many different sites throughout the Niagara Region that provide a piece to this vast story; however, one pillar of Niagara history is often forgotten, Navy Hall. Navy Hall was a vague term to Great Lake sailors, many did not know if it was a building, a complex, an office, or some other type of land.1 Navy Hall could refer to different buildings or areas as its uses varied with time. Navy Hall's definition was dependent on the current political climate of Niagara: the location changed with the times, often being an extra building for storage and residence for Fort George, as depicted in Figure 1.2

Figure 1: Image of Navy Hall in 1940, after restoration.

Due to it\'s many uses and varying states of repair, Navy Hall\'s life can be defined in a series of stages: A Provincial Marine Establishment, the Government Residence, the Burning, and The Museum. Throughout these four stages of life, Navy Hall marked itself as an important and undying pillar of Niagara\'s history as the building changed and developed with the times. Thus, when exploring Navy Hall as central and critical location to Niagara\'s history, the building\'s four eras reflect Niagara\'s history, including times of war, peace, and trade. Navy Hall is an important piece to the vast mosaic of Niagara history, and its ever-changing status parallels the Great Lakes unfolding and diverse history. []{.mark}

The first years of Navy Hall are sparsely documented and few artifacts have survived from this time period, however, it was known that the complex that would later become Navy Hall was constructed throughout the latter half of the Revolutionary War.3 The building had documented use over the winter of 1775 as a storage space for vessels, however, this earliest period of Navy Hall's history was largely forgotten to time.4 The building would sit until 1778, when the British Navy would dedicate the building to storage and vessel repair.5 During this period the term "Navy Hall" described the entire property owned by the British Navy on the mouth of the Niagara River, the British Navy's renovations likely began 1779.

Navy Hall became a Provincial Marine Establishment, which was critical during the Revolutionary War. The new Provincial Marine Establishment (1775-1791) was the defining feature of this first stage of Navy Hall's life. Navy Hall served as a barracks, storage facility, shipbuilding site, and small headquarters for Newark (modern-day Niagara-on-the-Lake) and Niagara's British politics.6 Throughout the war, it was critical to continue shipping supplies to other ports on the Great Lakes, thus, Navy Hall's versatility and prime location on the Niagara River made it ideal for the British Navy. Unfortunately, once the Revolutionary War ended, traffic around the river slowed, thus leaving Navy Hall to find itself in disrepair by 1788.7

There are a few surviving artifacts from Navy Hall's time as a Provincial Marine base: Many official maps included the building, specifically, maps for the construction of Fort George, which would be built around Navy Hall in 1799, depicted in Figure 2.8 Moreover, many letters were sent to and from Navy Hall by sailors and politicians who would pass through Newark. Some of these letters exist today, addressed to Navy Hall. Within these letters, the unclear nature of the location is represented through some addressing Navy Hall as a building, some an office, and some the general office of the Provincial Marine Establishment.

Figure 2: From \"Plan of Fort George, Upper Canada shewing the Works of Defence ordered to be constructed in 1799\", Brock University Archives. Navy Hall can be seen bordering the Niagara River and labeled "h" to mark the wharf.

Navy Hall's existence as a marine establishment is largely a forgotten era of Great Lakes past, yet it was one of the busiest eras of the building's life. The structure lived out an important role in Niagara's history that continued to reflect and change with the times. The initial reason Navy Hall was built was a response to the Revolutionary War was a need for a place to moor vessels as well as a high demand for a port on the Niagara River. Moreover, after the war concluded in the mid 1780's, the building saw its relevance plummet, therefore falling into disrepair.

There was increasing need for marine infrastructure in British North America (later Upper Canada), thus the Navy Hall structure was built and supported the British during the Revolutionary War. Navy Hall was full of life until the end of the war, in which another period of relative political peace fell throughout much of the settler Great Lakes. In response, Navy Hall was left abandoned, allowed to rest during a period of peace. The Revolutionary War was over, and the dangerous political state was settling, and thus Navy Hall did as well.

Navy Hall remained in ruins until the start of it's second stage: The Government Residence (1792-1796). Navy Hall's second stage is the most documented and well realized of the building's history. Upper Canada (modern-day southern Ontario) was established in 1791 and with it, Navy Hall became home to one of Upper Canada's most historical figures: John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada.

Simcoe picked Newark as a possible location for the colony's capital. They were to stay at one of the buildings in Fort George. However, when Governor Simcoe and his wife, Elizabeth Simcoe, arrived in Newark they were greeted to Navy Hall's rough conditions.

Elizabeth Simcoe illustrated Navy Hall, seen in Figure 3, and told of its wrecked conditions in her diary:9

"[Navy Hall] is now undergoing a thorough repair for our occupation but is still to unfinished that the Gov\'r has ordered, 3 marquees to be pitched for us on the Hill above the House which is very dry ground & Rises beautifully, in parts covered with oak bushes..."10

Figure 3: Elizabeth Simcoe\'s watercolour painting of Navy Hall (left) and Fort Niagara \[1793\] Navy Hall was repaired and made suit for the Simcoe's stay.[^11]

The Simcoe's years at Navy Hall were the most important and historically relevant era of Navy Hall's existence due to the political influence that surrounded the Simcoe. Not only was Simcoe the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, but Simcoe would also be responsible for much of Upper Canada's original political decisions. During Simcoe's four-year stay, 1792-1796, he would define early Canadian history as he contributed to positive Indigenous-settler relations, established Upper Canada's capital York (Toronto), built important infrastructure, and signed the first anti-slavery act in the British Empire.11

Navy Hall was not solely used as a residence and saw some mild legislative use. Importantly, Navy Hall was likely the location for the initial meeting of the First Parliament of Upper Canada; the specific building within Navy Hall's complex is unknown, however, Navy Hall did see regular use as a political entity.12 For example, there are letters addressed to and from Navy Hall during this period. William Jarvis, the Provincial Secretary of Upper Canada, wrote a letter to Alexander McKee, a British Colonial official, signed: "At Our Government House in Navy Hall in the County of Lincoln on this 2^nd^ day of November, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-two, and in the Thirty-Second year of Our reign".13

In 1796 the legislature stopped meeting at Navy Hall and relocated to the new capital of Upper Canada, York.14 As a result, Navy Hall was once again left behind. Meanwhile, the Americans had obtained Fort Niagara, and Fort George was to be constructed on the land above Navy Hall.15 As the end of Simcoe's era came near, Navy Hall was briefly private property of various government officers who were relocating to Newark.16 Ownership of the building would be passed from officer to officer for months.

This era of Great Lakes history was reflected in Navy Hall's condition and use. Throughout 1792-1796 Niagara's political climate was relatively settled compared to other periods; the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and War of 1812 (1812-1815) surround this stage of stability, moreover the Americans would be given Fort Niagara, which greatly diminished Navy Hall's maritime relevance. There was less maritime activity throughout the Niagara Region, and therefore much of Niagara's maritime history was focused on the growing colony. There were many changes coming to the Great Lakes region with the formation of Upper and Lower Canada. Therefore, during this period, Navy Hall mirrored the stability and political changes in Niagara through the building's condition.

During the creation of Upper Canada, much like the rest of the British Great Lakes, Navy Hall had new meaning and was renovated into the Governor's residence. This new life, the second stage of Navy Hall, was then relatively stable, although the building was often described as a "small, miserable, wooden house", the building was also in good condition and was home to John Graves Simcoe and many of the First Parliament of Upper Canada's political decisions.17

Navy Hall's third stage of life: The Burning (1797-1813), is the most undocumented stage because of the rapid decrease in political use and maritime traffic in the area. At this point in the building's life, John Graves Simcoe had left for York, leaving Navy Hall open for other uses. After some brief and largely undocumented occupation by private owners, Navy Hall became property of the military once again.

Most notably, Fort George began construction in 1796. Plans to build the fort had been floating around Navy Hall since at least 1788, with Captain Gother Mann, a commanding engineer tasked with documenting various military posts in Upper Canada, reporting:

"a good post might be constructed on the height above Navy Hall, and such as would afford protect to boats or vessels from any attempts of the enemy on this side of the river, but they could not be secure here from bombardment or covered batteries of cannon on the other side".18

A map from 1799 shows the initial construction plans for Fort George and labeled Navy Hall and the wharf, depicted in Figure 2. Navy Hall was thus associated with Fort George and became the main establishment for the Central Division of the British Army during the war of 1812; Navy Hall was used as the mess room for the garrison that stayed there.19 Once again, the building's uses were mostly undocumented during this time despite the British Navy's use.

Unfortunately, Navy Hall was likely burned down by the Americans on December 10^th^, 1813.20 Newark faced a harsh bombing from the Americans, and many of the buildings were burned.21 Navy Hall was nearly completely lost. The building would not be rebuilt until 1815, after the war had ceased.22 Until it was rebuilt, Navy Hall remained in a burnt state of disrepair.

Navy Hall's third stage, mirrored the history of Niagara, as it's use and destruction paralleled the state of war and loss that the region would endure, especially Newark, where many buildings were burned and heavily suffered under American hands. Navy Hall stood strong as a central core of Niagara's fight during the War of 1812, however, it would ultimately be burned, just as Newark was. Navy Hall was a critical point of Upper Canada's history while simultaneously it reflected the Niagara Region's history; a pillar of strength, but also a representation of the destruction that came from the unstable political climate of the early 19^th^ century.

The last, and most current stage of Navy Hall's journey is the Museum phase, occurring after the war of 1812. There was a campaign to rebuild Navy Hall in 1815. Construction likely commenced in 1815 and finished in 1817.23 Then, the building was documented as a commissariat store from 1817-1835, however, when the Welland Canal opened, there was less maritime traffic through Niagara-on-the-lake, and thus less use of Navy Hall.24 The building then was then repurposed as a large barracks for people stationed at Fort George. Yet, much like the rest of Navy Hall's fourth stage, this period is largely undocumented.

There were two notable changes to Navy Hall during this stage: relocation and World War I. The relocation of Navy Hall happened in 1863 and the structure was moved into the walls of Fort George to make room for the construction of the Michigan Central Railway, which was planned to run through its old location.25 Navy Hall was then deconstructed and rebuilt within the walls of Fort George where it would sit, left to ruin. During this period, the structure was briefly used as a cow barn, however it's uses during it's time in Fort George's enclosure was largely unknown until World War I. Likely, the building was used as a temporary barn, shed, and storage. When the war began, Navy Hall was used by the Department of National Defence as a medical building and laboratory.26 In 1914, a postcard was issued that displayed Navy Hall and the troops that used it during World War I, depicted in Figure 4.27

Figure 4: A Postcard of Navy Hall in 1914 being used for military purposes.

Post war, the Niagara Parks Commission moved the structure back to its original location and restored it, creating a stone structure seen in Figure 1, rather than a wooden one seen in Figure 4.28 From here, Navy Hall would be cared for and preserved as a piece of Niagara's, Niagara-on-the-Lake's, and the Great Lakes' history. In 1970, the building was placed under the care of the federal government and has remained a historic site since.

Navy Hall's fourth and final stage reflects the history of Niagara through its condition. This stage was a period of peace and war. During the first World War, the building was repurposed, finding use as a medical base, however, when there were times of relative peace, Navy Hall was left to rot and ruin without any real utility. The final restoration of Navy Hall came in the 1930s when it was placed back in its original location, restored, and crowed as a central piece of Niagara's history, thus it's protection and stability would be protected for the present day to marvel at its vast history.

Navy Hall is a historical building with a complex and long life. A life intertwined with maritime shipping, government, politics, military use, and ruin. The building proved itself important during times of conflict or progression, such as the War of 1812, World War I, Simcoe's residency, and its final restoration. During times of relative peace and without purpose, Navy Hall would be left abandoned. Navy Hall was a largely undocumented building, yet it stands as a centre to Niagara's history and Great Lakes' history: it's state of condition varied, depending on which historical era the structure was in, however, it was an undeniably important centre to the region. Through studying the story of Navy Hall, one can uncover the smaller, forgotten pieces of Great Lakes history and begin to fill in the mosaic of Niagara's vast history


  1. David Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake" History and Archaeology, no. 8 (1976): 5--23. 

  2. Figure 1: Navy Hall, November 1940, 1940, Brock University Digital Repository, 1940. 

  3. Janet Carnochan, History of Niagara (1914; repr., William Briggs: Toronto, 1973. 

  4. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 9. 

  5. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake." 10-11. 

  6. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake." 12. 

  7. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake." 12. 

  8. Figure 2: Plan of Fort George Upper Canada Shewing the Works of Defence Ordered to Be Constructed in 1799,

    [1799?], Brock University Digital Repository, [1799?]. 

  9. Figure 3: Elizabeth Simcoe, Navy Hall, the Part Os the Canvas House b) The Fort at Niagara c) A Large Arbour in the Hill d) Toronto Shore, 1793, Watercolor, paper, 1793, Archives of Ontario, Canada. 

  10. Elizabeth Simcoe, Mrs. Simcoe's Diary (Dundurn Press, 2007). Entry from: July 26^th^, 1792. 

  11. "Upper Canadian Act of 1793 Against Slavery, National Historic Event," Parks Canada, 1793; And David B Read, The Life and Times of Gen. John Graves Simcoe: Commander of the "Queen's Rangers" during the Revolutionary War, and First Governor of Upper Canada (Virtue, Toronto, 1890), Vii. 

  12. Janet Carnochan, First Parliament of Upper Canada (Notes as to Its First Meeting Place, Print, 1920, 1. 

  13. Arthur G Doughty and Duncan A McArthur, Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada, 1791-1818, Print (C.H. Parmelee: Ottawa, 1914). 200. 

  14. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 17. 

  15. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 18. 

  16. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 18. 

  17. Read, The Life and Times of Gen. John Graves Simcoe: Commander of the "Queen's Rangers" during the Revolutionary War, and First Governor of Upper Canada. 155. 

  18. Ernest A Cruikshank, Ten Years of the Colony of Niagara: 1780-1790 (Tribune Print, Welland, 1908), https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.76685. 24-25. 

  19. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 20. 

  20. Carnochan, First Parliament of Upper Canada Notes as to Its First Meeting Place,1. 

  21. Carnochan, First Parliament of Upper Canada Notes as to Its First Meeting Place, 1. 

  22. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 22. 

  23. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 22. 

  24. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 22. 

  25. Walter Haldorson, The Reconstruction of Fort George and Navy Hall, 1937-1940, Print (Paul Heron Publishing: Niagara-on-the-Lake, 1989). 56 

  26. Walter Haldorson, The Reconstruction of Fort George and Navy Hall, 1937-1940, Print (Paul Heron Publishing: Niagara-on-the-Lake, 1989). 57. 

  27. Figure 4: Postcard - Inoculation at Old Navy Hall, Niagara Camp, [1914?], Brock University Digital Repository, [1914?]. 

  28. Flemming, "Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake.", 23.