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On June 12, 1845, a by-law was passed at the Lincoln County Council making the village of St. Catharines a corporate town, governed by a Board of Police who acted as town council. On May 1st of that year, elections had been held and A. S. St. John was elected the first president of the four-member Board of Police.
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is helping us celebrate our 150th anniversary of being officially incorporated as a City with a weekly look back into our rich history from a diverse range of perspectives.
Five years later, on January 1st, 1850, Bernard Foley was elected the first Mayor of the Town of St. Catharines. The town limits were again extended in 1854, and the corporation was divided into three wards: St. George’s, St. Thomas, and St. Patrick’s.
On November 11, 1862, another by-law was passed at County Council to make the Town of St. Catharines the County seat which moved political and administrative functions to downtown St. Catharines.
The Court House was built on the corner or James and King Streets in 1849 with an extension added in the 1860’s to accommodate Lincoln County offices. This photo shows the County Council meeting at the Courthouse in 1916. (2012.21.1)
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