London Bicentennial (Snippet 4)

 Disaster in London -1898

Source: Daily Capital Journal, Jan. 4, 1898 (Oregon). The information below is found on Facebook, see "Vintage London, Ontario":

   "On election night in 1898, a major disaster happened at the old City Hall on the west side of Richmond St, between Dundas & King.

  A large crowd assembled on the second floor to cheer on London's new mayor-elect, Dr. John Wilson. By 9pm that evening the room was at capacity. Around 10pm a loud crack was heard as a wood support beam under the room snapped. A portion of the floor collapsed, taking with it a couple of hundred people - along with a 500 lb safe. At least 23 people were killed and 150 people were seriously injured. Many prominent Londoners were among the people killed. Various reasons were given for the collapse including blaming the crowd & poor building construction techniques."

photo source - Western Archives The Leonard Family Fonds Box X1920

London's Bicentennial (Snippet 3)

  If one goes searching for recent news about London, Ontario, the stories and reports often involve Western University and the city's robust STEM and health sciences sectors. They are usually positive. Here are a couple examples from this month.

"Jaundice; New Jaundice Research from Western University Discussed (Open-source light calibration system for hyperbilirubinemia phototherapy..."

Biotech Week, 4 March 2026.

Press Release: "Aduro Clean Technologies Announces Participation in the 38th Annual ROTH Conference"

Dow Jones Newswires, 14:00, 5 March 2026.

"Life Sciences; University of Western Ontario Researchers Discuss Findings in Life Sciences (Better data for better predictions: data..."

Life Science Weekly, 3 March 2026.

Canada Health Journal Panned - 1870 While searching for snippets for London's Bicentennial, this put-down was noticed. It is my duty to report the bad along with the good. This very harsh review is from the Medical and Surgical Reporter in the year of 1870.

London's Bicentennial (Snippet 2)

For International Women's Day

Early Feminism in London, Ontario - 1890
    An example is found in The Woman's Tribune, which is suitably situated in Beatrice, Nebraska. See the issue for Nov.8,1890. Under the heading "New Women's Papers", it notes "that new periodicals of, for and by women are springing up on every hand." 

   Ms. Wetherald is accomplished enough to have her own Wikipedia entry, from which the photograph was taken. A cursory search quickly found this: "Wives and Daughters," Isabel Campbell, The Mirror, Vol.1, No.1. 
   "Wives and Daughters" was published in London, Ontario as a monthly supplement to the London Advertiser between 1890 and 1892. Subscribers were expected to pay twenty-five cents per annum to receive it in the first year and fifty cents annually afterwards. Why and exactly when the publication folded is not known. The last known issue is Volume III, No. 1 in October of 1892 and there is no mention of the publication’s demise in it or in the London Advertiser at this time."
  The complete article is available online or in the Special Collections in the D.B. Weldon Library. It is published by the History Department at Western. 

London's Bicentennial (1826-2026)

    This year, London has been around officially for 200 of them. The following information about the events planned is from this website, where you can learn more: Celebrating 200 Years: London's Bicentennial: 
   "In 2026, London is officially marking 200 years since its founding in 1826. This timing follows historical precedent: in 1926, London celebrated its Centennial, and the London & Middlesex Historical Society confirms that 1826 is recognized as the year London was formally established. As we prepare for this once-in-a-generation celebration, 2026 is the year we come together to honour London’s history, growth, and future."

The website says to "get involved", so I will.  During the year, I will attempt to present frequent posts about London. They will be short snippets and here is the first one.

  The photograph is found in the London Public Library and is part of the London Room Digital Collections. Here is some of the description provided:
    "Two similar side by side black and white photographs mounted on card, showing a standing woman in profile and three young girls seated at the water's edge looking towards three people in row boats and four people wading in the Thames River at the Forks. On the opposite bank two riverboats are tied to the dock. In the right background is the courthouse and jail. In the left background notice the tower for the Ontario White Sulphur Springs and Mineral Baths. Printed on the back of the card: [Barron's Artistic Series of Canadian Views; London, Springbank, and Vicinity.] Also handwritten: [Showing Thames R. & Jail Turrets.] ca. 1880s 
[I only took one side of the photo which is probably from a stereoscope.]