Sep 16

Written by: Joe Longo
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 

In 1993 the Niagara Falls Review and the Niagara Gazette jointly sponsored a contest called “Golden Honeymoon Memories”. Readers from about 700 newspapers were invited to send in reminiscences of their honeymoon in Niagara Falls. Entries poured in from across North America and the grand prize was awarded to Bill and Elly Ryan of Saskatoon who honeymooned in Niagara Falls in 1954.

Once the contest was over the Honeymoon Letters were donated to our Library. Our Systems Administrator Jan Leak has made them now available online for all to read. Visit www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex and search in the References Database under the keywords “Honeymoon Letters”.

The letters not only provide an insight into people’s lives but document the social history of the time. War time letters are particularly poignant. Stories of travelling on the Cayuga from Toronto in wild, stormy weather, of dinner dances on the Cayuga, stories of bare bones weddings due to rationing, the human stories - how people met and why they decided to visit “The Honeymoon Capital” of the world are all included.

Many of the couples have revisited the Falls at later dates and the writers offer insight into how the City has developed and changed since the 1920s. Many comment on how beautifully kept the gardens and flowers were, mention is made of the rose garden, another commented on the profusion of lilacs in the area. Some stayed at the General Brock Hotel, others at the Clifton Hotel and others stayed in small bed and breakfast places. One lady even claimed to have gotten food poisoning from tainted gravy on her mashed potatoes. The Spanish Aero Car ride and the Maid of the Mist are as popular today as they were then. Many commented on wearing the rain coats given to those taking the Maid of the Mist ride. The favourite hotel in the nineteen fifties was undoubtedly the General Brock; it was the place to stay for honeymooners.

A number of the entries included photographs and we have added these to the records so that you can share them. Among famous people who chose to honeymoon here in 1803 was Jerome Bonaparte, younger brother of the famous Napoleon.

For a very different look at the tourist attractions honeymooners love, why not try these two mystery books by local author Robyrt Snyder - “The Falls:descent into the maelstrom : a tale of indelible horror” and “The Falls II: in the crossfire of mist and madness”. You will never look at the Maid of the Mist in the same way ever again!