Description
Rare Stereoview photograph by Davis who operated from the 1850s through the 1860s. C.W. refers to a time period of Canada West prior to Confederation of 1867 when Canada West became Ontario and C.E. or Canada East became Quebec.
6.75 x 3.25 inches
Table Rock is named for a large, flat slab of rock that jutted from the top of the gorge wall overlooking the falls, the “table rock” partially collapsed in 1818, with continuous deterioration of both notable and significant portions occurring throughout the 1800s – including an 1850 incident in which a man washing his carriage on the rock just managed to escape with his life.
In 1827, local industrialist Thomas Barnett built the first Table Rock Museum approximately 100 metres south of the “table rock” site (with an accompanying staircase for visitors to get to the base of the Horseshoe Falls). Seeing commercial opportunity, a number of other regional business people attempted stake claim in the vicinity of “table rock.” Most notable among these was Saul Davis, of Buffalo, New York, first building the Prospect House in 1844 and then Table Rock House in 1853.
