Ball's Falls, Ontario facts for kids
Ball's Falls is a special historical place in Jordan, Niagara region, Ontario, Canada. It used to be a small town in the early 1800s, but now it's a preserved conservation area. This means it's a protected natural space where you can learn about history and nature. It's looked after by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.
Contents
History of Ball's Falls
How the Ball Family Started the Town
The town of Ball's Falls began in the early 1800s. It was founded by two brothers, John and George Ball. Their family, the Balls, were United Empire Loyalists. This means they were people who stayed loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.
The Ball family originally came from Germany and later moved to County of Norfolk in England. In 1690, they bought land in New York's Mohawk Valley. When the American Revolution started, the Ball family chose to stay loyal to Britain. In 1782, Jacob Ball, the father, moved to what is now Canada with most of his sons. He fought with British-allied groups like Butler's Rangers.
Building Mills and a Community
After the war, the Ball family received land from the British Crown in 1783. In 1807, Jacob's sons, John and George, bought 1200 acres (about 486 hectares) of land in Niagara. This land had Twenty Mile Creek running through it, which has two waterfalls. The Ball brothers used the power of these waterfalls to build mills. They built a grist mill (for grinding grain) and a saw mill (for cutting wood) at the lower falls. They also built a woollen mill (for making cloth) at the upper falls.
During the War of 1812, a part of a military group stayed in the settlement. This shows how important the area was at that time.
Growth and Change in Glen Elgin
The town started to grow and thrive. Soon, people with different skills moved there, like a cooper (who made barrels), a blacksmith (who worked with metal), a tailor (who made clothes), a weaver (who made fabric), and a butcher. By 1852, the town, then called Glen Elgin, had 19 people living there.
However, things changed in the late 1850s when the Great Western Railway was built. Many people moved away from Glen Elgin to live closer to the new railway lines. This caused the town to become much smaller. In 1962, Manly Ball, a descendant of the original Ball family, sold the land to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. Since then, the area, now known as Ball's Falls, has become a popular place for visitors.
Geography of Ball's Falls
Ball's Falls is located in the Niagara region of Ontario. It covers about one-sixth of the original land bought by the Ball brothers. The area has a mild climate because it's located between Lake Ontario to the south and Lake Erie to the north.
The Waterfalls and Gorge
The main attractions are the two waterfalls on Twenty Mile Creek.
- The upper falls are about 35 feet (10.7 meters) high.
- The lower falls are much taller, at 90 feet (27.4 meters) high.
You can see these waterfalls from both above and below. The deep valley, or gorge, that the creek flows through is also very interesting to scientists. The rocks that form the lower falls are made of strong limestone over softer sandstone. The upper falls are made of the same type of rock, called the Lockport Formation, that forms the top edge of Niagara Falls.
Protecting Nature at Ball's Falls
Ball's Falls is a very important place for nature. Thousands of different kinds of plants and animals live there.
Plants and Trees
There are 471 different types of plants found in the conservation area. Some of these include wild sarsaparilla, green and white trilliums (Ontario's provincial flower), wild ginger, and Virginia bluebells. The area has a mix of hardwood trees and coniferous (cone-bearing) trees. Some of the trees you might see are Eastern cottonwood, black walnut, white oak, and tulip tree. Some rare trees like sycamore and sassafras also grow here.
Animals and Birds
Twenty Mile Creek is home to several types of fish, such as largemouth bass, yellow perch, and rock bass. Many different birds also live at Ball's Falls, including the eastern bluebird, indigo bunting, northern cardinals, and mallards. It's a great place for birdwatching!
Ball's Falls Today
Since the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority bought Ball's Falls in 1962, it has become a popular conservation area.
The Centre for Conservation
The park has a special building called the Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation. This center helps visitors learn about the area's history and nature. The building was designed to have a small impact on the environment around it. Inside, you can find permanent and temporary displays, interactive exhibits, and information about how the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority protects the area. You can also learn about archaeological discoveries made there and the ecosystem of Twenty Mile Creek.
Historic Buildings to Explore
When you visit Ball's Falls, you can still see many of the original buildings from the old town. These include:
- The original Ball family home
- An operating gristmill
- A lime kiln (used to make lime for building)
- A restored church
- A blacksmith shop
- A carriage shed
These buildings help you imagine what life was like in the early 1800s.
