Ball's Falls, Ontario facts for kids
Ball's Falls is a special historical place in Jordan, Canada. It's known as a "ghost town" because people used to live and work there a long time ago, but now it's a beautiful conservation area. This means the land and its nature are protected for everyone to enjoy. It's managed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.
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A Look Back: The History of Ball's Falls
Ball's Falls started way back in the early 1800s. Two brothers, John and George Ball, were the first to settle here. Their family, called United Empire Loyalists, had a long history with the English Crown. They had moved from Germany to England, then to New York, and finally to Canada.
The Ball Family's Journey
During the American Revolution, the Ball family stayed loyal to the English King. In 1782, Jacob Ball, the father, moved to what is now Canada with his sons. He fought in the war with groups like Butler's Rangers. After the war, in 1783, the family received land from the Crown. The rest of the family joined them in Canada in 1784.
Building a Town by the Waterfalls
In 1807, John and George Ball bought a large piece of land in the Niagara area. A stream called Twenty Mile Creek flows through this land and has two amazing waterfalls! The Ball brothers were smart. They used the power of the waterfalls to build mills. They built a grist mill (to grind grain) and a saw mill (to cut wood) at the lower falls. They also built a woollen mill (to make cloth) at the upper falls.
During the War of 1812, soldiers even used the settlement. A group of them stayed there for a while.
Growth and Change
The town grew quickly! Soon, people like a cooper (who made barrels), a blacksmith, a tailor, a weaver, and a butcher lived there. By 1852, the town, then called Glen Elgin, had 19 people. But things changed in the late 1850s when the Great Western Railway was built. Many people moved closer to the railway for easier travel and trade. Glen Elgin slowly became a ghost town.
In 1962, Manly Ball, a descendant of the original Ball family, sold the land to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Area. Since then, the area, now known as Ball's Falls, has become a popular place for visitors.
Nature's Beauty: Geography of Ball's Falls
Ball's Falls is located in the beautiful Niagara region of Ontario. It has a mild climate because it's close to Lake Ontario to the south and Lake Erie to the north.
The Amazing Waterfalls
The two waterfalls on Twenty Mile Creek are the main attraction! The upper falls are about 10.7 meters (35 feet) high. The lower falls are much taller, about 27.4 meters (90 feet) high. You can see these waterfalls from both above and below, offering fantastic views.
The deep gorge carved by the creek is also very interesting to scientists. The rocks here tell a story of Earth's past. The lower falls flow over strong limestone rock, which sits on top of softer sandstone layers. The rock at the upper falls is the same type that forms the top of the famous Niagara Falls!
Protecting Nature: Conservation at Ball's Falls
Ball's Falls is a true treasure for nature lovers. Thousands of different kinds of plants and animals live here!
Wonderful Plants and Trees
There are 471 different plant species in the conservation area. You can find plants like wild sarsaparilla, green and white trilliums (Ontario's provincial flower!), wild ginger, and Virginia bluebells.
The forest at Ball's Falls is a mix of hardwood trees and coniferous (cone-bearing) trees. Some of the trees you might see include Eastern cottonwood, butternut, black walnut, shagbark hickory, and white oak. There are also some rare trees like sycamore and sassafras.
Fascinating Animals
The Twenty Mile Creek is home to many fish, such as largemouth bass, yellow perch, and rock bass. If you look up, you might spot birds like 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 wonderful place for learning and exploring.
The Centre for Conservation
The park has the Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation. This building is designed to be gentle on the environment. Inside, visitors can learn all about the area's history and nature. There are exhibits and interactive displays that show how the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority protects the environment. You can also learn about archaeological discoveries and the ecosystem of Twenty Mile Creek.
Historic Buildings to Explore
Many of the original buildings from the Ball family's time are still standing! You can visit the Ball family home, an operating gristmill, a lime kiln, a restored church, a blacksmith shop, and a carriage shed. It's like stepping back in time to see how people lived and worked long ago.
