Niagara District Court House facts for kids
The Niagara District Court House, often called the Court House Theatre, is a historic building in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. It used to be a court house and was a main stage for the famous Shaw Festival until 1973. Today, it still plays an important role for the festival.
This impressive three-storey building was built between 1846 and 1847. It was designed by a Toronto architect named William Thomas. The building was made for the Niagara District, which was a local government area back then. It replaced an older court house that was too close to Fort Niagara and could be hit by cannons. The new building had a courtroom, offices for the town council, and even jail cells.
Over the years, the building had many different uses. In 1850, it was one of the places used for the Provincial Agricultural Fair of Canada West. The building served as a court house until 1863, when the courts moved to St. Catharines. After that, it became the town hall and jail until 1866. From 1869 until the early 1900s, it was even an orphanage for girls who came from England.
In 1962, the Court House became the main home for the Shaw Festival, a well-known theatre festival. Because of its history and importance, it was named a National Historic Site in 1981. After the 2018 theatre season, the building stopped being a place for live performances. Now, it is used for rehearsals, training, and educational programs for the Shaw Festival.
Past Niagara Court Houses
The Court House Theatre wasn't the first court house in Niagara. Here are the ones that came before it:
Second Niagara Court House
This court house was built in 1817. It was located near Rye and Cottage Streets. This building was bigger and more grand than the very first one. It was also built further away from the Niagara River, so it was safe from cannon fire from the U.S. side. This building was replaced by the current Court House in 1847. It was torn down after 1866. Today, the spot where it stood is Rye Heritage Park. There is a marker there to remember its history.
First Niagara Court House
The very first court house in Niagara was built in 1795. It was located at King and Prideaux Streets. This spot is now home to the Bernard Gray Hall Bed and Breakfast. Originally, there were plans to build it at Mississauga and Queen Streets. This first court house was a simple blockhouse building. Sadly, American troops burned it down in 1813 during a war.
