HARMANUS “MONTY” CRYSLER
In 1841, Hermanus Crysler built his country home which he called “Hunter’s Lodge” on a 100 acre parcel of land. His house was located at the corner of Victoria Avenue at Morrison Street (current site of the Niagara Falls Public Library). Crysler’s property was bounded by Morrison Street to the north, River Road (formerly Front Street) to the east, Jepson Street to the south and Victoria Avenue to the west. In 1861, 1862 and 1863, Mr. Crysler was a Reeve for the Town of Clifton. In 1843, he was a warden for Stamford Township. Monty Crysler was born in 1795 in New York of German heritage. He came to Canada with his parents when only several months old. During the War of 1812, Crysler was too young to fight in battle. Monty Crysler became one of the earliest and most prominent of local hoteliers. In 1827, Crysler built the Prospect House on Main Street. He continued to operate this hotel until 1837. In 1833, Hermanus Crysler began building the first Clifton House Hotel at the base of Ferry Road (Clifton Hill) on the current site of Oakes Garden Theatre. For a period of time Crysler operated the Pavilion Hotel at Falls View. In 1857, Crysler put a new street through his property which he named “Simcoe Street”. In July of 1857, he sold an acre of to the new Town of Clifton school board. This became site of the new Simcoe Street School. This school stood for 113 years before being replaced by the current school of identical name. Harmanus Crysler was also known as a shrewd businessman. In order to supply his cliental of his Clifton House Hotel with ice, he dug a pond along the banks of the Muddy Run Creek where he was able to harvest blocks of ice during the winter months. Crysler’s wife, Edna Cook once operated the toll house on Bridge Street near Victoria Avenue for the St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara Falls Road Company. Mr. & Mrs. Crylser had one child, son Austin. Monty Crysler and his wife Edna died in 1884. Both are buried at Drummond Hill Cemetery.
Date last updated:
February 20, 2012
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