Readings about this period of history are filled with details that remind us of our modern day in many ways.  Mark Twain referred to the years from 1870 to 1907 as the “Gilded Age”, and it sounds like a time such as we’ve experienced since the start of the worldwide web and our digital era.

There was rapid industrialization, with heavy industry such as railroads and automated factories bringing about large-scale changes in everyday life.  While many fortunes were made, wealth was unevenly distributed and income inequalities were stark.  There were tumultuous events at both the national and international levels, and the economy lurched with periodic booms and busts.

Niagara-on-the-Lake was affected in several ways by these circumstances.  Transportation was a major factor : steamships docked here every day, and railroads connected to points both in Canada and across the border.  For wealthy industrialists in Buffalo and elsewhere, Niagara-on-the-Lake was a perfect location for a second home … a getaway for the summer months that was beautiful, comfortable and accessible.

There were other factors driving the economy here, including the construction of the Welland Canal, the vigorous agricultural sector, and the residual military presence.  But the building of large estate homes, and the work required to maintain them and sustain the social life within them, added a layer of panache and fun to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Into this milieu came Lawn Tennis.  It was the hot new game.  Niagara-on-the-Lake was a trendy new hotspot.  The sport, and the Niagara International Tennis Championships, provided a wonderful excuse for privileged players to travel here from throughout the northeast.  It was a great combination!