Thomas Barnett (Niagara Falls)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Barnett was a museum
proprietor, collector
and innkeeper who managed museums and other tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario
.
. He also erected his first museum in 1827 near the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls
. This was followed by the construction of a second, more elaborate museum in the early 1840s further downriver. It was at this museum that he had over "5,000 specimens on display", per an undated report:
native, Saul Davis for over 30 years from 1844 to 1877. Davis built the Prospect House next to Barnett's second museum in 1844; then in 1853 Davis built another structure, Table Rock House, next to Barnett's original museum. A competitive battle continued between the architectural rivals for the next 24 years. Visitors were harassed, while competing stairways to the river's edge were destroyed by fire, explosives and vandalism. In June 1870 there was a homicide
victimizing one of Barnett's employees.
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickock was to be the focus of a "Great Buffalo Hunt" promoted by Barnett in August 1872. Despite advance publicity
and hopes for fifty thousand in attendance, the event was disastrous. The majority of the animal
s to be hunted
during the show had already died, while only three thousand patrons were in attendance. As a result, Barnett realized a loss of $20,000.(approximately $700,000 in 2007 U.S. dollars)
In 1877, all of Barnett's riverfront
properties were auctioned off to satisfy his debtors. Barnett left the area soon after. Ironically, his arch-nemesis, Saul Davis, was the purchaser of the properties and owned them until the Niagara Parks Commission
was established in 1887.
Eventually the majority of Barnett's unique collections were displayed at the Niagara Falls Museum
, billed as "North America's Oldest Museum" (north of the present-day Rainbow Bridge
) and were located there until the late 1990s.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
proprietor, collector
Collecting
The hobby of collecting includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating merchandise, or stamps from all countries of the world...
and innkeeper who managed museums and other tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
.
Establishment
Barnett is credited for having built the first substantial building in the area now known as Queen Victoria ParkQueen Victoria Park
Queen Victoria Park is the main parkland located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada opposite the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Established by a Provincial Park Act in 1885 and opened in 1888, the park is operated by the Niagara Parks Commission and is considered the centerpiece of the...
. He also erected his first museum in 1827 near the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls
Horseshoe Falls
The Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is part of Niagara Falls, on the Niagara River. Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for hydropower generation, flows over Horseshoe Falls. The remaining 10% flows over the American Falls...
. This was followed by the construction of a second, more elaborate museum in the early 1840s further downriver. It was at this museum that he had over "5,000 specimens on display", per an undated report:
Competition
Barnett faced stiff competition from BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
native, Saul Davis for over 30 years from 1844 to 1877. Davis built the Prospect House next to Barnett's second museum in 1844; then in 1853 Davis built another structure, Table Rock House, next to Barnett's original museum. A competitive battle continued between the architectural rivals for the next 24 years. Visitors were harassed, while competing stairways to the river's edge were destroyed by fire, explosives and vandalism. In June 1870 there was a homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
victimizing one of Barnett's employees.
The downfall and aftermath
Barnett was vehemently reprimanded for his son Sidney's role in the homicide (assault charge) and, shortly thereafter, began to have financial problems. In a desperate effort to attract the attention of tourists and gain financial windfall, he staged two events, which ended in total fiasco.James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickock was to be the focus of a "Great Buffalo Hunt" promoted by Barnett in August 1872. Despite advance publicity
Publicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
and hopes for fifty thousand in attendance, the event was disastrous. The majority of the animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s to be hunted
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
during the show had already died, while only three thousand patrons were in attendance. As a result, Barnett realized a loss of $20,000.(approximately $700,000 in 2007 U.S. dollars)
In 1877, all of Barnett's riverfront
Riverfront
A riverfront is a region along a river; often in larger cities that border a river, the riverfront will be lined with marinas, docks, parks, trees, or minor attractions. Today many riverfronts are a staple of modernism and city beautification....
properties were auctioned off to satisfy his debtors. Barnett left the area soon after. Ironically, his arch-nemesis, Saul Davis, was the purchaser of the properties and owned them until the Niagara Parks Commission
Niagara Parks Commission
The Niagara Parks Commission, or Niagara Parks for short, is an agency of government of Ontario which maintains the Ontario shoreline of the Niagara River.- History :...
was established in 1887.
Eventually the majority of Barnett's unique collections were displayed at the Niagara Falls Museum
The Niagara Falls Museum
Niagara Falls Museum was a museum most notable for being the oldest Canadian museum , as well as for having housed the mummy of Ramses I for 140 years before its return to Egypt in 2003...
, billed as "North America's Oldest Museum" (north of the present-day Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls)
The Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls is an international steel arch bridge across the Niagara River gorge, and is a world-famous tourist site. It connects the cities of Niagara Falls, New York, United States , and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada .-Construction:The Rainbow Bridge was built near the...
) and were located there until the late 1990s.