Toronto Star

Niagara-on-the-Lake–Use it or lose it. In the case of heritage buildings, truer words were never spoken. Historic buildings that are still with us today tend to be those that still serve a purpose, even if it's not what was originally intended. There are countless examples in towns and cities around the world, but in Niagara-on-the-Lake, architectural recycling has enabled the community not just to survive but thrive. The streets of this town are lined with buildings designed for one thing but now doing something quite different. The most impressive example is the Court House, a magnificent limestone structure built on the town's main drag, Queen St., in 1847. When the three-storey building was constructed, Niagara-on-the-Lake was the county seat but in 1861, it lost that title to St. Catharines. At that point, the Court House became the Town Hall. Subsequently, it has housed a post office, bank, fire hall, theatre, market and, believe it or not, a manufacturer of suspenders. Its restoration was Niagara-on-the-Lake's Centennial project in 1967, and today it remains the most remarkable building in town, a genuine architectural monument.