Untitled by Brass Spurs and Brown Coat

molasses
The Cataract House Hotel, Niagara Falls New York, c1880. Image courtesy of Niagara Falls Public Library

Adieu, Niagara! I’m off for New York,
To measure out sugar, molasses and pork,
Next year I’ll return if I crib enough cash,
And it won’t be my fault if I don’t cut a dash.
I put up at the “Cataract,” but could not stop there —
The landlord and I were too much of a pair.

The owner of the Cataract House Hotel from 1825-1845 was Whitney Pankhurst, after that by son Solon Whitney and sons-in-law James Trott and Dexter Jerauld.

Read about the role of the Cataract House Hotel in the Underground Railroad.

Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848

This link takes you to the scanned version of  the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust

See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.

Untitled by Jefferson Bragg

table
The title page of the Table Rock Album

Of all the roaring, pouring,
‡‡Spraying streams that dash,
Niagara is number one 
‡‡All to eternal smash!

 

Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848

This link takes you to the scanned version of  the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust

See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.

Untitled by Bar-Tender

table
The title page of the Table Rock Album

If you should deem sublimity in water,
Just take a view from here, and spend a quarter.

 

Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848

This link takes you to the scanned version of  the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust

See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.

Untitled by Charlotte B________

table
The title page of the Table Rock Album

Niagara — each hour, each hour — each day, each day,
The rich, the poor, the gentle pass your way;
The tradesman from his toil released,
Seeks beauties that our God decreed
To flow from Niagara; mighty as before,
You’ll live for ages, when ages shall be no more,
Made by that power, that power that man can ne’er destroy,
Our Lord, our everlasting God, from all eternity:
Steadfastly you stand as ever seen by those,
That thus appreciate the works which God bestows;
Great, beautiful Falls! you’ll continue great,
And live in grandeur, when different is our state,
When old age comes, or sad despair,
‘Tis thus to thee, oh God! we’ll pour our prayer.
Falls, mighty Falls, aloft with moistened eyes,
I send my humble gratitude with tearful sighs,
To God who ever sends us hope and trust,
Though we are sinful he is just;
If we ask pardon, our mighty God is kind,
And gives us hope in prayer, in peace of mind.
Niagara Falls! the mighty work of God,
I feel how great, how wondrous is our Lord.

August 15, 1847

Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848

This link takes you to the scanned version of  the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust

See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.

Untitled by J. Austin

table
The title page of the Table Rock Album

Down the steep an ocean pours,
Loud the rushing water roars.
Oh, how shadowy were the way,
If no rainbow lit the spray!
Here a love-sick swain may find
Speedy cure for anguished mind.
Take one plunge, and every woe
Down the gulf will quickly go.

J. Austin was from Texas

 

Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848

This link takes you to the scanned version of  the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust

See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.