I was born and raised in Sarnia, where Lake Huron meets the St. Clair River. The big history story of the area was that de La Salle sailed the Griffon up through what was then known as The Rapids, only to mysteriously disappear somewhere out in that large body of water. However, I lived on Brock Street, and my father explained that the street was named after Sir Isaac Brock, the commander of the British troops in then Upper Canada. That led me to learn more about the War of 1812, and the inevitable trip to Queenston Heights and the Brock Monument. I have been fascinated with the area ever since. Ron Brown has just added to my collection of War of 1812 reading material with his latest book From Queenston to Kingston; the Hidden Heritage of Lake Ontario’s Shoreline.

The Toronto writer and historian starts his exploration of Lake Ontario at Queenston, the little village between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake named by John Graves Simcoe. On Oct. 13, 1812, General Brock was killed leading his troops’ defence of the site against an invading force from the newly independent American states. The War of 1812 figures prominently into the history of Lake Ontario, and at each stop along the way Brown highlights a fort, a battle, or settlement that figured in this war that helped define the soon-to-be-country of Canada. There’s Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort York in Toronto, Fort Kente at Weller’s Bay, and of course Fort Henry at Kingston, where the lake empties into the St., Lawrence River.

But once the War of 1812 was over, and the British had succeeded in retaining the northern shore of Lake Ontario, the expansion began – and hasn’t ended yet. The north shore of Lake Ontario has become the most densely populated area of Canada, and for the longest time its wealthiest. From Queenston to Kingston expands on the history of the numerous communities around the lake, some of which have grown into large cities – Hamilton, Toronto, Oshawa, Kingston – and some which no longer exist, or have been swallowed up in the aforementioned – Aldershot, Mimico, Bronte. Brown discusses the industries that grew up along the shore, from lumbering, to farming, from viniculture to tourism, and the people who profited by them, as witnessed by the hugely ornate estates that have dotted the shoreline. Of course the Beach (or Eastern Beaches as the area was once known) has its own section in which Brown discusses the history of our neighbourhood, from the Ashbridge family holdings, to the Balmy Beach Club’s illustrious sports history, and including a lengthy mention of artist Doris McCarthy and her Bluff’s residence, Fool’s Paradise.

From Queenston to Kingston is one of those books you will take time to savour, or perhaps put in the car’s glove compartment to pull out on a Sunday drive (it could lead you to take Highway 2 instead of the 401/QEW next trip to either Niagara or Kingston).

Brown has also written a book about Lake Erie (The Lake Erie Shore) and an illustrated history of train stations (The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore). From Queenston to Kingston is published by Dundurn Press and costs $26.99.