I feel like historical venues deserve some recognition, especially this church, which was the place of worship for many slaves who made it to freedom, including Harriett Tubman. How cool is that! People of African descent began settling in the St. Catharines area around 1788. They brought their religion with them. Many were followers of Rev. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism who was a staunch abolitionist. They also followed Bishop Richard Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. An AME Society was established in St. Catharines between 1814 & 1820 and a small chapel was built to serve the faithful in the Queenston Street area. When construction on the first Welland Canal (1824-1833) began, most of the community relocated to the Geneva, Welland and North Streets area. After the US Congress introduced the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, many free and escaped African Americans relocated to various parts of Canada West. The Black community in St. Catharines was increasing rapidly with so many refugees arriving by way of the UGRR. It was soon realized that a larger church was needed to accommodate the growing AME congregation. As a Methodist meeting house, the Salem Chapel also provided aid and temporary shelter to the newly arrived African Americans. It would also host many anti-slavery meetings. Built by African American freedom seekers, the construction for the third and present church began in October 1853. With its 195 members in attendance, Bishop Daniel Payne of Cincinnati publicly dedicated it to the service of Almighty God on November 4, 1855. The most celebrated member of the Salem Chapel is the legendary Underground Railroad "conductor", Harriet Tubman. During the height of the UGRR movement, Tubman also fled to Canada because of the American fugitive slave laws. Harriet Tubman's last stop along the UGRR was St. Catharines, Canada West. She was a frequent resident between 1851-1861 and a highly revered member of the community. When living in St. Catharines, Harriet Tubman attended the Salem Chapel, BME Church. From St. Catharines, Tubman would return to the South to rescue those who were daring enough to escape from bondage. read more

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