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Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
@CraigBaird
Jul 9, 2025 • 13 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
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On July 9, 1960, seven-year-old Roger Woodward was swept over Niagara Falls. He survived, becoming the first known person to survive going over the falls without a barrel.
Many daredevils have attempted to do the same thing.
This is the story of some of them.

🧵 1/13 The photo is a black-and-white image depicting a nurse attending to a young boy in a hospital bed. The nurse, dressed in a traditional uniform with a cap, is gently adjusting the boy's arm, which appears to be bandaged or injured. The boy is lying on a pillow, wearing a patterned hospital gown, and has a serious expression on his face. The background shows a simple hospital room with a bedside table, and the image has a vintage feel, likely from the mid-20th century.
Annie Edson Taylor:

On Oct. 24, 1901, the 63-year-old Taylor went over the falls in a custom made barrel of oak and iron, padded with a mattress. She survived the journey with just a small gash on her forehead.

🧵 2/13 The photo is a black-and-white image featuring a woman standing next to a large wooden barrel. The woman is dressed in a long, dark dress with a high collar and a large hat adorned with feathers, typical of early 20th-century fashion. She has a flower pinned to her dress and is holding a small object in one hand. The barrel is inscribed with the text "ANNIE EDSON TAYLOR HEROINE OF NIAGARA FALLS OCT 24 1901 RUSSELL MILLS," indicating it is associated with Annie Edson Taylor's famous barrel ride over Niagara Falls. The background is plain, focusing attention on the woman and the bar...
Bobby Leach:

On July 25, 1911, Leach went over the falls in a steel barrel. While he survived the plunge, he spent six months in hospitals recovering from a fractured jaw and two broken knee caps. He later died after injuring his leg slipping on an orange peel.

🧵 3/13 The photo is a black-and-white image featuring a man sitting on a large, cylindrical metal barrel with rivets and a small window or hatch. The man is dressed in early 20th-century attire, including a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, dark trousers, a bow tie, a cap, and boots, and he is holding a cane. The background shows the misty and powerful presence of Niagara Falls, suggesting the barrel is designed for a stunt, likely related to going over the falls. The overall scene has a vintage feel, consistent with historical daredevil feats.
Charles Stephens:

On July 11, 1920, Stephens went over the falls in an oak barrel with an anvil for ballast. Stephens strapped himself to the barrel and the anvil. The anvil broke through the barrel and dragged him under the water. Only his severed right arm was found.

🧵 4/13 The image is a black-and-white illustration depicting a man inside a large, cylindrical barrel with horizontal black and white stripes. The barrel is mounted on a wooden frame, and the man is positioned with his head and upper body visible through an open hatch, which has a wheel-like mechanism. The man appears to be preparing for a stunt, likely related to going over Niagara Falls, given the historical context of such barrels. The background is plain, focusing attention on the barrel and the man.
Jean Lussier:

On July 4, 1928, Lussier went over the falls in a large rubber ball. The ball sustained heavy damage. Lussier not only survived but only had a few bruises. It took nearly an hour to get Lussier out of the water.

🧵 5/13 The photo is a black-and-white image of a man standing on a large, weathered wooden barrel near a rocky shoreline. The man is dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, dark trousers, and shoes, with his hands on his hips, exuding a confident pose. The barrel appears to be part of a stunt or historical event, with a rope attached to it. In the background, there is a concrete structure and a misty, water-filled landscape, suggesting proximity to a river or falls. The image has a vintage feel, likely from the early 20th century.
George Stathakis:

On July 4, 1930, Stathakis went over the falls in a barrel with his turtle. Unfortunately, the barrel became stuck behind a curtain of water. It could not be recovered for 18 hours, leading to Stathakis' death from suffocation. The turtle survived.

🧵 6/13 The photo is a black-and-white image depicting a group of people handling a large wooden barrel near a rocky shoreline, likely after it has been recovered from water. The barrel is tilted, with ropes attached, and appears to be part of a stunt or rescue operation, possibly related to a Niagara Falls daredevil attempt. Several individuals, dressed in early 20th-century clothing, are assisting, with one person climbing onto the barrel and others pulling ropes. The background is misty, suggesting proximity to a river or falls, and the scene has a vintage feel, consistent with historical events.
William "Red" Hill, Jr:

The son of the man who saved hundreds of people from the Niagara River over his life, William "Red Hill" Sr., the younger Hill went over on Aug. 5, 1951 in a specially-designed craft. He was killed on impact.

🧵 7/13 The photo is a black-and-white image showing a group of people, with two men in the foreground shaking hands. The man on the left is wearing a light sweater adorned with several medals around his neck and a dark tie, while the man on the right is dressed in a dark sweater. The background features a crowd of onlookers, including men, women, and children, with a wooded area visible, suggesting an outdoor event. The image has a vintage feel, likely from the early to mid-20th century, and bears a stamp indicating it is from the Niagara Falls Public Library.
Nathan Boya:

On July 15, 1961, Boya went over the falls in a metal ball he designed and called the "Plunge-O-Sphere". He survived the fall and became a minor celebrity for a few years. He lived to the age of 98 and died in 2022.

🧵 8/13 The photo is a black-and-white image of a shirtless man with his back to the camera, turning his head to look over his shoulder with a slight smile. His back shows visible bruises or marks, suggesting he may have been in a physical altercation or sport. He is wearing an open shirt draped over his shoulders, and his hair is short and curly. The background is plain, and the image has a vintage feel, likely from the mid-20th century.
Karel Soucek:

On July 2, 1984, Soucek went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. He survived the plunge and was rescued from the river with a few cuts and bruises. Sadly, he died a year later performing a stunt at the Astrodome in Houston.

🧵 9/13 The photo is a color image featuring a man standing in front of a large red barrel labeled "NIAGARA DAREDEVILS - 1984" in white text. The man is wearing a matching red jumpsuit and holding a black helmet under his arm. The setting appears to be an indoor workshop or garage, with various items such as cans and tools visible in the background. The image has a vintage feel, consistent with the 1984 date, and suggests preparation for a daredevil stunt, likely related to Niagara Falls.
Steve Trotter:

Trotter was one of the few people to do go over the falls twice.
His first plunge was on Aug. 18, 1985, which he survived with a few scrapes. The second attempt was on June 18, 1995. This led to a compression fracture in his back.

🧵 10/13 The photo is a color image showing a shirtless man with curly hair standing outdoors near a large, covered object, possibly a stunt barrel or balloon, with the partial word "Airs" visible on it. He is wearing checkered shorts with a red waistband, a wristband, and sneakers with socks. He holds a walkie-talkie in one hand and stands confidently, smiling. In the background, there are trees, a parked car, and a few other people, including a man in a suit and another in a red shirt. The setting appears to be a parking lot near a natural area, likely related to a daredevil event, with ...
Jesse Sharp:

Sharp went over the falls on a 3.6 metre long kayak on June 5, 1990. He had planned the plunge for years. His plan was to gain enough speed to project himself over the falls while his friends filmed the stunt. His body was never found.

🧵 11/13 The photo depicts a person kayaking through turbulent whitewater rapids. The individual is in an orange kayak, paddling amidst large waves and frothy water, suggesting a challenging and fast-moving river. The background is dark, possibly indicating a forested area or a shadowed section of the river, while the foreground shows a rocky shoreline with some vegetation. The image has a dynamic, action-oriented feel and a slightly vintage tone, likely from the late 20th century.
Robert Overacker:

Hoping to raise awareness for the homeless, Overacker went over the falls on Oct. 1, 1995 on a jet ski. His rocket-propelled parachute failed to open and he fell to his death to the river below.

🧵 12/13 The photo depicts a dramatic scene at Niagara Falls, showing a person in a red outfit mid-air, seemingly falling or jumping toward the water below the falls. The individual appears to be part of a daredevil stunt, with a jet ski or similar watercraft visible beneath them, suggesting they may have launched from it. The background features the powerful cascade of Niagara Falls, with mist rising from the base and rocky outcrops on either side. The water is turbulent, and the image has a slightly vintage or enhanced color tone, emphasizing the intensity of the moment.
I hope you found that look at the daredevils of Niagara Falls interesting.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇


🧵 13/13buymeacoffee.com/craigu

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More from @CraigBaird

Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Jan 8
Billy Van was one of the most gifted comedians in Canadian history.
Through a decades-long career, he proved highly influential in the comedy world.
He is best known for playing nearly every character on The Hilarious House of Frightenstein.
This is his story.

🧵 1/12 A black-and-white photo of Billy Van wearing a dark cape with a high collar and a tuxedo-style outfit. He has slicked dark hair, sharply arched eyebrows, and heavy stage makeup around his eyes. One hand is raised with the index finger pointing upward, while the other arm is partially visible beneath the cape. The background is dark and out of focus, emphasizing the theatrical costume and facial expression.
Billy Van was born on Aug. 11, 1934.
He toured with his brothers as a singing act called The Van Evera Brothers.
Van eventually left the group and formed The Billy Van Singers. Their single I Miss You/The Last Sunrise hit #29 on the CHUM Chart in Toronto in 1961

🧵2/12 A black-and-white studio portrait of billy van, shown from the shoulders up. He has short, neatly combed dark hair and a clean-shaven face. He is wearing a dark jacket over a light shirt. His head is slightly turned toward the camera, with a faint smile and direct gaze. The background is softly lit and plain, with no visible details.
In 1963, Van joined CBC's satire show Nightcap. The show was a hit and in 1966 Van asked for a raise from $400 to $500 per episode.
CBC refused and Van threatened to quit. Due to public pressure, CBC agreed to the raise.

🧵3/12 A black-and-white television still showing two men standing side by side in suits and hats. The man on the right is Billy Van, wearing a light-colored suit jacket, a collared shirt, and a tie, with a fedora-style hat. He is facing slightly toward the man on the left, with a relaxed expression. The man on the left wears a darker suit and hat and appears to be mid-gesture with his hands raised. The background is plain and studio-lit, with no visible set details.
Read 13 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Oct 20, 2025
Outside of Canada, many assume that the entire country uses bagged milk.
The truth is, only part of Canada have bagged milk in the fridge.
But why? Well, it comes down when Canada made the transition to the metric system.
This is the story!

🧵 1/9 A supermarket aisle displaying various dairy products, including bags of milk and cartons of cream, with brands such as "Sealtest" and "Lactantia" prominently featured. The products are arranged on shelves, with some bags of milk in blue and red packaging in the foreground and various milk and cream cartons in the background.
The story of milk bags in Canada begins in the 1960s. At the time, milk came in glass bottles primarily. Some producers sold milk in cardboard or plastic jugs.
In Canada's Centennial Year of 1967, DuPont introduced milk bags to the country.

🧵 2/9 A supermarket shelf displaying bags of milk from the "Neilson" brand, available in 1% and 2% partly skimmed varieties. The bags are labeled with nutritional information, including "fresh partly skimmed milk" and "lait partiellement écrémé," and are branded with the "Foodland Ontario" logo. The packaging features blue and white designs with images of a milk glass and hand, and the bags are sized at 4 liters each.
This turned out to be a good move because in the 1970s, Canada moved towards the metric system. While other companies had to redesign all of their bottles, jugs and cartons, milk bag packaging machines only needed to be resized at a very low cost.

🧵 3/9 A kitchen counter with a 1-liter bag of "Neilson" brand 2% partly skimmed milk, labeled in both English and French ("lait partiellement écrémé frais"), placed next to a white plastic pitcher. The milk bag is partially inserted into the pitcher, with the milk being poured into it. The background features a tiled wall and an electrical outlet.
Read 10 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Oct 18, 2025
Today is Persons Day.
This day honours The Persons Case, which ended in a victory for The Famous Five on Oct. 18, 1929. The ruling declared women to be persons under the law and qualified to sit in the Senate.
This is the story of that case.

🧵 1/12 A group of bronze statues depicting five people in a park setting, with some standing and others seated around a table, set against a snowy background with bare trees and a clear blue sky.
When the British North America Act of 1867 was passed, it used the word "persons" to refer to more than one person, and "he" to refer to one person.
It was argued that only a man could be a person, which excluded women from many things.
Enter The Famous Five.

🧵2/12 A black-and-white painting depicting a large group of men in formal attire seated and standing around a long table in a room with three large arched windows, engaged in what appears to be a formal meeting or conference.
Henrietta Edwards was born in 1849.
She was a Red Cross leader during the First World War, a founding member of the Victorian Order of Nurses and helped create Canada's first YWCA.

Learn more in my Deep Dive 👇


🧵3/12canadaehx.com/2023/01/24/hen…
Read 13 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Oct 4, 2025
On Oct. 4, 1957, the Avro Arrow was unveiled with the intention of it being the RCAF's primary interceptor in the 1960s.
Less than two years later, the program was abruptly cancelled and 14,528 Avro employees were put out of work.
This is the story of the Arrow.

🧵 1/12 A black-and-white aerial view of the Avro Arrow, a delta-winged jet aircraft marked with "RL-201" and a Canadian maple leaf insignia, displayed on a tarmac surrounded by a large crowd of people and a stage with officials, near a building and parked cars.
In the 1950s, with the dawn of the nuclear era, there was a concern that the Soviet Union would attack North America with bombers over the Canadian Arctic.
To deal with this possibility, the RCAF commissioned Avro Canada to build an all-weather nuclear interceptor.

🧵 2/12 A black-and-white photo of the Avro Arrow, a delta-winged jet aircraft marked with "RL-201," flying above the clouds with a clear sky in the background.
It needed to fly higher and faster than any aircraft of its class. With the Arrow contract, Avro quickly expanded and had 20,000 people working for it by 1957. Nine models, one-eighth the size of the finished plane, were tested in rockets over Lake Ontario.

🧵 3/12 A black-and-white photo of a rocket marked with the number "8" being prepared on a launch platform, with several people working around it. One person stands on a scaffold adjusting the rocket, while others on the ground assist, under a partly cloudy sky.
Read 13 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Sep 28, 2025
In 1885, Montreal was ravaged by smallpox.
To stem the spread of the disease that had killed thousands so far, public health officials enforced vaccinations. Those that mistrusted the vaccine rioted in the streets.
This is the story of the Montreal Smallpox Riots.

🧵 1/10 An old-fashioned illustration depicting a group of people in a train compartment. A man in a suit is assisting a woman who appears to be unwell, adjusting her clothing or providing aid. Other passengers, including a woman seated and a child standing nearby, observe the scene. The setting includes detailed period clothing and interior design, with luggage and fabric draped around.
On Feb. 28, 1885, George Longley, a conductor with the Grand Trunk Railway, arrived in Montreal feeling sick. After visiting a doctor, he was diagnosed with smallpox. While he survived, the disease quickly began to spread throughout the city, infecting thousands.

🧵 2/10 An old-fashioned illustration of a hospital ward with several beds, each occupied by a patient covered with blankets. Nurses or caregivers in long dresses attend to the patients, with one standing near a table holding medical supplies. The room features large windows allowing natural light, and the scene is rendered in a detailed, cross-hatched style typical of historical engravings.
At first, the City of Montreal did not pay to provide vaccinations to fight the epidemic. In response, Sir William Macdonald donated $25,000 to pay for the vaccines.
Through the spring and summer, the disease killed upwards of 100 people per week in the city.

🧵 3/10 A black-and-white photograph of an elderly man with a bald head and white beard, dressed in a formal suit with a bow tie and vest, posing against a dark background.
Read 11 tweets
Craig Baird - Canadian History Ehx Profile picture
Sep 28, 2025
Today is British Home Child Day.
This is the annual day that Canada acknowledges and honours the over 100,000 children who were sent from the UK to Canada to work on farms and in homes.
They were separated from siblings and many were abused.
This is their story.

🧵 1/12 The black-and-white photo shows a large group of children and a few adults posing for a group photograph in front of a large industrial building with a "No Smoking" sign. The children, mostly girls, are dressed in coats, scarves, and hats, typical of early 20th-century attire, and are arranged in several rows, with some standing on the building's steps. The setting appears to be outdoors, possibly at a school or institution, with a utilitarian structure in the background.
The Children's Friend Society was founded in London in 1830 to suppress "juvenile vagrancy" through "reformation and emigration". In 1833, 230 children were sent to Toronto and New Brunswick.
It was a few decades before more children were sent to Canada.

🧵2/12 The black-and-white photo depicts a group of children working in a field, harvesting crops. They are dressed in early 20th-century rural attire, including overalls and hats, and are using tools such as sickles and baskets to gather the harvest. The background features an open field with trees and hills under a clear sky.
In the 1860s, philanthropist Annie MacPherson was appalled at the conditions children were forced to work in at factories in London. She decided to help them and believed sending them away from the cities and even Britain was the best option for a better life.

🧵3/12 The black-and-white photo shows a formal portrait of a woman, identified as Annie Macpherson, dressed in Victorian-era clothing with a high-collared dress adorned with a floral brooch. Her hair is styled neatly and pulled back. Below the image, there is handwritten text that reads, "Yours very faithfully, Annie Macpherson."
Read 13 tweets

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