Ridgeway in Fort Erie in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
209 Ridge Road
Downtown Ridgeway Business Improvement Area
Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 23, 2026
1. 209 Ridge Road - Marker
Inscription.
209 Ridge Road. Downtown Ridgeway Business Improvement Area. The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts at 209 Ridge Road is well named as for many years it served as the sanctuary of a church. A Free Methodist group formed in Ridgeway in the early 1880's and met in a nearly shed with first pastor Rev. Wilson T. Hogg. In 1888 they purchased a church building from the Methodist Episcopal congregation which had joined with another group. That brick church built in 1872, was located north across Elm Street. The parsonage, which had been donated by James Cutler, was on this corner. In those days churches were very important in the lives of the townspeople both spiritually and socially, and almost everyone attended one. Newspaper columns of the day are full of happenings at churches - guest speakers, musical concerts, conferences, youth meetings, Sunday School programs and more. , In 1906 a hurricane blew through town early on a Sunday while morning service was in progress. The wind lifted most of the roof from the church building and camed it across Ridge Road where it was strewn across Dr Snyder's lawn-bowling green. Some bricks were dislodged and fell through the ceiling near the pulpit, but miraculously no one was hurt. , During the depression years while many parishioners were unemployed, members of the congregation took the old church apart including bricks, boards, and squares of tin roofing, and used them to construct a new smaller church in this location, which was dedicated in 1935. A large addition and refacing of that building was completed in 1990, and a few years later the name was changed to Ridgeway Community Church. Under Pastors David and Katherina Stephenson, a decision was made building a a church in 2010, although their group has continued off site. The building was purchased and renovated for use in concerts and community events by Jason and Nadine Pizzicarola who are also co-owners in the Brimstone Brewing Co. along with Rod Daigle and Gerry Saieva (from 2012). It has also been the home base of the Fort Erie Arts Council since 2010. , Picture from Cathy Herbert Collection , Research and text by Ada
The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts at 209 Ridge Road is well named as for many years it served as the
sanctuary of a church. A Free Methodist group formed in Ridgeway in the early 1880's and met in a
nearly shed with first pastor Rev. Wilson T. Hogg. In 1888 they purchased a church building from the
Methodist Episcopal congregation which had joined with another group. That brick church built in
1872, was located north across Elm Street. The parsonage, which had been donated by James Cutler,
was on this corner. In those days churches were very important in the lives of the townspeople both
spiritually and socially, and almost everyone attended one. Newspaper columns of the day are full of
happenings at churches - guest speakers, musical concerts, conferences, youth meetings, Sunday
School programs and more.
In 1906 a hurricane blew through town early on a Sunday while morning service was in progress. The
wind lifted most of the roof from the church building and camed it across Ridge Road where it was
strewn across Dr Snyder's lawn-bowling green. Some bricks were dislodged and fell through the
ceiling near the pulpit, but miraculously no one was hurt.
During the depression years while many parishioners were unemployed, members of the congregation
took the old church apart including bricks, boards, and
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squares of tin roofing, and used them to
construct a new smaller church in this location, which was dedicated in 1935. A large addition and
refacing of that building was completed in 1990, and a few years later the name was changed to
Ridgeway Community Church. Under Pastors David and Katherina Stephenson, a decision was made
building a a church in 2010, although their group has continued off site. The building was
purchased and renovated for use in concerts and community events by Jason and Nadine Pizzicarola
who are also co-owners in the Brimstone Brewing Co. along with Rod Daigle and Gerry Saieva (from
2012). It has also been the home base of the Fort Erie Arts Council since 2010.
Picture from Cathy Herbert Collection
Research & text by Ada
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 42° 52.83′ N, 79° 3.128′ W. Marker is in Fort Erie, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Ridgeway. It is at the intersection of Ridge Road North and Elm Street, on the right when traveling south on Ridge Road North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 Ridge Rd N, Fort Erie ON L0S 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 264 Ridge Road North (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); 264 Ridge Road (about 150
Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 23, 2026
2. 209 Ridge Road
Photo faces west and north-west. Marker is beside the west entrance.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario.
