Crystal Beach, Ontario
{{Short description|Lakefront community in Fort Erie, Ontario}}
{{Other uses|Crystal Beach (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Crystal Beach
|other_name =
|native_name =
|nickname = The South Coast of Canada{{Cite web | url=https://www.visitniagaracanada.com/do/crystal-beach/ |title = Crystal Beach| date=13 August 2019 }}
|settlement_type = Unincorporated community
|motto =
|image_skyline = TheGoldenPierCrystalBeach.png
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Pier that once served the Canadiana and Americana ferries.
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|pushpin_map = Canada Southern Ontario
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Canada
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = Ontario
|subdivision_type2 = Regional municipality
|subdivision_name2 = Niagara
|subdivision_type3 = Town
|subdivision_name3 = Fort Erie
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|area_total_km2 = 11.34
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|population_as_of = 2016
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|population_total = 8524
|population_density_km2 = 751.7
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|timezone = EST
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|coordinates = {{coord|42|52|3|N|79|3|33|W|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
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|postal_code_type = Forward sortation area
|postal_code = L0S 1B0
|blank_name = NTS Map
|blank_info = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|30|L|14}}
|blank1_name = GNBC Code
|blank1_info = FAUTT
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Crystal Beach is a lakefront community in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. As of 2016, it had a population of 8,524.{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=POPC&Code1=1063&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Crystal%20Beach&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1|title=Census Profile|work=2016 Census |publisher=Statistics Canada}} It was named for the "crystal clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie, across from Buffalo.{{cite book|first=Rose Ann|last=Hirsch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2myxSx8I3xsC&q=crystal+beach+Ontario+was+named+after+crystal+clear+water&pg=PT46|title=Western New York Amusement Parks|date=25 April 2011|isbn=9781439639283}}
Crystal Beach Park occupied waterfront land within Crystal Beach from 1888 to 1989, turning the community into a popular resort town. It operated until 1989 when the park was closed permanently. It is now the site of private gated community.{{Cite web |title=Crystal Beach {{!}} New York Heritage |url=https://nyheritage.org/collections/crystal-beach#:~:text=Crystal%20Beach%20is%20located%20in,drew%20150,000%20guests%20per%20season |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=nyheritage.org}}
Laugh in the Dark, a documentary about efforts to revitalize the community in the waning years of Crystal Beach Park, was released in 1999.
History
The Crystal Beach settlement started as a police village with a summer post office in 1898; a year-round post office opened in 1908. The village was incorporated in 1928, with a population of 298. In 1970, the village was absorbed by Fort Erie, Ontario under the regional government scheme.{{cite book|first=Erno|last=Rossi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QE3lHEuOmsC&q=crystal+beach+amusement|title=Crystal Beach: The Good Old Days|year=2005|isbn=9780920926048}}
=Crystal Beach Park (1888-1989)=
{{Main|Crystal Beach Park}}
=Bay Beach Park (1926-present)=
In 1926, John E. Rebstock opened a public beach on land west of Crystal Beach Park called Bay Beach Park. It contained rental units, a snack bar, and a dance hall.{{Cite web|url=http://www.forterie.ca/resource/files/5A991E95966F806885257F380049D74F/$File/Bay%20Beach%20Draft%20ReportV9%20Dec%2022%2015%20FINAL.pdf|title=Bay Beach Draft ReportV9 Dec 22 15 FINAL.pdf}} Rebstock died in 1941, and his estate maintained the property until selling it to the Town of Fort Erie in 2001.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QE3lHEuOmsC&q=rebstock%20%22crystal%20beach%22%201941&pg=PA59 |title = Crystal Beach: The Good Old Days|isbn = 9780920926048|last1 = Rossi|first1 = Erno|year = 2005}} A private developer planned to build a 12-story complex on the site called South Beach Condominiums, but the project was abandoned in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9391741-bay-beach-re-opening-reflects-on-long-road-to-redevelopment/|title=Bay Beach re-opening reflects on long road to redevelopment|first=James|last=Culic|date=May 26, 2019|website=StCatharinesStandard.ca}} Fort Erie has since renovated the site with modern amenities, and it was officially reopened in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forterie.ca/pages/BayBeachGrandReOpening|title=Town of Fort Erie - Bay Beach Grand Re-Opening|website=www.forterie.ca}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Crystal Beach Hill Association (1983–present)=
{{Main|Crystal Beach Hill}}
In the 1930s, Crystal Beach Park employees were allowed to build cottages on the Crystal Beach sand dune so that they could live near their jobs. The dune was called Crystal Beach Hill and eventually grew to 43 cottages. In 1983, residents of the land formed the Crystal Beach Hill Cottagers Organization, later renamed the Crystal Beach Hill Association, and purchased the land outright from the park's owner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/04/15/lack-of-us-seasonal-residents-on-lake-erie-would-be-devastating-for-shoreline-towns.html|title=Lack of U.S. seasonal residents on Lake Erie would be 'devastating' for shoreline towns|date=April 15, 2020|newspaper=The Toronto Star|last1=Dubé|first1=Kris}}
=Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club (1992–present)=
The land where Crystal Beach Park stood was converted into a gated community called Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club in 1992.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QE3lHEuOmsC&q=1992%20%22crystal%20beach%20tennis%22&pg=PA32 | title=Crystal Beach: The Good Old Days| isbn=9780920926048| last1=Rossi| first1=Erno| year=2005}} The concrete pier that was built in 1921 to service the Americana and Canadiana ferries remains part of the complex, albeit in a state of disrepair.{{Cite web|url=https://torontosun.com/2012/06/11/mother-of-fall-victim-wants-flagpole-removed/wcm/ae8ce3e9-850d-4221-9336-b01a59079106|title=Mother of fall victim wants flagpole removed | Toronto Sun|date=June 12, 2012}} The concrete seawall that was built in 1924 to reinforce the property also remains part of the complex.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LSkLolDLrvkC&q=%22crystal%20beach%22%20wall%20%22dancers%22%20cement&pg=PT50 |title = Let's Dance: A Celebration of Ontario's Dance Halls and Summer Dance Pavilions|isbn = 9781554882113|last1 = Young|first1 = Peter|date = 25 September 2002}}
=Crystal Beach Waterfront Park (2005–present)=
The town of Fort Erie has operated a public beach called Crystal Beach Waterfront Park to the east of Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club since 2005. It features a boat launch and was next to the Palmwood restaurant which closed in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forterie.ca/pages/WaterfrontParksandBeaches|title=Town of Fort Erie - Waterfront Parks and Beaches|website=www.forterie.ca|date=28 June 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9936110-ridgeway-man-baffled-by-busy-crystal-beach-boat-launch-during-pandemic/|title=Ridgeway man baffled by busy Crystal Beach boat launch during pandemic|date=April 6, 2020|website=StCatharinesStandard.ca}}
=South Coast Village (2016–present)=
The land where the parking lot of Crystal Beach Park stood directly east of Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club was converted into the upscale community South Coast Village in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livabl.com/2016/04/south-coast-village-phase-1.html|title=South Coast Village reaches milestone as phase 1 hits 80 per cent sold}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.forteriecanada.com/tourism/crystalbeach.shtml Official website]
- [http://www.nyheritage.org/collections/crystal-beach Crystal Beach Photographs]
{{RegionalNiagara}}
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Category:Neighbourhoods in Fort Erie, Ontario