Vampire:
The Requiem - City
History of London, Ontario
These are mortal and Vampiric events in the Requiem setting if you have any question on character related knowledge please inquire with a London Staryteller.
Between 1791 and 1794, Irish born Colonel Thomas Talbot explored
the thick, mixed deciduous forest wilderness on the shores of Lake Erie with
the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe. After finishing
his tour of duty, Talbot, unable to forget the wilds of Canada, sold his commission
and emigrated to upper Canada in 1803.
As an officer, he was granted 5000 acres of land for his service. With the
help of Simcoe, he arranged a deal with the crown:
'that 200 acres shall be allotted to him for every family he shall establish thereon, -50 acres thereof to be granted to each family in perpetuity, and the remaining 150 acres of each lot to become his property, for the expense and trouble of collecting and locating them.'
This land was kept in reserve for him along the shores of Lake Erie. By the time the colonial government forced him to wrap up his operations, his settlers had populated a swath of Ontario land, land running from east of London clear to Windsor. Violently contemptuous of government red tape, he was a continual headache to land officials; yet he managed to settle 27 townships, thousands of settlers, and they cleared over ½ million acres.
Living the life of a hermit in a log house on a cliff above Lake Erie, he had a steady stream of immigrants, would be settlers, visit him to strike a bargain for land. The settler would go to a special window that was much like a wicket in a post office. He would state his business, and if the Colonel had no reason to object to him, out came the Colonel's maps of the area and the settlers name was inscribed in pencil on a 50 or 100 acre parcel. If the Colonel took exception to someone he would dismiss them immediately, and if they resisted, he was not above setting the hounds on the hapless visitor. The eccentric Colonel was truly one of the great characters of Canadian history having pioneered the most successful non-governmental land settlement program in Canada.
July to October 1832 - Cholera Epidemic
18 lives lost (estimated)
With a mortality rate of ten per cent, the first major epidemic to hit Upper
Canada devastated the fledgling village of London. The cause of the disease
was unknown at the time (it was spread through dirty water) and quarantines
were poorly enforced. Most residents fled to rural areas, leaving London a
virtual ghost town. Other serious outbreaks of cholera occurred in 1849 and
1854.
1832 Labatt’s brewery established
August 10, 1834 First Catholic Church Erected
The first was St. Lawrence, erected in 1834. It was located at the southwest corner of Maple and Richmond Streets (Dufferin and Richmond), then little more than a tiny, log chapel with an earthen floor. Local settlers, both Catholic and Protestant, alike, had supplied the materials and labour.
1834 Petra Enters London and discovers little to no vamipiric community
1835 Bank of Upper Canada established in London
1836 First fair is held in London
April 13, 1845 - The Great London Fire
No lives lost
Following a serious downtown fire on October 8, 1844 the town's largest property
owner paid for London's first fire engine. Six months later it was one of
the first things that burned during the worst conflagration in London's history.
About a fifth of the community was destroyed. As a result, more money was
fueled into the fire department and replacement buildings were built of brick.
It is a little known fact that this first church was destroyed in London's Great Fire. Almost immediately, a second house of worship was built on the same site, facing south, with the altar at the north end of the chapel. Although an improvement on the old log chapel with its earthen floor, the second St. Lawrence Church was still little more than a cheap, frame structure, measuring about 30 by 40 feet in dimension.
1838 Jack Daniels Arrives and his assistant Karl arrive in London
During this Period there is little struggles for leadership Petra, Karl and Daniels. Over next 3 years Daniels become Prince of London and the 3 of them organize the city vampiric community as it slowly expands under its’ Invictus rule.
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July to October 1847 - Typhus Fever Epidemic
unknown number of lives lost
Typhus fever, a deadly disease carried by body lice, was brought to Canada
in the spring of 1847 by European immigrants. By July 23rd every available
doctor in London was working at two unofficial hospitals for typhus patients.
Town officials were steadfast in denying the disease was out of control, to
the extent that an accurate count of the dead is impossible, though it was
certainly in the hundreds. A much milder outbreak occurred in 1866.
January 1848 Father Christopher arrives in the London
The father arrives and helps establish the Sanctified within London.
April 24, 1851 Second St. Lawrence church Burned
The fire was the also villain on the early morning of April 24 1851, completely
raising St Lawrence the tiny, frame church to the ground. In 1850, the Catholic
population numbered about 200 souls, and was steadily increasing. Consequently,
to the northeast of the smoking ruin, on the site of what is now the front
lawn of the Basilica, construction of the third St. Lawrence Church (which
was later named as old St. Peter's Cathedral) was already underway.
January 1855 - London town becomes a city
Canada's most westerly city comes into existence on the stroke of midnight.
What was little more than wilderness 30 years earlier is now a modern North
American metropolis, complete with a railway, police force and a hospital.
Land investors as far away as Komoka are ecstatic over the urban growth that
lies ahead. On a more realistic level, London's new municipal status prompts
the construction of a new market building and a new city hall. Within his
year Caladis from the Ordo Dracul and Justine from the circle of the crone
arrive in the city during the boom development
February 16, 1856 - Anderson Foundry Explosion
5 lives lost
John Murray Anderson is remembered for two things: for being the first mayor
of the city of London and for lending his name to its first major industrial
accident when the boiler at his foundry blew up. Shrapnel from the blast went
whipping through the air for several yards, mowing down everything - and everyone
- in its path. The badly shattered bodies of five men - one of them Anderson's
own brother - were later pulled from the wreckage of the downtown building.
February 28, 1874 - The Komoka Train Fire
8 lives lost
Although technically not a London disaster, this Great Western passenger train
left this city bound for Sarnia. It was halfway to the village of Komoka when
a fire broke out in the last car. Because an emergency bell cord was not connected,
the train's engineer could not be notified of the blaze. With the car's front
and rear doors open, the moving train fanned the flames, forcing some 50 passengers
to jump from the car to avoid incineration. The dead included a baby which
perished along with its mother.
1875 St. Old Victoria hospital and Black Fryer Bridge erected
1878 Western University founded
Founded in 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth and the Anglican Diocese of Huron as "The Western University of London Ontario," Western is one of Canada’s oldest and best universities. The first students graduated in arts and medicine in 1883
1879 Mackie and Phillipe arrive in London. Both Mackie and Phillipe from the Carthians arrive in London
May 24, 1881 - The Victoria Steamship Disaster
182 lives lost (estimated)
During a busy holiday weekend the dangerously overloaded stern wheeler Victoria,
carrying 650 passengers, collapsed and overturned in the Thames River. Lax
safety regulations and shoddy construction were to blame. It was the greatest
loss of life in London's history.
July 12, 1883 - The Deluge of London West
17 lives lost
On the night of July 11th a severe electrical storm north of London hit with
such ferocity that it produced a wave of water that jumped the banks of the
Thames River just after midnight and slammed into London West, toppling homes
off their foundations and drowning people in their beds. It remains London's
worst natural disaster.
February 18, 1884 - Hobbs Hardware Explosion
3 lives lost
A small fire at this Richmond Street business turned into a catastrophe when
the flames
ignited a supply of gun powder. The entire building was leveled in the blast.
1885 St. Peters Cathedral Completed
By the time St. Peter's Cathedral was completed in 1885, there were parishioners still living who had worshipped in all three earlier churches, each built and replaced over the years to serve the growing Catholic community of London.
January 3, 1898 - City Hall Collapse
23 lives lost
London's reputation for building cheap municipal buildings came crashing down
- literally - during an election night rally. The floor in the city's hall's
second floor auditorium caved in, dumping hundreds of revelers - and a heavy
iron safe - on to the floor below. The removal of a supporting wall the year
before was blamed. Despite public outcry, little was done to remedy the city's
lax enforcement of building codes.
January 6, 1904 - Stirling Brothers Shoe Factory Fire
5 lives lost
While fighting a stubborn blaze at the north east corner of York and Clarence
Streets, the south wall of the building collapsed on Fire Chief John Roe and
four fireman. Roe was pulled from the rubble alive and carried to the foyer
of nearby hotel where he died from his injuries.
July 16, 1907 - Reid's Crystal Hall Collapse
7 lives lost
During renovations to this Dundas Street building, windows were cut into an
east wall and its centre section removed. Despite objections from the building's
owner and the contractor, the lease holder assured that iron pillars would
soon be in place to hold the weight of all four floors. He was wrong. The
east wall gave way, sending tons of brick and timber cascading on to Dundas
Street. Rescuers clawed frantically through the rubble in search of survivors,
but not before the life had been crushed out of seven Londoners.
August 18, 1908 - Westman's Hardware Fire
2 lives lost
As Fire Chief Lawrence Clark and two of his men were pulling a hose inside
this burning building the floor gave way, dumping them into the basement.
As they tried to climb out, the remaining floor above them broke up, sending
tons of heavy appliances raining down on them. Only one man, Fireman Cole,
made it out alive.
October 5, 1918 - Acetylene Plant Blast
1 life lost
The Rectory Street gasification factory was completely destroyed by an early
morning explosion that sent concrete blocks flying for 100 feet and blew in
the doors and windows of neighbouring homes and businesses. Miraculously,
only one man, Stephen Snider, the plant's manager, was killed.
1918 Prince Daniels Imposes feeding restrictions and feeding grounds due to Influenza outbreak.
During this period Prince Daniels imposes feeding restrictions on Hospitals and tose of the ailing in fear of spreading the illness further. At this point in time Mackie understands the restriction that is placed but does not like it.
1918 to 1919 - Spanish Influenza Epidemic
unknown number of lives lost
One of the world's worst pandemics was born on the World War I battlefields
of Europe and was spread to North America by returning soldiers. In London,
theatres, libraries and other public gathering places were closed and citizens
began wearing cloth breathing masks to fend off the deadly germs. As one historian
noted, "It was like trying to keep dust out with chicken wire."
1921 Prince Daniels imposes further restrictions on feeding and territory in London
This restriction is placed to prevent another possible disease outbreak with communities recovery from the last outbreak. Mackie at this point severely disagrees with Daniels and is claiming behind closed doors that the Prince has gone mad with age.
Sept 3 1921 4 people murdered and left without blood.
Police believe that there may be foul play involved as 4 bodies were found in a residence with no blood left in their bodies
March 3, 1934 - Hunts Flour Mill Fire
2 lives lost
While battling a fifth floor blaze an explosion rocked this east London industry,
sending firefighters scrambling for their lives. Six men sustained serious
injuries but a worse fate fell on District Chief Stanley Scruby and Lieutenant
Arthur Hartop who were unable to escape from the building in time. Their bodies
were later recovered from the rubble and buried side by side at Mount Pleasant
Cemetery.
April 26, 1937 - The Great London Flood
5 lives lost
On the weekend of April 24-25, South Western Ontario was hit by torrential
rains. A sodden watershed created total runoff into the Thames River, producing
the highest water levels ever recorded. In London one man drowned while rescuing
stranded families. Outside of Beachville a train derailed, killing three men.
A doctor, on his way to the wreck, was drowned when his car was swept off
the road into the river. A subsequent flood in 1947 led to the creation of
the Upper Thames Conservation Authority and the construction of Fanshawe Dam.
3 people found dead and left without blood.
Police found 3 bodies were found in a flooded residence with no blood left in their bodies
March 28, 1942 Large Cult rises in London
A large religious faction rises in London called the order of the black sun. Rumour has it that their leader was an European Holy man. Local authorities let the religion stand as there is no proof of witchcraft involved
August 13, 1950 - Boat Capsizes
4 lives lost
On a pleasant Sunday afternoon a 17-foot launch flipped over while making
a turn just above the old dam at Springbank Park. Of the nine passengers on
board, only five survived. One of the dead was Robert W. Jenkins who had moved
to London from a coastal town in Newfoundland because his mother had a premonition
her son would drown. Jenkins' fiancé, Beatrice Bannister, survived
the sinking.
June 17, 1958 - Gas Explosion
no lives lost
A gas leak prompted an explosion and fire at a house on Lorne Avenue in east
London. Five people, including a mother carrying her baby, managed to scramble
to safety before the blast and fire collapsed the sides of the building. The
heat from the blaze was so intense that a news photographer working across
the street suffered second degree burns to his face.
October 23, 1959 Visiting Crone religious leader gets killed
by Sheriff
On this day there was a religious leader that came to the area to be here
for the solstice and to meet with an old companion. The current sheriff at
the time kills the visiting Crone for not announcing his presence to Daniels
while the visitor was on route to seek out Daniels. This slaying causes much
dissention amongst the Crones with the local sanctum and their very close
partnership with the Invictus.
1959 Invictus and Sanctum go to war versus Carthians and Crones
The unrest from the Crones continues to grow and is understood by the Carthians. The Carthians seek out the crones for support in overthrowing the local rule. Phillipe and Augustus Alexander attempt negotiations in trying to settle matters before the a war could start but it ultimately fails. The war starts with the Crones torturing a local servant on the Invictus that father Christopher was sizing up to make his child (however he would never admit it nowdays). The Invictus were outraged by the political dealings of the Carthians and got the support of Karl. When the Cathians saw this they took it as a time to rid themselves of the oppressive rule of the Invictus and assassinated the childe of Tyrone (Charlotte). Tyrone found her heard between the sheets of her bed which was the final straw for the local Invictus. The Crones and Carthians lead raids on the Sanctum taking down many and as they reclaimed captured son of Justine who was the leader of the Crones at that time. The Carthians also took heavy losses and many of their leaders were forced the leaders into servitude by the Invictus or were given the option of death. It is also known that there was a massive explosion in the communal Crones' haven which killed them many of them only to be latter fund out it wasa ruse to hide themselves due to losing this war. As the Invictus and Santum alliance prevailed a strengthening of the city occurred. The overall losses were severe to the Crone, Carthians, and Sanctum. The invictus lost nothing more then servants and pawns in the struggle.
Order of the Black Sun loses religious Leader
It was pronounced today that the leader of the Order of the Black sun disappeared this month and that he has been missing during all religious activity and ceremonies. Locals are relieved that this odd religion had weakened considerably for it lacks proper Christian values
November 14, 1960 - The Richmond Block Fire
1 life lost
One of the worst downtown fires began when flames from a restaurant fire were
fed by a leaking gas line. During the three-alarm blaze fire captain David
Moffitt collapsed. He succumbed to a heart attack while being rushed to the
hospital. Six businesses just south of Dundas Street were destroyed at an
estimated loss of more than a million dollars.
3 people found dead and left without blood.
Police found 3 bodies were found in a burnt down residence with no blood left in their bodies. Local authorities believe that the heat of the fire may have burnt the blood as the victims of the arson may actually have been murdered
January to February 1971 - Blizzard
no lives lost
It struck on January 26th and didn't stop for six days. By the end of it,
Western Ontario was buried under two feet of snow, drifts as high as twelve
feet blocked county roads and London's mayor, Herb McClure, declared a state
of emergency. Soldiers in armed personnel carriers helped the fire department
respond to emergency calls on show clogged roads. Even Ontario Premier John
Robarts was left stranded at a service centre near Ingersoll. A similar snow
storm struck the region seven years later.
August 7, 1973 - Oxford Park Gas Explosions
no lives lost
While doing repair work on this west London neighbourhood a backhoe operator
accidentally destroyed a gas line regulator. The increased pressure turned
furnaces and gas stoves in neighbouring homes into bombs. Ten houses exploded
and burned while an additional 40 were damaged. Miraculously, there were no
fatalities.
March 3, 1976 - Ice Storm
no lives lost
A storm of freezing rain left a thick coat of ice on the London area. Its
weight toppled trees and took out power and phone lines, leaving many residents
in the dark for days.
September 2, 1984 - South London Tornado
no lives lost
In the late afternoon the skies over South London turned a curious shade of
green while winds whipped the water in backyard pools into white caps and
overturned patio furniture. That evening a tornado touched down in the White
Oaks area, injuring about 30 people as flying debris ripped through their
houses. More than 600 homes and businesses were damaged.
1996 Covent Daren Market rebuilt
Formally established in 1845, Covent Garden Market is one of London Ontario's
most treasured cultural landmarks.
Feb 5, 2005 Local Prince Daniels goes missing
The city is left in Civil unrest as prince Daniels if feared dead as many
of those he placed in positions of power have been ashed. Nobody knows about
the location of Daniels. It is rumoured that he is in hiding but the question
is from what.
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