Riverbend Inn & Vineyard

About

The Riverbend Inn is known for it’s vinous atmosphere and culinary prowess, but what is not well known, is it’s fascinating history.
The 17-acre parcel of land that fills the corner of John Street and Niagara River Parkway was originally deeded to William McClellan in 1809. McClellan built a modest stone farmhouse on the property and farmed the land.

In 1860 the farm was purchased by Dr. Thomas Halliday Watt and a large 6, 500 square foot Georgian red brick mansion was built as his stately residence where he grew fruit and worked as a consulting surgeon until his death in 1902.

In 1908 his second wife sold the property to Mr. Dawson who began a poultry farm, only keeping the land until 1909. The land then belonged to Mr. Gibnne who finally sold it to General Nelles, a noted ship-builder, in 1920. General Nelles planted the beautiful tall oaks that you see on the property and gave the property the title of “Oaklands”

General Nelles remained at the home until 1927 when he sold it to a group of 6 sisters, Kate, Gladys, Adel, Mora, Olga and Elga Ansley. The Ansley sisters converted the large residence into a school for mentally disabled boys. They believed that having a warm, loving family environment for these children to live in would encourage mental and social development, which was a very progressive view for the time.

At the height of it’s success the school housed 16 children or various ages happily socializing with the local community. The school existed for 45 years, until the sisters could no longer manage it on their own.