The proposed bridge and water wheel were the idea of Alonzo Mather "One of his more spectacular ideas concerned the Niagara River. Late in the 19th century, Mather had an idea about building a bridge with great water wheels underneath to supply power to surrounding areas. This was before Niagara Falls was harnessed to provide electric power. Because of opposition in the U.S. Congress, Mather wasn't able to build the bridge he wanted. But in 1927, the Peace Bridge was dedicated to him at almost the exact spot Mather had in mind." from the website Matherlifeways.com ; Mather LifeWays is a not-for-profit organization originally established in 1941 as The Mather Foundation by Alonzo Mather, a humanitarian, philanthropist, and patron of the arts who created a home for "ladies of refinement" who lost their incomes when their husbands passed away ;