A plaque trail of permanent markers which record local events and people significant to the War of 1812 was unveiled at events hosted by The Elgin County 1812 Committee on Sunday June 28th. The launch event took place at two locations of the nine on the trail - Port Glasgow Memorial Park and St. Stephen's Church Graveyard.
Although the majority of more well-known battles of the War of 1812 took place in other areas, like the Niagara region, there has been an increased recognition that the war also had substantial and long-lasting impacts on the settlers who lived in Southwestern Ontario, including in Elgin County. |
At Port Glasgow, the plaque marks the location of the two mill stones that survived the burning of Colonel Talbot’s mill in 1814. Relocated to a mill on 16 Mile Creek, the stones later propped up a barn and were then rescued and put into the Memorial Park in the 1950s. The event also marked the installation of a plaque in McColl Cemetery marking the stop General Brock made on his way to Detroit and the resulting naming of Brock’s Creek.
At St. Stephen’s Church Graveyard, the Col. Mahlon Burwell Plaque was unveiled along with replacement stones on the graves of Burwell and his wife. Burwell was a militia colonel during the war and the plaque located here records his experiences in Ohio where he was held for six months during the war.
Re-enactors at both locations portrayed well-known figures of the day – Elgin County settler Garrett Oakes and Wardsville founder George Ward.
At St. Stephen’s Church Graveyard, the Col. Mahlon Burwell Plaque was unveiled along with replacement stones on the graves of Burwell and his wife. Burwell was a militia colonel during the war and the plaque located here records his experiences in Ohio where he was held for six months during the war.
Re-enactors at both locations portrayed well-known figures of the day – Elgin County settler Garrett Oakes and Wardsville founder George Ward.
ELGIN COUNTY WAR OF 1812 PLAQUE UNVEILINGThe Elgin County 1812 Committee hosted the unveiling of a series of permanent markers on Sunday, June 28th 2015, which record local events and people significant to the War of 1812. The unveiling took place at two of the locations of the nine on the trail - Port Glasgow and St. Stephens Church
Posted by Relish Elgin on Friday, July 10, 2015
“In any age it is a duty, which every country owes itself, to preserve the records of the past and to honour the men and women whose lives and deeds made possible its present. And today, when the whole civilized world is throbbing to social and political impulses of the greatest significance for the future, we ought especially to call to mind such lives and deeds and catch if we can inspiration for acting well the part that falls to each of us.”
Elgin County Museum curator, Mike Baker commended the many organizations and volunteers who supported the project and funding from the federal government and Green Lane Community Trust. “In each location where we got a site selected for the plaque, we had great local involvement.” He noted that the plaques include not only historic information and heritage maps but also present-day maps and other sites in the vicinity which might interest visitors to the plaques.
Pete Sheridan, President of the Elgin Historical Society, quoted from the forward of an early Elgin Historical Society publication “Courthouses of a Century”, published in 1901, noting, "I think it’s an excellent summary of why we study history.”
Pete Sheridan, President of the Elgin Historical Society, quoted from the forward of an early Elgin Historical Society publication “Courthouses of a Century”, published in 1901, noting, "I think it’s an excellent summary of why we study history.”
Portions of the above information are courtesy of the Elgin County Museum event press release. Some of the panels are included at www.elgincounty.ca/museum/exhibits/1812-panels. On the Elgin Historical Society website, you will find a tour of sites relating to the War of 1812 in Elgin County plus many other references.
Photos above from the trail launch events. Some of the people appearing in the video include Tracy Gordon (re-enactor), Seamus Gunn (re-enactor as George Ward), Joe Preston (Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP), Bernie Wiehle (Mayor of West Elgin), Mike Baker (Curator of Elgin County Museum), Pete Sheridan (Elgin Historical Society President), Angela Bobier (Cultural Manager of Backus-Page House Museum), Steve Ferguson (re-enactor as Garrett Oakes) - left photo, 2nd from left to right.