NEW YEAR'S DAY LEVEE: We're going to party like it's 1812

By Grant LaFleche and Don Fraser QMI Agency

Updated 2 days ago

The official start of the War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations isn't until June, when events mark the declaration of war between Britain and the United States.

But for local re-enactors and history buffs, things get underway Sunday during the New Year's Day levee at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
"It is the unofficial kickoff, really," said Katie Farr, spokeswoman for the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council.
Farr said the annual Fort George levee, hosted by the Friends of Fort George, will have extra punch this time because Lt. Gov. David Onley will be holding his own levee there.
"There will be a receiving line, where anyone who comes can meet the lieutenant governor," Farr said.
"All the buildings at the site will be open for visitors, so Parks Canada staff will be out in force."
Farr said because of extra attractions and Onley's presence, the levee is flagged as a "signature event" by the bicentennial council, even if official celebrations are months away.
The war began on June 18, 1812, and lasted nearly three years.
It launched a battle for control of North America between British and American forces.
Some key battles were fought on Niagara soil in areas such as Fort Erie, Niagara Falls and Queenston.
A negotiated peace was finally reached that left the borders of the U.S. and Canada unchanged.

Brian Merrett, CEO of the bicentennial council, said events marking the conflict should serve as a big boost to heritage tourism in the region.

"It's a unique opportunity to celebrate 200 years of peace," said Merrett. "It will also let people recognize what an important role in our history that Niagara played."
Hundreds are helping organize events in Niagara, Merrett said. "Every community has 1812 working committees that vary in size."
As for re-enactors, it's the start of a busy three years at sites made famous by the pivotal war.
On Sunday, they're expected to be at Fort George to give visitors a sense of what life was like there 200 years ago.
John Sek of Fort Erie is among many making that history come to life. His role is as a captain of the 2nd Lincoln Artillery Unit, which was active in the conflict.
"It will be a busy year, and actually the next three years will be busy," said Sek, adding there's been much co-ordination to ensure re-enactors aren't overlapping from one event to the next.
As for the various War of 1812 sites, "we all have different stories," he said.
"We all have different approaches as to what the purpose was of all this," Sek said, adding another important story is how a peaceful outcome was finally achieved.
"Telling people history is one thing," said Sek, also a member of the Fort Erie War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee. "But (it's also) for the public to reflect on why this happened and what the result was.
"Canadians got kicked and we realized we couldn't stay as a colony. Canada had to become its own nation."
"And that happened."
The Fort George levee on Sunday starts at 1 p.m. and runs to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, with a cannon salute at 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Some events will be outdoors, so dress accordingly.
Other War of 1812 event highlights for this year
An opening ceremonies weekend is planned throughout Niagara to mark the June 18, 1812, declaration of war
A major parade in Fort Erie in June, with more than 50 military bands invited
Siege of Fort Erie in August, presented by the Niagara Parks Commission — one of the largest re-enactments in Canada.
* Battle of Queenston Heights and burial of General Isaac Brock re-enactments in October
For more information, visit www.discover1812.com or www.visit1812.com

Lt. Gov. kicks off 1812 celebrationsBy SHAWN JEFFORDS Standard StaffUpdated 17 hours agoNIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE -- The kick-off of bicentennial celebrations of the War of 1812 commemorate 200 years of peace between two great nations, not the bloody conflict itself.So says Ontario's Lt. Gov. David Onley who hosted a New Year's Day Levee at Fort George. The Queen's representative in Ontario, told a crowd of hundreds packed into a large tent on the fort's grounds that it's important to remember the conflict and recognize its historic link to the Niagara Region."New Year's Day 200 years ago events were already in motion that would change our nation forever," he said after a series of toasts to the Queen, the US president and Canada's armed forces.The Lieutenant Governor hosts a levee every year and said he knew two years ago that he wanted to move the celebration out of Toronto to Fort George to celebrate the bicentennial. "In effect, we are launching the bicentennial of the War of 1812 today," he told the crowd.The levee featured people dressed in period costume, performances by a fife and drum band and the traditional booming cannon salute. Onley told the crowd that the conflict marked the beginning of Canada's proud military history. But the resolution
 of the war and subsequent long peace also underscores the importance of the relationship between the Canada and the United States, he said."Peace is truly attainable to people of goodwill," he said.Jarred Picher, acting field unit superintendent for Parks Canada, said the event was a great way to start bicentennial celebrations which will take place over the next two years at more than 20 War of 1812 historic sites. "For Parks Canada, this is about raising awareness for the national treasures we're here to protect," he said. "Fort George is going to be one of the flagship historic sites for the bicentennial and we look forward to greeting as many guests and visitors as we can."Picher said he was impressed by the large turnout, who braved cold rains and high winds to attend the levee. "I'm overwhelmed by the number of people who've come out," he said. "It's a testament to the Lieutenant Governor I think."Picher said the bicentennial will connect a whole new generation of Canadians to the history of the War of 1812."Even if history isn't your interest, being Canadian is something we're all proud of and for Canadians to connect to the places and the stories and the people that helped shape this great nation, you can't ask for anything more profound than that."Robert Andree made the trip to the fort from Wellandport Sunday. The history buff said it's important to commemorate the conflict."I find it all very interesting," he said. "Canadians should know more about our history."Levees date back to the 18th century and were brought to Canada by the Royal Governor of New France who would sit on his doorstep New Year's Day-morning to greet citizens.The Lincoln and Welland Regiment and 10th Battery, 56th Field Regiment also hosted a New Year's Levee Sunday. They opened the doors of the Lake Street Armoury to the public and helped usher in the new year with some help from local politicians. "The goal of the day is to connect with the community," said Lt. Col Allan Stoyka. The festivities are just that much more important as the people begin to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The regiments all fought in battles during the conflict."As Canadians we're shy when it comes to talking about our heritage," he said. "But it's one of the common things we share as a people ... and it's good to celebrate that connection to the past."10th Battery commander Capt. Jim Hill said the levee acts as a reunion for current members of the service and veterans who have moved on. "It's a great old tradition and it's good to have everyone home," he said.sjeffords@stcatharinesstandard.ca

Old Ironsides, a vessel to remember

One hundred ninety-nine years ago today, the USS Constitution defeated a British warship, HMS Java, off of Brazil in one of the great triumphs in American naval history. After Old Ironsides’ victory, the British admiralty forbade its frigates from taking on the US Navy in single combat, for fear of being overmatched. The Constitution remains the pride of Boston Harbor, where it was built. It is well worth a visit to the Charlestown Navy Yard, a starting point for celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

The War of 1812 raised questions that are still relevant: When must the United States take military action? How deeply should the country entangle itself in foreign alliances? When is “a war of choice’’ appropriate? The United States experienced moments of glory - such as the defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which inspired the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner’’ - and of abject humiliation, like the burning of Washington, D.C.

The Constitution was the vehicle for some of the greatest military victories of the war. Two centuries later, it should serve as an entry point for understanding a somewhat forgotten war whose lessons remain vital today.

.Remembering 1812

War Of 1812: Canada's 'Forgotten Vets' Will Get Their Due On Bicentennial

British soldiers in firing formation let loose in a re-enactment from the documentary "The War of 1812." (CP File Photo)

TORONTO - Scattered plaques and occasional monuments are often the only Canadian reminders of a nearly three-year war fought two centuries ago that saw an empire and an upstart nation struggle for dominance on both sea and land.
And those tokens of remembrance commemorating the War of 1812 usually offer very little detail about the thousands of soldiers who perished while waging war on what has come to be known as Canadian soil.
They are the "forgotten vets," said George Chisholm, whose great-great-grandfather and namesake fought in the Battle of Queenston Heights and other skirmishes throughout the war before eventually settling in present-day Burlington, Ont.
"I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we're 200-year plus friends with our neighbours to the south," Chisholm said from his home in nearby Oakville.
"There's a feeling that we don't really want to insult them."
Soldiers who died in clashes such as Queenston Heights and naval skirmishes along the Atlantic coast hailed from both Britain and the colony that was christened Canada more than 50 years later, but little was ever done to commemorate their loss.
"The War of 1812 has often been called unimportant and we have forgotten it to a large extent," said John Warburton, whose fourth great-grandfather was a veteran.

 

"Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea and France were all faraway foreign lands; the Militiamen and boys of York and Niagara fought in, and gave their lives for, their homeland. When they lost, their wives and children were threatened; their homes were ransacked or burned. That is why it was a war of consequence and worthy of our remembrance."
Canada appears to agree as it prepares to mark the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812 and launch remembrance initiatives designed to give the conflict a more prominent place in Canadian history.
The federal government and the provinces are poised to invest millions in educational campaigns, new monuments, festivals, battle re-enactments and local projects designed to honour the war that some say paved the way for Canada's independence.
Historians say it's little wonder Canadians have been reluctant to embrace the war's legacy until recently.
The conflict was particularly hard to incorporate into the folklore of an emerging nation eager to shed ties with its colonial past, said Robert Fraser, history professor at the University of Toronto and executive officer at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
"The period from the 1780s through to about the 1850s is arguably one of the most under-studied periods in Canadian history, and part of the reason for that is it doesn't fit comfortably with a modern liberal democracy," Fraser said.
"The elites there were proponents of a counter-revolutionary society."
A war fought to maintain a way of life dominated by a monarchy did not fit well with vision of the Fathers of Confederation, he said, so very little effort was made to adopt the story of the war into the national narrative.
The story was particularly easy to gloss over, Fraser added, since the battles took place in concentrated pockets spread out over a large territory and were fought predominantly by regulars in the British army.
The war also marked a particularly dark time in history. Those accused of betraying the British cause were routinely tried for treason, and killed in mass executions once found guilty, he said.
But there are clear signs that the federal Conservatives aren't going to be squeamish about commemorating the war.
The Ministry of Canadian Heritage has unveiled a four-year plan to honour the conflict, featuring a cross-country education campaign and an official month of commemoration slated for October 2012.
Ontario, home to many of the most notable battles of the war, will spend $32 million to improve historical sites, with $1.4 million earmarked to help local groups with their bicentennial projects, according to the province's Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The War of 1812 played a defining role in Canadian history that ought not be neglected, said Fraser.
"Had the Americans conquered, Canada's past would have been different," he said. "That didn't happen, so it is important."
By Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press

Four Different Views

New war exhibit tells story of 1812 from all four sides

Friday, 28 October 2011 By Daniel Fish

A new exhibit at the Canadian War Museum will present the War of 1812 from four different points of view when it opens alongside the government’s bicentennial celebrations next June. “Four Wars of 1812” will tell the story of the war through the eyes of Canada, Britain, the United States and North American natives in an effort to show how every side has its own version of history. “For Canadians, this is the story of our survival,” says Peter MacLeod, the pre-Confederation historian at the museum. “If Americans had won, we’d all be Americans, and we wouldn’t even be aware of it.” The war is also a source of pride for Americans, who consider it a defining moment when they stood up to Britain on the world stage, says MacLeod. At the time, Americans were unhappy with Britain for interfering with foreign trade and supporting native resistance to their expansion. “One of our challenges is representing the Americans as sympathetically as we can and try to understand why they would invade Canada,” says MacLeod. “We really hope American visitors will come to the museum and feel that their story is represented.” Misconceptions about this war are common amongst Americans, says Alan Taylor, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of The Civil War Of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, and Indian Allies. “Many Americans are surprised to learn that most of the war was an American invasion of Canada,” he says. “It looks like a more honourable war as a defence against Britain.” Representing the perspective of native Canadians and those from Quebec is also complicated. While native alliances were essential to the defence of Canada, this role was downplayed after the war when Canada shifted its focus to acquiring native land, says Taylor. “Native people can take pride in their contribution to the defence of Canada, but it is also a watershed moment in their relationship with other Canadians,” he says. In Quebec, everything east of the city of Montreal was totally unaffected, says Beatrice Craig, a history professor at the University of Ottawa. She says it is an exaggeration to tie national unity to the War of 1812 when Canada only existed back then as a grouping of British provinces independent of each other. “It’s a very central-Canadian celebration,” says Craig. “You can take anything you want and spin it to create a sense of nationhood.” MacLeod says that despite the appearance of being less immediate, colonial wars have shaped Canada’s identity. “It’s hard to believe that a little war 200 years ago could have had such a huge impact on us,” he says. “It’s hard to wrap your mind around a war that might have left us all Americans.” It is important to value and consider every historical point of view, says Richard Haynes, the museum site co-ordinator at Fort York in Toronto, the country’s last authentic fort from the War of 1812. “A lot of people think there is one bland perspective,” he says. “As awareness heightens, you are going to get more interest and opinions. It’s all good.” The exhibit is still in the planning stages, although it is expected to feature about 150 artifacts from the museum’s collection, including the tunic worn by Major-General Sir Isaac Brock when he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Queenston Heights

Historic Murals Black Rock

Black Rock/Riverside Mural Well Underway

The last time that we paid a visit to this wall, youth from the Boys and Girls Club were in the process of giving it a fresh coat of primer (see post). Since then, a number of artists have been hard at work painting different Black Rock and Riverside scenes, all of which are quite vibrant, detailed and ultimately eye-catching. There are six murals total and the timeline reads from left to right. Each mural is 7'hx20'w. All of the artists were juried, and the project was funded thanks to a grant by the Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Commission. The effort is being headed up by the Historic Preservation Committee of the Black Rock/Riverside Good Neighbor Planning Alliance. The mural series is aimed towards teaching passersby about the district's significant role played out in the War of 1812, the area's industrial heritage, and its current path. Project coordinator Doreen DeBoth told me that, "The project will result in a real showpiece for the neighborhood. If the weather holds out, we will also include Peter Porter's map of 1813 and a historical timeline which Russ Mott and myself will paint." Following is the detailed info pertaining to each mural as provided by Doreen:

1) Native Americans & The Black Rock by J. Tim Raymond: Here raymond depicts Black Rock and Native Americans before the 1700's when the Black Rock was known as "Kistangoi" in the Iroquois language. it was 200' long and 300' wide, made of chert and limestone, and offered a safe harbor for the villagers. The Native Americans grew corn, squash and beans, referred to as the 'three sisters." They are the physical and spiritual sustainers of life, and compose the main food supply for the Iroquois. They are painted in the lower left of the mural. Also incorporated into the mural is the profile apparition of Philip Conjockety for whom the Scajaquada Creek is named after.

2) War of 1812 by Russell Mott: Mott has painted the British bateaux that landed at the foot of Amherst Street, planning on torching the area of Black Rock and Buffalo (July11,1813). The American officer in the foreground on the right is ready to call in his troops to defend the area. Mott brilliantly included General Peter Porter's house (original was on Niagara Street) to add more meaning to the mural and to create historical dialogue.

3) Erie Canal 1825 by Doreen DeBoth & Jerome A. Mach: The third mural, the Erie Canal, was designed by Doreen DeBoth and is being painted by Jerome A. Mach. Activities along the towpath are recreated with buildings and mules pulling packet boats. A portrait of Dewitt Clinton who was governor of New York State and presided over its opening in October of 1825 is included in the lower right portion of the mural. The celebration lasted ten days as Governor Clinton traveled from Albany to Buffalo aboard a packet boat.

4) Railroads & Industry by Joe Tempski: Tempski is portraying railroads and industry in the early 1800's in Black Rock with a steam locomotive crossing the International Bridge during the early evening hours. Industrial buildings represent the thriving manufacturing area of Black Rock's history and railroads are an important part of its growth.

5) Historical Architecture in Black Rock by Russell Mott: The theme of the fifth mural is historical architecture in Black Rock. Included in this mural will be Hook & Ladder #12, Saint Francis Xavier Church (now the Buffalo Religious Arts Center), Engine #15, St. John's Church, 71 Amherst Street and Assumption Church. Russell Mott also painted the war of 1812 mural.

6) Black Rock Peace Garden by Cynthia Van Ens: The last mural's theme is the Peace Garden. This garden is located at the corner of Hamiltion and Dearborn Streets and was once an empty lot. It is now a flourishing flower and vegetable garden that was created by the Dearborn Street Block Club for residents and visitors to enjoy. This reflects the community spirit and pride that resulted in beautifying the neighborhood. The Peace Tree signifies hope for the future and to create a peaceful community of all ethnicities living and working together. The man making repairs on the roof represent the rebuilding of a neighborhood that was beginning to crumble.

Flanking the six murals are two wider 30' murals designed by Doreen DeBoth to the left of the historical murals and Cynthia Van Ens who designed the last mural. These two up-to-date murals were created for commun ity involvement from residents in Black Rock. Community painting day was last saturday, october 1.

7) Daytime Recreation by Doreen DeBoth: This mural depicts daytime recreational activities of residents along the Niagara River in Black Rock: a jogger with an ipod, men fishing and a couple pushing a stroller with twins.

8) Sunset along the Niagara by Cynthia Van Ens: In this mural, suset along the Niagara River is the backdrop of a family heading home after their bike ride.

Bicentennial Celebration Grimsby Ontario

A commemoration on land and water

Re-enactment at the top of wish list for Grimsby 1812 group

A commemoration on land and water. Grimsby is gearing up for its contribution to the War of 1812 Bicentennial festivities which kick off next year. Last May, as part of the commemoration, a War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Garden was planted outside the Elizabeth Street Pump House and last week, the ribbon was officially cut on a gazebo contribution made by Phelps Homes in honour of both the peace that existed between Canada and the United States and the company’s 35th anniversary. Pictured with Phil Conklin, a membr of the Grimsby War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee dressed as a red coat, are from left: Grimsby Regional Coun. Debbie Zimmerman; Brian Purdy, co-chair of Grimsby War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee; Mayor Bob Bentley; Paul and Wendy Phelps; Arlene White, executive director Binational Tourism Alliance; and Brian Merritt, CEO of the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council.

On June 8, 1813 the plot of land where the pump house sits was the site of a battle. The canon balls flew, the British schooners exchanged fire with the American artillery units. The schooners withdrew at what was just the beginning of an eventful day at The Forty. And, if the Grimsby War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee has their wish, the battle will return to the lake and land on that very same day, 200 years later.
A re-enactment on both the water and land is the ultimate dream of the committee, which is headed up by Brian Purdy and recreation director Bruce Atkinson.
“It lends itself to a re-enactment because of the lake shore and the mouth of the creek, it’s a real picturesque spot,” said Phil Conkins, a member of the committee, noting no other re-enactment in the area has incorporated a naval component. “It’s an exciting thing for this
peninsula to have that interaction between naval element and land component.”
So far, the committee has no funding for such an endeavour but is hopeful that it will qualify for funds being distributed by the federal government for bicentennial activities.
“We’re planning the event for 2013 and June 8, the day the engagement fell on, just so happens to fall on a Saturday,” said committee member Craig Tallman, who is also program director for the Grimsby Historical Society, noting that organization is planning to take part in the event as well. “We’ve hit two nails square on the head.”
Tallman said he has spoken with someone at the federal Building Communities through Arts and Heritage, who was quite impressed that the planned re-enactment would actually be taking place on the same day, at the same site as it did 200 years ago.
Plans however are in the preliminary stages, said Purdy, noting the idea of a battle on land and lake is the ultimate wish of his committee, which also spearheaded the Grimsby War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Garden, the second of such peace gardens to be built between Canada and the United States and the first for Canada. Those gardens will be plotted on a GPS map for the bicentennial celebrations with the goal of bringing tourists to the 30 Canadian and 30 American gardens that will be established by next June. Between May and June of next year a peace garden trail will also be established, said Arlene White, executive director of the Binational Tourism Alliance at a ribbon cutting for the final component of Grimsby’s peace garden last Thursday.
On Oct. 13 the ribbon was cut on the final component of the garden, which was dedicated in May 2010. Phelps Homes, in commemoration of the War of 1812 and its own 35th anniversary, commissioned a gazebo, modelled after Fort George, to sit in the garden. For the past month, staff from Phelps have been finalizing the gazebo, which looks out onto the lake, in preparation for the celebration marking 200 years of peace between the two nations. On the north bastion of the gazebo rests a canon ball found by the Paul Phelps’ grandfather. Legend has it the American canon ball was abandoned when the Americans retreated 200 years ago, said Phelps during the ceremony. The canon ball serves as a reminder that The Forty was not always peaceful.