Laura Secord Homestead



Photos: Alex Ayotte and Ian Wood.
 


Heritage Canada plaque unveiled on the south edge of the property in May 2006, recognizing Laura Secord as
 


Stone marker placed on the east side of the Secord property in 1901 by the Women's Literary Club of St. Catharines to honour Laura Secord, rededicated in 1972 by members of the Women’s Literary Club of St. Catharines on the occasion of their 80th annual pilgrimage.
 


 

General Information

From this modest homestead in the town now known as Queenston, Laura Ingersoll Secord made her famous 32 kilometre (20 mile) trek to DeCew House in Thorold to warn the British forces of an impending invasion by the American militia.



The Laura Secord Homestead was fully restored in 1971 by Laura Secord Incorporated. Now managed by the Niagara Parks Commission, it stands as a landmark museum and historic site. Interpretive signage and guides in authentic period costumes explain the history of Laura Secord's heroic journey, the homestead, and surrounding area.


Hours of Operation

All times subject to change. Last tickets sold 1/2 hour before closing.

May 6 - June 30:
Monday - Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm; Saturday, Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm

July 1 - September 4:
Daily 11:00am - 5:00pm

September 5 - October 7:
Wednesday - Sunday only 11:00am - 5:00pm

Historical

The restored Laura Secord homestead at 29 Queenston Street is the site where Laura Secord began her famous 1813 trek to warn the British of the impending American invasion. It is also where Laura and James Secord raised their seven children. James was a merchant, and sold local produce and other goods in a small shop located on the property.

Queenston was a lively centre of local commerce at the time, with several inns, taverns, shops and distilleries. But the town was hard hit by the War of 1812, suffering multiple attacks and American invasions. The Secord house was ransacked twice and had all its windows broken in various skirmishes. James Secord later wrote of how he was 'twice plundered of all his moveable property' by American invaders during the war.

James was seriously injured and incapacitated during the war, and when peace finally came in 1814, the Secord family was thrown into poverty. It wasn't until 1833 when James got a job as the registrar of the Niagara District Surrogate Court that better times arrived. In 1835 the family moved to Chippawa after James got a job as collector of customs.

It is unclear who owned the homestead after the Secords left. Records remain scarce until 1895, when the Shephard family purportedly took over the house, owning it until the 1960s. The house was renovated and changed extensively over the years.

James died in Chippewa in 1841 and Laura moved to 3800 Bridgewater Street in Chippawa. There she lived for 27 years, dying on October 17, 1868 at the age of 93. James and Laura were both buried in the DrummondHillCemetery near Lundy's Lane.

A stone marker was placed on the east side of the Secord property in 1901 by the Women's Literary Club of St. Catharines to honour Laura Secord. The homestead was fully restored in 1971 by Laura Secord Incorporated, the confectionary company established in 1913, and was furnished with original furniture and period artefacts. The stone marker by the front entrance was rededicated in 1972 by members of the Women's Literary Club of St. Catharines on the occasion of their 80th annual pilgrimage.

In 1976, the Archeological and Historic Sites Board of the Archives of Ontario erected a plaque commemorating Laura Secord in front of the property. The homestead was gifted to the Niagara Parks Commission in 1998. In 2003 the Niagara Parks Commission applied to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada to have Laura designated "a person of national historic significance" by the Minister of Canadian Heritage. In May 2006 a plaque recognizing her national historic significance was unveiled on the south edge of the property.

Today the Laura Secord Homestead is open from May through October by the Niagara Parks Commission as a museum and historic site. Guides in authentic period costumes tell the story of Laura Secord , her homestead, and the history of the area, and her legacy and contributions continue to inspire new generations of visitors.

Recreational

Located along the Niagara River Recreational Parkway and the Niagara Heritage Trail, minutes away from Queenston Heights Park.

The Parkway links: The McFarland House, Laura Secord's Homestead, The Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum, Sir Adam Beck II Generating Station and Old Fort Erie.

Further Information

Canadian Connection: www.canadianaconnection.com/cca/secord.htm


Canadian Encyclopedia entry on Laura Secord:www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007258

Historica Minutes video: www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10118

Laura Secord Chocolatier company's history about Laura:

http://www.laurasecord.ca/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=54

Niagara Heritage Trail: www.niagaraparks.com/heritage/secordhistory.php

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Secord

Additional Laura Secord resources from the Archives of Ontario:

  1. About Ontario - History - Laura Secord - Ontario.ca...Visitors E-mail Print History of Ontario - Laura Secord Laura Secord Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Laura...Davids. From here, during the War of 1812, Laura Secord set out on an arduous 19-mile journey to warn...Government of Ontario File Format : text/html | Size : 32 kb
  2. Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British, [ca. 1921]...Ontario Archives of Ontario Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British, [ca. 1921] Drawing: Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British, [ca. 1921] Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 3 kb
  3. Laura SecordLaura Secord, a resident of Queenston, provided a warning to Colonel Fitzgibbon...by First Nations, militia and British regulars. Portrait: LauraSecordhttp://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 2 kb
  4. Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October, 1923...Ontario Archives of Ontario Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October, 1923 Photo: Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October, 1923 LauraSecord monument, Niagara Falls, October...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 3 kb
  5. Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914Ontario Archives of Ontario Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914 Photo:Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914 Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914 John Boyd...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 3 kb
  6. Archives of Ontario. Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British, [ca. 1921]...Ontario Skip Navigation Links Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British, [ca. 1921] Drawing: Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British, [ca. 1921] Laura Secord on her Journey to Warn the British...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 5 kb
  7. Archives of Ontario. Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October, 1923...Ontario Skip Navigation Links Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October, 1923 Photo: Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October, 1923Laura Secord monument, Niagara Falls, October...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 5 kb
  8. Archives of Ontario. Laura Secord, 1904Ontario Archives of Ontario Skip Navigation Links Laura Secord, 1904 Painting: Laura Secord, 1904 Laura Secord, 1904 Mildred Peel Oil on canvas 170.2 cm x 114.3 cm (67" x 45") Government...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 4 kb
  1. Archives of Ontario. Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914...Archives of Ontario Skip Navigation Links Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914 Photo: Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914 Laura Secord's house, Chippawa, 1914 John Boyd...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 5 kb
  2. Archives of Ontario. Laura Secord, 1904 [detail x-ray]...Archives of Ontario Skip Navigation Links Laura Secord, 1904 [detail x-ray]Secord painting - x-ray showing Premier George Ross Laura Secord, 1904 [detail x-ray] Mildred Peel...http://www.archives.gov.on.ca File Format : text/html | Size : 4 km

Ownership & Management

Niagara Parks Commission

Admission Fee

Adults (13+ years): $4.50; Children (6 to 12 years): $3.50. Prices do not include taxes. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible on the main floor

Contact

Phone: (905) 371-0254
Website: http://www.niagaraparks.com/heritage/laurasecord.php

Address

Laura Secord Homestead
29 Queenston Street
Queenston, Ontario
L0S 1J0 Municipality Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

GPS Co-ordinates

Latitude: 43.16389408570
Longitude: -79.05578390820
UTM easting: 658050
UTM northing: 4780850

Map

Administration

Niagara Parks Commission
Oak Hall Administrative Office
P.O. Box 150
Niagara Falls, Ontario
L2G 6T2
Tel (905) 371-0254
Fax (905) 354-6041
Email npinfo@niagaraparks.com
Website www.niagaraparks.com/can-we-help/contactus.php


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