Welcome to the Voices of Freedom tour, in historic Niagara on the Lake.This exploration of our local Black History begins at the Niagara Historical Society Museum at 43 Castlereigh Street in Niagara on the Lake.+
The valley of Dick's Creek forms part of the 19 hectare Canal Valley park system between Glendale Avenue, Westchester Crescent, Highway 406, and the Twelve Mile Creek. Here, the creek contains slow-moving water for most of its length, and has been know+
Laura Secord Chocolates was named for Laura Secord, as a memorial to her courage. The company began producing chocolate and sweets in 1913, then expanded to ice-cream and other products.+
The Thorold Murals and the Laura Secord mural in particular display valuable pieces of Niagara's history. Murals, like other forms of public artwork, are a way that the general public is able to learn about and connect with their heritage. The mura+
In pre-colonial history the Neutral Indians populated the majority of the Niagara Peninsula. The community of Barbican Heights was the regional capital. It is thought that this group either moved to a different area of the Peninsula, perhaps St. David'+
Peter Secord, who lived in St. David's, was Laura Secord's uncle by marriage. She would have had the opportunity to visit his home often since her brother and his family and a number of other Secords lived in the same village.
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The Riverbrink Art Museum features 19th Century art, especially from around the Niagara Peninsula. The museum is located a short distance from the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, just outside of Centennial Gardens, St. Catharines. The museum frequently +
The Waterworks Reservoir is located along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Laura passed through this area on her historic walk from Queenston to Decew House. On this part of the trek she was being escorted by the Indian guide(s) who were to bring her to Dec+
The Willowbank mansion was constructed during the time that Laura Secord was living in Queenston. Alexander Hamilton, for whom the mansion was built, was an influencial political and administrative figure in Queenston affairs. His father Robert Hamilton i+
Laura Secord attended St. Mark"s Anglican Church while she was living in Niagara-on-the-Lake.+
In these tours, you will hear about the cultural heritage, natural history, and political realities of the Niagara region and beyond, as told from the perspective of its first inhabitants - the First Nations peoples.+
What might Laura Secord say to us if she could reflect upon her life ...today? Join veteran Shaw actor Jennifer Phipps as she brings Laura to life, gets inside her head - and shares a piece of her mind.+
Battle of Beaverdams Park, located on Sullivan Avenue in Thorold is not the site where the actual Battle of Beaverdams took place. The park was created in 1967, bringing more recognition to the event but also removing some of the significance of the actua+
DeCew's Field is one of the final stages of Laura's long journey from Queenston. Laura Secord met with First Nation's people on DeCew's Field, who escorted her to FitzGibbon's headquarters at DeCew House, so that she could warn him of the planned A+
The Lake Moodie hydroelectric reservoir is a flooded inland lake in the Twelve Mile Creek watershed that stores water for hydroelectric generation at DeCew Falls Generating Stations I and II.The reservoir is located on the Laura Secord Legacy Trail+
A tour of key destinations central to Laura Secord"s life story, from her earliest days with husband James in Queenston, along the approximate route of her famous walk, to the various monuments celebrating her memory.+
Laura Secord, on her historic walk to warn British troops of an impending American attack, walked along the Mohawk Trail for part of her journey. The Laura Secord Legacy Trail now marks her approximate route.
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Morningstar Mill is a fully restored nineteenth-century gristmill, and the only operating water powered mill in the Niagara Peninsula. It has been restored to working order by a dedicated nonprofit group called the Friends of the Morningstar Mill. It i+
Laura Secord walked along the ridge of the Escarpment for a most of her historic walk. The escarpment was an important feature during the War of 1812; opposing forces vied for the most strategic positions from which to protect and increase their te+
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The north car park of Firemen"s Park is the end of Stage 1 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Stage 2 of the trail begins just south of the railway tracks on the west side of Dorchester Road, alongside the railway control box.+
Laura Secord passed through Shipman's Corner on her historic walk from Queenston to Decew House, St. Catharines. She was travelling with her niece Elizabeth Secord who had joined her at St. David's but Elizabeth was exhausted at this point and deci+
Historic Map of Power Glen and the surrounding area. The Turney Homestead was located near present-day Pelham Road just west of Twelve Mile Creek, near the upper right corner of this map.
Map created by Loris Gasparotto, Brock Universit+
Welcome to the Natural History hike, along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Along the way you will hear from Caroline McCormick, Larry McDermott, Gabriella Currie Ziegler, Santee Smith and others, as they introduce you to the natural beauty and wonder of th+
Several of Laura Secord's relatives lived in St. David's. On her historic walk Laura stopped at the home of Hannah Secord. Her niece Elizabeth is said to have continued with her for an approximate length of three hours, turning back at Shipman's Co+
Woodend Conservation Area is located along the Bruce Trail and the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. The trail follows the approximate route taken by Laura Secord, a heroine of the War of 1812, famed for her walk from Queenston to Decew House, St. Cathari+
In Stage Two, between Firemen"s Park and Niagara College, we"ll introduce you to some other special women who also lived in Laura"s time – and who, like Laura, stepped out of their traditional roles, showing bravery, courage, and determination….but th+
The Land and Water hike explores the natural history, geology, and human influences on the watershed along Stage 5 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail.+
Barbara Worthy provides an introduction to First Nations stories in the context of the broader narrative about settlement of the Niagara Peninsula and the founding of Canada.+
Rick Hill describes the skills of an Iroquois Warrior, and the important role they played in battles with the Americans during the War of 1812, including the pivotal Battle of Queenston Heights. Media clip SC23.+
This digital trail guide will automatically provide your mobile device with automatic turn-by-turn audio directions, live digital maps, and wayfinding cues for Stage 4 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail (Rodman Hall to Rotary Park). Use in conjunction with +
Welcome to Stage five of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Stage Five runs from here at Rotary Park to Decew House, for a distance of about 4 and a half kilometres, or approximately one and a quarter hours, for the average walker.On this section of the trail+
This is where we end Stage 3 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. We hope you have enjoyed hearing the stories of some of the monumental women who lived and worked in this area, and who changed its history - and indeed, in some cases, the history of the enti+
Carolinian Forests in NiagaraThe Carolinian forest is a life zone found in eastern North America mainly characterized by a predominance of deciduous, or broad-leaf trees. The term "Carolinian forest" is used primarily in Canada. This region is the nor+
DeCew Falls Generating Plant I, adjacent to this station, is the oldest continually running hydroelectric power station in Canada.
A second phase of the plant, DeCew Falls Generating Plant II, was initiated in 1943 to aid in the war effort. It w+
The Forty Mile Creek runs from the top of the Escarpment all the way through Grimsby until it reaches Lake Ontario, and serves as both a historical and modern landmark in the town with parks and trails following its length. +
Most of Laura Secord's travels from Queenston to DeCew House were on former or existing aborigin+
Plaque commemorating Major John Frederick Richardson, 1796-1852, a native of Queenston, Ontario.
Photo courtesy Alan L Brown (August, 2004) - www.ontarioplaques.c+
The Laura Secord Legacy Trail follows an access road that once led to the former Thomas Mills. Laura Secord likely followed this road because it led to a bridge over Twelve Mile Creek. The bridge had been washed out at the time of Laura"s walk so, using L+
The Queenston Methodist Chapel, once a functioning church in Queenston, was donated to the Niagara Parks Commission in 1978 after the congregation joined the St. David's United Church. The church building was moved to the site of the Laura Secord H+
The Laura Secord Legacy Trail passes through part of Short Hills Park. Laura Secord, on her historic walk from Queenston to Decew House, crossed the Twelve Mile Creek and followed a small path through the north-eastern part of the park towards Dece+
Laura Secord passed through the Village of Homer on her historic walk from Queenston to St. Catharines. At the time of her walk Homer was still a small town with only a few shops and houses.
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Welcome! Thank you for joining us on this tour – Pioneering Women of Niagara, presented by the Friends of Laura Secord, with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.+
Welcome to the Voices of Freedom "Wander and Wonder" tour in historic Niagara on the Lake.This exploration of our local Black History is unstructured; visit any or all of the points of interest in any order. Enjoy!+
Welcome to Stage two of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Stage two runs between the north parking lot of Fireman"s Park and Niagara College, for a distance of about 6 and a half kilometres, or approximately one and a quarter hours, for the average walker.+
Thanks to the Friends of Morningstar Mill, there is now a fully restored 1872 grist mill beside beautiful DeCew Falls, a 22 metre (75 foot), waterfall. It is the only operating water powered mill in the Niagara Peninsula, and was one of the first milling +
Welcome to Stage Four of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Stage four runs from here at Rodman Hall, to Rotary Park, for a distance of about 4 and a half kilometres, or approximately one and a quarter hours, for the average walker. On Stage 4, we will contin+
Welcome to Stage Two of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, between Firemen"s Park and Niagara College. On Stage Two you"ll hear "Stories from the Longhouse - First Nations Legends and Myths".+
The DeCew Falls are a scenic feature just minutes away from the historically significant DeCew House, found on theMorningstar Millsite on the Nia+
Built in 1898, DeCew Falls 1 is the oldest continually running hydroelectric power generating station in Canada. This plant uses the geographical features of the Niagara Escarpment to produce electricity.
In 1896, five Hamilton entrepreneurs, all+
The vanished hamlet of DeCew Town was located along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment between DeCew House and DeCew Falls.
Settler John DeCew built several mills on 200 acres of land he purchased in 1792 on the escarpment above 12 Mile Creek. Af+
Heartland Forest, a fully accessible privately owned park, has joined with the Friends of Laura Secord to host a Laura Secord Legacy Walk. On the anniversary of her historic walk the 2.5 km of trails within the park are presented as a miniature ver+
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Laura Secord attended Holy Trinity Anglican Church while she was living in Chippawa. She is also believed to have met Prince Albert Edward of Wales, later King Ed+
The Laura Secord Homestead stands as a monument to the heroic actions that Laura performed. It was fully restored in 1971 an+
Stage Four of the LSLT starts right here at the entrance to the Walker Botanical Garden.+
Starting at the Laura Secord Homestead in historic Queenston, this auto-based tour takes you to those destinations along the way which figured prominently in her famous 1813 trek, culminating at DeCew House.+
Thank you for being with us. We hope you"ve enjoyed learning about Black history in Laura Secord"s time and beyond. There are many more stories that have yet to be told. This is where we end Stage 3 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Stage 4 begins right h+
This subdivision boasts street names of historically significant people of Niagara. Laura Secord Place is named after the War of 1812 heroine.
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The black community of Niagara played a crucial role in the development of the town and township. The Museum has strived to tell their story alongside of the other stories of our history. At the museum, you"ll see many biographies and connections between +
If you were a woman in Laura Secord"s time, your life revolved around your home, your family and your husband.But it was the environment that shaped your life.+
As you walk down Queenston Street you"ll hear Rick Hill, of the Turtle Clan, as he shares with you the traditional First Nations understanding of this land.+
Carolinian Forests in NiagaraThe Carolinian forest is a life zone found in eastern North America mainly characterized by a predominance of deciduous, or broad-leaf trees. The term "Carolinian forest" is used primarily in Canada. This region is the nor+
DeCew House was the destination for Laura Secord when she set out on her celebrated trek from Queenston over the rough terrain of the Niagara Escarpment in June of 1813 to warn the British military of an impending American attack. The foundation of DeCew +
The Clifton Hill Attraction Tour allows you to visit and explore 10 of the main attractions based within the Clifton Hill area. The area a great place to visit during the day as most if not all businesses around the tour attractions are open. However, don+
The Laura Secord Building commemorates the Upper Canada Heroine"s role in the pivotal Battle of Beaver Dams in June of 1813. As part of the Bicentennial celebrations of the War of 1812, the Federal Government decided to rename buildings after prominent fi+
This typical mid-19th Century Upper Canada cottage-style home was Laura Secord's. Laura Secord moved here in 1841, after the death of her husband James, and lived here until the time of her death. The home still stands with a memorial plaque placed out+
Starting at the Laura Secord Homestead in historic Queenston, this tour takes you to many of the most significant places in Laura Secord"s life, as well as those destinations along the way which figured prominently in her famous 1813 trek, and landmarks a+
Laura Ingersoll Secord, heroine of the War of 1812, lived for twenty-seven years in this charming red brick house located at 3800 Bridgewater Street, Chippawa, Niagara Falls.
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SECORD SIGNIFICANCE
Mewburn Park is the first location where the
Laura Secord Legacy Trail was formally recognized by a Niagara
municipality - the City of Niagara Falls - and the first location where a
Laura
Secord Lega+
Meet Julia Defield. She captured an American"s sword. Julia, her friend Jane Kirby, and her child survived the battle with the sword"s owner- and Julia even managed to hide the sword.And then there was Catherine Pool. She was a nice Canadian girl...but sh+
After overhearing American soldiers discussing an attack on the British outpost at Decew House, Laura Secord made her way through enemy lines to warn Lieutenant Fitzgibbon and his troops. Her warning helped to prepare the First Nation warriors a+
Firemen"s Park is a beautiful 143 acre green space donated to the community by the Stamford Centre Volunteer Firemen"s Association. It follows along the Niagara Escarpment, near where Laura Secord passed by on her trek to warn the British of the impending+
This plaque recognizes Laura Secord as "a person of national historic significance"; a Canadian heroine. It is located in front of the Laura Secord Homestead.
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This digital trail guide will automatically provide your mobile device with automatic turn-by-turn audio directions, live digital maps, and wayfinding cues for Stage 1 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail (Queenston to Firemen"s Park). Used in conjunction wit+
Mary Henry made sure that the soldiers on the battlefield had water to drink, had dressings for their wounds, and had someone to hold them as they died.Mary Henry was like an angel, they said. +
A local legend says if you light a match and hold it in the Screaming Tunnel at midnight, the match will be blown out by the ghost of a girl. There are a few variations in the story of the Screaming Tunnel, however, they all suggest that a young women die+
Here at the Rotary Park north view point you can look across the valley of Twelve Mile Creek.This ridge of land – the Niagara Escarpment - was a natural geologic and navigational beacon for First Nations. Laura Secord would have used it like that too.Sa+
Parliament Oak School is located upon a site where one of the first sessions of the Parliament of Upper Canada sat beneath a spreading oak tree in August of 1793. That legislature, under John Graves Simcoe, was responsible for the 1793 Act Against Slavery+
Rick Hill describes the Indian Council House, established near Fort George in 1797. Audio clip SC15+
This plaque commemorates the actions of Laura Secord. It is located at the Laura Secord Homestead, the house where Laura Secord nursed her husband back to health after his injuries and overheard the American soldiers discussing an attack on the Bri+
Our tour begins at the bridge known as Pont Saint-Michel where in 1961 it went down in French and Paris history as the site of a massacre. It was during the war of independence of Argeria that this terror occurred and is emblematic of the dark side of emp+
Among the most important abolitionists and most courageous conductors of the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman. Born into slavery in Maryland, Tubman escaped and subsequently made about thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved peop+
In November, 1812, the British began firing on Fort Niagara. And as the soldiers around her were being killed or wounded, Betsy began loading the hotshot to the cannons. She fought alongside the soldiers of the First Regiment of the United States Artiller+
Front view of Willowbank in 1913 (Watercolour by Owen Staples, 1866-1949)+
Video version (Requires a data connection. Best viewed on wifi; may consume significant wireless data if played in the field) +
Home of the Monroe family, prominent early agriculturalists in the 19th-century Niagara community. This historic house was relocated in 1991, and the Monroe Plaza which stands at the corner today bears tribute to the family"s name. +
Laura Secord lived in Queenston during the time of her historic walk to warn the British of a coming American attack.
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The Niagara Historical Society and Museum was founded in 1895, by Janet Carnochan, a teacher and passionate historian dedicated to preserving and honouring Niagara"s unique history.+
Power Glen was one of the early industrial settlements of Niagara, located near Lake Moodie, St. Catharines. One of the early settlers was the Turney family, the same Turneys to whose home Laura was brought after her historic walk.+
Hidden away on the Parliament Oak school grounds, near the intersection of King and Centre Streets and partially obscured by an overhanging yew, stands a bevelled hand-cut stone marker bearing the following (historically erroneous) inscription:"On this sp+
Elizabeth Campbell watched as her handsome Niagara home, two acres of land, fruit trees, and stables all burned to ashes. She lost one child, a newborn.As Niagara burned, Eliza Taylor hid her four children in the root cellar.+
The Battle of Beaverdams Park commemorates both Laura Secord and the many soldiers who fought in the Battle of Beaverdams in 1813. The Laura Secord plaque gives Laura the credit for bringing important information to Lie+
Celebrating the life, accomplishments, and heroic death of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, Brock's Monument stands proudly within Queenston Heights Park+
The Twelve Trail follows the Twelve Mile Creek, which Laura Secord crossed twice and followed for a good deal of her trek from Queenston to Decew House. The Laura Secord Legacy Trail now follows her approximate route.+
As you travel along the shoreline of the Twelve Mile Creek, Santee Smith, a Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River, will share her knowledge of the land, water and its medicines. +
This plaque was placed to commemorate those who fought in the Battle of Beaverdams. Part of the reason the battle occurred and was a victory for the British was because of Laura Secord's message about a planned surprise attack by the approaching+
As you walk past Parliament Oak School on your right, you will see an encased metal memorial dedicated to Harriet Tubman, and the inscribed mural and plaque depicting Upper Canada"s first Parliament.+
As you continue walking west along Dee Road, Rick Hill will provide you with an audio overview of the First Nations Inhabitants of this region.+
Gabriella Currie-Ziegler describes the biodiversity and geological history of the Niagara Escarpment.+
When the fence ends, continue straight then bear left on the trail and climb up on the slight rise to the old DeCew Power Plant access path. Follow the earthen trail (dirt path) south, beside Twelve Mile Creek. The creek is much narrower here, upstream fr+
The First Nations Peace Monument is intended to help generate deeper understanding of the rich history and heritage of First Nations peoples, illuminate their contributions to the founding and evolving identity of Canada, and acknowledge and help mend the+
The Obelisk was erected by His Royal Highness Albert Edward the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) on the 18th September, 1860 as a commemoration of the location of General Sir Isaac Brock's death during the Battle of Queenston Heights.
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Test of Spotify link on mobile devices and desktops: spotify:track:7Lgfu6R90G0LbrKlAU9w5e+
We"re going to tell you a story about a plant – a particularly useful plant: the Teasel. Teasels were introduced to this environment – and they represent economic history, natural history, and the domestic role of pioneering women. +
Even if you don"t understand the Mohawk language, listen to the cadence and implicit spirituality of this touching Mohawk prayer, spoken by Frank Miller.+
Barbary Worthy tells the story of ElizaTaylor, who sought shelter from the Americans in the house at 407 King Street and hid her children in the root cellar.+
Lillian Phelps was a well-known women"s rights activist and speaker who was born in St. Catharines in 1859. She was was instrumental in the founding of Alexandra Hall, a residence to safeguard the physical safety and moral well-being of young women who ca+
Join veteran Shaw actor Jennifer Phipps as she brings Laura to life, gets inside her head - and shares a piece of her mind. Often pensive, occasionally crotchety, sometimes witty, and always philosophical,Laura reflects on a lifetime filled with unsought +
Julia Defield is renowned for her heroism in saving British military commander Captain James Fitzgibbon from marauding American soldiers who had invaded her home on the Portage Road (now Main Street) near Lundy"s Lane. Catherine Pool was a courageous wom+
Today you are joining us on the tour we call" "Out of the Wilderness - The Women in Laura Secord"s World". The trail runs between the Secord Homestead in Queenston, and Fireman"s Park, on the crest of the Niagara Escarpment. Along the trail, you will hea+
York Road follows the route of the ancient Iroquois Trail, one of the most important First Nations trail in all of Niagara. +
To commemorate the bicentennial of Laura"s trek, and to provide the public with a means of crossing the creek without getting their feet wet, the Friends of Laura Secord worked to get a pedestrian bridge designed and built in this auspicious location. +
The Negro Burial Ground was once the site of the Niagara Baptist Church formed in 1830. Some bodies in this predominantly African-Canadian congregation rest in the former church"s graveyard, including Susan Oakley, daughter of the Church"s founder Rev. Jo+
Much of modern Ontario was built on trails first blazed by the original peoples of this land. Rick Hill reflects on the importance of these routes during the colonization of the region by European settlers. +
The Laura Secord Building commemorates the Upper Canada Heroine"s role in the pivotal Battle of Beaver Dams in June of 1813. As part of the Bicentennial celebrations of the War of 1812, the Federal Government decided to rename buildings after prominent fi+
This plaque commemorating the landmark Upper Canadian Act Against Slavery (1793) is located on the former site of the Niagara Baptist Church, established in 1830, with a congregation comprised predominantly of Black members.+
The Carolinian forest is a life zone found in eastern North America mainly characterized by a predominance of deciduous, or broad-leaf trees. The term "Carolinian forest" is used primarily in Canada.+
Rick Hill describes the important central role that First Nations women played in Native societies. +
Author, Firstname. 20xx. Title of article or resource. Source of article or resource in detail, following a standard citation format. Hyperlink (if source is available on the internet). Author, Firstname. 20xx. Title of article or resource. Source of arti+
Larry McDermott describe the important role that trout, salmon, and American Eels played in the diet and culture of First Nations peoples.+
Turn left on to Dee Road. Until 2012 this lane was considered a wonderful example of the few remaining country lanes in Ontario.+
At the corner, turn right on Centre Street. +
You are passing the stone marker where the British troops, led by Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe, ascended Queenston Heights and then moved eastward to confront the Americans during the Battle of Queenston Heights.First nations forces were instrumental +
Pauline Johnson was the daughter of the Mohawk chief, George Johnson, and Emily Susanna Howells, an American who was originally from England. Pauline Johnson had a truly unique perspective of both cultures.+
This is the story of how seven young men dance into the sky to form the constellation known as The Pleiades.+
Right here was 98 King Street. This was Emma Currie"s home.The address actually no longer exists. The streetscape has changed dramatically since 1913. +
After an introduction by Caroline McCorimick, Larry McDermott, an Algonquin elder from the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, talks about the importance of fish species in the Twelve Mile Creek to the First Nations of this area.+
A Niagara native raised in St. Davids, Ontario, Emma Currie epitomized the progressive, forward thinking women of the late 19th century. Emma Currie is credited with producing the first factual and definitive portrayal of Laura Secord, who for part of her+
St. Andrew"s Presbyterian Church is where Janet Carnochan taught Sunday school, raised funds for the church and numerous community missions, and was buried here in 1926.+
Though otherwise quite featureless, few places in Niagara offer such a good unobstructed view of the Niagara Escarpment, Brock's Monument, the western edge of the village of Queenston, and Queenston Heights as does this open location among the fields and +
This modest house at the southwest corner of John and Butler Streets was the homestead of Black settlers William and Susannah Steward, who lived in Niagara on the Lake from 1834 to 1847.+
"I was a mother, and a wife. I tried to tell them - anyone would have done the same thing. If you hear something that"s bad - really bad - and you know something is about to happen that could harm your family, your community, your country – and maybe, j+
If you look through the trees, to your left, you"ll see the narrow channel of the 12 Mile Creek.Here"s Santee Smith, to share more of her knowledge of the land, the water and its medicines, and you"ll also hear part of the Mohawk Thanksgiving Address.+
To tell us about the extraordinary Niagara Escarpment landscape is Larry McDermott. Larry is Algonquin, from the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation. +
At the top of the hill, you will emerge from the pine stand and into Rotary Park. Turn left and follow the pathway to the circular stone structure bearing the big yellow and blue Rotary International monument.+
As she walked this path Laura could have encountered native warrior hunting parties at any time. And it was around this location that she did indeed stumble upon a warrior encampment.+
At this point, you should be right beside the large circular stone structure bearing the big yellow and blue Rotary International monument.+
Rick Hill provides an account of Laura Secord"s encounter with Native warriors on June 23rd, 1813.+
It was the late 17th century, and settlers were arriving, looking for a better future. They all wanted land. Newcomers were welcomed, and indigenous knowledge and land were shared. In the end, it would be for a price. But the British and the Native Nation+
The British Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as Salem Chapel was founded in 1820 in the heart of old St. Catharines, by African-American freedom seekers. Salem Chapel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999, and is marked outside b+
On the grounds of Ft Mississauga the Mississauga Lighthouse once stood. It was built in 1804 and was the first lighthouse on the great lakes. The lighthouse was damaged in the Battle of Fort George, in 1813, and demolished by the British in 1814 when t+
Morningstar Mill is a fully restored nineteenth-century gristmill, and the only operating water powered mill in the Niagara Peninsula. It has been restored to working order by a dedicated nonprofit group called the Friends of the Morningstar Mill. It is t+
"James"s family - the Secords - had arrived in St. Davids when James was only three years old.The Secords were some of the first Loyalists to come here. They were forced to leave the new United States. And they were looking for protection. They found it u+
Barbary Worthy tells the story of Mary Henry, one of the courageous women who lived in Upper Canada at the time of Laura Secord.+
As you walk through these woodlands, imagine how the warriors used these trails to hunt and to defend their people. Rick Hill reflects on the skills of a warrior as described in the journals of John Norton, an adopted native warrior who led the aboriginal+
As you walk through these mixed woods you will hear the Cayuga story of how the maple tree provided the gift of life to our native ancestors, when they discovered the power of its sweet juices.+
Maja Bannerman (as Laura Secord) and Santee Smith talk about the cultural importance of the Niagara Escarpment landscape.+
Niagara College's Niagara-on-the-Lake Camppus has amenities for large groups, and is in the centre of the Niagara Region. It is the trail terminus for Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail.
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To commemorate the bicentennial of Laura"s trek, and to provide the public with a means of crossing 12 Mile Creek without getting their feet wet, the Friends of Laura Secord worked to get a pedestrian bridge designed and built in this significant location+
Caroline McCormick and Barbara Worthy introduce Larry McDermott, an Algonquin elder from the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, and a member of the Turtle Clan. Larry describes the geology, ecozones, and the incredible natural bounty of the Niagara Escarpmen+
This school was given the Laura Secord namesake upon its opening in 1966. Laura Secord Secondary School is currently known in the region as a prime school for arts and music, and celebrates the legacy of Laura Secord at school-wide and community ev+
In return for their loyalty to the Crown, they were "granted" a tract of land along the Grand River in 1784. However, it began to be eroded by outside interests almost immediately, and is now a tiny fraction of its former size.+
To commemorate the bicentennial of Laura's trek, and to provide the public with a means of crossing the creek without getting their feet wet, the Friends of Laura Secord worked to get a pedestrian bridge designed and built in this auspicious location. The+
This school was given the Laura Secord namesake in 1914. It was closed in 2010 to be combined with St. David's Public School, however the building still stands as a monument to Laura's importance and her accomplishments.
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On June 24, 1813, approximately 800 American soldiers were dispatched from Fort George to capture the British outpost at Decew House. Laura Secord was able to reach Fitzgibbon before the Americans to deliver her warning. And the next day, at Beaver Dams, +
Rotary Park in St. Catharines is a landmark and Stage 4/5 waystation along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Laura Secord passed near the area on her historic trek from Queenston to Decew House.+
Larry McDermott describes the small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and bird life found along the length of the Niagara Escarpment.+
Listen to a traditional Haudesnaunee story about how a giant snake battles with Thunder Being to form the magnificent waterfalls at Niagara, a mere ten kilometres to the south west of here.+
Ohwahda Otsehsda Tsagayo (Squirrels and Maple Syrup) - Cayuga Media Clip SC61. How did First Nations peoples first learn about harvesting the sweet syrup of the maple tree? The squirrels provided a clue... (in Cayuga)+
As Laura Secord left St. David"s, she passed by one of the largest Neutral Indian Burial Ground in Ontario, less than 500 metres south of your current position on the Laura Secord Legacy trail. Barbara Worthy tells us about it in this audio vignette. +
First Nations Gardens were planted near the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus wetlands at Niagara College to provide learning experiences for visitors, employees and students.+
Squirrels and Maple Syrup - A Haudenosaunee Legend. Media Clip SC55. How did First Nations peoples first learn about harvesting the sweet syrup of the maple tree? The squirrels provided a clue...+
Laura Secord"s accomplishments were meaningful and symbolic to women historians and feminists of the 19th century – and to none more than Sarah Anne Curzon, a forward-thinking and progressive early feminist author who immortalized the Secord story in 18+
"You can see how wild this land must have been. You can see it in the forests, and the bush now. This land was wild, untamed, and beautiful.The Indians had been here for many years, and now we were moving in.The settlers were coming..."+
This digital trail guide will automatically provide your mobile device with automatic turn-by-turn audio directions, live digital maps, and wayfinding cues for Stage 2 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail (Firemen"s Park to Niagara College). Used in conjuncti+
The view towards Lake Ontario today is of the greens and fairways on the tranquil and well established Niagara on the Lake Golf Club - but if you look off into the distance, you can just make out the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The rocky shores in that are+
"In 1812, rumblings of war between the United States and Britain were everywhere.Niagara was about to become a major battlefield, in a war of loyalties, land and power, fought between nations old and new.For Laura and her family, it came all too soon...."+
Barbara Worthy concludes the story of teasels, with overviews of the pioneer families who used them and the early industrialists who first cultivated the Teasel for commercial purposes.+
In the steep valley below, on your right, flows Beaverdams Creek. You might not be able to see it very well, but this creek is a significant tributary stream that flows into Twelve Mile Creek, about one kilometre downstream from here. The most distinctive+
Barbary Worthy tells the story of Betsy Doyle, a courageous American women who fought alongside the American forces in their battles with the British, then fled with her family on foot for more than 500 kilometres.+
"It was 1813. Two great leaders had been killed – the Shawnee war chief, Tecumseh, and General Issac Brock.And the worst had happened. The Americans had taken over Fort George. The occupation of Upper Canada had begun."+
MONUMENT DE LA PAIX DES PREMIÈRES NATIONS conçu par DOUGLAS CARDINAL soutenu par le FONDS CANADA 150 +
Laura's Crossing is a short section of Twelve Mile Creek where Laura Secord is believed to +
"The Americans pushed the British as far back as the Burlington Heights.But they didn"t chase them.Instead they settled in at Fort George.But they kept sentry posts throughout the area, they watched our homes, they took our guns. They took our boys. They +
"The next morning before sunrise – June 22, 1813 –I walked out of my house.My five children were still sleeping.Flo and Pete were starting their chores.We wanted it to look like any other day..."+
So what did the war of 1812 mean to the Haudenosaunee? Here is Rick Hill looking at the legacy of conflict, and sharing his hopes for the future.+
Canada GenWeb"s Canadian Cemetery Project. Homer Cemetery ( Homer Burying Ground / The Ten Anglican Cemetery). http://geneofun.on.ca/cems/ON/ONLIN14349Cooke, William. 2012. Stalking Dead People: Homer Cemetery: Historical and Neglec+
"Yes…I was frightened…At times I could hardly breathe.And I didn"t allow myself to think.All I could do was concentrate on my next step, what was under my foot, not getting lost, and listening. Always listening."+
You are now on the site of Fort Mississauga, a British fortification dating back to 1814. Primary credit for its construction belongs to Captain Richard Pierpoint and his Black Loyalist colleagues, members of the so-called Coloured Corps. +
Missisauga Point Lighthouse, constructed in 1804, was located on present-day Missisauga Beach, on the south shore of Lake Ontario within the grounds of what is now the Niagara on the Lake Golf Club. It was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes. +
You are now arriving at Decew House Heritage Park. This is the end of Stage Five, and the end of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. +
Trailer for a 40 minute, 3 screen Son et Lumiere production recounting the war of 1812 and the attempted invasion of Canada by the United States. +
The Main and Ferry business district saw many changes over the years. As you walk about the neighbourhood, this Wander and Wonder discovery guide will tell you about many of the local business establishments located here from the turn of the 20th century +
Inspired by the early architecture of the Town & Township of Niagara and modeled after the historic Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston, Ontario, Secord House offers a unique accommodation experience that serves to honor the historic alliance between Brit+
Despite more than two centuries of modernization, there are still occasional relicts in the landscape which harken back to our pioneer past. One of these is the humble teasel, a spiny thistle-like plant that still grows alongside the Laura Secord Legacy T+
The Screaming Tunnel was created as part of a railway expansion project of the elaborate Grand Trunk Railway but never came to fruition. It receives its name from local fable. The tunnel is part of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. +
"On June 24, the Americans marched into an ambush. They were led by Colonel Charles Boerstler. And there were maybe 700 of them. They were met at Beaver Dams by the Grand River warriors, led by John Brant and William Johnson Kerr, with Mohawks from Kahnaw+
As you walk along Queenston Road you"ll find yourself walking past a vast cemetery. This is Victoria Lawn Cemetery, established in 1856 as the St. Catharines Cemetery and renamed after Queen Victoria in the early 1900s. As we pass the cemetery and its mon+
Peter Secord, original owner of the Peter Secord Inn, was the uncle to James Secord (husband of Laura, whose historic deeds are well remembered). Laura and James Secord would have vis+
"There were many years after spent in silence. Not wanting to tell. We lived under the fear of another American invasion. Spies were shot. But soon, others started to speak, to share their stories. We were all due compensation. We had all lost so much..."+
The stone marker at the entrance to the Laura Secord Homestead was installed in 1901 by the Women"s Literary Society of St. Catharines. It and the famous Laura Secord gravesite at Drummond Hill Cemetery were the first two public monuments to honour Laura +
Dick"s Creek is named after Richard "Captain Dick" Pierpoint, an important black Loyalist settler and former slave who fought with the British against the American Continental Army in the early 1780s. Once a major waterway which defined St. Catharines, no+
You have been listening to ,Laura Secord – Legend Meets Fact,, brought to you by the Friends of Laura Secord. Jennifer Phipps played the part of Laura Secord. Narration was by Barbara Worthy. +
The Chloe Cooley plaque stands in mute testimony to a horrific chapter in Black history in Niagara. The plaque is located opposite 14936 Niagara Parkway, 3.1 km north of the York Road intersection, Queenston.+
On March 14, 1793 Chloe Cooley, an enslaved Black woman in Queenston, was bound, thrown in a boat, and sold across the river, to a new owner in the United States. Her screams and violent resistance were brought to the attention of Governor John Graves Sim+
Barbary Worthy tells the story of Elizabeth Campbell, the widow of Fort Major Donald Campbell, who lived through the burning of Newark in 1813.+
Rick Hill describes the role of First Nations forces in the decisive and pivotal Battle of Beaverdams - Media Clip SC36B.+
Queenstown, Upper Canada on the Niagara" (now known as Queenston, Ontario) by Edward Walsh. Travellers on horseback, cart, and foot traverse the wide dirt road, whilst houses are seen near the shore of the Niagara River. Edward Walsh was a surgeon to the +
Harriet Tubman School was opened in 2015. In front of the school is an exceptional bronze sculpture of the famed abolitionist and civil rights leader. "Sculpting Harriet Tubman - The Creative Process" provides an overview of the creation of this enduring +
Though otherwise quite featureless, few places in Niagara offer such a good unobstructed view of the Niagara Escarpment, Brock"s Monument, the western edge of the village of Queenston, and Queenston Heights as does this open location among the fields and +
The Mildred Peel bust of Laura Secord that adorns her grave in Drummond Hill Cemetery still stands as a precedent-setting recognition of the exploits of Laura Secord in particular, and of Canadian women in general. +
You have arrived back at your starting point, at the Parks Canada Agora, and car park.Thank you for joining us on the Laura Secord Interactive Tour. We hope you"ve enjoyed discovering the history and stories of some of this area"s wonderful pioneering wom+
The full sitting council of the Parliament of Upper Canada regularly met at the Freemason Lodge in Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake). The Parliament of Upper Canada under Lieutenant Governor Sir John Graves Simcoe, drafted and passed the first legislation in t+
Creating an artistic likeness of a person which captures the essence of their personality and accomplishments is a challenging undertaking. Laura Secord"s strength, determination and resourcefulness were beautifully captured in the famous 1901 bronze bust+
The Participark Trail is a section of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail and is near the original route that Laura Secord took along the West bank of the Twelve Mile Creek in 1813. The trail was renamed by the St. Catharines City Council in 2012 to cele+
Continue walking along the sidewalk on Taylor Road. As you walk along this rather featureless concrete sidewalk, Barbara will capture your imagination, with a story of a little-known woman who was monumental in both a literal and a figurative sense: sculp+
Indigenous peoples from the Grand River area would travel along the ancient Iroquois Trail to reach their home west of the Niagara region. The area is now known as the Six Nations reserve, the largest in Canada. Rick Hill tells the story of betrayed trus+
Google street view of cairn marking the location of the Neutral Indian Ossuary, at southwest corner of Pinestone Road and St. Paul Avenue, Niagara Falls.
John Graves Simcoe (Feb 25, 1752 – Oct 26, 1806) was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791 to 1796. His Legislature was instrumental in introducing institutions such as courts of law, trial by jury, English c+
Gabriella Currie-Ziegler tells the story of the Brock Monument. (Clip: Sc7 Brock Monument Queenston Heights Oct 25 2015.m4a)+
David T. Brown describes the origins of the Laura Secord Monument at Queenston Heights. (Clip: Sc6 Monument Queenston Heights Oct 25 2015.m4a)+
This digital trail guide will automatically provide your mobile device with automatic turn-by-turn audio directions, live digital maps, and wayfinding cues for Stage 3 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail (Niagara College to Rodman Hall). Used in conjunction +
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has set aside a significant site in the heart of the Old Town to understand, celebrate, and honour its Black history. Voices of Freedom is an experiential art installation designed to engage, educate, and challenge visitors+
In 2004, Joe Grant and Steve Ritchie, members of the popular Canadian folk ensemble Tanglefoot, wrote a memorable original song about Laura Secord which has become the unofficial walking anthem for the Laura Secord Legacy Trail.+
On this tour, Barbra Worthy will introduce you to a few of the most impressive women associated with the City of St. Catharines and the Laura Secord story. It runs between Niagara College in Niagara on the Lake, and Rodman Hall in St Catharines, for a dis+
Laura Secord"s accomplishments were meaningful and symbolic to women historians and feminists of the 19th century – and to none more than Sarah Anne Curzon, a forward-thinking and progressive early feminist author who immortalized the Secord story in 18+
Navy Hall served as the first seat of government for the Executive Council of Upper Canada. It was the location where some of the first legislative steps were made towards the eventual abolition of slavery in the British Commonwealth, making Upper Canada+
A Niagara native raised in St. David's, Ontario, Emma Currie epitomized the progressive, forward thinking women of the late 19th century, becoming active in the cultural and social life of her community and creating public opportunities for the intellectu+
You"re now approaching the Niagara Historical Society Museum, and the end of this tour.+
Rick Hill describes the role of First Nations warriors in the Battle of Stoney Creek. - Media Clip SC36a.+
Freedom Park was established in October, 2000, to mark this location that is so important to Black history, the Underground Railroad, and the important transportation legacy of the Niagara River. Freedom Park PlaquePrior to US emancipation, many Blacks se+
Direct quote from Solomon Moseby article, Tubman Institute, York University:(http://tubman.info.yorku.ca/educational-resources/breaking-the-chains/niagara/solomon-moseby/)p style=""+
The British Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as Salem Chapel was founded in 1820 in the heart of old St. Catharines, by African-American freedom seekers.alem Chapel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1999, and is marked outside by +
There was always something a bit strange about the 1905 portrait of Laura Secord painted by Canadian artist Mildred Peel...+
Julia Defield is renowned for her heroism in saving British military commander Captain James Fitzgibbon from marauding American soldiers who had invaded her home on the Portage Road (now Main Street) near Lundy"s Lane. Audio clip SC26.+
This digital trail guide will automatically provide your mobile device with automatic turn-by-turn audio directions, live digital maps, and wayfinding cues for Stage 5 of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail (Rotary Park to Decew House Heritage Park). Use in con+
As we walk past the original location of his St. Catharines homestead along Dick"s Creek, Rosemary Sadlier, Santee Smith, and Caroline McCormick tell us about Richard Pierpoint"s life after the War of 1812, and his eventual move to Garafraxa Township, nea+
Dick"s Creek is named after Richard "Captain Dick" Pierpoint, an important black Loyalist settler and former slave who fought with the British against the American Continental Army in the early 1780s. Once a major waterway which defined St. Catharines, no+
The Richard Pierpoint plaque is a landmark along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Pierpoint was an important figure in the War of 1812, instrumental in the creation of the "Colored Corps", a regiment that played a major role in battles like the Battle of Q+
Anthony Burns was born a slave in 1834 in Virginia. He escaped, but was captured under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and tried in Boston. He was eventually ransomed from slavery, went to college, became a minister, and went to St. Catharines as a preache+
St. Catharines was the final terminus on the Underground Railroad for hundreds of slaves in the 1800s. The Underground Railroad and Niagara"s Freedom Trail was a network of people who hid and guided black slaves as they fled the United States and headed n+
The Richard Pierpoint plaque is a landmark along the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. Pierpoint was an important figure in the War of 1812, instrumental in the creation of the 'Colored Corps', a regiment that played a major role in battles like the Battle o+
You"ll see a plaque here, dedicated to Anthony Burns, who was buried here in 1862. He was a central figure in the furor surrounding the controversial 1850 Fugitive Slave Act.+
Richard Pierpoint - A Niagara Hero. Rosemary Sadlier describes the arrival of Richard Pierpoint in Niagara, and his settlement in St. Catharines. Media Clip SC38 with music.+
As you walk along Queenston Street you"ll find yourself walking past a vast cemetery. This is Victoria Lawn Cemetery, established in 1856 as the St. Catharines Cemetery and renamed after Queen Victoria in the early 1900s.There are now more than 79,000 sou+
Welcome to Stage three of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail..On this stage of the trail, we"ll be exploring aspects of this region"s rich Black history, and stories that merit a far wider appreciation.+
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