Brock Obelisk (Queenston)



A southfacing view of the Obelisk with a backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment and the Brock Monument at Queenston Heights.
 


A front view and description of the Obelisk describing the monument as the site of the death of General Sir Isaac Brock.
 


A rear view of the stone, identifying the commemoration of the site by the Prince of Wales.Photos: [waymarking.com].
 


 

Secord Significance


Secord Significance

The obelisk was erected as monument to Sir Isaac Brock's death at the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. James Secord, Laura's husband, served as a soldier for General Sir Isaac Brock and was injured in battle at Queenston Heights. This obelisk was erected by HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) in 1860. After this visit, he formally recognized Laura Secord's contributions during the War of 1812 with £100 in Gold.

General Information

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.

It is a stone feature with engravings with some noticeable weathering with an open view of Brock's Monument from below the Niagara Escarpment. By following the landscaped pathway towards York Street. one can connect with a set of stairs on the Escarpment by walking East on York Street.

Historical

On October 13, 1812, Sir Isaac Brock's fallen body was brought from the area near the Obelisk to a house facing the Niagara River opposite that of the Laura Secord Homestead at Queenston Street and Partition Street according to a local historian. Laura Secord's husband James, who served as a soldier for the British, attended to carrying Sir Isaac Brock from the battlefield with others. Later that day James Secord would become severely injured in the leg and the shoulder during the battle.

The Battle of Queenston Heights is largely recognized as being the battle where Sir Isaac Brock, a man of prominence in Canadian history, lost his life. It was also an important moment in the War of 1812 as it was the American's failed attempt at seizing territory on the British side of the Niagara River prior to the arrival of winter.

In the early morning of October 13, 1812, Sir Isaac Brock had heard the noise of the artillery at Queenston from Fort George in Niagara (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) and took his horse Alfie and a few aides to inspect the emerging battle. Brock had found the Americans pinned against the steep banks of the Niagara River, and who would later find a way up to Queenston Heights and to the Redan Battery, a cannon that had been aimed for some time at Lewiston, an american town on the other side of the Niagara River for some time. The Americans took control of the Redan Battery, having found it poorly guarded, and directed it at the town of Queenston. Following a push by American forces, Brock and his company were forced into the town of Queenston, where he sent for reinforcements from Fort George.

Sir Isaac Brock resolved to lead an immediate charge to take back the Redan from the Americans instead of waiting for reinforcements but was pushed back. Brock then lead another charge but was mortally wounded by an American sniper. That counterattack that cost Brock his life had also failed, but the arriving British companies would eventually reach the Redan although they would not take the Queenston Heights. By the afternoon, a relief force in Chippewa arrived at Queenston Heights and together the militia of Aboriginal and British fighters under the leadership of Major-General Roger Hale Sheaffe captured some one thousand Americans soldiers that had been part of the invasion and stopped the American offensive.

Hours of Operation

Everyday From: Dawn To: Dusk
Details: Adjacent to public thoroughfare

Directions

From Toronto: Queen Elizabeth Way
Take the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), follow signs for Niagara/East Hamilton/St. Catharines/Fort Erie.
Keep left to continue on ON-405, follow signs for Queenston Lewiston U.S.A
Take the Stanley Avenue/Regional Road 102 exit toward Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Niagara Pkwy/Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Turn left onto Stanley Ave in Niagara Falls.
Slight right onto Portage Rd (signs for Portage Road/Niagara Parkway/Queenston/Niagara on the Lake) .


Turn right onto Queenston St.

From Niagara: Queen Elizabeth Way

On the QEW and take exit 34 for Regional Road 101/Mountain Road.
Turn right onto Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101 (signs for Mountain Road E).
At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Mountain Rd/Regional Rd 101.
Turn left onto St Paul Ave/Regional Rd 100.
Continue to follow Regional Rd 100.
Turn right onto York Rd (signs for Queenston).
Turn left onto Niagara Pkwy.

Turn right onto Queenston St.

Address

South of Clarence Street, Queenston
Municipality Queenston

GPS Co-ordinates

Latitude: 43.162303
Longitude: -79.054564

Map


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