LOCAL LANDSCAPE REPORT ON FORT GEORGE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Natalie Hayslip

November 16th, 2018

Location Information

Municipality: Niagara on the Lake

Local Area Name: Niagara on the Lake, Historic Old Town of Niagara on the Lake

Other Identifying Descriptions: N.O.T.L, Niagara

Latitude and Longitude: 43.255570, -79.072430

Physical Dimensions: Length=283m, Width= 200m

Elevation: 83m

General Description

Fort George is a historic military fortification that served as the Headquarters for the Centre Division of Upper Canada during the War of 1812. Today, it sees thousands upon thousands of visitors each year as a National Historic Site of Canada. The fort was built in the early 1700s by the British. This makes it a completely different type of landscape as it would not exist today without the influence of humans. Fort George was most heavily influenced by cultural factors, over ecological ones. This report will examine the past, current and present use of this land and how human influence has shaped it over the centuries.

Fort George as it stands today as a Parks Canada site.

Biota

Before Fort George became Fort George, its landscape was located in the region of Niagara, which was covered in dense forest and brush. Niagara was located in what is known as the Carolinian Forest. The Carolinian Forest was most notably known for its abundance of deciduous or "broad leafed" trees. These include species such as oak, ash, hickory, chestnut, walnut, maple, sassafras, tulip and beech. It was also home to a variety of wildlife such as flying squirrels, racoons, opossum, woodpeckers, snakes and turtles (to name a few). It was incredibly biodiverse and would have been thriving in the 1800s when the British came to settle at the landscape.This life zone is characterized by its warm climate, fertile land and biological and agricultural richness. The soil is plentiful with nutrients and minerals. This combined with the moderate exposure to sunlight that the Niagara region sees makes for optimal growing and living conditions for biota. The industrial urbanization of Southern Ontario has destroyed habitats, caused significant pollution and eradicated species all together.

Above is a diagram depicting the Carolinian Forest in Southern Ontario

The British settlement caused a huge disruption in the landscape that Fort George was built upon. What was once dense forest and brush, became flat and open land through lots of heavy duty labour. The fort had to be an open space, unobstructed by thick vegetation or any overpopulation of animals, as one of its primary purposes was to house and train soldiers. The clearing of this once biodiverse and nature dominated area would have caused a large ecological disruption. Consequently, plant distribution and animal habitats have both been compromised. Whenever an ecosystem is cleared down there is a high degree of genetic isolation involved. Mobility of plant and animal life is considerably limited and as a result a decrease in biodiversity can be expected. In recent years the Carolinian Forest has been deemed endangered. Today, less than fifteen percent of the once prosperous Canadian forest exists.

There are also very few animal species within the fort today. Again, the site is not a nature park and therefore, the presence of animals is not entirely appropriate inside it. There are no animals kept there intentionally presently. Animals that do inhabit the fort (unintentionally) include groundhogs, sparrows, swallows, owls and rabbits. These species are unwelcome and are often exterminated or removed from the premises if they begin to become too abundant. Insects include mainly mosquitos, bumblebees, honey bees and carpenter bees. In 2018, the fort saw many monarch butterflies through the summer months. Outside of the fort's wooden palisade walls there have been sightings of hawks, deer, raccoons and even turkeys.There were definitely many significant changes that were made on the land as a result of human activity. In the late 1700s, the British decided to build Fort George along the Niagara River in the town of Niagara on the Lake. However, before the British settled in Niagara, the area was abundant in vegetation and animal life.

Nowadays Fort George sees very little plant life and wildlife. The grounds are kept consistently by Parks Canada employees. They monitor the site by mowing the lawns, pulling any sorts of weeds and ultimately ensuring that the grounds are orderly and easily accessible to the public. As a result, the diversity of plants in the fort is very lacking. Inside the fort the only plants are really a few number of trees as well as grass and other weeds. A stone path runs throughout the fort. Due to the fact that Fort George is classified by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site and not a National Park, the emphasis of the site has long been its historical and cultural significance. Long grasses or too much vegetation would likely be problematic as there are regular musket and cannon firings and they could be a fire/safety hazard. Excess vegetation may also be an issue as the costumed staff often march and run around the site during reenactments and demonstrations and it may be in the way. Therefore, it is unlikely the plant biota of Fort George will (or should) increase any time soon.

Geomorphology

Nowadays Niagara on the Lake is arguably best known for its grape and wine industry. The region is characterized by its large and gentle slopes (with the exception of the Niagara Escarpment). These gentle slopes allow for plenty of sunshine to nourish all kinds of plant life and biota. This is especially apparent during the long summer days where the landscape is exposed to sunlight from early morning to late evening. This explains why vegetation is so plentiful in the Niagara Region today and also why it was easy for the soldiers to cultivate their own vegetables in 1812 at Fort George.

The soil content in Niagara on the Lake varies from place to place. From sandy loam soils to soils that are predominantly made up of red shale with a high slit and clay content, Niagara is an extremely agriculturally rich area. Red shale silt soils are composed of slit which is a type of sedimentary rock and is therefore known as a "rocky soil". A variety of vegetation thrive well in this type of soil. Sandy soils on the other hand are comparably low in nutrients and can be very difficult to work with as they dry out very easily. The "happy medium" between these two extremes of soil is the extremely rich and fertile soil that is found most abundant in the Niagara region. The quality and abundance of this soil is a result of the harsh scraping of glaciers against Earth's surface during the last ice age. Long after that, the parts of the Niagara River were carved down into bedrock which added many elements, minerals and nutrients to Niagara's soil. These factors all contribute to the high grade of soil that made agriculture and cultivation easy in Niagara now and in years gone by.

The image above shows Fort George circa 1812. To the right you can see the Niagara River.

When the fort was being built, there were many human induced changes made to the landscape. Perhaps most notably, are the six embankments or "bastions" located evenly around the corners and edges of the fort. These were made with the intent of strengthening the fortification and still exist today. Another key feature of the landscape is the large dry ditch that surrounds the entire perimeter of the fort. This was built strategically by the British as another defence feature of the Fort.

Finally, inside of the fort, there is a powder magazine that is located at the very back of the fort, at the lowest elevation point of the site. There is also an embankment located on the North/North East side of the powder magazine (the side facing the Niagara River, and more importantly, the American side and Fort Niagara). The reasoning behind this was to shield the fortifications black powder/ammunition supply from any incoming gunfire. This was crucial to the survival of the fort. For example, in April of 1813, Fort York located in modern day Toronto suffered a monumental explosion. Their powder magazine had been ignited and the result was the complete detonation of the entire fortification. The explosion was said to be able to be heard and felt by residents of Niagara on the Lake (more than fifty kilometers away). Their powder magazine held a mere third of the the black powder explosives that Fort George's did. These explosions were like the nuclear bombs of the early 1800s. Therefore, if Fort George's powder magazine had exploded, the land would have been completely devastated and crater may remain in its place. By adding this man made embankment, the British may very well have preserved the landscape of the fort.

Fort George's powder magazine, prior to its restoration in the 1940s.

Hydrogeology

Fort George is located along the Niagara River. It was built decades after the construction of Fort Niagara which is almost directly across from it. The Niagara River is fifty-eight kilometers long and separates the the United States and Canada. It runs all the way from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario which are two of Canada's five great Lakes. The water of the Great Lakes makes up about twenty percent of the world's freshwater supply, which makes them extremely valuable. The Niagara River also was instrumental in the formation of Niagara Falls-a real natural wonder.

Approximately 18,000 years ago, the entirety of Southern Ontario was covered completely in ice. This was a result of the last Ice Age and this ice was anywhere from 2 to 4 kilometers thick. This was also known as the Wisconsin Glacial Episode and covered the vast majority of North America (let alone Niagara) in this deep sheet ice. The Niagara Escarpment in particular was coated in ice approximately 2 kilometers thick and a huge ice sheet was slowly moving westbound from Lake Ontario. This ice sheet was known as Laurentide Ice Sheet and covered the vast majority of North America. As more and more ice retreated, the glacial period came closer and closer to its finish. During this process, the ice sheets scraped against the surface of Ontario with such great force that large amounts of rich sediment were left behind. This sediment could be both great or small, taking the form of boulders, stones or even pebbles. The sediment could even take the form of tiny particles, crushed and pulverized by the movement of the ice against the Earth's surface. Little by little, the ice began to melt and as it did, started to make its way North. However, some of this meltwater rushed across the escarpment, an action which would change the landscape forever. Water erosion over thousands of years has distributed this rich sediment all along Niagara's escarpment. The retreat and melting of the aforementioned Wisconsin Glacier would eventually come to cause the formation of four of the five Great Lakes of Canada. This is particularly relevant to the Niagara region (and Fort George) as these include Lake Erie and Lake Ontario-the two lakes from which the Niagara River runs. This meltwater formed what we now know as Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the St.Lawrence River and the Niagara River. The landscape underwent many geological processes such as drainage, erosion, ice sheet spreading and drift caused by intense pressure.

The image above shows the Laurentide Ice Sheet which covered the majority of Canada and some of the United States.

Over the years there have been a couple of dams made along the Niagara River. One of these is the International Control Dam which is operated by the Ontario Power Generation. It basically controls how much water from the Niagara River flows where-to the New York Power Authority or to the Ontario Power Generation. The flow changes at certain times each day which are agreed upon by both parties. There is also the Sir Adam Beck Pump Generating System which is located near Queenston. It produces large amounts of hydroelectricity generated from the Niagara River. The Sir Adam Beck Pump has a generation capacity of 174 megawatts which is enough to power almost 200,000 homes! It is a great source of clean and renewable energy for Ontario.

Since the 1900s has been in significant spike in the demand for water. With Niagara's heavy involvement in agriculture and agro-tourism there has been lots of need for water to sustain Niagara's crops. As well, Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake and many surrounding cities have been growing exponentially in population, which demands for more resources.

Climate

Human activities can have a profound influence on local climate and microclimate. With specific references to the readings above and other resources you have found on your own, describe the human-induced changes that have occurred to your local landscape that may have altered its microclimate and contributed to changes in the climate of the region.

As mentioned in the previous section, tens of thousands of years ago Niagara was completely ice, as a result of the final ice age. Eventually this ice melted and through many geological processes and human activity, Niagara has come to rest fairly stationary at its climate today. Being so close to the river meant that Fort George's climate was a little cooler. Winds from the water would often be very cold, especially in the winter with very harsh windchill. Overall though, Niagara has a relatively warm climate, as most of Southern Ontario does. Additionally, Niagara's climate has remained largely the same within the last 5000 years. This climate has allowed for the cultivation and growth of many forms of vegatation as well as the survival ofmany North American animalspecies.

Historical Features

Niagara on the Lake before the British settlement, was inhibited first by Native peoples who settled in the area in approximately 100 AD. Several hundred years later, the Six Nations Confederacy took their place. In the year 1400, the Neutral Nation were the predominant group living in the area. Eventually, the Mississauga-a subtribe of First Nations peoples tribe, settled on the Canadian side (at that time the British side) and the Seneca tribe settled on the American side. In 1781, the land was purchased by the British Government from known as the Mississaugas.

The land Fort George was built on was largely unused until the occupation of the British Army. The fort's construction began in the year 1796. After that it became an active military headquarters which meant that it was somewhat of a meeting spot where British Officers would plan and strategize. Fort George was also inhabited by approximately 400-600 people before the war and by up to 1000 people during the war. These numbers actually included a small fraction of women and children who were put to work with various jobs around the fort.The soldiers that were stationed here trained and prepared for the war.

The Commons was a landmark that was located directly adjacent to the fort and is owned by Fort George today. The Commons played a pivotal role in the Canadian war effort during the first and second world wars. It was used as the summer training grounds for thousands upon thousands of men and women that helped prepare Canadian soldiers to fight in the war.

Education/Interpretation

As aforementioned, Fort George is a National Historic Site of Canada which is open year round to the public. The site is interactive and is always staffed with historical interpreters who relay the history of the fort as well as the role it played in the War of 1812. These interpreters are costumed and aim to provide a visual and experiential understanding of fort life/life during the war. Many activities are offered such as dressing up in historical kit, shooting a real brown bess musket, music demonstrations and tasting historical recipes made fresh in the old kitchen.

In the summertime the site hires students into the infantry squad and the fife and drum corps. There are regular fife and drum corps music demonstrations in the summer as well as cannon firings and musket demonstrations. The staff also participates in a variety of reenactments throughout the year aimed to honour and commemorate those who fought.

The 41st Fife and Drum Corps marching around Fort George in historic kit.

Costumed interpreters help visitors shoot real muskets in "Hands on History" program.

There are also many plaques and information panels located all around the fort explaining significant landmarks/information. The employees and volunteers and the Parks Canada Agency itself are dedicated to preserving the site and honouring its rich history by educating people about Fort George's significance in Canada's history. Each building open to the public has an interactive display within it and will usually have a costumed interpreter to answer any questions and talk about the fort's significance. Many of the exhibits contain historical artifacts original to the time period such as officers swords, paintings and even a grandfather clock. These offer further insight into the lifestyle that was lead in a British fort during the war.

Fort George also has a government website that offers information about the fort's history, the war of 1812 and the site today. The Friends of Fort George, a non profit organization, also have a website which has the same information, in more depth.

Architectural Herritage

There were several varieties of buildings and structures inside the fort. The British wanted their new headquarters to be constructed very quickly, which is why they chose to make Fort George predominantly out of wood (a decision they would eventually live to regret). The buildings they constructed included three blockhouses (which contained the soldier's barracks), a large officer's quarters, a guardhouse, an officer's kitchen, an artificer's shop, a hospital, a gun shed and a stone powder magazine. The bottoms of the blockhouses were used as depots (for storage), while the tops were the soldier's and their families living space. These living spaces were very communal and served countless functions. A large trench would have been dug directly behind the soldier's barracks for them to use as their washroom. There were also several century boxes located around the fort (specifically at the bastions and gates). These were essentially just small shelters meant to shield one person from the elements. Additionally, soldiers would often create small "cookhouses" which were often very poorly designed and temporary.

Around the entire fort, a wooden palisade wall was built. The palisade wall contained many small holes called musket ports where soldiers could shoot out of while still being protected if the fort was ever attacked.

Directly in front of the fort there was what is known as a ravelin which is essentially a big wooden triangle with its point facing outward. The purpose of a ravelin is basically to force your enemy to have to either divide or all go to one side. Another significant historical structure inside the fort was the front gate. The front gate was an area of concern when designing the fort-theoretically it would be the weakest point. In order to prevent this vulnerability, the British composed the gate of four layers of wood going four different directions. Then, iron pegs were nailed consistently throughout the gate and iron locking mechanisms and large latches and hooks were attached. There were also wooden decks built on the bastions so that large artillery pieces could be sat upon them and aimed out at intruders. Overall Fort George has many historic architectural aspects that contributed to the strength of the military headquarters.

The rebuilt front gate of Fort George between the palisade wall surrounding the fort.

On May 25th of 1813, Fort George suffered a devastating bombardment from the American side. Artillery fire rained down on the fort and the British were forced to abandon it. Due to the fact that the fort was composed mainly of wood, the buildings and structures within were left completely decimated. The blockhouses and palisades all burned to the ground. The only remaining building was the stone powder magazine located at the back of the fort behind a large man made earth work. After the British abandoned the fort, the Americans occupied it for about seven months. In this time the Americans decreased the fort to about half of its original size.

Recreational Uses

Obviously Fort George's main recreational use today is as a historical site by bringing 1812 history to life. All of the events, demonstrations and exhibits that are inside of the fort are formal recreations.

As mentioned before, the Commons is still owned by Fort George today. It is well kept by Parks Canada and is really just a large field with a biking/walking trail. There are also often vendor fairs, vintage car shows, arts and crafts shows and other local events that are held there. However, perhaps the most popular use of the Commons today is as a concert venue. In recent years headlining musicians and groups such as The Tragically Hip, Mumford and Sons and City and Colour have all played at the Commons. It is likely that the Commons will remain the location of many of Niagara on the Lake's arts and culture events.

Cycling is a very popular tourist attraction and leisure activity in Niagara on the Lake. The Niagara River Recreation Trail is a bike trail that runs along the Niagara parkway and eventually runs right along the front of Fort George.

Recreation involving Fort George is mainly formal, as concerts, events and reenactments are put on by Parks Canada or other organizations. Bike trails are also clearly marked and are a growing tourist attraction during the summer months.

Land Tenure

Fort George is currently a National Historic Site of Canada owned by Parks Canada. Parks Canada is an Agency of the federal government of Canada, meaning the fort is primarily government funded. Fort George also receives a great deal of funding and support from a non profit organization known as "The Friends of Fort George". The Friends' play an important role in the fort's continuation as they fund various reenactments/events and also provide funds for employee positions. Being a major tourist attraction in the town of Niagara on the Lake, Fort George is open for public access. In the summer it remains open seven days a week from 10am-5pm, and in the winter the site remains open on the weekends for the same hours. An admission fee is charged which helps employ the summer staff and also finances the fort's maintenance.

Parks Canada also finances many restorations or projects that occur at Fort George. For example, in the summer months of 2018 the wood palisade wall surrounding the fort was replaced as the older one was worn and weathered.

The grounds are maintained by a team of groundskeepers who are hired year round and are constantly working to preserve and uphold the condition of the site. They perform a variety of tasks and functions such as cutting the grass, maintaining the earthworks, ensuring that the fort is easily accessible to its visitors and also its employees.

Overtime this constant maintenance has helped keep the history and culture of Fort George alive but has definitely put a limit on its biodiversity and wildlife.

Connectivity and Context

Though Fort George is located in a comparably rural area (Niagara on the Lake compared to Toronto that is), it is still heavily shaped by human influence. In the reading "Advances in Urban Ecology" author Marina Alberti quotes that "both the emerging natural and built elements of the landscape, in turn, affect human and ecosystem functions" (Alberti, 93).

Although the area has been urbanized in a sense, it remains largely open and free flowing. Fort George is located along Queen's Parade which goes from being the Niagara Parkway, to Queen's Parade to Queen Street. The Niagara Parkway street runs along the Niagara River and runs through a lot of rural land. Properties along the parkway range from bike rental shops, to wineries to mansions. Queens Parade is a relatively short street where the predominant property is Fort George National Historic Site. Both of these streets are relatively openly spaced and rural. However, as Queens Parade transitions into Queen Street, it becomes much more urbanized. Queen Street runs through the historic "Old Town of Niagara on the Lake" and is essentially the town's main street. Heavily populated by inns, restaurants, bakeries, and shops, this is a very popular tourist area. The town of Niagara on the Lake is and was originally built as a grid system. The density of Fort George today is not great although in its adjacent township, density increases vastly. Fort George is influenced by hydrological, ecological and most dominantly, socio-cultural heterogeneity given the steady traffic of tourism in Niagara on the Lake.

Above is a map of Niagara on the Lake as it stands today. As you can see it is largely a grid system. Fort George is located to the West, right next to the river. You can see that going northward, the are goes from a low population density to a high one.

Contact

Address: 51 Queens Parade, Niagara on the Lake, ON L0S 1J0

Phone: 905-468-6614

Agency: Parks Canada Agency (Government of Canada)

Website: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge

Business Hours: Weekends 10am-5pm

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