MELINDA CHEEVERS/Niagara This Week
For the month of February, residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake will have the chance to check out the museum’s latest exhibit free of charge.
The Niagara Historical Society and Museum will once again be opening its doors to the community for the month, for free. Sarah Maloney, managing director of the museum said it provides residents with the chance to check out the museum’s bicentennial of the War of 1812-related exhibit, Niagara on the Eve of War, which launched on Feb. 1 and will run through Dec. 31, 2012.
The exhibit explores what Niagara-on-the-Lake looked like before war was declared, exposing the civilian experience and commemorating the Battle of Queenston Heights and Isaac Brock’s legacy. Items on display have been drawn from the museum’s collection, as well as from the private collections of history enthusiasts. Displays focus on a variety of topics, including the Lincoln Militia, women in Niagara, the Glengarry light infantry, correspondence, documents and more.
Maloney said she particularly enjoys the Lincoln Militia display.
“These are our guys,” she said. “These are farmers, lawyers, and workers from the area who said goodbye to their families, leaving their crops and their livelihoods to defend their loved ones,” she said. “They were taking a chance.”
The Queenston Heights display includes Major General Isaac Brock’s hat and the chair Major General Roger Sheaffe is believed to have sat in following the battle while he contemplated what his next move would be.
The first library ledger from the first public library is also on display as well as a book from the library, both having survived the burning of the town. The ledger, while opened to a page from 1812, also features a record of a US soldier signing out a book in 1813 when the town was occupied by the US. Other interesting documents on display include a letter from Augusta McCormick from May 28, 1812 and Jacob Ball’s parole document he received after being caught by US soldiers.
The women’s display focuses on what the experiences of different women at the time would have been like. Those highlighted include a merchant’s wife, a farmer’s wife, and a private soldier’s wife.
The museum will be hosting an official launch on Feb. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. People wishing to attend should RSVP by Feb. 13th at 905-468-3912. The museum is located at 43 Castelreagh St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Regular admission is $5.
