Loyalist Landing Re-enactment Marks Bicentennial
Loyalists Aboard Ship to Land at Hardy Park June 23, 1984
Arriving on a 20th century diving scow, participants in Saturday's Loyalist Landing re-enactment add color to Brockville's Riverfest celebrations. More than 40 people participated in the re-enactment.
(Staff photo by Dan Black)
Several events with a historical flavor are planned for this year's Riverfest.
Every attempt has been made to make the re-enactment of the United Empire Loyalist landings at Buell's Bay (Hardy Park ) this Saturday as authentic as possible. Taking place between 9 and 11 a.m., the Ontario Bicentennial event not only recreates the historic happenings 200 years ago but also highlights the importance of the river, then and now, during Riverfest.
In the actual recreation of the landing of Jessup's Corps of Loyal Americans, the St. Regis Iroquois Indians will provide an authentic backdrop.
Sponsored by Col. Edward Jessup Branch , UEL Association of Canada, the event has the support of the Elizabethtown township, which was the most westerly of eight townships on the St. Lawrence readied for settlement in 1784.
Included in the landings will be descendants of the original families among whom were several noted personages. A latter day Thomas Sherwood, first township settler, will provide the colonists with supplies transported by ox-team. Visitors will be furnished with a running commentary of features as they occur.
Besides appearing at the re-enactment of the Loyalist landings, the St. Regis Iroquois Indians, dressed in native costumes, will also be presenting a 30-minute display of native songs and dances on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Hardy Park following the official opening of Riverfest.
Honored guests will take the first historic horse and buggy tour of downtown Brockville at 6 p.m. Friday but other members of the public will have ample opportunity to go on the tour during Riverfest.
Departing from the Brockville Museum on Henry Street, the horse and buggy tours will continue on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, June 30; and Sunday, July1.
The "Loyalist Landing" re-enactment, which was organized by the Col. Edward Jessup United Empire Loyalists' Association, brought nearly 300 people to Hardy Park Saturday morning.
Led by Elizabethtown Township resident , Edgar Clow, the colorful demonstration came as a salute to the men, women and children who first settled in the Brockville area. It also came as a salute to the St. Lawrence River.
"When we were looking for an event to help celebrate the bicentennial and the river, we felt a loyalist landing would be ideal," added Clow.
Arriving in a motorized diving scow, the settlers, all dressed from head to foot in period costume, were welcomed ashore by St. Regis Indians and a small contingent of riflemen.
"It's 200 years of history we are celebrating here today," said Clow, a United Empire Loyalist descendant. "We felt we shouldn't let the bicentennial go by without giving it some recognition here."
A yoke of oxen and an old map showing the locations of land lots added some authenticity to the two-hour celebration. In addition, there was a prayer issuing the loyalist "challenge to create, conquer and reach safe harbor" in Upper Canada.
"We tried to be as authentic as we could," said Clow. "Where we weren't authentic, we were symbolic."
Reference:
The Recorder and Times, Monday, June 25. 1984
Click on the thumbnail pictures.
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Pictures courtesy of Carolyn Hendry
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