N-BTC NOTL BLACK HISTORY WALK

by Karen Couch
4 years ago
Near Niagara-on-the-Lake, CA

29 views

NOTL is one of the few towns in Ontario with black residents since the beginning of the province in 1791. At that time, some were free, however most were enslaved. At the turn of the 18th century, Upper Canada (now Ontario) was newly formed and Newark (now NOTL) was its capital. It was a time of great hope, especially for the 30 Black slaves living in Newark and the 500 -700 slaves living in Upper Canada. In 1793, anti-slavery legislation was passed, aiming to eliminate slavery in Upper Canada over a number of years; this created an interesting an unusual black heritage in Upper Canada. This walk will take you to sites that recognize the significance of the black community in Niagara and Canada

1. PARLIAMENT OAK SCHOOL (King St) 1 small pillar and 2 large inscriptions on school Q; What is the significance of this location? reportedly in the hot summer of 1793 Parliament took place under the shade of the oak tree ; signals the gradual abolition of slavery in Upper Canada

2. VOICES OF FREEDOM PARK (Regent and Johnson) Who is Chloe Cooley? young black slave women whose cries while being forced across the Niagara River rallied Simcoe to pass the Act to Limit Slavery

3. NAVY HALL statues at Navy Hall; what role did Simcoe have in the abolishment of slavery in Canada (LT Governor passed the Act to Limit Slavery

4. Fort George; what role did the Coloured Corp play in the War of 1812

5. RYE PARK: Access by lane between Flynn St and Niagara St.: what happened here in Black history?

6. William & Susannah STEWART HOUSE: (507 Butler and John); what significance is this house? remains one of the few surviving examples of houses built by and for Niagara's early Black settlers.

7. NEGRO BURIAL GROUND; (Mississauga St. near Mary); plaque is one of the few markers of black heritage; The headstones belong to George Wesley Sr. and Jr. (former freedom seeker, black business man and his son) and Susan Oakley (the daughter of white minister who founded the church).

8. ST. ANDREWS SCHOOL HOUSE (323 Simcoe at Gage); significance? part of school used to educate Black children; only school. e)

9. FORT MISSISSAUGA: what role did the Coloured Corp play at this site? seen as engineers; helped to build the fort