Friday, August 24, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Roots
Fort Erie Roots by Earl Plato U.E.
At our Dec.3rd United Empire Loyalist Annual Meeting at Betty’s Restaurant some of us volunteered to share something about our Loyalist ancestors. I was one. Following is an excerpt from an earlier article of mine. How did I end up in Fort Erie? Want to know more about your family name? Get on the Internet and try to “Dig Up Your Roots”. I used the Yahoo engine and found The Olive Tree Genealogy by Lorine McGinnis Schulze and was amazed to find out new facts about my Fort Erie (Plato) ancestors. Find the Olive Tree Genealogy Homepage and find the title THREE LOYALIST UNITS. Bring it up. You find: BUTLER’S RANGERS, SIR JOHN JOHNSTON’S BRIGADE & KING’S ROYAL REGIMENT OF NEW YORK. I had always believed based on my research that Christian and his son, Peter James Plato were in Butler’s Rangers. They were. But thanks to the Olive Tree I find that Christian started in a different service. Here we read the Canadian version off the Internet: “On Aug. 6, 1777 at Oriskany, then Colony of New York, forces under Sir John Johnston’s command including 150 King’s Royal Regiment, 40 Indian Department Rangers commanded by Major John Butler, 50 German riflemen and many Mohawks and Senecas ambushed 800 rebel militia on their way to relieve Fort Stanwix. 400 rebels were killed. The Internet page headlines: List of Men formerly in Sir John Johnson’s Brigade. Of the 50 Loyalist riflemen we read the list of the men from Sir John Johnston’s “Green” Brigade who joined Joseph Brant’s Volunteers. Two of them stand out for me- William May and Christian Plato - they were brother-in-laws. Christian had married William’s sister, Dorotea May born in 1736 in the Colony of New York. They were married in 1756. Both men became Butler’s Rangers attached to Joseph Brant’s Mohawks. Many years later William May testified in an official government document that he knew Christian’s son and his nephew, Peter James Plato as a loyalist from New York. He gives a good description of his nephew’s history as a Butler‘s Ranger.
***
Christian Plato was a loyalist spy with a price on his head - $100 - that’s like $10,000 today. On page 17 of the book listing the Losses of Loyalists in New York we find Christian Plato, yeoman farmer, losing his home and property by an Act of Congress. If captured during the Rebellion by the American rebels I believe he would be shown no mercy. He survived as did his son. After the war Christian received substantial Crown land grants in Niagara - 300 acres . Peter James Plato received 300 acres and married Catharine Bowen, the daughter of loyalist Cornelius Bowen, and received an additional 200 acres. Like other United Empire Loyalist descendants I wonder when the United States government will reimburse us for the forcible loss of property as in the example of Christian Plato and others. Eh?
The real criteria for being a United Empire Loyalist and using the initials , U.E. , I believe, has to do with substantiated military service during the American Revolution, identified loss of lands in the American colonies, and consistent loyalty to the flag and Crown of Great Britain. Get on the Internet and start looking!
At our Dec.3rd United Empire Loyalist Annual Meeting at Betty’s Restaurant some of us volunteered to share something about our Loyalist ancestors. I was one. Following is an excerpt from an earlier article of mine. How did I end up in Fort Erie? Want to know more about your family name? Get on the Internet and try to “Dig Up Your Roots”. I used the Yahoo engine and found The Olive Tree Genealogy by Lorine McGinnis Schulze and was amazed to find out new facts about my Fort Erie (Plato) ancestors. Find the Olive Tree Genealogy Homepage and find the title THREE LOYALIST UNITS. Bring it up. You find: BUTLER’S RANGERS, SIR JOHN JOHNSTON’S BRIGADE & KING’S ROYAL REGIMENT OF NEW YORK. I had always believed based on my research that Christian and his son, Peter James Plato were in Butler’s Rangers. They were. But thanks to the Olive Tree I find that Christian started in a different service. Here we read the Canadian version off the Internet: “On Aug. 6, 1777 at Oriskany, then Colony of New York, forces under Sir John Johnston’s command including 150 King’s Royal Regiment, 40 Indian Department Rangers commanded by Major John Butler, 50 German riflemen and many Mohawks and Senecas ambushed 800 rebel militia on their way to relieve Fort Stanwix. 400 rebels were killed. The Internet page headlines: List of Men formerly in Sir John Johnson’s Brigade. Of the 50 Loyalist riflemen we read the list of the men from Sir John Johnston’s “Green” Brigade who joined Joseph Brant’s Volunteers. Two of them stand out for me- William May and Christian Plato - they were brother-in-laws. Christian had married William’s sister, Dorotea May born in 1736 in the Colony of New York. They were married in 1756. Both men became Butler’s Rangers attached to Joseph Brant’s Mohawks. Many years later William May testified in an official government document that he knew Christian’s son and his nephew, Peter James Plato as a loyalist from New York. He gives a good description of his nephew’s history as a Butler‘s Ranger.
***
Christian Plato was a loyalist spy with a price on his head - $100 - that’s like $10,000 today. On page 17 of the book listing the Losses of Loyalists in New York we find Christian Plato, yeoman farmer, losing his home and property by an Act of Congress. If captured during the Rebellion by the American rebels I believe he would be shown no mercy. He survived as did his son. After the war Christian received substantial Crown land grants in Niagara - 300 acres . Peter James Plato received 300 acres and married Catharine Bowen, the daughter of loyalist Cornelius Bowen, and received an additional 200 acres. Like other United Empire Loyalist descendants I wonder when the United States government will reimburse us for the forcible loss of property as in the example of Christian Plato and others. Eh?
The real criteria for being a United Empire Loyalist and using the initials , U.E. , I believe, has to do with substantiated military service during the American Revolution, identified loss of lands in the American colonies, and consistent loyalty to the flag and Crown of Great Britain. Get on the Internet and start looking!
Go West
Go West Young Fort Eriean Earl Plato
Go west young men! Well we’re not young anymore but south western Ontario was our destination. We Fort Erieans were up bright and early and arrived at Oil Springs too early to enter the Oil Museum of Canada there. We walked the grounds on yet another beautifully, clear morn. Yes, this is where the first commercial oil well in North America was drilled in 1858. Of the two sites, Petrolia and Oil Springs I prefer Oil Springs especially for its great museum. The curator opened the doors sharply at 10 a.m. but we continued to look at the Jerker Lines. Jerker Lines? .We could hear the gentle creak of the lines. You have to see them to appreciate these wooden rods as they move back and forth helping to pump the oil or should I say “Lambton County, Canada Tea!” This is oil country. A sign said that they are used to relay power from the pump house to the seven oil wells on the museum property. From the excellent 20 minute video in the museum we learned that this Jerker Line System was developed by John Henry Fairbank here in Oil Springs about 150 years ago and is used around the world. That’s Canadian ingenuity, eh! They are still used today on over 500 wells still pumping in the area. We could see Walking Beam Jerker Lines in the wells in the fields near the museum.
I don’t know if Jane Davies, our talented curator at the Fort Erie Museum, has ever been here but I know she would love the spaciousness of this museum. I had viewed the old historical video some ten years ago. This recent one was professionally well done. Oil Well displays, a geology display, steam pump, fossil and mineral collections, oil tools and a cable drill rig model and we were still in the theatre room! The main foyer had an oil work wagon, a spring pole drilling model, early tools, oil samples and uses and for us old Esso users, an Imperial Oil display, pumps and all. Artifacts galore! The oil drill dropped off at the Museum by Howard Hughes, one of the first street lamps, a wooden hand pump they first used to pump oil, the Red Adair suit and for nature lovers, beautiful butterfly collections from around the world, a bird egg collection , and several photo albums that told the more recent history of Oil Springs. We finally left the museum which is located on the original site of the first commercial oil well dug in 1858 by James Miller Williams. Outside we saw the sole remaining kerosene lamp from Oil Springs in 1862 when the main street of Oil Springs was lined for its whole length of one and one-half miles with these lamps! Oil Springs was the first town in the world to achieve this distinction. Another great Canadian historical event!
We were provided with a local road map and drove the periphery of the site from Kelly Road. From Highway 402 take 21 South (Wyoming turnoff) to Oil Springs - look for National Historic Site signs.
Go west young men! Well we’re not young anymore but south western Ontario was our destination. We Fort Erieans were up bright and early and arrived at Oil Springs too early to enter the Oil Museum of Canada there. We walked the grounds on yet another beautifully, clear morn. Yes, this is where the first commercial oil well in North America was drilled in 1858. Of the two sites, Petrolia and Oil Springs I prefer Oil Springs especially for its great museum. The curator opened the doors sharply at 10 a.m. but we continued to look at the Jerker Lines. Jerker Lines? .We could hear the gentle creak of the lines. You have to see them to appreciate these wooden rods as they move back and forth helping to pump the oil or should I say “Lambton County, Canada Tea!” This is oil country. A sign said that they are used to relay power from the pump house to the seven oil wells on the museum property. From the excellent 20 minute video in the museum we learned that this Jerker Line System was developed by John Henry Fairbank here in Oil Springs about 150 years ago and is used around the world. That’s Canadian ingenuity, eh! They are still used today on over 500 wells still pumping in the area. We could see Walking Beam Jerker Lines in the wells in the fields near the museum.
I don’t know if Jane Davies, our talented curator at the Fort Erie Museum, has ever been here but I know she would love the spaciousness of this museum. I had viewed the old historical video some ten years ago. This recent one was professionally well done. Oil Well displays, a geology display, steam pump, fossil and mineral collections, oil tools and a cable drill rig model and we were still in the theatre room! The main foyer had an oil work wagon, a spring pole drilling model, early tools, oil samples and uses and for us old Esso users, an Imperial Oil display, pumps and all. Artifacts galore! The oil drill dropped off at the Museum by Howard Hughes, one of the first street lamps, a wooden hand pump they first used to pump oil, the Red Adair suit and for nature lovers, beautiful butterfly collections from around the world, a bird egg collection , and several photo albums that told the more recent history of Oil Springs. We finally left the museum which is located on the original site of the first commercial oil well dug in 1858 by James Miller Williams. Outside we saw the sole remaining kerosene lamp from Oil Springs in 1862 when the main street of Oil Springs was lined for its whole length of one and one-half miles with these lamps! Oil Springs was the first town in the world to achieve this distinction. Another great Canadian historical event!
We were provided with a local road map and drove the periphery of the site from Kelly Road. From Highway 402 take 21 South (Wyoming turnoff) to Oil Springs - look for National Historic Site signs.
Old Indian Trail
Forterie0706 Earl Plato
Historical research! Ten years could be spent by me at Fort Erie Centennial library and I still wouldn’t exhaust Fort Erie historian Louis McDermott’s massive collection. So I look at various topics that I might have knowledge of for an article. I found one by Audrey (Miller) Laurie about the Old Indian Trail. I quote from her article written many years ago. Laurie stated, “ There is no more historic or romantic trail than that of the Old Indian Trail between the Niagara River and Lake Erie.” I most agree. The late Bert Miller introduced the Trail to me as a youth. We explored the flora along the limestone ridge and I was lowered into the split-in-the- Rock as a ten year old. As a boy scout I rode the Trail on bicycle from Fort Erie and spent many nights at Split Rock Boy Scout camp. Yes, as a writer of local historical fiction I eulogized the Trail and the Split in my novel, Our People Live. The actual map of the Trail used in the book is a version of Bert Miller’s original drawing. “Historic and romantic!” Read my novel and I think you will appreciate the Old Indian Trail more as Fort Erieans. What are the town’s future plan for this “historical road“? Preservation, I hope, so even with historical plaques if nothing else. Suggestions: Change or add to the Ridge Road North designation - Old Indian Trail or Split Rock Road.
***
Do you remember the “Split-in-the-Rock? It is an anomaly on the west side of the Old Indian Trail. Audrey Miller Laurie wrote the following about the “Split.” “… one place near the top of the Split is a large slab of rock perhaps four feet thick that spans the opening. One end lies on the main limestone and the other end on the part that separated and forms a natural bridge.”
Writer’s note: I have stood on that limestone slab and wondered how it could have formed. In my novel I use it as sacred altar for the local native people, the Attiwandarons. Thank you Audrey MillerLaurie for the reminder of a special place on the Old Indian Trail.
Historical research! Ten years could be spent by me at Fort Erie Centennial library and I still wouldn’t exhaust Fort Erie historian Louis McDermott’s massive collection. So I look at various topics that I might have knowledge of for an article. I found one by Audrey (Miller) Laurie about the Old Indian Trail. I quote from her article written many years ago. Laurie stated, “ There is no more historic or romantic trail than that of the Old Indian Trail between the Niagara River and Lake Erie.” I most agree. The late Bert Miller introduced the Trail to me as a youth. We explored the flora along the limestone ridge and I was lowered into the split-in-the- Rock as a ten year old. As a boy scout I rode the Trail on bicycle from Fort Erie and spent many nights at Split Rock Boy Scout camp. Yes, as a writer of local historical fiction I eulogized the Trail and the Split in my novel, Our People Live. The actual map of the Trail used in the book is a version of Bert Miller’s original drawing. “Historic and romantic!” Read my novel and I think you will appreciate the Old Indian Trail more as Fort Erieans. What are the town’s future plan for this “historical road“? Preservation, I hope, so even with historical plaques if nothing else. Suggestions: Change or add to the Ridge Road North designation - Old Indian Trail or Split Rock Road.
***
Do you remember the “Split-in-the-Rock? It is an anomaly on the west side of the Old Indian Trail. Audrey Miller Laurie wrote the following about the “Split.” “… one place near the top of the Split is a large slab of rock perhaps four feet thick that spans the opening. One end lies on the main limestone and the other end on the part that separated and forms a natural bridge.”
Writer’s note: I have stood on that limestone slab and wondered how it could have formed. In my novel I use it as sacred altar for the local native people, the Attiwandarons. Thank you Audrey MillerLaurie for the reminder of a special place on the Old Indian Trail.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Part 3 of 3
FortErie Race Track Part 3 of 3 Earl Plato
The headline read, “PIONEER BOOKIES FLOURISHED.” Harry Hawkins, long time Fort Erie resident, now deceased, recalled those early days at Fort Erie Race Track circa 1900. He said that in the pioneer days of the track there were no “pari-mutuel” machines. “The old handbook was run by Chambers and Walker,” Harry said. “Used to be 40 or 50 hand bookies in the ring. Big difference in the betting then, if you bet a horse at 25 to 1 and he was backed down to 10 to 1 and he came in, you got him at 25 to 1. The machines put an end to that. Same odds for everyone,” In the old days the bookmaker couldn’t lose. One horse would be 2 to1, another - the favourite - 6 to1. If the bookies got too much money on the better horse they’d put the money upon the other one. They had to, to make money. In other words Harry said.” … the bookies could manipulate the odds to their advantage.” Harry produced another treasure. It was a silk souvenir programme for Friday, June 22nd. 1900. It was framed for protection. “E.P.Taylor offered me a good price for this, But I wouldn’t sell it for any price.” One last question to Harry Hawkins was: As a lifelong turf follower Mr, Hawkins, do you have any advice for the race track bettor?” We read that the tall, lean expert laughed, “If you go to the races for sport that’s okay, but if you go to make money you’re a sucker. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again. You can win on a race but you can’t win on the races!” Thanks Harry.
***
Look at our race track today. Enormous parking lots with shuttle buses to pick you up and drop you off at the entrance, Transportation for both horses and patrons has changed drastically since 1897. In those early days horses and patrons were transported to the track by a ‘race’ train. Today the horses arrive in modern streamlined vans and the patrons arrive in flashy new cars or by modern buses. Toronto patrons back then would board the Grand Truck Railway out of Toronto arriving here at the Bridgeburg station about 11 am. Many of the passengers would dine at the Barnea House just across from the station. Note: The old north end C.N.R. station house is gone but the Barnea House is still in operation. You now had three ways to get to the track we are told. You could rent an outfit with a horse and drive yourself or have someone drive you there. That was quite expensive. A second way was to join others on a surrey with a fringe on top. This was considerably less money. The third way and least costly was to take Merriweather’s bus which was a huge wagon drawn by a team of “gleaming black horses.” Note: Remember this was before the ‘internal combustion machines’- cars that is!
The average attendance in those days was between 2,500 and 3,000 patrons. We learned in those first twenty years that approximately 90% of these people were Americans. What? No Peace Bridge until 1927. Hey, I think I know. Our International Bridge carried the Michigan Central trains from Black Rock, New York to Bridgeburg on a regular basis. Don’t forget the ferry boats from across the river to Fort Erie South. It was a mile walk or so up Bertie Street . I am sure here were horse
carriages there too. Cost? Do you know? Any anecdotes you want to share e-mail me plato1@cogeco.ca or phone 905-894-2417.
The headline read, “PIONEER BOOKIES FLOURISHED.” Harry Hawkins, long time Fort Erie resident, now deceased, recalled those early days at Fort Erie Race Track circa 1900. He said that in the pioneer days of the track there were no “pari-mutuel” machines. “The old handbook was run by Chambers and Walker,” Harry said. “Used to be 40 or 50 hand bookies in the ring. Big difference in the betting then, if you bet a horse at 25 to 1 and he was backed down to 10 to 1 and he came in, you got him at 25 to 1. The machines put an end to that. Same odds for everyone,” In the old days the bookmaker couldn’t lose. One horse would be 2 to1, another - the favourite - 6 to1. If the bookies got too much money on the better horse they’d put the money upon the other one. They had to, to make money. In other words Harry said.” … the bookies could manipulate the odds to their advantage.” Harry produced another treasure. It was a silk souvenir programme for Friday, June 22nd. 1900. It was framed for protection. “E.P.Taylor offered me a good price for this, But I wouldn’t sell it for any price.” One last question to Harry Hawkins was: As a lifelong turf follower Mr, Hawkins, do you have any advice for the race track bettor?” We read that the tall, lean expert laughed, “If you go to the races for sport that’s okay, but if you go to make money you’re a sucker. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again. You can win on a race but you can’t win on the races!” Thanks Harry.
***
Look at our race track today. Enormous parking lots with shuttle buses to pick you up and drop you off at the entrance, Transportation for both horses and patrons has changed drastically since 1897. In those early days horses and patrons were transported to the track by a ‘race’ train. Today the horses arrive in modern streamlined vans and the patrons arrive in flashy new cars or by modern buses. Toronto patrons back then would board the Grand Truck Railway out of Toronto arriving here at the Bridgeburg station about 11 am. Many of the passengers would dine at the Barnea House just across from the station. Note: The old north end C.N.R. station house is gone but the Barnea House is still in operation. You now had three ways to get to the track we are told. You could rent an outfit with a horse and drive yourself or have someone drive you there. That was quite expensive. A second way was to join others on a surrey with a fringe on top. This was considerably less money. The third way and least costly was to take Merriweather’s bus which was a huge wagon drawn by a team of “gleaming black horses.” Note: Remember this was before the ‘internal combustion machines’- cars that is!
The average attendance in those days was between 2,500 and 3,000 patrons. We learned in those first twenty years that approximately 90% of these people were Americans. What? No Peace Bridge until 1927. Hey, I think I know. Our International Bridge carried the Michigan Central trains from Black Rock, New York to Bridgeburg on a regular basis. Don’t forget the ferry boats from across the river to Fort Erie South. It was a mile walk or so up Bertie Street . I am sure here were horse
carriages there too. Cost? Do you know? Any anecdotes you want to share e-mail me plato1@cogeco.ca or phone 905-894-2417.
Part Two
Fort Erie Race Track Earl Plato
Part Two: When did Fort Erie Race Track open? What was the length of the track initially? Were the races running or trotting? Who owned the track back then? A reporter unnamed asked one Harry Hawkins of Queen Street, Fort Erie the above questions. He said, : I found this man who could answer my questions relative to the sport of kings at Fort Erie Race Track in those early days. The track was opened July 1st of 1897 according to Harry. He displayed a faded golden ribbon that said , FORT ERIE JOCKEY CLUB, At its base it read FALL MEETING - Sept.6th to 23rd, 1897. The race track was a mile in length initially. Many running races with one meet for trotting. The track was built by Mr. Hood and Mr. German informed Garry. Hood owned the Tennessee Hotel and Mr. German was the long time Member of Parliament for Welland. Eventually the two sold the track to F. Hendrie who in turn sold it to John. H. Madigan.
Writer’s Note: It is the Madigan name I recognized in my time. The well kept Madigan horse farm was located on Bertie Road adjacent to the track. We would ride our bicycles by the white washed fences and stop to admire the thoroughbreds. Who was president of the Ontario Jockey Club when Madigan was owner? Many of you know the name - E.P. Taylor. He purchased the track from Madigan. Harry Hawkins must have been a collector of track memorabilia for he had many newspaper clippings. One was from the Buffalo Courier dated that first meet July 1st, 1897, “ Canadians were in Fort Erie today and they left considerable money with the bookmakers as only one favourite got to the ftont. The track was heavy and holding … Adam Beck and his friends lost heavily on the fifth race which was won by Prima …” Harry showed another clipping dated Saturday, July 16, 1897 - Toronto Mail and Empire: “ There will hardly be any denial of the proposition that having invested in a racing enterprise more money than all the other jockey clubs in Canada put together that the Fort Erie Jockey Club is entitled to such return for its enterprise.”
That’s one sentence! That’s quite a start, eh!
Harry Hawkins was also asked, How much were those early purses? His replay was they were small - three or four hundred dollars. “Even less.” He then emphasized, “ … until Madigan;s time and the inaugural of the Derby with a purse of $10,000. Then came the new Woodbine in Toronto paying $50,000!
Any memories of our track you would like to share? Call me at 905-894-2417 or e-mail me at plato1@cogeco.ca
Part Two: When did Fort Erie Race Track open? What was the length of the track initially? Were the races running or trotting? Who owned the track back then? A reporter unnamed asked one Harry Hawkins of Queen Street, Fort Erie the above questions. He said, : I found this man who could answer my questions relative to the sport of kings at Fort Erie Race Track in those early days. The track was opened July 1st of 1897 according to Harry. He displayed a faded golden ribbon that said , FORT ERIE JOCKEY CLUB, At its base it read FALL MEETING - Sept.6th to 23rd, 1897. The race track was a mile in length initially. Many running races with one meet for trotting. The track was built by Mr. Hood and Mr. German informed Garry. Hood owned the Tennessee Hotel and Mr. German was the long time Member of Parliament for Welland. Eventually the two sold the track to F. Hendrie who in turn sold it to John. H. Madigan.
Writer’s Note: It is the Madigan name I recognized in my time. The well kept Madigan horse farm was located on Bertie Road adjacent to the track. We would ride our bicycles by the white washed fences and stop to admire the thoroughbreds. Who was president of the Ontario Jockey Club when Madigan was owner? Many of you know the name - E.P. Taylor. He purchased the track from Madigan. Harry Hawkins must have been a collector of track memorabilia for he had many newspaper clippings. One was from the Buffalo Courier dated that first meet July 1st, 1897, “ Canadians were in Fort Erie today and they left considerable money with the bookmakers as only one favourite got to the ftont. The track was heavy and holding … Adam Beck and his friends lost heavily on the fifth race which was won by Prima …” Harry showed another clipping dated Saturday, July 16, 1897 - Toronto Mail and Empire: “ There will hardly be any denial of the proposition that having invested in a racing enterprise more money than all the other jockey clubs in Canada put together that the Fort Erie Jockey Club is entitled to such return for its enterprise.”
That’s one sentence! That’s quite a start, eh!
Harry Hawkins was also asked, How much were those early purses? His replay was they were small - three or four hundred dollars. “Even less.” He then emphasized, “ … until Madigan;s time and the inaugural of the Derby with a purse of $10,000. Then came the new Woodbine in Toronto paying $50,000!
Any memories of our track you would like to share? Call me at 905-894-2417 or e-mail me at plato1@cogeco.ca
Beginning of Fort Erie Race Track
Fort Erie Race Track Beginning Earl Plato
Several years ago on the north wall of one of the upper barracks of historic Fort Erie a poster caught my eye. It was a petition from local citizens circa 1890’s asking for the creation of a race track for thoroughbred horses in the town. I scanned the lists and there was the name of my great-grandfather Jacob W. Plato. His son, William Jacob Plato, my grandfather, lived on Henrietta Street just to the east of the race track. Many of my relatives worked at the track over the years. Of course they bet on horses too. During the late Depression years I remember cousin Fred Plato coming home with a winning ticket he had found along the east entrance way. There was often a myriad of colourful betting tickets strewn on the ground after the races were over. Fred was alert and one of his found stubs thrown carelessly away by a bettor was worth some money. How much I don’t recall but I remember those were the poor days of the Thirties. Fred was elated. More than once our Grandma Anderson would walk us north from our home on Highway Three along the C.N.R. track. No admission in those days for us. We would stand at the outside fences and I would peer through the boards to see those horses thundering down the back stretch. As a fifteen year old George Henningham Sr. hired me to shake out a bale and a half of straw in each race stall. That was good money for me. Two years later I was hired by Mr.Henningham to help deliver bales of hay and straw at the race track. It was an education to watch the workings of the race horse industry. Several times I was given “hot tips” if I gave one of the race track workers five or ten dollars. No deal was the advice from Bud the son of the boss. Lesson learned? Yes. On the occasional trip to the track over the years I took only $20. Never any more. My father-in-law, Sid Kew, was manager of Longmeadow horse farm in Ridgeway for over thity years. He was a careful bettor who did well over decades at the track. Every five years he had enough in winnings to pay his way over and back to his home city in Bristol, England. Some of my relatives were avid bettors and my aunt’s son was a bookie. My wife Elaine and I visited the track a while back with a group. I had $20 for eight races. As usual o luck. It was still a thrill to see the horses and their jockeys thundering down the track. Old memories, yes, and good ones. The next few articles are about the history of the track. Again thanks to Louis McDermott for his wonderful collection of Fort Erie’s race track history.
Several years ago on the north wall of one of the upper barracks of historic Fort Erie a poster caught my eye. It was a petition from local citizens circa 1890’s asking for the creation of a race track for thoroughbred horses in the town. I scanned the lists and there was the name of my great-grandfather Jacob W. Plato. His son, William Jacob Plato, my grandfather, lived on Henrietta Street just to the east of the race track. Many of my relatives worked at the track over the years. Of course they bet on horses too. During the late Depression years I remember cousin Fred Plato coming home with a winning ticket he had found along the east entrance way. There was often a myriad of colourful betting tickets strewn on the ground after the races were over. Fred was alert and one of his found stubs thrown carelessly away by a bettor was worth some money. How much I don’t recall but I remember those were the poor days of the Thirties. Fred was elated. More than once our Grandma Anderson would walk us north from our home on Highway Three along the C.N.R. track. No admission in those days for us. We would stand at the outside fences and I would peer through the boards to see those horses thundering down the back stretch. As a fifteen year old George Henningham Sr. hired me to shake out a bale and a half of straw in each race stall. That was good money for me. Two years later I was hired by Mr.Henningham to help deliver bales of hay and straw at the race track. It was an education to watch the workings of the race horse industry. Several times I was given “hot tips” if I gave one of the race track workers five or ten dollars. No deal was the advice from Bud the son of the boss. Lesson learned? Yes. On the occasional trip to the track over the years I took only $20. Never any more. My father-in-law, Sid Kew, was manager of Longmeadow horse farm in Ridgeway for over thity years. He was a careful bettor who did well over decades at the track. Every five years he had enough in winnings to pay his way over and back to his home city in Bristol, England. Some of my relatives were avid bettors and my aunt’s son was a bookie. My wife Elaine and I visited the track a while back with a group. I had $20 for eight races. As usual o luck. It was still a thrill to see the horses and their jockeys thundering down the track. Old memories, yes, and good ones. The next few articles are about the history of the track. Again thanks to Louis McDermott for his wonderful collection of Fort Erie’s race track history.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Part 3 of 3
FortErie Earl Plato
Final 3 of 3: Writer’s note: Globe and Empire reporter, Fred Williams, never mentioned Fort Erie’s historic St. Paul’s church by name in his lengthy article. Nevertheless, that’s the structure he is talking about. He continued. “In 1820 the chapelry of Chippawa was proclaimed in the townships of Stamford and Willoughby. Rev. William Leeming became the first minister recording baptisms. Marriages and burials at Fort Erie, Bertie and Waterloo. A church of sort was opened in 1823.” Note: No name given to church by writer. Why?
“ It lasted until 1874 when it was replaced by a larger stone structure.” Note: That’s St. Paul’s Anglican church that stands today on the Niagara River. “ Some time in 1823 the Rev. John Anderson became the minister of the church (St. Paul’s). Colonel Kerby in the 1832 managed to secure from Sir John Colborne free entry through the customs for a church organ. It had been bought in Buffalo for one hundred English pounds (That was about $500, a goodly sum for that day). In 1834 Colonel Kerby, then Collector of Customs, presented the church with a solid silver communion service which is still in use. Two years later the parish was endowed by Sir John Colborne. In May 1836 Rev. Anderson was officially inducted at the church by Archdeacon Strachan. Writer’s note: It was in 1837 that my ancestors Christian 2nd Plato and wife Mary (Benner) Plato had their two oldest children Charlotte and Sophia, baptized at St. Paul’s by Rev. Anderson. Other family members would follow as the church records show.
From December, 1837 to July. 1838 the deserted and dilapidated barracks at Fort Erie and other hastily improvised quarters at Waterloo were occupied by the “Queen’s Niagara Fencibles.” Note: Remember there was the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada at this time. Vigilance was needed.
“Colonel Kerby was in command during the Rebellion and he wanted to prevent any invasion from Buffalo. The !0th Provisional Battalion succeeded the Queen‘s at Fort Erie also commanded by Colonel Kerby until May, 1839.”
Writer’s note: Just a brief mention by Fred Williiams of June, 1866 and the Fenian invasion.
“Bur Fort Erie was not so lucky in 1866 for it was through that gateway that O’Neill’s band of brigands entered the Niagara Peninsula. It was there that some of the Toronto troops suffered from the failure of the authorities to provide food and shelter.” Note: The Fenians were Civil War veterans with Spenser repeating rifles. We Canadians were not ready for an invasion. That’s another story. Thanks Free Williams for your reporting on historic Fort Erie.
Final 3 of 3: Writer’s note: Globe and Empire reporter, Fred Williams, never mentioned Fort Erie’s historic St. Paul’s church by name in his lengthy article. Nevertheless, that’s the structure he is talking about. He continued. “In 1820 the chapelry of Chippawa was proclaimed in the townships of Stamford and Willoughby. Rev. William Leeming became the first minister recording baptisms. Marriages and burials at Fort Erie, Bertie and Waterloo. A church of sort was opened in 1823.” Note: No name given to church by writer. Why?
“ It lasted until 1874 when it was replaced by a larger stone structure.” Note: That’s St. Paul’s Anglican church that stands today on the Niagara River. “ Some time in 1823 the Rev. John Anderson became the minister of the church (St. Paul’s). Colonel Kerby in the 1832 managed to secure from Sir John Colborne free entry through the customs for a church organ. It had been bought in Buffalo for one hundred English pounds (That was about $500, a goodly sum for that day). In 1834 Colonel Kerby, then Collector of Customs, presented the church with a solid silver communion service which is still in use. Two years later the parish was endowed by Sir John Colborne. In May 1836 Rev. Anderson was officially inducted at the church by Archdeacon Strachan. Writer’s note: It was in 1837 that my ancestors Christian 2nd Plato and wife Mary (Benner) Plato had their two oldest children Charlotte and Sophia, baptized at St. Paul’s by Rev. Anderson. Other family members would follow as the church records show.
From December, 1837 to July. 1838 the deserted and dilapidated barracks at Fort Erie and other hastily improvised quarters at Waterloo were occupied by the “Queen’s Niagara Fencibles.” Note: Remember there was the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada at this time. Vigilance was needed.
“Colonel Kerby was in command during the Rebellion and he wanted to prevent any invasion from Buffalo. The !0th Provisional Battalion succeeded the Queen‘s at Fort Erie also commanded by Colonel Kerby until May, 1839.”
Writer’s note: Just a brief mention by Fred Williiams of June, 1866 and the Fenian invasion.
“Bur Fort Erie was not so lucky in 1866 for it was through that gateway that O’Neill’s band of brigands entered the Niagara Peninsula. It was there that some of the Toronto troops suffered from the failure of the authorities to provide food and shelter.” Note: The Fenians were Civil War veterans with Spenser repeating rifles. We Canadians were not ready for an invasion. That’s another story. Thanks Free Williams for your reporting on historic Fort Erie.
Part 2 - Fort Erie
Forterie33B Earl Plato
Part Two Early Fort Erie History: Writer’s Note: Just a word about Fred Williams, reporter for the Toronto Mail and Empire. He wrote an overview of Fort Erie’s earliest history. Unfortunately he left no sources or references simply because it was just a newspaper article for that day. This daily paper existed until 1936 when it became the Globe & Mail. The article’s print form appears circa 1900. Who knows? Williams continues, “ Fort Erie is interesting for other than its war history. It was in 1789 the headquarters for a while of John Richardson, the great trader, one of the founders of the Bank of Montreal. Note: You old time Fort Erie Bank of Montreal clients can proudly say that one of your bank founders, John Richardson, walked the roads and trails of our town over 217 years ago!
On August 13, 1792 Rev. Robert Addison, the first Rector of Niagara, conducted the Anglican marriage ceremony of Henry Warren, son of the Fort Erie Commissioner, to Catharine Aglor.
Writer’s Note: Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe in 1792 made it clear that Upper Canada (Ontario) would become a “Little England.” That meant that the Christian religion for all protestants would be in the Anglican form. Then what did Simcoe do? He opened the gates for immigration. From where? The United States! This proclamation allowed wave after wave of settlers who were mainly protestant but not of the Anglican persuasion, Many were Methodist, Lutherans and of other background beliefs. Roman Catholics retained their worship without government interference. Fort Erie would be mainly Anglican as Rev. Addison was appointed chaplain to the garrison at Fort Erie as well at Niagara. He does not seem to have visited Fort Erie until April, 1793 when he recorded the baptism of sixteen persons. Among them was Mary Warren the daughter of the Commissioner.
On the announcement of peace in 1815 the ferry boat from Black Rock N.Y. was re-established and a small struggling village developed.
Writer’s Note: The defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 gave rise to new appellations for Upper Canada communities with words such as Waterloo and Wellington. Thus the little village north of the Fort was named Waterloo in 1816.
Part Three: Historic St. Paul’s church
Part Two Early Fort Erie History: Writer’s Note: Just a word about Fred Williams, reporter for the Toronto Mail and Empire. He wrote an overview of Fort Erie’s earliest history. Unfortunately he left no sources or references simply because it was just a newspaper article for that day. This daily paper existed until 1936 when it became the Globe & Mail. The article’s print form appears circa 1900. Who knows? Williams continues, “ Fort Erie is interesting for other than its war history. It was in 1789 the headquarters for a while of John Richardson, the great trader, one of the founders of the Bank of Montreal. Note: You old time Fort Erie Bank of Montreal clients can proudly say that one of your bank founders, John Richardson, walked the roads and trails of our town over 217 years ago!
On August 13, 1792 Rev. Robert Addison, the first Rector of Niagara, conducted the Anglican marriage ceremony of Henry Warren, son of the Fort Erie Commissioner, to Catharine Aglor.
Writer’s Note: Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe in 1792 made it clear that Upper Canada (Ontario) would become a “Little England.” That meant that the Christian religion for all protestants would be in the Anglican form. Then what did Simcoe do? He opened the gates for immigration. From where? The United States! This proclamation allowed wave after wave of settlers who were mainly protestant but not of the Anglican persuasion, Many were Methodist, Lutherans and of other background beliefs. Roman Catholics retained their worship without government interference. Fort Erie would be mainly Anglican as Rev. Addison was appointed chaplain to the garrison at Fort Erie as well at Niagara. He does not seem to have visited Fort Erie until April, 1793 when he recorded the baptism of sixteen persons. Among them was Mary Warren the daughter of the Commissioner.
On the announcement of peace in 1815 the ferry boat from Black Rock N.Y. was re-established and a small struggling village developed.
Writer’s Note: The defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 gave rise to new appellations for Upper Canada communities with words such as Waterloo and Wellington. Thus the little village north of the Fort was named Waterloo in 1816.
Part Three: Historic St. Paul’s church
The Beginning of Fort Erie
Fort Erie’s Beginning Earl Plato
Dig into Louis McDermott’s historical collections and you never know what you will find! I did recently and came up with
this article from the Toronto Mail and Empire. Globe and Mail, yes, but Empire! No date given to the article by Fred Williams.
Could be early 1900‘s. He wrote, “Do you know…. that Fort Erie is one of the most ancient of Ontario’s outposts? A military post was founded there 1764 by Captain John Montresor, nearly 20 years before the first settlement at Niagara. From its inception it played a prominent part in commerce and war. For a time it was “on its own” as a military post but gradually came under Fort Niagara control when Simcoe arrived in 1792. Fort Erie was subordinate in a military sense to Fort Niagara. It drew its garrison from the British Army 5th Foot from there.”
Writer’s Note: Was Williams a military historian? I don’t know. How accurate are his views? Check them out.
“In the very early days of Upper Canada (Ontario) it (Fort Erie) was the place where the Indians met for conferences with British officials and twice with American commissioners. In the War of 1812-14 it was fought over every inch of he ground. Abandoned in 1813 after the capture of Fort George by the Americans it was re-occupied for a few months in 1814 by the British, but in July it fell again into American hands. A month later its fate seemed in balance. In August of that year British naval captain Dobbs portaged boats from lake Ontario to Lake Erie.
Writer’s note: Go to Crystal Beach Derby Circle and see the historic plaque about Dobb’s great feat.
The invaders (Americans) were given a body blow by Dobbs cutting out and capturing the American frigates, Ohio and the Somers. Three days later General Drummond at the head of a small but determined force attacked Fort Erie. It would have possibly captured the fort had not a premature explosion of an ammunition chest given alarm to the garrison and played havoc with the attacking party. Despite this mishap Drummond kept the fort in a state of siege for months.
Writer’s note: In my novel the Destroyer- The Siege of Fort Erie-1814 I disagree with Fred Williams. I agree with Pierre Berton that the explosion in the northwest bastion of the fort was probably no accident. It was by design. Remember over 800 British soldies lost their lives in that horrendous explosion.
The Americans made a fruitless sortie September 17th, but had to draw back. Joseph Willcocks, the traitor, met his death in that sortie while wearing the uniform of an American colonel. They finally abandoned the fort and laid the whole place to waste.
Dig into Louis McDermott’s historical collections and you never know what you will find! I did recently and came up with
this article from the Toronto Mail and Empire. Globe and Mail, yes, but Empire! No date given to the article by Fred Williams.
Could be early 1900‘s. He wrote, “Do you know…. that Fort Erie is one of the most ancient of Ontario’s outposts? A military post was founded there 1764 by Captain John Montresor, nearly 20 years before the first settlement at Niagara. From its inception it played a prominent part in commerce and war. For a time it was “on its own” as a military post but gradually came under Fort Niagara control when Simcoe arrived in 1792. Fort Erie was subordinate in a military sense to Fort Niagara. It drew its garrison from the British Army 5th Foot from there.”
Writer’s Note: Was Williams a military historian? I don’t know. How accurate are his views? Check them out.
“In the very early days of Upper Canada (Ontario) it (Fort Erie) was the place where the Indians met for conferences with British officials and twice with American commissioners. In the War of 1812-14 it was fought over every inch of he ground. Abandoned in 1813 after the capture of Fort George by the Americans it was re-occupied for a few months in 1814 by the British, but in July it fell again into American hands. A month later its fate seemed in balance. In August of that year British naval captain Dobbs portaged boats from lake Ontario to Lake Erie.
Writer’s note: Go to Crystal Beach Derby Circle and see the historic plaque about Dobb’s great feat.
The invaders (Americans) were given a body blow by Dobbs cutting out and capturing the American frigates, Ohio and the Somers. Three days later General Drummond at the head of a small but determined force attacked Fort Erie. It would have possibly captured the fort had not a premature explosion of an ammunition chest given alarm to the garrison and played havoc with the attacking party. Despite this mishap Drummond kept the fort in a state of siege for months.
Writer’s note: In my novel the Destroyer- The Siege of Fort Erie-1814 I disagree with Fred Williams. I agree with Pierre Berton that the explosion in the northwest bastion of the fort was probably no accident. It was by design. Remember over 800 British soldies lost their lives in that horrendous explosion.
The Americans made a fruitless sortie September 17th, but had to draw back. Joseph Willcocks, the traitor, met his death in that sortie while wearing the uniform of an American colonel. They finally abandoned the fort and laid the whole place to waste.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Laura Secord
The Battle of Beaver Dams - 1813 Earl Plato
I love Niagara’s history. I know the Niagara Frontier War of 1812-14 history reasonably well. Further to the west in the Niagara Peninsula I have been to the Stoney Creek Battlefield a number of times including a reenactment. So? It was wife, Elaine, who asked me about the Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813. What did I know? “Laura Secord”, of course was my answer. “What really happened in the battle?” was her further question. I admitted a minimal amount of knowledge. Time to do some research. Was the Battle of Beaver Dams- June 24, 1813 important to the eventual outcome of the War? I think so. Elaine and I drove to the site armed with knowledge from Cruikshank’s extensive writings, The Jubilee History of Thorold, Pierre Berton’s Flames Across the Border, and the booklet by Donald Dewar. There was an important letter that many of you know about. The date is 23rd February, 1837, Toronto and the letter is in the form of a certificate signed by James Fitzgibbon, formerly Lieutenant in the 49th Regiment. It reads, “I do hereby certify that Mrs. Secord, wife of James Secord of Chippawa, Esquire, did in the month of June, 1813, walk from her house in the village of St. Davids to DeCoo’s house in Thorold by a circuitous route of about twenty miles, partly through the woods, to acquaint me that the enemy intended to attempt by surprise to capture a detachment, then under my command.” That’s one sentence! Fitzpatrick continued, “Mrs. Secord was a person of slight and delicate frame and made this effort in weather excessively warm, and I dreaded at the time that she must suffer in health in consequence of fatigue and anxiety, she having been exposed to danger from the enemy, through whose lines of communication she had to pass.” Another long sentence but the message is clear - “forewarned is forearmed.” These were troublous times. American skirmishers were roaming the Niagara countryside. Dr. Cyrenius Chapin, the same man whose American soldiers and himself, are listed in devastating my ancestor Plato’s home and farm property in 1813, is present in the Beaver Dams area. Fortunately Laura Secord did not meet up with Chapin and his marauders. That would have changed history negatively for Upper Canadians. I contend that the victory over the Americans at Beaver Dams had an impact later in 1814.
Laura Secord was a great Canadian heroine!
Cruikshank - Part 1 - p. 23, 154, 252, 265
part 2 - p.7, 8, 16, 56, 63, 98, 135, 136, 143
Jubilee History of Thorold p.18, 47, 48, 63
Fight in the Beechwoods p. 17, 19 read on
Beaver Dams the year 1813
I love Niagara’s history. I know the Niagara Frontier War of 1812-14 history reasonably well. Further to the west in the Niagara Peninsula I have been to the Stoney Creek Battlefield a number of times including a reenactment. So? It was wife, Elaine, who asked me about the Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813. What did I know? “Laura Secord”, of course was my answer. “What really happened in the battle?” was her further question. I admitted a minimal amount of knowledge. Time to do some research. Was the Battle of Beaver Dams- June 24, 1813 important to the eventual outcome of the War? I think so. Elaine and I drove to the site armed with knowledge from Cruikshank’s extensive writings, The Jubilee History of Thorold, Pierre Berton’s Flames Across the Border, and the booklet by Donald Dewar. There was an important letter that many of you know about. The date is 23rd February, 1837, Toronto and the letter is in the form of a certificate signed by James Fitzgibbon, formerly Lieutenant in the 49th Regiment. It reads, “I do hereby certify that Mrs. Secord, wife of James Secord of Chippawa, Esquire, did in the month of June, 1813, walk from her house in the village of St. Davids to DeCoo’s house in Thorold by a circuitous route of about twenty miles, partly through the woods, to acquaint me that the enemy intended to attempt by surprise to capture a detachment, then under my command.” That’s one sentence! Fitzpatrick continued, “Mrs. Secord was a person of slight and delicate frame and made this effort in weather excessively warm, and I dreaded at the time that she must suffer in health in consequence of fatigue and anxiety, she having been exposed to danger from the enemy, through whose lines of communication she had to pass.” Another long sentence but the message is clear - “forewarned is forearmed.” These were troublous times. American skirmishers were roaming the Niagara countryside. Dr. Cyrenius Chapin, the same man whose American soldiers and himself, are listed in devastating my ancestor Plato’s home and farm property in 1813, is present in the Beaver Dams area. Fortunately Laura Secord did not meet up with Chapin and his marauders. That would have changed history negatively for Upper Canadians. I contend that the victory over the Americans at Beaver Dams had an impact later in 1814.
Laura Secord was a great Canadian heroine!
Cruikshank - Part 1 - p. 23, 154, 252, 265
part 2 - p.7, 8, 16, 56, 63, 98, 135, 136, 143
Jubilee History of Thorold p.18, 47, 48, 63
Fight in the Beechwoods p. 17, 19 read on
Beaver Dams the year 1813
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Mohawk Princess
ForterieNov3.06 Earl Plato
Norma called out, “There it is!” We were in Stanley Park, the renowned Vancouver city park this late October day , 2006. We had just passed the burial site of famed Ontario poetess, Pauline Johnson (1861-1913). We emerged from our little tour bus and walked back to the burial monument. Both Bud and I had looked forward to seeing her memorial here in British Columbia. Nestled in a grove of evergreens the tall stone monument overlooked the beautiful Vancouver harbour. We both posed beside the stone carving of her face and upper torso etched on the surface..
You may ask who was Pauline Johnson? Old timers of the Town upon graduation from public and separate school were often recipients of the book, “Flint and Feather” a collection of poems by Pauline, the Mohawk princess. The late Mrs. O.C. Teal of Fort Erie graciously gave many copies of this book to Grade Eight graduates over the years. Both Bud and I have one. We still can recite verses such as some from, “The Song My Paddle Sings.” and others. Bertie Township Hall now our Fort Erie Museum in the late 1800’s saw locals hear Pauline, the Mohawk princess, recite dressed in her attractive deerskin native dress and bare feet. Her aim was, “My pride is to sing ( and recite) the glories of my own people.“ We eight Fort Erie seniors earlier in the year had an excellent look at her ancestral home, Chiefswood, a national heritage site, on the banks of the Grand River. Take the picturesque Highway 54 east of the City of Brantford. The two storey white frame mansion overlooks the river. It was here that Pauline was born. Her Mohawk name was Tekahionwake. She wrote here some of her most famous poems including “The Song My Paddle Sings.”
“Be strong, O paddle! Be brave, canoe!
The reckless waves you must plunge into.
Reel, reel.
On your trembling keel,
But never a fear my craft will feel.”
Old timers remember when you had to recite memory lines in grade school? That was 0ne of the poems I chose. We watched the Grand River roll by from her second storey bedroom window. It was one of the places where she created her poetry. The lady curator gave us an excellent tour. Worth a visit. Seniors were free.
Norma called out, “There it is!” We were in Stanley Park, the renowned Vancouver city park this late October day , 2006. We had just passed the burial site of famed Ontario poetess, Pauline Johnson (1861-1913). We emerged from our little tour bus and walked back to the burial monument. Both Bud and I had looked forward to seeing her memorial here in British Columbia. Nestled in a grove of evergreens the tall stone monument overlooked the beautiful Vancouver harbour. We both posed beside the stone carving of her face and upper torso etched on the surface..
You may ask who was Pauline Johnson? Old timers of the Town upon graduation from public and separate school were often recipients of the book, “Flint and Feather” a collection of poems by Pauline, the Mohawk princess. The late Mrs. O.C. Teal of Fort Erie graciously gave many copies of this book to Grade Eight graduates over the years. Both Bud and I have one. We still can recite verses such as some from, “The Song My Paddle Sings.” and others. Bertie Township Hall now our Fort Erie Museum in the late 1800’s saw locals hear Pauline, the Mohawk princess, recite dressed in her attractive deerskin native dress and bare feet. Her aim was, “My pride is to sing ( and recite) the glories of my own people.“ We eight Fort Erie seniors earlier in the year had an excellent look at her ancestral home, Chiefswood, a national heritage site, on the banks of the Grand River. Take the picturesque Highway 54 east of the City of Brantford. The two storey white frame mansion overlooks the river. It was here that Pauline was born. Her Mohawk name was Tekahionwake. She wrote here some of her most famous poems including “The Song My Paddle Sings.”
“Be strong, O paddle! Be brave, canoe!
The reckless waves you must plunge into.
Reel, reel.
On your trembling keel,
But never a fear my craft will feel.”
Old timers remember when you had to recite memory lines in grade school? That was 0ne of the poems I chose. We watched the Grand River roll by from her second storey bedroom window. It was one of the places where she created her poetry. The lady curator gave us an excellent tour. Worth a visit. Seniors were free.
Revolutinary Days
Revolutionary View Earl Plato\\
Dropped off at my door last Fall was a CD entitled Mohawk Valley Oct. 2006. It was from Eugene Oatley U.E. of Niagara Falls. He had taken a historical trip with other local United Empire Loyalist descendants. It was a nostalgic trip for me to view his excellent photos. Wife, Elaine and I had done the same trip with U.E.’s from across the province about 25 years previously. Colonel B. Briggs U.E., curator of Johnson Hall back then had personally greeted us. Yes, this American, a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, was a member of the Toronto Loyalist Branch. He said that he was proud of his loyalist connections. I had corresponded with him and still have those letters. He encouraged me to research my roots. I did. I encourage you too. It has been a worthwhile venture.
***
Colonel B. Briggs was an anomaly back then. Many Mohawk Valley old timers still held bad and many distorted views of Colonel John Butler’s Rangers and Joseph Brant’s Mohawks. Colonel Briggs had given an inspiring speech where we had gathered in Johnstown, New York in the heart of the Valley. He tried to show a balanced historical view of the American Revolution in the Valley. Next day the local press hardly mentioned his talk. Not his time. Gene Oatley told how well received they were throughout the trip. They were greeted warmly wherever they went. At the site of the Battle of Oriskany I had left there with experiencing a biased American view of that crucial battle where my ancestors had been involved. Times have changed. Gene Oatley felt that the presentation there was fairly portrayed. Good. The truth is the truth. There were atrocities on both sides - not just one side. My Great-great-great-great maternal grandmother, Dorotea (May) Plato, never made it to Fort Niagara on her trip fleeing from the Mohawk Valley in !777. She died along the way. How she died we don’t know. Attack, disease or starvation? The next article is about the Year 1787 at Fort Niagara where there was extreme suffering and starvation among the loyalist refugees. “Too much praise cannot be given to the pioneer mothers of that time.”
Dropped off at my door last Fall was a CD entitled Mohawk Valley Oct. 2006. It was from Eugene Oatley U.E. of Niagara Falls. He had taken a historical trip with other local United Empire Loyalist descendants. It was a nostalgic trip for me to view his excellent photos. Wife, Elaine and I had done the same trip with U.E.’s from across the province about 25 years previously. Colonel B. Briggs U.E., curator of Johnson Hall back then had personally greeted us. Yes, this American, a retired colonel in the U.S. Army, was a member of the Toronto Loyalist Branch. He said that he was proud of his loyalist connections. I had corresponded with him and still have those letters. He encouraged me to research my roots. I did. I encourage you too. It has been a worthwhile venture.
***
Colonel B. Briggs was an anomaly back then. Many Mohawk Valley old timers still held bad and many distorted views of Colonel John Butler’s Rangers and Joseph Brant’s Mohawks. Colonel Briggs had given an inspiring speech where we had gathered in Johnstown, New York in the heart of the Valley. He tried to show a balanced historical view of the American Revolution in the Valley. Next day the local press hardly mentioned his talk. Not his time. Gene Oatley told how well received they were throughout the trip. They were greeted warmly wherever they went. At the site of the Battle of Oriskany I had left there with experiencing a biased American view of that crucial battle where my ancestors had been involved. Times have changed. Gene Oatley felt that the presentation there was fairly portrayed. Good. The truth is the truth. There were atrocities on both sides - not just one side. My Great-great-great-great maternal grandmother, Dorotea (May) Plato, never made it to Fort Niagara on her trip fleeing from the Mohawk Valley in !777. She died along the way. How she died we don’t know. Attack, disease or starvation? The next article is about the Year 1787 at Fort Niagara where there was extreme suffering and starvation among the loyalist refugees. “Too much praise cannot be given to the pioneer mothers of that time.”
Thursday, August 2, 2007
What's in a name
What’s in a Name Earl Plato
What’s in a name? While researching at Fort Erie Centennial library in Louis McDermott’s extensive historical collection I came across Fort Erie historian George Tait’s 1927 writings. George was interested in local street and place names. This first article is centred around Bridgeburg (North end of Fort Erie). We old timers well remember that name, Bridgeburg. Tait said, “The name means the ‘burg’ at the end of the bridge. The word ‘burg’ is an old German term for a collection of houses or a village. Think of Jarvis Street. That’s centred in old Bridgeburg and once one of the most active streets in the area. Today there are still many stores and shops serving the North End. The first road I researched was Bowen Road. No Queen Elizabeth Way back in George Tait’s day. Today on the Q.E.W. the signs for Bowen Road are quite evident. Bowen Road just north of Highland Avenue in Fort Erie North was the dividing road between the village and the historic Township of Bertie - Lots 8 and 9. Tait tells us that where the Bowen Road began at the river back in the eighteen forties and fifties a ferry boat ran across the Niagara river from Black Rock, New York. This road was commonly called Ferry Road for many years. Later with a new major dock site at Fort Erie South the name Ferry Road gradually died away. Follow Bowen Road west at that time. Three brothers - William, Robert, and Henry Bowen had extensive farms along that country roadway. The name for this long country road became Bowen’s Road. Tait said in 1927, “ Bowen Road now applied from the river to the Humberstone Township line.”
Writer’s note: My ancestor, Cornelius Bowen, was grandfather to the three Bowen brothers. He had been a member of Butler’s Rangers and received an extensive Crown grant in Bertie Township in 1784. His grandsons inherited the Crown grant.
***
Tait also told us about Frenchman’s Creek. Go north from Bowen Road on the Niagara Parkway and there is Frenchman’s Creek. It’s one of the oldest names found on our earliest maps. It is frequently mentioned in the War of 1812-14. Tait wrote, “ Just why the name Frenchman’s Creek was applied to this stream is a conundrum which has not yet been solved. This writer ( George Tait) asked historian Colonel E. Cruikshank a few years ago (circa 1925) and he said it was a puzzle.” Anyone have an answer?
What’s in a name? While researching at Fort Erie Centennial library in Louis McDermott’s extensive historical collection I came across Fort Erie historian George Tait’s 1927 writings. George was interested in local street and place names. This first article is centred around Bridgeburg (North end of Fort Erie). We old timers well remember that name, Bridgeburg. Tait said, “The name means the ‘burg’ at the end of the bridge. The word ‘burg’ is an old German term for a collection of houses or a village. Think of Jarvis Street. That’s centred in old Bridgeburg and once one of the most active streets in the area. Today there are still many stores and shops serving the North End. The first road I researched was Bowen Road. No Queen Elizabeth Way back in George Tait’s day. Today on the Q.E.W. the signs for Bowen Road are quite evident. Bowen Road just north of Highland Avenue in Fort Erie North was the dividing road between the village and the historic Township of Bertie - Lots 8 and 9. Tait tells us that where the Bowen Road began at the river back in the eighteen forties and fifties a ferry boat ran across the Niagara river from Black Rock, New York. This road was commonly called Ferry Road for many years. Later with a new major dock site at Fort Erie South the name Ferry Road gradually died away. Follow Bowen Road west at that time. Three brothers - William, Robert, and Henry Bowen had extensive farms along that country roadway. The name for this long country road became Bowen’s Road. Tait said in 1927, “ Bowen Road now applied from the river to the Humberstone Township line.”
Writer’s note: My ancestor, Cornelius Bowen, was grandfather to the three Bowen brothers. He had been a member of Butler’s Rangers and received an extensive Crown grant in Bertie Township in 1784. His grandsons inherited the Crown grant.
***
Tait also told us about Frenchman’s Creek. Go north from Bowen Road on the Niagara Parkway and there is Frenchman’s Creek. It’s one of the oldest names found on our earliest maps. It is frequently mentioned in the War of 1812-14. Tait wrote, “ Just why the name Frenchman’s Creek was applied to this stream is a conundrum which has not yet been solved. This writer ( George Tait) asked historian Colonel E. Cruikshank a few years ago (circa 1925) and he said it was a puzzle.” Anyone have an answer?
What's in a Name
What’s in a Name Earl Plato
What’s in a name? While researching at Fort Erie Centennial library in Louis McDermott’s extensive historical collection I came across Fort Erie historian George Tait’s 1927 writings. George was interested in local street and place names. This first article is centred around Bridgeburg (North end of Fort Erie). We old timers well remember that name, Bridgeburg. Tait said, “The name means the ‘burg’ at the end of the bridge. The word ‘burg’ is an old German term for a collection of houses or a village. Think of Jarvis Street. That’s centred in old Bridgeburg and once one of the most active streets in the area. Today there are still many stores and shops serving the North End. The first road I researched was Bowen Road. No Queen Elizabeth Way back in George Tait’s day. Today on the Q.E.W. the signs for Bowen Road are quite evident. Bowen Road just north of Highland Avenue in Fort Erie North was the dividing road between the village and the historic Township of Bertie - Lots 8 and 9. Tait tells us that where the Bowen Road began at the river back in the eighteen forties and fifties a ferry boat ran across the Niagara river from Black Rock, New York. This road was commonly called Ferry Road for many years. Later with a new major dock site at Fort Erie South the name Ferry Road gradually died away. Follow Bowen Road west at that time. Three brothers - William, Robert, and Henry Bowen had extensive farms along that country roadway. The name for this long country road became Bowen’s Road. Tait said in 1927, “ Bowen Road now applied from the river to the Humberstone Township line.”
Writer’s note: My ancestor, Cornelius Bowen, was grandfather to the three Bowen brothers. He had been a member of Butler’s Rangers and received an extensive Crown grant in Bertie Township in 1784. His grandsons inherited the Crown grant.
***
Tait also told us about Frenchman’s Creek. Go north from Bowen Road on the Niagara Parkway and there is Frenchman’s Creek. It’s one of the oldest names found on our earliest maps. It is frequently mentioned in the War of 1812-14. Tait wrote, “ Just why the name Frenchman’s Creek was applied to this stream is a conundrum which has not yet been solved. This writer ( George Tait) asked historian Colonel E. Cruikshank a few years ago (circa 1925) and he said it was a puzzle.” Anyone have an answer?
What’s in a name? While researching at Fort Erie Centennial library in Louis McDermott’s extensive historical collection I came across Fort Erie historian George Tait’s 1927 writings. George was interested in local street and place names. This first article is centred around Bridgeburg (North end of Fort Erie). We old timers well remember that name, Bridgeburg. Tait said, “The name means the ‘burg’ at the end of the bridge. The word ‘burg’ is an old German term for a collection of houses or a village. Think of Jarvis Street. That’s centred in old Bridgeburg and once one of the most active streets in the area. Today there are still many stores and shops serving the North End. The first road I researched was Bowen Road. No Queen Elizabeth Way back in George Tait’s day. Today on the Q.E.W. the signs for Bowen Road are quite evident. Bowen Road just north of Highland Avenue in Fort Erie North was the dividing road between the village and the historic Township of Bertie - Lots 8 and 9. Tait tells us that where the Bowen Road began at the river back in the eighteen forties and fifties a ferry boat ran across the Niagara river from Black Rock, New York. This road was commonly called Ferry Road for many years. Later with a new major dock site at Fort Erie South the name Ferry Road gradually died away. Follow Bowen Road west at that time. Three brothers - William, Robert, and Henry Bowen had extensive farms along that country roadway. The name for this long country road became Bowen’s Road. Tait said in 1927, “ Bowen Road now applied from the river to the Humberstone Township line.”
Writer’s note: My ancestor, Cornelius Bowen, was grandfather to the three Bowen brothers. He had been a member of Butler’s Rangers and received an extensive Crown grant in Bertie Township in 1784. His grandsons inherited the Crown grant.
***
Tait also told us about Frenchman’s Creek. Go north from Bowen Road on the Niagara Parkway and there is Frenchman’s Creek. It’s one of the oldest names found on our earliest maps. It is frequently mentioned in the War of 1812-14. Tait wrote, “ Just why the name Frenchman’s Creek was applied to this stream is a conundrum which has not yet been solved. This writer ( George Tait) asked historian Colonel E. Cruikshank a few years ago (circa 1925) and he said it was a puzzle.” Anyone have an answer?
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Go Deep!
Deeper and Deeper at CNP
Frank Flake had to yell for the eight of us visitors to hear. The noise was deafening here in the bowels of the Canadian Niagara Power generating structure. Ken Benner had arranged with Frank for this “in depth” tour and that’s what it had become. I tried to tape record over the noise not so successfully at times.
What a setting for a scary movie! Dark, dank and dreary - a monster could step out anytime. Cheerful Frank was so enthusiastic about his place of work that he dispelled any fears we might have had. We could see into the forebay to our east, facing out on the rapids above the Horseshoe Falls. Frank explained and then answered some of Ken Benner and Bud Henninghan’s questions.
On the west wall the stone masonry was extremely well done and remained in tact all these years. “That’s the work of Scottish stone masons.” Flake stated. Like the ancient walls created by the fine skills of Inca masons the stones fitted perfectly with one another. Stone repair work was being done by skilled workers of Italian descent on the east side. Flake remarked, “The men working here admire the work across the way.” I had not brought a camera for this memorable trip. I wish that I had.
We descended down even lower to the final level. Dampness was every where. On the railings and walls as we carefully walked down. There was just enough light to guide our way. Phantom of the Opera fans would love this place. This level was even more scary than the level above.. C’mon, with cheerful Frank Flake leading what did we have to fear. Ken Benner nudged me and said that even the gals seem to enjoy this trip and they were. This was a thrill we had never experienced.
“November of 1907 was the beginning here,” Frank said. I could just barely hear his voice over the din of the water. Ninety years old and still producing electrical power for us Fort Erieans, amazing! Actually it was 1910 that he said that all of Fort Erie could receive power.
Mr.Flake pointed to an oil bath surrounding one of the eleven turbines in operation. The water going through here at such great speed, boils, and needs the oil to reduce friction and heat. I asked what kind of oil. 10W30? Just joking. It is, however, a special kind of oil accommodating high pressures and temperatures that is utilized. “We have to check the oil levels continually Flake emphasized.
Water was splashing on us from the rotating turbines. Wooden wedges were used to maintain the correctness of the shaft and they too were inspected by the men of Flake’s work force.
At this time Frank said over the roar, “ The water comes from the forebay, hits the water wheel here and goes back into the river. All the water for the plant comes from here. In the forebay we have an electrically driven pump that we haven’t had to use. We check the water before it goes back into the Niagara for chemical content. That last tank is the most important one for from it we finally send the water back to the river. We regularly analyze our water from it.”
Frank told of deer and human bodies that have ended in the forebay. That’s not a pleasant story but you can see how it can occur. Gates on the river are opened to divert the water into the plant. Objects are drawn into the forebay.
Frank Flake is a technician and Ken Benner who has a strong mechanical aptitude could appreciate his description of this operation. Again I could only pick up bits and pieces on my little tape recorder. Still we all found the walk through very interesting and informative.
Repairs to the system was described by our guide and its involves quite some operations of blocking off the water flow in order to repair a column. Remember this isn’t a Sir Adam Beck power plant but Frank pointed out this, “At our discharge tunnel there was a lot of erosion and we had to have a big plate fabricated by Horton Steel of Fort Erie that reinforced that arch at the opening.” In fact we were given an over view of the entire
system. We saw how the system existed before the weir was put in. Ken Benner continued to ask many good questions and our host gladly supplied answers. We had spent well over three hours inside a place I thought I’d never see. Thanks Frank Flake of Canadian Niagara Power for a most thorough “slice” of our local history. It was well worth it.
Retired people continue to be curious about our local surroundings. Those still employed look for “slices” of local history and take advantage of your free time when you can.
Frank Flake had to yell for the eight of us visitors to hear. The noise was deafening here in the bowels of the Canadian Niagara Power generating structure. Ken Benner had arranged with Frank for this “in depth” tour and that’s what it had become. I tried to tape record over the noise not so successfully at times.
What a setting for a scary movie! Dark, dank and dreary - a monster could step out anytime. Cheerful Frank was so enthusiastic about his place of work that he dispelled any fears we might have had. We could see into the forebay to our east, facing out on the rapids above the Horseshoe Falls. Frank explained and then answered some of Ken Benner and Bud Henninghan’s questions.
On the west wall the stone masonry was extremely well done and remained in tact all these years. “That’s the work of Scottish stone masons.” Flake stated. Like the ancient walls created by the fine skills of Inca masons the stones fitted perfectly with one another. Stone repair work was being done by skilled workers of Italian descent on the east side. Flake remarked, “The men working here admire the work across the way.” I had not brought a camera for this memorable trip. I wish that I had.
We descended down even lower to the final level. Dampness was every where. On the railings and walls as we carefully walked down. There was just enough light to guide our way. Phantom of the Opera fans would love this place. This level was even more scary than the level above.. C’mon, with cheerful Frank Flake leading what did we have to fear. Ken Benner nudged me and said that even the gals seem to enjoy this trip and they were. This was a thrill we had never experienced.
“November of 1907 was the beginning here,” Frank said. I could just barely hear his voice over the din of the water. Ninety years old and still producing electrical power for us Fort Erieans, amazing! Actually it was 1910 that he said that all of Fort Erie could receive power.
Mr.Flake pointed to an oil bath surrounding one of the eleven turbines in operation. The water going through here at such great speed, boils, and needs the oil to reduce friction and heat. I asked what kind of oil. 10W30? Just joking. It is, however, a special kind of oil accommodating high pressures and temperatures that is utilized. “We have to check the oil levels continually Flake emphasized.
Water was splashing on us from the rotating turbines. Wooden wedges were used to maintain the correctness of the shaft and they too were inspected by the men of Flake’s work force.
At this time Frank said over the roar, “ The water comes from the forebay, hits the water wheel here and goes back into the river. All the water for the plant comes from here. In the forebay we have an electrically driven pump that we haven’t had to use. We check the water before it goes back into the Niagara for chemical content. That last tank is the most important one for from it we finally send the water back to the river. We regularly analyze our water from it.”
Frank told of deer and human bodies that have ended in the forebay. That’s not a pleasant story but you can see how it can occur. Gates on the river are opened to divert the water into the plant. Objects are drawn into the forebay.
Frank Flake is a technician and Ken Benner who has a strong mechanical aptitude could appreciate his description of this operation. Again I could only pick up bits and pieces on my little tape recorder. Still we all found the walk through very interesting and informative.
Repairs to the system was described by our guide and its involves quite some operations of blocking off the water flow in order to repair a column. Remember this isn’t a Sir Adam Beck power plant but Frank pointed out this, “At our discharge tunnel there was a lot of erosion and we had to have a big plate fabricated by Horton Steel of Fort Erie that reinforced that arch at the opening.” In fact we were given an over view of the entire
system. We saw how the system existed before the weir was put in. Ken Benner continued to ask many good questions and our host gladly supplied answers. We had spent well over three hours inside a place I thought I’d never see. Thanks Frank Flake of Canadian Niagara Power for a most thorough “slice” of our local history. It was well worth it.
Retired people continue to be curious about our local surroundings. Those still employed look for “slices” of local history and take advantage of your free time when you can.
Point Abino, Fort Erie's Historic Indian Site
What a sight to have seen!. An Neutral Indian longhouse 360 feet in length. It and another smaller one did exist in the mid-1600s in Fort Erie. Where? At Point Abino.Many Voices gives various accounts of our early settlement. Check figure 2 on page 19 of our history book.. This is a sketch by Ontario archeologist David Boyle who in 1871 confirmed through personal inspection that there had been a large Neutral Indian village site at Point Abino. It is one of the larger village sites ever recorded in Ontario’s native historical records.
About 1650 the Point Abino palisade village was burned down. The gradually decaying remnants of the support posts of the giant longhouses remained in the ground for years until about a 125 years ago when archeologists in Ontario and New York State examined the various Neutral sites of our town.
Over fifty-five years ago I walked with the late Fort Erie historian, Bert Miller, and my father, Percy, to see what we thought was the Indian burial ground at Point Abino.. Bert did not use the term Neutral or Attawandaron to label these earliest residents of our town. He simply called them “our native people.”
Harvey Holtzworth, Point Abino historian, confirmed with me that what I had believed all these years to be the Neutral Indian burial ground behind his place was incorrect. This beautiful site that I have visited countless times over the years fits instead the description of the large Neutral village location.
Many Voices says under Figure 2 on page 19 that Ontario archeologist Boyle’s sketch: suggests a 1600’s village site on Point Abino leaves us with this puzzling comment, “...but no archeological evidence exists to support it.” I disagree. Thanks to Point Abino historian, Harvey Holtzworth, I have a copy of Boyle’s report. I have read in that Annual 1931 Archeological Report for Ontario some excerpts from David Boyle’s article. I A A Agreat palisaded Neytral Indian villagevatbelieve that they are based on an expert’s research. Why should we disbelieve it? We read from Boyle’s record, “In company with Mr. Cyrenius Bearss, a local resident, I visited a field of several acres in extent on Point Abino in Bertie Township, where thousands of chert (flint) fragments lie on the surface... Mr. Bearss and I proceeded to the ancient site of the Neutral village at the point. Not far away from the field mentioned, but still in the forest, is a large dune of the fine sand that forms so much of the Erie shore in this section. “Bert Miller took us to the what he called, “The Garden of the Gods.” This was at the end of Brown Road along the path that lead to the west shore. The Garden was off to our left nestled among the tree-covered sand ridges. Back then in the 1940’s it was a serene location that Bert loved to visit. It no longer resembles what we saw then. There are various reasons for the decline of the “Garden.”
As we look more closely at the account of Point Abino in the history book I wish to share from my unpublished novel, Our People Live, a description from Chapter Six . It is the heroine in the story, Teana, a Christian Huron girl, rescued by the Neutrals in the 1640’s who is looking down from the forested sand ridge at the Garden of the Gods at Point Abino
“Teana climbed the huge forested sandhill directly behind the Attawandaron village. The warm southwest breeze off Lake Erie caressed her face. She had come here to meditate and pray. Should she descend to the vale below, she thought. She looked down into the vale called by her befrienders, The Garden of the Gods. It was a secluded place. Surrounded by wooded dunes the garden had low lying stands of ground evergreens spread out over the sandy opening. Spread out between them rose the majestic spire-like red junipers. Colonies of tall scouring-rush were conspicuous among the sparse ground vegetation. There interspersed was the annual display of the showy yellow and orange-yellow flowers now in full bloom. They heightened the exotic effect of the scene below. It was a beautiful location to enter but again she asked herself should she enter this sacred place of the Attawandaron people....” .My description of the “garden” above is based on Doctor Charles Zenkert’s account published in 1934 by the Buffalo Museum of Science. Here is that photo from that record. Sad to say a freezing rain in 1969 coated the red junipers and the weight of the encased branches caused great damage. I made a movie of the destruction. Many of the spire-like trees were killed. After years of being part of a dumping place the garden is gone ,changed by the forces of nature and the neglect of man. Fortunately I have more than a mental memory of one of my favourite locations.. In the mid-1960’s we made a super 8mm movie of my young family frolicking in what we called The Garden of the Gods. Treasure your memories. Thanks for Many Voices.
About 1650 the Point Abino palisade village was burned down. The gradually decaying remnants of the support posts of the giant longhouses remained in the ground for years until about a 125 years ago when archeologists in Ontario and New York State examined the various Neutral sites of our town.
Over fifty-five years ago I walked with the late Fort Erie historian, Bert Miller, and my father, Percy, to see what we thought was the Indian burial ground at Point Abino.. Bert did not use the term Neutral or Attawandaron to label these earliest residents of our town. He simply called them “our native people.”
Harvey Holtzworth, Point Abino historian, confirmed with me that what I had believed all these years to be the Neutral Indian burial ground behind his place was incorrect. This beautiful site that I have visited countless times over the years fits instead the description of the large Neutral village location.
Many Voices says under Figure 2 on page 19 that Ontario archeologist Boyle’s sketch: suggests a 1600’s village site on Point Abino leaves us with this puzzling comment, “...but no archeological evidence exists to support it.” I disagree. Thanks to Point Abino historian, Harvey Holtzworth, I have a copy of Boyle’s report. I have read in that Annual 1931 Archeological Report for Ontario some excerpts from David Boyle’s article. I A A Agreat palisaded Neytral Indian villagevatbelieve that they are based on an expert’s research. Why should we disbelieve it? We read from Boyle’s record, “In company with Mr. Cyrenius Bearss, a local resident, I visited a field of several acres in extent on Point Abino in Bertie Township, where thousands of chert (flint) fragments lie on the surface... Mr. Bearss and I proceeded to the ancient site of the Neutral village at the point. Not far away from the field mentioned, but still in the forest, is a large dune of the fine sand that forms so much of the Erie shore in this section. “Bert Miller took us to the what he called, “The Garden of the Gods.” This was at the end of Brown Road along the path that lead to the west shore. The Garden was off to our left nestled among the tree-covered sand ridges. Back then in the 1940’s it was a serene location that Bert loved to visit. It no longer resembles what we saw then. There are various reasons for the decline of the “Garden.”
As we look more closely at the account of Point Abino in the history book I wish to share from my unpublished novel, Our People Live, a description from Chapter Six . It is the heroine in the story, Teana, a Christian Huron girl, rescued by the Neutrals in the 1640’s who is looking down from the forested sand ridge at the Garden of the Gods at Point Abino
“Teana climbed the huge forested sandhill directly behind the Attawandaron village. The warm southwest breeze off Lake Erie caressed her face. She had come here to meditate and pray. Should she descend to the vale below, she thought. She looked down into the vale called by her befrienders, The Garden of the Gods. It was a secluded place. Surrounded by wooded dunes the garden had low lying stands of ground evergreens spread out over the sandy opening. Spread out between them rose the majestic spire-like red junipers. Colonies of tall scouring-rush were conspicuous among the sparse ground vegetation. There interspersed was the annual display of the showy yellow and orange-yellow flowers now in full bloom. They heightened the exotic effect of the scene below. It was a beautiful location to enter but again she asked herself should she enter this sacred place of the Attawandaron people....” .My description of the “garden” above is based on Doctor Charles Zenkert’s account published in 1934 by the Buffalo Museum of Science. Here is that photo from that record. Sad to say a freezing rain in 1969 coated the red junipers and the weight of the encased branches caused great damage. I made a movie of the destruction. Many of the spire-like trees were killed. After years of being part of a dumping place the garden is gone ,changed by the forces of nature and the neglect of man. Fortunately I have more than a mental memory of one of my favourite locations.. In the mid-1960’s we made a super 8mm movie of my young family frolicking in what we called The Garden of the Gods. Treasure your memories. Thanks for Many Voices.
Canadians in the Civil War Earl Plato
Just bought another Civil War magazine this month. This is an article inspired by the title, ‘High Tide at Gettysburg’.
Six times I have gone to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the ‘High Water Mark’ of the American Civil War. Why? I am a Canadian. What would draw me again to those terrible bloody years (1861-64) of American history? On a visit to Westfield Heritage Village near Hamilton, Ontario we saw a marker mounted on a granite boulder. It stated that over 50,000 Canadians fought in the Civil War. I knew this historical fact from years back. That’s one reason I wrote a series of articles. through the eyes of a Canadian. The American Civil War - 1861-1864 - is considered one of the world’s most devastating wars as it pertains to the sheer number of military loss of life and casualties. It killed some 360,000 Union soldiers and 258,000 Confederates and uncounted civilians on both sides. It left 500,000 men - North and South - with wounds and scars they would carry all their lives. More than 50,000 Canadians participated in this “blood bath” with the great majority serving on the side of the North (Union) against the South (Confederacy). I started my series at Gettysburg. Why? The picture of the monument to the 59th New York State Volunteers is there. It is here that this regiment and others held up against “Pickett’s Charge.” In previous articles some years ago I followed the 59th throughout the war. Again, you family researchers, use the government War Department records. Today the Internet offers great sites to help you find your way. Find a Civil War Site and just type the name of the relative and what follows may amaze you. I did and was thrilled to find a relative. Gettysburg is an ideal place to start for a real close look at this horrendous war. “Gettysburg had everything,”
American H.S. Commanger once wrote. “IT was the greatest battle ever fought on the continent. Gettysburg boasts more heroic chapters than any other battle. Yes, it was the high tide of the Confederacy.” Once again I thought about the outcome of those three days. Another American historian, Glenn Tucker, wrote, “Some historians believe Lee and the Confederacy ought to have won at Gettysburg.” He adds that he seeks no scapegoat. The Confederates made some mistakes in timing and failed to make the best us if their artillery. Tucker claims that the decisive factors were in small part luck and in large part individual character often of subordinate commanders.
I definitely agree. Who helped hold the line on that fateful day of Pickett’s Charge?” Look up my favourite union officer, ….. Hancock . He did an outstanding job at Gettysburg and you know what? The 59th New York Volunteers were under his command. A monument testifies to their involvement there.
Just bought another Civil War magazine this month. This is an article inspired by the title, ‘High Tide at Gettysburg’.
Six times I have gone to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the ‘High Water Mark’ of the American Civil War. Why? I am a Canadian. What would draw me again to those terrible bloody years (1861-64) of American history? On a visit to Westfield Heritage Village near Hamilton, Ontario we saw a marker mounted on a granite boulder. It stated that over 50,000 Canadians fought in the Civil War. I knew this historical fact from years back. That’s one reason I wrote a series of articles. through the eyes of a Canadian. The American Civil War - 1861-1864 - is considered one of the world’s most devastating wars as it pertains to the sheer number of military loss of life and casualties. It killed some 360,000 Union soldiers and 258,000 Confederates and uncounted civilians on both sides. It left 500,000 men - North and South - with wounds and scars they would carry all their lives. More than 50,000 Canadians participated in this “blood bath” with the great majority serving on the side of the North (Union) against the South (Confederacy). I started my series at Gettysburg. Why? The picture of the monument to the 59th New York State Volunteers is there. It is here that this regiment and others held up against “Pickett’s Charge.” In previous articles some years ago I followed the 59th throughout the war. Again, you family researchers, use the government War Department records. Today the Internet offers great sites to help you find your way. Find a Civil War Site and just type the name of the relative and what follows may amaze you. I did and was thrilled to find a relative. Gettysburg is an ideal place to start for a real close look at this horrendous war. “Gettysburg had everything,”
American H.S. Commanger once wrote. “IT was the greatest battle ever fought on the continent. Gettysburg boasts more heroic chapters than any other battle. Yes, it was the high tide of the Confederacy.” Once again I thought about the outcome of those three days. Another American historian, Glenn Tucker, wrote, “Some historians believe Lee and the Confederacy ought to have won at Gettysburg.” He adds that he seeks no scapegoat. The Confederates made some mistakes in timing and failed to make the best us if their artillery. Tucker claims that the decisive factors were in small part luck and in large part individual character often of subordinate commanders.
I definitely agree. Who helped hold the line on that fateful day of Pickett’s Charge?” Look up my favourite union officer, ….. Hancock . He did an outstanding job at Gettysburg and you know what? The 59th New York Volunteers were under his command. A monument testifies to their involvement there.
Canadians in the Civil War
Civil War-6 Earl Plato
The Dunkers: Because of my own Pennsylvania Dutch background I researched the Mumma Dunker church and their beliefs. Their worship services included washing the feet of their brethren. It was an act of love as their Lord Jesus had done. They served lamb stew in a communal pot eating from it to demonstrate a humble oneness. They advocated baptism by complete immersion. It was this practice from which they were called in their German language - Dunkers.
Picture these simple, peace loving farmers following the church service of Sunday, Sept. 14, 1862. They must have talked about the news that two great armies were in their midst. That afternoon they could hear the distant thunder of artillery from South Mountain. Remember that these Dunkers had a faith that included not only simplicity in their faith but they were also devout Pacifists. Like the Quakers they believed in not being involved in warfare. They believed that the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus, wanted them to practise loving one’s enemies. Little did they know that soon their little white-washed church would be the centre of a maelstrom of a terrible conflict.
Union General Joe Hooker had placed his finger on a tactical map the next day. His finger was right at the height of land on which the Dunker Church was located! That same day 8,000 Confederate troops moved onto the Dunker Church site. Their leader? One of the most devout Christian generals of the Civil War, Stonewall Jackson. Ironic?
Next day, at 9 a.m. that fateful September 17 the Mumma Dunker Church was the focal point of repeated clashes as both armies sought to occupy and hold the high ground around the little church. During the battle the church served fittingly as a hospital. We learn that both sides fought and found sanctuary for their wounded. First one side then the other fought over the church and surrounding grounds. How many times the little church exchanged hands I don’t recall but it was several. Union artillery finally battered the walls of the church but in the end Jackson and his men held fast. Secure in the surrounding woods the Confederates could not be dislodged from the higher land. “Stonewall” Jackson became his lasting appellation. The Miller Cornfield: We stopped the car and got out to examine the site where more fighting took place than anywhere else on the Antietam battle field. Basking in the sunlight of that April day we read the plaque. Here was a cornfield just as it was 140 years ago. Corn would grow taller than a man’s reach in the month’s ahead. The plaque quoted the words of General Hooker who wrote: “... every stalk of corn in the field was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain laid in rows...” The battlelines swept back and forth across the field for three hours.
The large majority of the 12,410 Union soldiers killed and the 10,700 Confederates killed at Antetiam occurred here. Guess what? Remember General Stonewall Jackson? He moved his troops from their secure position at the Dunker church a half mile north and met Hooker’s forces head on in that Miller cornfield. History records that his men eventually stopped the Union advance.
Hooker’s words written after the war’s cessation: “It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battlefield than Antetiam.”
Next: Bloody Lane - The Battle of Antetiam concludes.
The Dunkers: Because of my own Pennsylvania Dutch background I researched the Mumma Dunker church and their beliefs. Their worship services included washing the feet of their brethren. It was an act of love as their Lord Jesus had done. They served lamb stew in a communal pot eating from it to demonstrate a humble oneness. They advocated baptism by complete immersion. It was this practice from which they were called in their German language - Dunkers.
Picture these simple, peace loving farmers following the church service of Sunday, Sept. 14, 1862. They must have talked about the news that two great armies were in their midst. That afternoon they could hear the distant thunder of artillery from South Mountain. Remember that these Dunkers had a faith that included not only simplicity in their faith but they were also devout Pacifists. Like the Quakers they believed in not being involved in warfare. They believed that the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus, wanted them to practise loving one’s enemies. Little did they know that soon their little white-washed church would be the centre of a maelstrom of a terrible conflict.
Union General Joe Hooker had placed his finger on a tactical map the next day. His finger was right at the height of land on which the Dunker Church was located! That same day 8,000 Confederate troops moved onto the Dunker Church site. Their leader? One of the most devout Christian generals of the Civil War, Stonewall Jackson. Ironic?
Next day, at 9 a.m. that fateful September 17 the Mumma Dunker Church was the focal point of repeated clashes as both armies sought to occupy and hold the high ground around the little church. During the battle the church served fittingly as a hospital. We learn that both sides fought and found sanctuary for their wounded. First one side then the other fought over the church and surrounding grounds. How many times the little church exchanged hands I don’t recall but it was several. Union artillery finally battered the walls of the church but in the end Jackson and his men held fast. Secure in the surrounding woods the Confederates could not be dislodged from the higher land. “Stonewall” Jackson became his lasting appellation. The Miller Cornfield: We stopped the car and got out to examine the site where more fighting took place than anywhere else on the Antietam battle field. Basking in the sunlight of that April day we read the plaque. Here was a cornfield just as it was 140 years ago. Corn would grow taller than a man’s reach in the month’s ahead. The plaque quoted the words of General Hooker who wrote: “... every stalk of corn in the field was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain laid in rows...” The battlelines swept back and forth across the field for three hours.
The large majority of the 12,410 Union soldiers killed and the 10,700 Confederates killed at Antetiam occurred here. Guess what? Remember General Stonewall Jackson? He moved his troops from their secure position at the Dunker church a half mile north and met Hooker’s forces head on in that Miller cornfield. History records that his men eventually stopped the Union advance.
Hooker’s words written after the war’s cessation: “It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battlefield than Antetiam.”
Next: Bloody Lane - The Battle of Antetiam concludes.
Canadians in the Civil War
Civil War-5 Earl Plato
We four Canadians had driven from Fort Erie in April heading for the Civil War battle site at Antietam Creek, Maryland. We drove south on 219 out of Buffalo. Check it out on your atlas. Look for Sharpsburg, Maryland.
Remember Civil War historian, Bruce Catton’s words “ ... was the bloodiest single day’s work in the entire Civil War.”
Writer’s Note: The afternoon phase of the battle took place from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the stone bridge (Burnside). However, I recalled two other memorable battle sites on that Antietam battlefield and must tell about them too, but the bridge first.
The Bridge: Captain David Thompson a Union officer wrote, “At Antietam our Corps, the 9th, under Burnside, was on the extreme left opposite the stone bridge.”
Note: The New York Volunteer Regiment the 59th was there. Now was the time for the Union to attack and they tried to cross the narrow bridge. Time and time again they were forced back. By whom? By a few hundred Georgia riflemen stationed among the trees on the far bank. Burnside kept pouring fresh troops at the well entrenched Georgians. The 59th were here and lost men in those futile attempts to gain the Lower bridge and attack the enemy from the flank. Burnside refused to stop the assault on the Lower bridge. One historian said that the fighting here at Burnside’s bridge was a key factor in the Union’s McClelland’ failure at Antietam. He felt that if General Burnside had been allowed to attack early in the day things would have been different. Why?
Late in the afternoon the 9th Corps (including the 59th) took the Lower bridge at a great loss of Union soldiers. Burnside reformed his regiments and began to march across the rolling hills toward Sharpsburg. His aim was to cut off Lee. You know the oft repeated story. General Lee, the brilliant strategist, sent his General A.P. Hill, who had just arrived from Harper’s Ferry to cut off Burnside, and his decimated 9th Corps. Just as Burnside was about to reach an advantageous position Hill attacked and drove the 9th back. Battle over for now.
The big ‘IF’ - if McCelland, the ever procrastinator, had allowed Burnside to move across the Lower bridge at Antietam Creek early in the morning it might have spelled a major defeat for the South. It didn’t happen. Earlier that day - The Dunker Church: - On that September 17, 1862 morning the first battle clashed centred around the little Dunker church.
Many of us in Fort Erie have some Dunker relatives and ties. The Dunkers were German Baptist Brethren. Many had settled in the immediate area around Sharpsburg, Maryland. In 1851 the Mumma family donated a tract of land near their farm for the construction of a church. In 1853 the small brick building was completed. It was whitewashed as the photo shows. No steeple or cross to adorn the simple building. These were plain hard working farmers. Little did they know by September 14, 1852 these peace loving folk and their church would be in the centre of a major battle.
Next: The church in the centre.
Canadians in the Civil War
Civil War-4 Earl Plato
At first the North (Union) gave a valiant effort but the South (Confederates) prevailed. Retreating Union soldiers and frightened civilians headed back to Washington. An important bridge broke down
at this time. Famed Civil War historian, Bruce Catton wrote: “... the carriages tried to drive through the wreckage at the same time army wagons and guns were coming along, and there was one of the grandest traffic jams in American history.”
The Union army retreat became uncontrollable. Fortunately in this initial battle the Confederate army was almost disorganized by its victory as the Union army was by its defeat.
The reasons the Confederates under General G.T. Beauregard didn’t pursue the retreating Union army and enter Washington are still argued. One thing seems to stand out. Organized supply lines, which a trained Confederate Quartermaster’s Corps should have in place and didn’t, might have made the difference.
The famed southern General “Stonewall” Jackson received his nickname here. During the height of the initial Union attack on the Henry House Hill it was Jackson’s brigade which held the line. Another Confederate officer trying to rally his men pointed to Jackson’s men and shouted, “Look! there’s Jackson, standing like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians.” He was called “Stonewall” Jackson from that time.
The 59th: As stated, the 59th was stationed in fortifications surrounding and protecting Washington, D.C. The regiment was moved out to various locations in northern Virginia.
So far the 59th had not been in any battle but now the 2nd Army Corps had orders. They were about to experience the horrors of war as part of the Maryland Campaign of September 6 to 22, 1862.
Civil War historian, Bruce Catton wrote, “... was probably the bloodiest single day in the entire Civil War.”
Next: The Battle of Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862.
To you Civil War buffs I would suggest you look up the Battle of South Mountain, if you haven’t done so. I wrote two articles about this early Civil War battle in which the importance of having a good Quartermaster Corps present and used properly was pointed out. The 59th was there. Canadians were now joining the Union Army in greater numbers. Writer’s Note: Submit your Canadian surname to the Civil War genealogical groups and hopefully find your name attached to a Civil War unit. That’s what I did with a little help from an American relative.
It is hard to believe that just a few days after the debacle of South Mountain a second battle would ensue so quickly.
At first the North (Union) gave a valiant effort but the South (Confederates) prevailed. Retreating Union soldiers and frightened civilians headed back to Washington. An important bridge broke down
at this time. Famed Civil War historian, Bruce Catton wrote: “... the carriages tried to drive through the wreckage at the same time army wagons and guns were coming along, and there was one of the grandest traffic jams in American history.”
The Union army retreat became uncontrollable. Fortunately in this initial battle the Confederate army was almost disorganized by its victory as the Union army was by its defeat.
The reasons the Confederates under General G.T. Beauregard didn’t pursue the retreating Union army and enter Washington are still argued. One thing seems to stand out. Organized supply lines, which a trained Confederate Quartermaster’s Corps should have in place and didn’t, might have made the difference.
The famed southern General “Stonewall” Jackson received his nickname here. During the height of the initial Union attack on the Henry House Hill it was Jackson’s brigade which held the line. Another Confederate officer trying to rally his men pointed to Jackson’s men and shouted, “Look! there’s Jackson, standing like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians.” He was called “Stonewall” Jackson from that time.
The 59th: As stated, the 59th was stationed in fortifications surrounding and protecting Washington, D.C. The regiment was moved out to various locations in northern Virginia.
So far the 59th had not been in any battle but now the 2nd Army Corps had orders. They were about to experience the horrors of war as part of the Maryland Campaign of September 6 to 22, 1862.
Civil War historian, Bruce Catton wrote, “... was probably the bloodiest single day in the entire Civil War.”
Next: The Battle of Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862.
To you Civil War buffs I would suggest you look up the Battle of South Mountain, if you haven’t done so. I wrote two articles about this early Civil War battle in which the importance of having a good Quartermaster Corps present and used properly was pointed out. The 59th was there. Canadians were now joining the Union Army in greater numbers. Writer’s Note: Submit your Canadian surname to the Civil War genealogical groups and hopefully find your name attached to a Civil War unit. That’s what I did with a little help from an American relative.
It is hard to believe that just a few days after the debacle of South Mountain a second battle would ensue so quickly.
Civil War 3 Canadians
Civil War -3 Earl Plato
The 59th left the state to join the army at Washington, D.C. on November 23, 1861. The records show that they were attached to General Wadsworth’s command for the defences of Washington until March, 1862. The capitol was in danger from Lee’s Confederate Army just across the boundary in Virginia. Lincoln decided to take the offence. The 59th was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, General Casey’s Division, The Army of the Potomac. This is where our Civil War story of 23 terrible battles begins with the 59th N.Y. State Volunteers. I believe that it is a remarkable record for a volunteer regiment. Unfortunately we can only high light the major battles. They are as follows: Antietam, 2nd Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Siege and Fall of Petersburg, and Appomattox Court House. I have visited all these sites in past years.
Civil War researchers know what can happen when one record says that the 59th was at the First Bull Run. However, Official records of the War of the Rebellion for both the Union and Confederate Armies, a 128 volume set, published by the War Department states that the Battle of the First Bull Run was fought July 21, 1861 without the 59th present.
Furthermore, Arthur Candequist, Civil War Society historian, in a letter to me August 19, 1991 confirmed that the 59th N.Y. State Volunteers were not at the First Battle of Manassas or Bull Run. Remember the 59th did not enter active service until two months later. So?
I want to make a point with a look at this first major battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run, even though the 59th was not there.
Next: 1st Bull Run and onwards with the 59th. Remember Canadians were there.
Just a “Sunday Outing” or so it appeared to be, the First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. Remember the word “run” meant a small stream.
This first battle of the American Civil War was fought only thirty miles from the country’s capital, Washington, D.C. History recorded that ordinary civilians out for a Sunday excursion in their buggies thought that it “would be fun” to see an actual battle up close. They would watch the superior Union forces (superior only in numbers) send the Confederates “high-tailing” it down the road to the Southern capital, Richmond, Virginia. That’s not what actually happened.
I have walked this site of the historic battlefield. There are various monuments and imposing statues across the open fields. I could picture in my mind’s eye that Sunday, July 21, 1861. It was an unreal situation. Who would know what price was to be paid as a result of turning to war. Brother against brother, friend against friend, all would be changed forever that eventful Sunday.
The 59th left the state to join the army at Washington, D.C. on November 23, 1861. The records show that they were attached to General Wadsworth’s command for the defences of Washington until March, 1862. The capitol was in danger from Lee’s Confederate Army just across the boundary in Virginia. Lincoln decided to take the offence. The 59th was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, General Casey’s Division, The Army of the Potomac. This is where our Civil War story of 23 terrible battles begins with the 59th N.Y. State Volunteers. I believe that it is a remarkable record for a volunteer regiment. Unfortunately we can only high light the major battles. They are as follows: Antietam, 2nd Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Siege and Fall of Petersburg, and Appomattox Court House. I have visited all these sites in past years.
Civil War researchers know what can happen when one record says that the 59th was at the First Bull Run. However, Official records of the War of the Rebellion for both the Union and Confederate Armies, a 128 volume set, published by the War Department states that the Battle of the First Bull Run was fought July 21, 1861 without the 59th present.
Furthermore, Arthur Candequist, Civil War Society historian, in a letter to me August 19, 1991 confirmed that the 59th N.Y. State Volunteers were not at the First Battle of Manassas or Bull Run. Remember the 59th did not enter active service until two months later. So?
I want to make a point with a look at this first major battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run, even though the 59th was not there.
Next: 1st Bull Run and onwards with the 59th. Remember Canadians were there.
Just a “Sunday Outing” or so it appeared to be, the First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. Remember the word “run” meant a small stream.
This first battle of the American Civil War was fought only thirty miles from the country’s capital, Washington, D.C. History recorded that ordinary civilians out for a Sunday excursion in their buggies thought that it “would be fun” to see an actual battle up close. They would watch the superior Union forces (superior only in numbers) send the Confederates “high-tailing” it down the road to the Southern capital, Richmond, Virginia. That’s not what actually happened.
I have walked this site of the historic battlefield. There are various monuments and imposing statues across the open fields. I could picture in my mind’s eye that Sunday, July 21, 1861. It was an unreal situation. Who would know what price was to be paid as a result of turning to war. Brother against brother, friend against friend, all would be changed forever that eventful Sunday.
Civil War 2
Canadians in the Civil War Part 2 Earl Plato
This writer wishes to follow the course of one regiment during its long service in the American Civil War. The 59th New York State Volunteer Regiment served in most of the major battles from 1861-1865.
I traced the career of one particular officer, eventually Captain Nelson Plato of the 59th. As a long time Civil War “buff” my interest was heightened by information that fellow Plato Family historian, the late Dick Dickinson, provided me. Remember your family roots. He told me of a Plato from New York State who had served throughout the Civil War. Interested? Of course. I went on a search to the Buffalo Historical Museum Archives after the Centennial of the war years in the late 1960’s. Musty old books were brought down from high shelves and I found the Muster Roll of the Field and Staff Officers of the 59th. No computer access at that time just a “hands on” search. Now you can go on the Internet and bring up much material if you’re a Civil War “nut” like me.
The 59th Regiment of Volunteers of New York State began under the command of Colonel William Linn Tidball and was called into service of the United States by President Lincoln on the 10 th day of October, 1861. The roster was as follows: Colonel Tidball, Lieut.Col. Phillip Joachimsen, Major William Northridge, 1st Lieut. Nelson Plato, 1st Lieut. Joah Jeffries, and Surgeon, Dr. Joseph Colgan.
We read that Nelson Plato was signed for duty on August 3, 1861 personally by Colonel Tidball. It records that he was the only commissioned officer so chosen. Why? Plato was to be the Quartermaster of the 59th. That’s a very important position as you will see. Nelson Plato enlisted Howard Tompkins as a Sergeant for the non-commissioned staff on October 5, 1861. These two would serve together in the Quartermaster Corps throughout the war. Both were wounded and promoted before all was over. Canadians in the Civil War? Yes.
Next: The First Battle of Bull Run
This writer wishes to follow the course of one regiment during its long service in the American Civil War. The 59th New York State Volunteer Regiment served in most of the major battles from 1861-1865.
I traced the career of one particular officer, eventually Captain Nelson Plato of the 59th. As a long time Civil War “buff” my interest was heightened by information that fellow Plato Family historian, the late Dick Dickinson, provided me. Remember your family roots. He told me of a Plato from New York State who had served throughout the Civil War. Interested? Of course. I went on a search to the Buffalo Historical Museum Archives after the Centennial of the war years in the late 1960’s. Musty old books were brought down from high shelves and I found the Muster Roll of the Field and Staff Officers of the 59th. No computer access at that time just a “hands on” search. Now you can go on the Internet and bring up much material if you’re a Civil War “nut” like me.
The 59th Regiment of Volunteers of New York State began under the command of Colonel William Linn Tidball and was called into service of the United States by President Lincoln on the 10 th day of October, 1861. The roster was as follows: Colonel Tidball, Lieut.Col. Phillip Joachimsen, Major William Northridge, 1st Lieut. Nelson Plato, 1st Lieut. Joah Jeffries, and Surgeon, Dr. Joseph Colgan.
We read that Nelson Plato was signed for duty on August 3, 1861 personally by Colonel Tidball. It records that he was the only commissioned officer so chosen. Why? Plato was to be the Quartermaster of the 59th. That’s a very important position as you will see. Nelson Plato enlisted Howard Tompkins as a Sergeant for the non-commissioned staff on October 5, 1861. These two would serve together in the Quartermaster Corps throughout the war. Both were wounded and promoted before all was over. Canadians in the Civil War? Yes.
Next: The First Battle of Bull Run
Canadians in the American Civil War
Canadians in the Civil War Earl Plato
Six times I have gone to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the ‘High Water Mark’ of the American Civil War. Why? I am a Canadian. What would draw me again to those terrible bloody years (1861-64) of American history? On a visit to Westfield Heritage Village near Hamilton, Ontario we saw a marker mounted on a granite boulder. It stated that over 50,000 Canadians fought in the Civil War. I knew this historical fact from years back. That’s one reason I wrote a series of articles. through the eyes of a Canadian. The American Civil War - 1861-1864 - is considered one of the world’s most devastating wars as it pertains to the shreer number of military loss of life and casualties. It killed some 360,000 Union soldiers and 258,000 Confederates and uncounted civilians on both sides. It left 500,000 men - North and South - with wounds and scars they would carry all their lives. More than 50,000 Canadians participated in this “blood bath” with the great majority serving on the side of the North (Union) against the South (Confederacy).
I will start this series at Gettysburg. Why? The picture of the monument to the 59th New York State Volunteers is there. It is here that this regiment and others held up against “Pickett’s Charge.” We will follow the 59th throughout the war. Again, you family researchers, use the government War Department records. Today the Internet offers great sites to help you find your way. Find a Civil War Site and just type the name of the relative and what follows may amaze you.
On the second of six trips to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania I took my son, Paul, three of his high school friends, and we camped in two tents for three days in August many years ago. Paul bought a Confederate officer’s hat and I bought a Union soldier’s cap, which I just wore. Why not the 59th?
Six times I have gone to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and the ‘High Water Mark’ of the American Civil War. Why? I am a Canadian. What would draw me again to those terrible bloody years (1861-64) of American history? On a visit to Westfield Heritage Village near Hamilton, Ontario we saw a marker mounted on a granite boulder. It stated that over 50,000 Canadians fought in the Civil War. I knew this historical fact from years back. That’s one reason I wrote a series of articles. through the eyes of a Canadian. The American Civil War - 1861-1864 - is considered one of the world’s most devastating wars as it pertains to the shreer number of military loss of life and casualties. It killed some 360,000 Union soldiers and 258,000 Confederates and uncounted civilians on both sides. It left 500,000 men - North and South - with wounds and scars they would carry all their lives. More than 50,000 Canadians participated in this “blood bath” with the great majority serving on the side of the North (Union) against the South (Confederacy).
I will start this series at Gettysburg. Why? The picture of the monument to the 59th New York State Volunteers is there. It is here that this regiment and others held up against “Pickett’s Charge.” We will follow the 59th throughout the war. Again, you family researchers, use the government War Department records. Today the Internet offers great sites to help you find your way. Find a Civil War Site and just type the name of the relative and what follows may amaze you.
On the second of six trips to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania I took my son, Paul, three of his high school friends, and we camped in two tents for three days in August many years ago. Paul bought a Confederate officer’s hat and I bought a Union soldier’s cap, which I just wore. Why not the 59th?
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