May – June, 2016 Issue 1 Introduction updated on what is happening at In addition to these relatively new our favourite historic site. activities, Fort Malden will be t has been many years offering a new “Escape Room” since the last Garrison game, where visitors can solve I Gazette, and in that puzzles to escape the Soldiers time many changes have occurred. Barracks. The first big change has been our This year, our annual Military name: no longer are we the Fort Heritage Days event will highlight Malden Volunteer Association. As the Provincial Marine as they will we are a non-profit charitable be holding a “School of the organization, which works in Sailor.” We are anticipating conjunction with Fort Malden several boats from the War of 1812 National Site and Parks Canada, Member/Volunteer era, as well as naval artillery on we have changed our name to e are always looking land. It is sure to be a great Friends of Fort Malden. for new members or addition to an exciting event. W volunteers. If you have any interest in the historical past of We are excited to welcome new Fort Malden and want to become a and returning visitors to the Fort member or you just want to help this year, and we hope you can join out at events during the year, us for our special events. contact Peter Wright (President) 226 – 347– 5022. I would be New in the Garden pleased to meet with you. From The Fort The Friends of Fort Malden have he 2016 season is nearly been very active over the past upon us, and this is a several years since our last T great time to reflect on communiqué, helping with the changes over the Military Heritage Days, running a past year and to look forward to the new programmes and features BBQ during Art by the River, holding an annual 50 – 50 Draw, for this upcoming visitor season. and hosting several dinners with n 2014, our victualler The Fort has added many new the ever entertaining Seamus Gunn (Mark Feltoe volunteer activities to our regular at the Royal Canadian Legion Fort I gardener) was able to programming over the past couple Malden Branch. acquire hop stem cuttings from of years. Some of these new Black Creek Pioneer Village. Please enjoy this copy of the activities include visitor musket revitalized and renamed The and cannon firing, overnight Since then, he has managed to turn Sentry Post. We hope to publish camping experiences, and soldier’s these little plants into towering one every few months to keep you stew days. vines of hops. 1 They have become a focal feature was moved from Fort Street across of our 1850’s pensioner’s garden. from the lot that Sobeys Grocery Many of the local enrolled Store is currently occupying. It pensioner’s grew their own herbs was placed directly behind the Fort for other medicinal uses or Malden maintenance garage, and a personal consumption, including white picket fence was constructed hops for making beer. Mark has in front as would have been done also acquired tobacco, which was with most of the cottages in the also prevalent in many of the Town. Interestingly, the picket pensioner’s garden. fence was only a front, as the sides would have been split rail fencing. Come check out these two restored buildings from a largely forgotten In the 1990’s, the Fort Malden part of Amherstburg’s fascinating Volunteer Association helped with history. installing a brick patio and ramp, and used the cottage to serve lunch History Highlights to students who came to the Fort for school programmes. This 1812 operation ceased in the late 90’s, and the Fort staff began animating and interpreting the building and June 18: The United States We are continuing to expand our surrounding gardens. declares war on Great Britain. period gardens, which include herbs, heirloom vegetables and June 28: Colonel St. George, colourful flowers that grew in the Commander at Fort Malden area during the middle of the 19th receives word of war. With about century, and we are always on the 300 British regulars in lookout for volunteers to help with Amherstburg. weeding and cultivating. 1813 April 27: The provincial capital of Fort Facts and Finds York (now Toronto) is attacked In 2012, Mark Feltoe began and burned by the Americans. he 1851 Pensioner’s volunteering at the Fort, and has Among the items captured and Cottage at Fort helped turn the gardens into destroyed are the cannons and T Malden is a very beautiful and accurate supplies intended for the Detroit, unique artefact in Parks Canada’s representations of what a pensioner under construction at collection. Yes, it is in fact may have had growing in the Amherstburg. classified as an artefact as opposed 1850’s. to an historic building. It was April 30: The British under originally given to Sergeant The O’Connor Cottage is one of Major-General Henry Procter set Charles O’Connor of the 32nd only two restored Pensioner’s up batteries across the river from Regiment of Foot during the Cottages in Amherstburg, the other Fort Meigs and commence firing. Enrolled Pensioner’s scheme of the one being in the King’s Navy Yard 1850’s. The purpose of the Park, which belonged to Private programme was to install staunch, Matthew Pollard, late of the 28th May 3: The British set up loyal veterans to populate the Regiment of Foot. It is operated additional batteries just below the town, serve as guards and by the Park House Museum, and Fort Meigs and commenced a occasional garrison of the Fort and now is used as a tinsmith and cross-fire. the blockhouses on Bois Blanc, printing press exhibit. and act as a first line of defence in the event of an attack. The cottage 2 June 24: The Americans Military Heritage Days surrender to Lieutenant James July 30 & 31, 2016 FitzGibbon at Beaver Dams. ome to Fort Malden Solider Stew Days Nation Historic Sites to C see 2000 years of f you are looking for military history as we take you something to have from Romans to Redcoats and beyond. I around lunch time. Come on down to Fort Malden and enjoy a delicious soldier’s stew! The whole family will be blown May 4: Major-General Henry away by muskets, cannons and Procter demands the surrender of music. Kids can participate in the the post; Major-General William Parks Canada Xplorer Scavenger Henry Harrison refuses, expecting Hunt, learn to march like a British reinforcements at any moment. Soldier, or dress up as a boat and participate in a water fight to May 5: American Colonel recreate the Battle of Lake Erie. William Dudley leads a two- pronged attack on the British gun positions. After the fighting ceases, Major-General Henry Procter demands surrender again, but Major-General William Henry Which includes: Harrison refuses. A bowl of solider beef stew (to keep you May 7: Prisoners are exchanged. marching). Two days later, the British lift the A chuck of local bread (for siege and return to Amherstburg. strength in wartime). Dessert (to keep your Discover ever more through May 27: American cross the morale up). interactive opportunities, such as Niagara River early morning and tactical and musical attack Newark and Fort George. Pick up your Solider Stew ticket, demonstrations and various every Friday and Saturday from military encampments will be sure June: Captain Robert Barclay, May to September at the Visitor to inspire long lasting, unique RN, assumes command of the Centre or Museum at $4.90 memories for all. Special Lake Erie Fleet. Admission Fees are as following: Upcoming Events Adult………………………..$4.90 Canada Day at Fort Malden Senior…………………….....$4.40 Youth…………………….....$3.65 st July 1 , 2016 Family/Group……………...$11.70 elebrate our nation’s Art by the River birthday at Fort Malden August 27 & 28, 2016 C National Historic Site. Enjoy the activities of the day and ove art? Join over 150 June 6: Billy Green and the a fireworks finale along the Detroit topnotch artists and British army, march from River! This tradition event is the artisans at Art by the Burlington Height to Stoney Creek best in the region and not to be L River, Essex County’s original arts thought the night to American missed! Free Admission Fees all and crafts festival. Browse before camp at Gage House. day. 3 you buy. All art is juried and personally handmade by the artists. Enjoy the art, music, magic and history of Art by the River – an old town, end of summer tradition since 1967. Special Admission Fees are as following: $5.00 per person, youth under 12 free. Seasonal Pass Haunted Fort Adult……………………… $9.80 Senior……………………...$ 3.40 October, 2016 Youth……………………....$4.90 Check out our Facebook Pages for Family/Group……………..$24.50 more details this summer. Fort Hours Facebook Spring Hours Lease feel free to check May 21 – June 30 out both Facebook Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 pages, Friends of Fort am – 5 pm. *Last admission sold at P Malden or the Parks Canada Fort 4:15pm. Malden National Historic Site, for any upcoming events or photos we post. Fort Malden National Historic Site. https://www.facebook.com/FortMalde nNHS Friends of Fort Malden. https://www.facebook.com/friendsof fortmalden Summer Hours July 1st – September 4 Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm. *Last admission sold at 4:15 pm. Fall Hours September 5 – October 9 Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. * Last admission sold at 4:15 pm.