| THE FORT ERIE TIMES Sunday, December 11, 2011 Saturday night was a great opportunity for people in Fort Erie to get warmed up for the many War of 1812 Bicentennial events to take place in the New Year. Literally. The bicentennial planning committee, along with the Second Lincoln Militia Artillery, hosted a bonfire at the Coal Docks property to commemorate a time in 1813 when Niagara-on-the-Lake and several other nearby Canadian communities were destroyed by fire as a consequence of an American decision during one of the worse winters on record. In retaliation, British and Canadian forces captured Fort Niagara in Lewiston, N.Y. and reciprocated American action by setting fire to every community on the U.S. side of the Niagara River. Across the Niagara River from Fort Erie, the thriving communities of Black Rock (now a suburb of Buffalo) and Buffalo were also set to the torch. As a memorial and commemorative bid, Fort Erie and Buffalo hosted a co-ordinated event. Bonfires were lit on both sides of the border. Over a hundred people gathered for the blaze in Fort Erie on Saturday night, which 1812 committee member John Sek says he was quite pleased to see. "This is a good start, that the public is excited to see these types of things," said Sek. By 2013, the planning committee hopes this will become a fiery tradition more than it has become over the last two winters and communities all along the river will be able to participate, to tribute the 200 years of peace that has existed between both nations. |
Jim Hill, director of heritage for the Niagara Parks Commission, is looking forward to the many events and celebrations leading up to the massive history spectacle that will take over the region this June... and this is one of them.
The Dominion Repertoire Theatre group has been assigned the task of performing 'The Eagle and the Lion' at the Old Fort Welcome Centre in January. This is another unique occasion that Hill feels will keep people interested in local history leading up to the much larger celebrations. "It will be a great opportunity for people to get out in the winter and enjoy what's going on," he said. The federal government has designated October 2012 as a national month of commemoration for the War of 1812. "There's a lot of great stuff that's coming along," he said. A total of eight performances of The Lion and the Eagle will be happening on Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout January in the new Welcome Centre at Old Fort Erie. Tickets are available at Benjamin Moore Paints. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door, student tickets are $13 and $10 respectively. Group rate is $10 per ticket for 10 or more. |
Cross-border fires represent 200 years of peace
