New Website Launches for the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812

New Website Launches 

for the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812

Hamilton, ON-August 12, 2011 - The Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

(WCA) has launched a new website for visitors to access information about events and initiatives

surrounding the Bicentennial for the War of 1812 in the Western Corridor of Southern Ontario.

The Bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 has been identified as a key tourism

opportunity for the region, and the new WCA portal will allow new visitors to easily plan their

entire 1812 Bicentennial trip and educational experience from one central website.

The website www.westerncorridor1812.com

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has an Events Database, searchable by location, time and type of event

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shows a video highlighting the history and events of the war in this Region

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provides timely updates on any 1812 news nationally and internationally

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links to Partner’s sites so visitors learn about local initiatives marking the war

The site will also link to many other sites relating to the Bicentennial and the history of the war,

including the documentary Rural Raids and Divided Loyalties, a three part series telling of the

raids by American General McArthur in October of 1814. Visitors can follow McArthur’s path

by travelling along Route 1812. This historic driving trail highlights museums, historic sites and

battlefields involved in the War of 1812.

The story of the war in this region is one of courageous settlers and First Nations willing to stand

up and defend their homes from the invading force of American raiding parties and traitors as

they burned mills and stole supplies.

The WCA is a partnership of all the municipalities within the Western Corridor as it extends

from Halton Hills through Hamilton, Brantford and London, ending at Middlesex County, it also

includes the counties along the North shore of Lake Erie; Haldimand, Norfolk and Elgin. This

website was made possible by generous support from the Hamilton Halton Brant Regional

Tourism Organization and the Government of Ontario.

Media Contact

Adrienne Horne

WCA Regional Project Manager

adrienne.horne@hamilton.ca

For more information visitwww.westerncorridor1812.com

Dyeing Workshop at Backus-Page House Museum

Time	Saturday, September 17 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location	Backus-Page House Museum 29424 Lakeview Line, Wallacetown
Created By	Backus-Page House Museum
More Info	One of our fantastic volunteers, Carol, will be offering a FREE workshop to learn Dyeing. You must bring: large cooking pot (pot will not be useable for anything else except dyeing after this), washed wool (spun or fleece) 1lb of vegetable matter (mullen, onion skins, Queen Anne's Lace flower heads, marigold petals). All registrations and questions should be directed to Carol at 519-768-2976.

8th Annual Heritage Farm Show

8th Annual Heritage Farm Show

Labour Day Weekend

September 3rd and 4th

Backus Page-House Museum

29424 Lakeview Line,

Wallacetown, Ontario

Summer is winding down and it is time for the annual Heritage Farm Show at the Backus-Page House, located just south of Wallacetown. Demonstrations planned over the two day event feature threshing, a working steam engine, farm horses, wagon rides and historic farming interpretive displays. While on site, tour the Backus-Page House Museum where costumed interpreters will be available to take visitors on a trip back through time to the year 1850. The current exhibit titled “Saint Peter’s Anglican Church- Celebrating 184 Years”, runs until Thanksgiving Day. The exhibit allows visitors an opportunity to see rare items from the church that are not often made available for public viewing. With so much to do, it is easy to work up a big appetite. The Heritage Farm Show does not disappoint providing a BBQ lunch on both days along with a bean pot on Saturday. The Sunday pancake breakfast runs from 9 am to 11am. The worship service starts at 11 am on the lawn of the museum and the second day of the farm show activities begins at 12 noon.

Saturday- Heritage Farm Show runs 10am to 4pm.

Sunday – Pancake breakfast begins at 9am.Worship service begins at 11am.

Heritage Farm Show runs 12 noon to 4pm.

Admission- Adults $6, Children $3, 5 & under free

Pancake breakfast – additional cost- Adults $6, Children $3, 5 & under free

Please note that all patrons who enter the gate, regardless of their activities, including the pancake breakfast and worship service, are required to pay gate admission.
New tractor and machinery exhibitors are welcome. Contact 519-762-3072

The Heritage Farm Show is presented by the Tyrconnell Heritage Society. Funds raised from the Heritage Farm Show are used to offset operating expenses at the Backus-Page House Museum. For more information about the Heritage Farm Show, the Backus-Page House Museum, the John E. Pearce Provincial Park or the Tyrconnell Heritage Society you may like us on Facebook, call the Carriage House Office at 519-762-3072 or visit us at www.backuspagehouse.ca or www.tyrconnellheritagesociety.blogspot.com .

Museum Exhibit- St Peter's Anglican Church~ Celebrating 184 Years

The new exhibit "St Peter's Anglican Church~Celebrating 184 Years" will run from July 17, 2011 to October 10, 2011 at the Backus-Page House Museum.

Founded in the heart of the Talbot settlement, St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Tyrconnell is a significant historical and religious landmark. Built in 1827 by the newly settled Anglican community known as “Little Ireland”, the church is a source of pride as it has delivered continuous service for 184 years. Close to two centuries old and still in very good repair, the church is deeply cherished by locals, parishioners and the heritage community.


The exhibit illustrates and celebrates the church’s history, architecture, and artifacts. The purpose of the exhibit is to achieve a greater appreciation and understanding of this historical landmark and its role in the development of Tyrconnell and Dunwich Township.

Items of interest in this exhibit include the original deed to St Peter's Church dated 1827 and a silver flagon, chalice and two plates donated by the Late Governor Simcoe's second daughter, Charlotte, in 1844.

The exhibit was curated by Margaret Bennetto. Margaret worked as Junior Director of Operations for the Backus-Page House Museum in 2004. The museum is thrilled to welcome her back as a dedicated volunteer, curating the St Peter’s Anglican Church exhibit.

Margaret attended the University of Waterloo and received a BA in Classical Studies and Anthropology in 2007. She loved her first museum experience so much at Backus-Page; it inspired her to study Museum Management and Curatorship at Sir Sanford Fleming College, graduating in 2008. She has worked and volunteered for the past 3 years in Ottawa for the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Nepean Museum, and the City of Ottawa Archives. Her areas of interest and experience are in curatorial research, collections management and exhibition development.

Margaret encourages the community to visit the exhibit at the Backus-Page House Museum and learn about the unique history of St. Peter’s Church and its role within the Talbot Settlement. Tours are also available of the Church throughout July and August, every Wednesday between 10 and 2 pm. Tours can also be individually booked. Call Diane Drummelsmith, 519-762-2778 or Anna Tokarz, 519-762-2617. The Backus-Page House Museum is located just outside of Wallacetown proper at 29424 Lakeview Line just up the road from St Peter's Church and the cemetery where Colonel Thomas Talbot is interred. The museum is open Tuesday to Friday 10 to 4:30 and Saturday, Sundays and holiday Mondays 12 to 4:30 from May to Thanksgiving Day. For more information call 519-762-3072, visit us online at www.backuspagehouse.ca or search Facebook for the Backus-Page House Museum.

Beat the Heat News from the Dutton-Dunwich Municipality

The Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich is going to open two cooling centres for the balance of the week. One will be in Wallacetown at the hall and the other at the WEDS theater (town hall) in Dutton. If you know of any elderly and/or young families have them call the town hall at 519-762-2204. For the rest of us enjoy.

We're Offering a Third Week of Day Camp

 Both sessions of day camp filled up early so we're offering another week of summer fun. Spots are open for a third session of camp, August 22- 26. The program runs from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. The cost is $100 per camper (ages 6 to 10). Spaces are filling up so call 519-762-3072 or email tyrconnell@execulink.com to book your spot today!

1850's Strawberry Social

Don't miss out on our first ever 1850's Strawberry Social.
There will be a variety of pastries and sweets as well as beverages, all 1850's authenticated of course. We will also have some Victorian lawn games available to play on the museum's lovely grounds if you wish to spend some time as Victorian ladies and gentlemen would have.

Tickets are $15, to be purchased in advance.

Hope to see you there!!

Strawberry Social Poster