Читать книгу On Common Ground - Richard D. Merritt - Страница 5

Today, the most popular approach to the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is from the south along the Niagara River Parkway. As one emerges from the oak bower of Paradise Grove the wide expansive green on both sides of the road invariably impresses the first time visitor; even lifetime residents marvel at the simple beauty of this verdant tranquil plain edged with mature trees. Visitors to Fort George will learn the role of the fort in the pivotal War of 1812 from the guides and interpretive displays. However, on climbing one of the southwestern bastions of the fort and gazing out over the plains beyond, one would have no inkling just how much this view has changed over the past 250 years.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the Indian Council House stood in the midst of the plain. There thousands of Natives would encamp for their annual presents and for treaty negotiations. For over a century various British and Canadian regiments could be seen marching across those fields along present Otter Trail. Today this “walk into history” is a recreation trail enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, in-line skaters, and dogs alike. Generations of militiamen trained on these fields, including summer encampments “under canvas.” During the two world wars, up to twenty thousand men assembled there at any one time for basic training before shipping out overseas. Many never returned. Despite all this military activity, the local citizens always regarded these open spaces and woodlands as common lands — places to graze their livestock, harvest mushrooms, hunt game, gather firewood, play various games, hold country fairs, and enjoy special events.

The British colonial government and the subsequent Dominion of Canada officially referred to these lands as the Fort George Military Reserve. Locally they were called The Common, The Fort George Common, The Garrison Common, The Commons, Niagara Plain, The Green, and others. It was only after the Department of National Defence decided that there was no longer a need for summer camps that the lands were officially turned over to the present Parks Canada. Although declared a “National Historic Park” in 1969, today the Niagara National Historic Sites comprise a complex of National Historic Sites in and near Niagara-on-the-Lake: Fort George, Fort Mississauga, Navy Hall, Butler’s Barracks, Queenston Heights, Navy Island, and the Battlefield of Fort George. Although considered “a historic place” as part of the significance of both Fort George and Butler’s Barracks, the Commons is not designated on its own merits.

This book traces the evolution (some would say degradation) of the original 444 acres of land referred to as the Fort George Military Reserve to the approximately 285 acres protected today. Included are references to the many perimeter properties and structures because they are very much a part of the story. One chapter is devoted to the Fort Mississauga Commons that was a separate military reserve. A final chapter discusses some of the efforts to protect the fragile Commons, preserving it for future generations.

Through my maternal grandfather I am descended from an early Niagara family. As a young boy I was brought to Niagara on several occasions to visit two great-great aunts and one great-great-uncle still living in the then 150 year-old family home. While munching on scrumptious homemade cookies, I was regaled with exciting stories about the old town and “the war” … not the Korean or the Second World War or even the Great War, but the War of 1812. One story particularly intrigued me: an ancestor was out gathering mushrooms on “The Commons” one clear sunny morning when suddenly it became very dark and much cooler as a massive flock of millions of migrating passenger pigeons flew over.

I was fortunate to be able to practise medicine in the Niagara Region, marry, and raise a family in Niagara-on-the-Lake. I became very involved in the heritage community and increasingly aware of ongoing threats to the integrity of the Commons. It seemed the “open spaces” of the Commons were being regarded as a land bank by some politicians and a few bureaucrats with various projects and schemes. For me, the recurring image of the migrating pigeons, now extinct, darkening the skies over the common lands became a metaphor for the ever-present threat of further encroachment of the Commons. The important ongoing story of the Military Reserve/Commons of Niagara deserves to be heard. No doubt I have committed some errors of misinterpretation, omission, and commission in writing this epic; I trust that future researchers will be able to correct some of the deficiencies.

An explanation concerning terminology used in this book is in order. The locals referred to the Fort George Military Reserve as the Common, the Fort George Common, the Niagara Common, the Commons, the Garrison Commons, the common lands, “the Opening,” or simply “the plain.” The term “the Commons”[1] is used throughout. As Paradise Grove was for most of its history common lands, it too is part of the Commons. Similarly, the cleared grounds around Navy Hall have been for the most part within the public domain and hence part of the story.

The term, “Niagara” refers to the Old Town of Niagara that is now part of the Regional Municipality of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Although “Newark” was Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe’s designated name for Niagara when it was the Capital of Upper Canada, it never became popular and reverted back to Niagara shortly after his return to England.[2]

“Camp Niagara” was also called “Niagara Camp” and at least one battalion referred to it as “Paradise Camp.”[3] (There was also an American military camp referred to as “New Fort Niagara” across the river at Youngstown, New York, during the Great War.) “Camp Niagara” is used in this book.

Location of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.

Except where specific First Nations or “tribes” or “Indians” are referenced, the term “Natives” is used for North American indigenous peoples. The term “province” refers to the Province of Upper Canada (1791–1841) and the Province of Ontario after 1867. “The Great War” is used for the First World War and “The American Revolutionary War” is used instead of the American War of Independence or the American Revolution. Although there are several variations in spelling, “Mississauga” will be used.

For those of you fortunate enough to have an opportunity to explore some of the Commons, this book may help you to conjure up in your own minds the various natural and historic events that have transpired on these plains over the years. Hopefully generations to come will question future development proposals for this very special place.

The mouth of the Niagara River, 2011.