Two-hundred and five years later, memories of the War of 1812 live on in Glengarry County.
From September 23 to 24, living history reenactors from all over Ontario, Quebec, and the United States will return to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum to reenact the Battle of Glengarry. The theme for this year’s event is “This So-Called Life in Upper and Lower Canada”. The Battle of Glengarry is the last event of the 2017 season at Dunvegan’s Glengarry Pioneer Museum.
All of the museum buildings will come alive as reenactors portray various aspects of civilian, business, and military life. Surrounding the buildings, tented encampments will be spread across the grounds, offering behind-the-
scenes glimpses of military and civilian life during the period. Attendees will be able to compare the living arrangements of the aristocracy to the military officers and camp-followers, and tour the McCaw’s Privateers encampment to check out their new boat moored near the corn field. They will tell you tales of Naval life on the St. Lawrence River through theatre and song, allowing visitors to see what it took to be a sea-faring crew member aboard a 19th century vessel.
If shopping is on your list, stop by Sutler’s Row—also known as a 19th Century Mall. Here, vendors will be offering an array of Historical reproductions and clothing, leather goods, cast-iron cookware, oven-fired breads, maple syrup, handmade gourmet chocolates and confections, fresh vegetables and fruit for sale. The Historic Star Inn Tavern will have two varieties of ale on tap by local craft brewery, Cassel Brewery and premium non-alcoholic cider from Sarah Cole Cider house. Other food and refreshments will be available onsite.
To get in touch with your inner child, be sure to visit the one-room schoolhouse and meet the schoolmistress. Don
uniforms and wooden muskets for the Military Muster just before the battle. Returning this year is the
Swordplay presentation, where you can try your hand at sword mastering in a unique, fun and safe way.
A Sunday tea will be returning from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., where the public can take part for $10.00 and try
the Scottish themed refreshments and teas, while learning about the History of the Tartan. The
highlight of the weekend will be the recreated battles, which will be staged at 3:00 p.m. Saturday and
2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Reenactment organizers are asking that visitors park in assigned parking areas. Because of cannon-fire, they are also asking that no one park along County Road 30. Admission to the event costs $10 per person or $25 for a family of 4. Kids under 12 are free. The event will take place rain or shine.
For more information, visit the Facebook page for the event at https://www.facebook.com/Dunvegan1812, or the Museum’s website at www.glengarrypioneermuseum.ca.
