Correspondence from the Friends of Laura Secord through Mayor McMullan s Office, May 2, 2014

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1 Correspondence from the Friends of Laura Secord through Mayor McMullan s Office, May 2, 2014 We are writing this somewhat urgent and unconventional message to follow up on our June 2013 proposal to establish a monument to commemorate the link between the European settlers and the First Nations peoples at DeCew's Field, the site where Laura Secord is believed to have encountered the band of First Nations warriors who conveyed her to her fateful meeting with Lt. James Fitzgibbon on June 22nd, DeCew's Field is now part of the property behind Region Niagara's DeCew Falls Water Treatment Plant. Our present proposal has two main elements: 1. Living Stone Hearth monument - On 25 June 2013, we wrote to Region Niagara describing our concept of a Living Stone Cairn. In subsequent months, our concept has evolved somewhat from a traditional unconsolidated cairn to a Living Stone Hearth, which is a circular stone monument reminiscent of a stylized campfire surrounded by rustic stone benches. The central 'fire' is structured from an evergrowing pile of unconsolidated stones which changes in size and dimensions as people contribute new stones to it over time. Stones are brought from many locations, usually carried in to the site from near the homes of the people who visit the hearth, and are added as a symbolic gift and expression of solidarity and friendship with those who are being honoured or celebrated. The stone 'fire' therefore becomes larger, more impressive, and more compelling with each passing year. For the main structure of the monument (i.e. platform, hearth, and stone benches), we propose using local limestone from the Queenston Quarry. This is doubly appropriate, since a) the stone is locally sourced from the very escarpment that Laura Secord walked along during her fateful trek, and b) Queenston Quarry was established on land deeded to the Secord family, and was operated for a short period by Secord family members. We are honoured to have a standing offer from Mr. Frank Racioppo, Co-owner and President, Queenston Quarry Reclamation Company Ltd., to obtain the necessary stone for this important monument from the Queenston Quarry lands. The monument concept has been vetted and approved by Mr. Tim Johnson, Associate Director, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., and Mr. Larry McDermott, Executive Director, Plenty Canada (a Canadian aboriginal heritage and environmental organization). As mentioned in previous correspondence, we are very hopeful that we might move ahead with the establishment of this monument on some portion of DeCew's Field, property that is now owned and managed by Region Niagara, and which is immediately adjacent to the newly-established Laura Secord Legacy Trail. We would be pleased to locate the monument anywhere along the edge of the field that is

2 accessible and visible from the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, and are conscious of the importance of not interfering with the integrity or operation of the reservoir itself. 2. Accessible Trail to Living Stone Hearth monument - As Mayor McMullan is aware, a significant and important addition to this proposal is the establishment of an accessible trail leading from DeCew Road to the monument. The most likely location for this trail would be along the eastern edge of the Morningstar Mill property, owned and administered by the City of St. Catharines. Mayor McMullen, we are are grateful that you have already expressed your support in principle for our proposal to develop an accessible trail and First Nations Stone Hearth monument at DeCew's Field. Timeline - We are proposing a very ambitious timeline for this new initiative: approval and installation before the June 21st Laura Secord Commemorative Walk. We know that Mayor McMullan shares our enthusiasm for getting the trail and monument installed as soon as possible, as this year's important legacy contribution to local, regional and national heritage from the Friends of Laura Secord. The rustic and informal nature of the monument lends itself to rapid installation, and if requisite approvals are granted for installation of the accessible trail, its construction could be facilitated in the proposed time period as well. These timelines may seem very short - but I remind you that construction on last year's much more logistically complex Bridge at Laura's Crossing did not begin until well into May Please note that the Friends of Laura Secord already has the financial and material resources to establish the Living Stone Hearth monument and accessible trail as envisioned. I am therefore contacting you with considerable urgency on behalf of the Friends of Laura Secord to request your aid in obtaining permission from Regional Council, the City of St. Catharines, and other relevant jurisdictional authorities to move ahead with this initiative by Wednesday 21 May Though timelines are short, if approvals are granted expediently, we are confident that we can move ahead with the establishment of this important and significant monument by 21 June Accordingly, we are copying this message to other known stakeholders in this proposal, identified at the bottom of this message. We would be grateful for whatever support and guidance all of you could provide us in order to make this proposal a reality.

3 Please feel free to contact Caroline McCormick for further information. We look forward to your reply, and are ready to move ahead with next steps as soon as is practicable. With thanks and best regards, Caroline McCormick President, Friends of Laura Secord on behalf of the Board and project proponents c.c.: Region Niagara: Mr. Patrick Robson, Commissioner, Integrated Community Planning, Region Niagara Ms. Shelley Marr, Manager, Real Estate Services, Region Niagara Mr. Matt Robinson, Executive Officer to the Regional Chair, Region Niagara Ms. Elaine Aldridge-Low, Administrative Assistant to the Regional Chair, Region Niagara Mr. Kirk Weaver, Director, Community & Corporate Planning, Region Niagara Ms. Terri Donia, Project Manager, Community & Corporate Planning, Region Niagara City of St. Catharines: Mr. David Oakes, Parks and Recreation, City of St. Catharines Mr. Stuart Green, Parks and Recreation, City of St. Catharines Ms. Kathleen Powell, Supervisor of Historical Services / Curator of St. Catharines Museum Ms. Julie Hughes, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, City of St. Catharines Project Proponents: Mr. Tim Johnson, Associate Director, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Mr. Larry McDermott, Executive Director, Plenty Canada Mr. Frank Racioppo, Co-owner and President, Queenston Quarry Reclamation Company Ltd. Dr. David T. Brown, Board Member, Friends of Laura Secord Mr. Ross MacDonald, Member, Friends of Laura Secord David T. Brown, Ph.D. Department of Tourism and Environment Mackenzie Chown Building, Room C-425 Brock University St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1 CANADA dbrown@brocku.ca Tel: ext Fax:

4 Proposal Friends of Laura Secord 15 April 2014 Living Stone Hearth Monument and Accessible Trail at DeCew s Field Late in the day on 22 June 1813, Laura Secord arrived at DeCew s Field atop the Niagara Escarpment. Exhausted and terrified after trekking nearly 20 miles through hostile enemy territory and inhospitable wilderness, encountered an encampment of First Nations fighters allied with the British cause at DeCew s Field on top of the Niagara Escarpment. They took her to meet with Lt. James Fitzgibbon, local commander of the British forces, to whom she delivered her fateful warning of an impending American attack which changed the history of our nation. The subsequent Battle of Beaverdams, fought almost entirely by First Nations forces, was a decisive victory for the British cause, and a pivotal shift in the tides of the War of (Illustration for conceptual purposes only, from Stone bench seating would be added in a circular pattern around the central stone hearth. Final dimensions and specifications to be determined by consultation amongst relevant stakeholders). To commemorate this singular event, the Friends of Laura Secord propose the creation of a Living Stone Hearth Monument and Accessible Trail at DeCew s Field as a symbolic testament to the positive collaboration between early settlers and First Nations peoples which helped forge Canada as an independent nation.

5 Concept Our Living Stone Hearth Monument concept is a simple one. It is a stone monument which resembles, in layout, a campfire like that which would be found in an Indian encampment a central stone hearth surrounded by a circle of stone seats, evoking the circular seating pattern which would surround a real campfire. The fire is symbolic, represented by individual stones which are brought to the hearth by visitors to the site and deposited on the central hearth. The stone fire will grow in size and dimensions as people add stones to it over time. Stones will be brought from many locations, carried to the site from near the homes of the people who visit the monument, and added to the hearth as a symbolic gift and acknowledgement of friendship between the First Nations and the settlers. The stone fire will expand gradually from an evergrowing number of unconsolidated stones, becoming larger and more impressive with each passing year. A plaque will identify the monument and describe its significance. The monument will serve as a destination in its own right, and will allow visitors to place their own stone on the hearth, and then sit within the symbolic campfire circle to contemplate the significance of the relationship between the First Nations peoples and their European allies. Landscaping At or near the site, we plan to plant a White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis), a native species which contains one of the four sacred medicines that are used in ceremonies both by Haudenosaunee and Anishnabek peoples. In the Algonquin tradition White Cedar is considered feminine, and there are associated protocols when picking and using its leaves. It represents resilience, adaptation, and beauty. The White Cedars of the Niagara Escarpment are among the oldest of all trees in Ontario, with some living more than 1800 years. It is an important shelter and food source for deer during winter months, and is the source of ribs for birch bark canoes. Today it is used for roofing, modern medicines, soaps and aromatic floral displays. This planting will further acknowledge the contribution and sacrifice made by the women and First Nations fighters in the defense of Upper Canada, and particularly for the pivotal role of First Nations allies in the Battle of Beaverdams. Location DeCew's Field is now within a parcel of land beside the Decew Water Treatment Plant (Figure 4), owned and administered by Region Niagara. It is immediately adjacent to the recently-established Laura Secord Legacy Trail. We propose locating the Stone Hearth Monument in a location along the edge of DeCew s Field that is aesthetically appropriate, can be rendered accessible by wheelchair, and is visible from the Laura Secord Legacy Trail. We are conscious of the importance of not interfering with the operation or integrity of the DeCew Water Treatment Plant or the reservoir itself.

6 Accessible Trail Access via Morningstar Mill We propose the establishment of a m long accessible trail leading to the Stone Hearth Monument. The most logical location for the trailhead appears to be at the east end of the Morningstar Mill parking lot (Figure 1) immediately alongside the fenceline separating the Mill from the adjacent water treatment plant (Figure 2). Cooperation and permission will be sought from the City of St. Catharines Department of Parks and Recreation to install this trail, which would also facilitate easier access to the upper reaches of the Morningstar Mill property (including the Miller s House). For the first 105 metres or so, the trail would require either substantial grading or the construction of a boardwalk to meet Ontario accessible trail standards and provide grades negotiable by a wheelchair. The remaining metres of accessible trail may be created by means of more modest grading and resurfacing of the existing trail surface. A detailed site survey would be required prior to drawing up design specifications. Parking could be provided at the existing Morningstar Mill parking lot, or space for one or two handicap-permitted vehicles could be made by upgrading the small parking area adjacent to the modern garage near the eastern edge of the property (Figure 2). Figure 1: Approximate trajectory of proposed accessible trail. This trail would also facilitate easier access for wheelchair and scooter users to the Miller s House and the upper reaches of the Morningstar Mill property.

7 Figure 2. Google Maps Street View from DeCew Road, looking north along fenceline separating the Morningstar Mill property from the DeCew Water Treatment Plant located to the east. Accessible trail would follow edge of property for about 105 metres in direction of arrow. Figure 3: QR Code trail marker sign installed opposite subterranean reservoir in May of 2013 Figure 4: Google map showing current location of QR code marker (blue icon), segment of Laura Secord Legacy Trail (blue line), and DeCew's Field (green shading) adjacent to DeCew Water Treatment Plant. Prepared by David T. Brown, April 2014