MEDIA REPORT:
posted
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Amherstburg
Heritage Homecoming this weekend by Andy Comber
A dramatic re-enactment of an Underground Railroad crossing
of the Detroit River will be part of a celebration of freedom
during the Amherstburg Heritage Homecoming, Aug. 16-17.
"It draws
people here from all over the world," said Janice Harris,
one of the organizers of the event,
which celebrates the accomplishment of the Underground Railroad,
a network of secret routes and
safe houses that assisted those escaping slavery in the
United States during the 19th century. Harris said the Homecoming
is also a reunion of the families and friends of those whose
ancestors sought and found
freedom here and the descendants of those who aided, supported
and welcomed them as citizens and neighbours.
"It's a
celebration of freedom, a celebration of families getting
together," said Harris, noting that Amherstburg was
considered the terminus of the Underground Railroad escape
route.
The re-enactment
of an Underground Railroad crossing of the Detroit River
begins Saturday at 9 a.m. at the old Boblo dock on the southern
shore of Amherstburg. Harris said they have done the re-enactment
of the boat crossing in the past but are adding a more dramatic
performance this year. David Morris, a historical re-enactor
from Newmarket, Ontario, and founder of "History Comes
Alive" will portray a bounty hunter intent on kidnapping
one of the arriving passengers to collect a reward by returning
them to slavery.
Immediately following
the re-enactment, participants will join a parade that will
proceed from Wesley United Church on Sandwich Street to
Centennial Park and Ralph McCurdy Complex on Victoria Street,
where activities will be held, including presentations by
dignitaries and a barbeque.
The Amherstburg
Heritage Homecoming will resume on Sunday, Aug. 17, beginning
with an open-air church service at 11 a.m. and concluding
with another open-air service at 3:30 p.m.
Harris said the
idea for the Amherstburg Heritage Homecoming "was born
in the hearts and minds" of many of the families that
consider Amherstburg their hometown. Discussions from many
different family reunions generated the idea of having a
multi-family reunion. In September of 2002, a meeting was
held at the First Baptist Church in Amherstburg to further
the multi-family reunion idea.
At the first
meeting, the families represented were Thompson, Stewart,
Handsor, Harris, Hurst, McCurdy, Mulder, Brown, Simpson,
and Elliot. Today, many new families and individuals have
joined in the celebration.
