Stoney Creek Battlefield - 1899

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, October 21, 1889, nearly 1,500 people from Hamilton boarded several open cars of the Hamilton, Grimsby and Beamsville Electric Railway to be transported to the Stoney Creek battlefield. The attraction was an event organized by the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society to mark the formal opening of the public park and museum on the grounds. The guest of honor was Lady Aberdeen, wife of Canada’s Governor-General.

There was some delay before the ceremonies could begin. The cars of the H.G. & B. electric railway had been forced to stop several times on the way because of power shortage, much to the annoyance of the many Hamiltonians on board.

“The ladies of the historical society had put together a well-rounded guest list of prominent people to witness the opening ceremony at Battlefield Park:

“British nobility was represented by the Countess of Aberdeen; Canadian letters were looked after by O.A. Howland, of Toronto; the patriotic spirit was fired by the speech of Alexander Muir, the venerable author of the Canadian national anthem, the Maple Leaf; the Dominion government was represented by Hon. Thomas Bain, the new speaker of the house, and Hon. Dr. Montague: U.E. Loyalist sentiment was championed by H. Carscallen, a direct descendant of that famous stock. The glories of past achievements on the field of battle were recalled by the presence of her majesty’s battle-scarred army and navy veterans, while the do and dare spirit of the present generation of Canadians was exemplified by the presence of a company of the Seventy-Seventh battalion, led by the regimental band, and a picket guard of the Thirteenth.”¹

¹ “It is Now a Park : Stoney Creek Battle Field Opened With Proper Ceremony On Saturday Afternoon”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 23, 899.

As there was a considerable delay caused by the H.G. & B. cars, the people who had gathered near the old Gage house, took the opportunity to inspect the transformation which had come over the building:

“The old house has been considerably improved of late, and the grounds have been cleared of sundry unsightly objects, kindly disposed Stoney Creek people having assisted in the work. The improvements have been made under Mrs. Calder’s supervision, and the various rooms in the house look very attractive, as well as unique. They are decorated with numerous mementos of the war and relics of old decency in the form of spinning wheels, etc. The house is to be used as a club house for the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, and the grounds are to be a park for the public. Ultimately there will be a monument erected to the British and Canadian soldiers who fell in that neighborhood, and the monument will be in the park. When the carriage conveyed Lady Aberdeen and the other honored guests arrived, it passed under the arch and went up the driveway to the old Gage homestead:

“The crowd on the hill cheered lustily as the parade came up the winding walk, and Lady Aberdeen bowed graciously right and left till the carriage stopped in front of the house. There was a chill wind blowing across the hill, but that did not prevent the crowd from gathering in a sold mass in front of the veranda, where the addresses were to be made.”²

² Now a Public Park : Stoney Creek Battlefield Formally Opened’

Hamilton Herald.     October 23, 1899.

Hamilton Mayor Teetzel was appointed chairman of the ceremony. In introducing Lady Aberdeen, the mayor referred to her as a heroine, a woman who stoof up for the best interests of Canada.

Lady Aberdeen, in a brief address, took the opportunity to publicly thank the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society for the work it had undertaken in connection with the Stoney Creek battleground:

“ ‘People take it too much for granted’ said she, ‘that they know all about their country’s history from what they read in books. From the study of such scenes as this, much more could be learned. What is everyone’s business is no one’s business, and for that reason the work being done by the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society was most high in ideal and patriotic in nature.  It was peculiarly a work for women, for if the stories of the nursery are those of the great deeds of those who fought and died for country’s sake, in their good effect on the lives of the children, how great would be the reward of the mothers of the land.”¹

The next speaker was O.A. Howland, of Toronto, who said that a debt of gratitude was owed to the ladies for doing what the governments had been content to leave undone. After giving a resume of the Battle of Stoney Creek, Mr. Howland expressed the hope that the peace between Canada and the United States would never be broken. The speaker also referred to the news of the Glencoe engagement in the South African war and said it proved that there were just as gallant British soldiers in 1899 as there had been in 1912-1813.

The Honorable Thomas Bain, speaker of the House of Commons, was next speaker on the speakers’ list,

“He said ‘the present was a most suitable time to commemorate great deeds of the past, for the reason that it is now that Canadians are arming to protect the rights of British subjects in South Africa.’ He sounded this word of warning, that, while cherishing in our hearts the memory of the valiant deeds of our forefathers, we should be most careful to hand down to posterity as good a record of our own lives.”¹

The Hon. Dr. Montague, in his address, argued that Canada was far behind what it should be in patriotic matters, but it was through the work of Mrs. Calder and the society that the state of affairs could be rectified:

“(He said) there were some people in the United States who would have Canadians cease holding demonstrations such as this, but the Americans were fond of remembering their victories, and Canadians have an equal right to do the same. If Canada were ever to become as great as she should be, the study of British and Canadian history must be encouraged, and it should be ever-remembered in this connection that patriotism properly begins at home”

After the Seventy-Seventh band played a verse of The Maple Leaf Forever, Mayor Teetzel introduced the composer of the song, Alexander Muir who enthused the crowd with a rousing patriotic address.

Mayor Teetzel then introduced Henry Carscallen, Q.C., M.L.A., who began his comments by telling the audience that his forefathers were of Saltfleet Township and U.E. Loyalist stock. He announced that five acres of the battlefield would be donated by the ladies for public use as a perpetual witness of patriotism. A portion of the grounds were to be set aside for the erection of a monument. The speaker was confident that neither political party would refuse the appropriation of funds for the monument.

Mr. Carscallen then moved, seconded by the Honorable Dr. Montague, the following resolution:

“That this meeting of Canadian Citizens, gathered to witness the inaugurating of the Stoney Creek Battle Ground park, desires in the most emphatic manner to express its warmest appreciation of the splendid work accomplished by the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society, under the able, energetic and indefatigatable leadership of its president, Mrs. Calder, an appreciation which it is felt will be as warmly accorded throughout Canada generally.”¹

The resolution was warmly received by the crowd, and Mrs. Calder was called on to say a few words. She thanked everyone for their good wished and invited everyone into the house to warm themselves:

“The crowd at once invaded the historic house, and were warmed by the two great open hearth fires burning there. Refreshments were also served, and, though ice cream seemed to be somewhat out of order for the day, a good deal of it was disposed of.”¹

After the reception in the old house, the principal guests of the day were asked to go out to the front of the house where a group photograph was taken. Later just before the party from Hamilton left and the grounds were once again virtually empty:

“By six o’clock, the only remarkable thing on the scene was the Union Jack flying from the tall flag staff by the house. A little later, a huge bonfire was lighted on the hill above the house, and as the flames mounted higher and higher, the Hamilton party boarded their electric cars and were hurried home.”²