Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Emancipation Day Memorial

One of the most interesting historical features in Harrison Park is the cairn built to celebrate the local black community.  For 156 years an Emancipation Day Picnic has been held here, every year since 1862.  This makes it the longest running Emancipation Day celebration in North America.

Sitting next to the river, the memorial is in the form of two stone walls and a tiled floor.  The 'windows' represent the small churches that meant so much to black pioneers.

The story is the story of the Underground Railway, a network of routes and safe houses that American slaves could follow to reach freedom in Canada.  Several different states and Ontario towns provided boulders for the walls.

There are several interpretive panels that tell the story of the cairn.  Owen Sound was considered the northern terminus of the Underground Railway.  The underlying politics reflects the fact that the British (including Canada) abolished slavery in 1834, but freedom for slaves in the United States did not arrive until President Lincoln's proclamation of 1862.

A lot of the interpretive information here relates to the quilting symbols that are associated with the Underground Railway.  Quilts were used as symbols for safe houses for example.



A number of quilting symbols are shown in the ceramic tiles on the ground.  Several have some words added.  This one says it all!

17 comments:

  1. How unfortunate it is that there are few such memorials in the United States.

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  2. In many places our black history has been forgotten.

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  3. Some time ago I read a book, a novel, but so true, about the underground railway, and quilts were hung on the clotheslines in special ways to show if it was safe, dangerous, and which way to go to the next safe house.This memorial is so beautiful, and to sit there and remember is very special.

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  4. Interesting bits of history. Nice that the local park has the interpretive displays explaining the underground railroad.

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  5. Wow! I love that. Thank you for showing the quilt patterns up close. The words do indeed say it all.

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  6. This is a wonderful and uplifting post, FG, telling of another difficult time in history. I'm glad I am alive today to see today's world. Thanks for the closeups, too. :-)

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  7. Hello, interesting post and great photos of the memorial and park. Have a happy day!

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  8. A powerful and poignant monument. You've photographed it beautifully.

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  9. Back from a MC trip.

    Glad to see you're up and 'running' old.

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  10. More and more places are respecting the truth of history. This is an amazing spot. How unique! We are doing more in the way of Truth and Reconciliation, as well.

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  11. What a wonderful place that is!

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  12. Makes me proud that Canadians have helped immigrants throughout the years. - Margy

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  13. Wish I had realized this when we visited Owen Sound. Would have been great to have visited. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. A grand celebration for sure - and a great tribute.

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