Gananoque played an essential role as a forwarding point on the supply line moving up the St Lawrence River from Montreal and Cornwall to Kingston. An incursion of regulars and militia led by the Captain Forsyth of the 1st US Rifle regiment made an attack here (September 1812). A detachment of the 2nd Leeds militia, under Colonel Joel Stone, offered some resistance, but withdrew its force of two subalterns and about 40 soldiers. American forces seized the stores, burned the government depot, and withdrew.
Joel Stone - The founder of the Town of Gananoque
The Gananoque Bicentennial Committee will unveil the park on the anniversary day that war was declared on Canada -June 18th, 2012 at 11 a.m. This will be the official commemoration kick-off date for the whole province with the Joel Stone 1812 Heritage Park unveiling being the major event in Eastern Ontario. The Arthur Child Heritage Museum will feature Gananoque’s history: ”The Way We Were: 1790 – 1840”, covering the founding of the Town and the Joel Stone exhibit.
In addition there will be a number of activities and events planned during a bicentennial celebration on the August 25 & 26th, 2012 weekend. An official raid re-enactment with tall ships, gunboats, suttlers and Canadian Fencibles involvement will culminate this exciting anniversary program and both residents and visitors alike will definitely know about their “Roots and Where It All Began” 200 years ago. A parking lot dance at the new waterfront heritage park with local musicians providing the music will be one of the many events. A community barbecue organized by one of our local service clubs will provide the food while a number of local entertainers – Dreams in Motion and the Gananoque Playhouse “Young Company” Theatre group will provide historical based entertainment at the new Park Amphitheatre. A Sunday ecumenical church service will be staged at the Park while a number of other local artisans and storytellers will perform on the heritage stage throughout the weekend. An Aboriginal Heritage Walk throughout Gananoque will trace our roots of 200 years ago
We are looking forward to Celebrating Our Roots – Where It All Began” www.celebrate1812.com
For a list of events taking place on the August 25 & 26th 2012 weekend, download Re-enactment Bicentennial [PDF]
Find out about our Founder - Joel Stone - http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/10/11/damn-yankees/
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