OAS Peterborough Chapter presentation on connection to Uncle Tom's Cabin

On June 25, 2013 the Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society presents 

The Struggle for Race and Freedom in Ontario: An Archaeological Perspective by Dena Doroszenko of the Ontario Heritage Trust 

see http://www.mykawartha.com/what's%20on/article/1626944--peterborough-s-connection-to-uncle-tom-s-cabin-character

"Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Charles County, Maryland. He escaped to Canada in 1830 and was one of the founders of a settlement and labourers' school for other fugitive slaves at Dresden, Ontario called the Dawn Settlement in 1842.


Mr. Henson's autobiography is widely believed to have inspired the title character of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).


Ontario Heritage Trust acquired the historic site associated with Josiah Henson in 2004. The Trust worked with the Sustainable Archaeology Centre (University of Western Ontario) to conduct various geophysical investigations of two cemeteries adjacent to the Trust’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic site in Dresden. The results of these studies as well as the Stage 2 archaeological assessment will be reviewed.


An archaeological investigation in 2009 and 2010 on a conservation easement property, the Sharon Temple National Historic site in Newmarket was conducted by the Ontario Heritage Trust. The Children of Peace, led by David Willson were economic and political innovators in the early 19th century, establishing Canada’s first farmer’s co-operative and credit union and following Willson’s desire to construct a building that would replicate Solomon’s Temple, work started on its construction in 1825.


The purpose of the building was for it to be used 15 times a year for meetings to collect alms for the poor and other charitable works, never for Sunday worship. An overview of the property’s history as well as the findings of the archaeological work will be presented.


This presentation is free and open to the public. It will be held on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church at the intersection of Water and Murray streets in Peterborough (please use the Water Street entrance).


The Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society received a $700 community grant from the City of Peterborough to help present the next series of public presentation starting in September."