The experiences and culture of Black Canadians are integral threads in the fabric of Ontario history. We are updating this content and learning more about our province’s history and today’s world, how we got here and how we can help. We hope you come back soon and will let you know when it’s refreshed. In the meantime we have left information and links to places and areas where you can learn more. 

Buxton Museum
North Buxton, ON
One of the last stops on the Underground Railroad, the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum preserves the successful Buxton settlement and features original artifacts and structures built by former fugitive slaves. At Ontario’s second largest national historic site, visitors can “Ring the Liberty Bell”, tour one of the last standing schoolhouses, 1852 log cabin, 1853 barn, church, cemetery and museum. Each Labour Day Weekend, Buxton Homecoming features events focused around family, friends and homecoming. 

http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/

 

 

 

 

 

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Welcome back! On this throwback Thursday, we’re continuing on with part 2 of our look at the Buxton Community Club! We left off with WWII and the changing times of Buxton leaving the Community Club with fewer members than it once had, and the need for a reorganization. That organization came in 1945, when Ira Shadd took over the club as president, hoping to give the club some specific goals that it could strive for. To this end, Verlyn Ladd (pictured), also concerned with the young people whom she taught at S.S. #13, joined the club as secretary. Membership fees were initiated at 50 cents per month and a constitution was drawn up. Weekly social evenings provided entertainment for the community, as did debates, spelling matches, and other programs designed to promote interest in the betterment of North Buxton. One of the club’s first purchases was a record player, microphone, and speakers for the hall, which were installed by another club member, Ronald Alexander (pictured). In 1946, the Club offered to tile the Methodist ball park which, due to its location, tended to remain partially flooded after heavy rains, even when other areas had dried. The Church accepted the offer and the tile that was laid made the diamond dry enough to use for most of the year. This also had the added benefit of helping drain the nearby graveyard. A smaller peek at the club today, but tomorrow we will wrap up the Club’s early history in a Part 3! Many of you who have shared our piece from yesterday did so with thanks to members past and present, and we would like to extend our gratitude much the same! While we’re still in the 1940s at the moment, do you have any favourite memories connected to the Community Club? Do you know any of the names we’ve mentioned? As always, we’d love to hear about your connections! #buxtonmuseum #blackhistory #canadianhistory #museumfromhome #museumsconnecton #mayismuseummonth

A post shared by Buxton Museum (@buxton_museum) on May 21, 2020 at 10:05am PDT

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site
Dresdon, ON
The Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site recognizes the accomplishments of Josiah Henson through interpretive videos, interactive exhibits, numerous artifacts and tours reflecting the Black experience in Canada.  The five acre site consists of the Josiah Henson Interpretive  Centre, with its Underground Railroad Freedom Gallery and North Star Theatre, plus three historic buildings, two cemeteries, a sawmill and numerous artifacts that have been preserved as a legacy to these early pioneers. Each August Civic Holiday weekend (August 3, 2019) the site hosts Emancipation Day, with various speakers, performers, exhibits and cuisine reflecting early Black life in Ontario.  Black History Month programming takes place each February. The museum is owned and operated by the Ontario Heritage Trust.

https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/

Resources for kids, from CBC Kids:

5 Stops on the Underground Railroad – The North Route To Freedom – 4 out of 5 Ontario sites to read about or visit in Ontario. 

1. John Freeman Walls Underground Railroad Museum – Lakeshore, Ontario
2. Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site – Dresden, Ontario
3. Sandwich First Baptist Church – Windsor, Ontario
4. Buxton National Historic Site – Chatham, Ontario
5. Birchtown National Historic Site – Birchtown, Nova Scotia

CBC For Kids Underground Railroad Code

Images Credit: Thank you Chatham-Kent Tourism for your informative website section on Black History in Ontario and for sharing the use of your articles images.