Nancy Island under siege during weekend time warp

News

Posted By SHARON WEATHERALL

Posted 1 month ago

The sounds of cannons and musket fire echoed across Nancy Island on the weekend, as the town underwent a time warp of more than 200 years.

Some 300 re-enactors arrived in the area to participate in the annual Wasaga Under Siege -A War of 1812 Experience. The popular event was hosted by Nancy Island Historic Site and the Town of Wasaga Beach, featuring authentic War of 1812 tactics, historical battles, marine assault landings, artillery, and much more. A public address announcer narrated each battle event as a series of fictional and historical battle scenarios were presented to the public over a three-day period.

According to event co-ordinator David J. Brunelle, the siege this year went off without a hitch--and even the weather co-operated. With no rain Friday through Sunday, it was prime conditions for audiences -- and re-enactors concerned with keeping their powder dry.

"Our early estimates are looking that close to 4,000 people attended the battle events and Nancy Island," said Brunelle. "Attendance is up over last year which is a good indication that the event is growing and interest in local heritage is increasing. This event would not be possible without the great support of our community partners and volunteers who contribute greatly to this heritage event and make it all possible.

"The growing support of the community brings to life that there is more to Wasaga Beach than just the beach. There is a rich local heritage that the community wishes to promote with pride and overall contributes to the wellness of the community in many ways."

This year's event featured a run down the Nottawasaga River by re-enactors using two Longboats and two Voyageur canoes

"The trip down the river was excellent with great participation from residents and tourists along the river," said Brunelle. "Cannon and musket fire could be heard all up and down the river. There were 38 people that took part in the river runs this year."

In the past, the sandy beach and the modern attractions may have overshadowed Wasaga Beach's rich history so that only a small percentage of visitors and residents actually realized a War of 1812 battle was fought here. But that is not longer the case; soldiers, natives, women and children walking the streets in centuries-old garb on one of the busiest weekend of the summer have created awareness for a past that few communities can boast about.

Not only do tourists go out of their way to visit the historical island encampment to learn more about the era, but more and more beach goers are leaving their towels and umbrellas behind to seek out the sounds of gunfire and war screams of soldiers at battle.

Brunelle believes that interest has steadily grown with the approach of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. He says re-enactors and members of the public enjoyed themselves this past weekend, and there was positive feedback from everyone.

At the Grand Encampment at Nancy Island Historic Sit, e re-enactors opened their living history encampments that included 19th century merchants, artisans, period cooking, musket and cannon demonstrations and period entertainment featuring Tamarack, Caber Toss, The Zoom Daddy's, Dr. Quimbys Medicine Show, Laura Secord, Shaymus the Storyteller, Sutler Cyrus, War of 1812 Surgeon, On-gwe-ho-way, and Backroads.

These are people who love to camp, share and be part of Ontario's history through reenactment activities, services, products and lifestyles.

As one crossed the bridge to Nancy Island, they encountered the sweet and spicy scents of 'Celtic Rose Perfuming'. Sian Slade is quick to explain some of her products have been used for their healing qualities for hundreds of years -- and have become very popular in modern day times.

Slade has been participating in re-enactment events for the past 17 years and was involved in the Wasaga Beach Nancy Island event when it was organized out of Penetanguishene in 2001.

"I participate in mostly Medieval and Renaissance events which usually conflict with the date of this event, but this year the siege was one weekend earlier so I was able to attend," said Slade, who has a collection of essential oils and concentrated scents from 29 different countries of the world.

"I go to the original source and don't use clearing sources. My Damascus Rose, which is the foundation rose of all other roses, comes from Syria where it is grown by Syrian people. My 'Jazz' is a Jasmine grown in Saudi Arabia that is handpicked by little girls using their tiny fingers to pick the small flowers at night. The little girls wear head gear with a light so they can see the blooms. Only little girls can pick them because little boys are not as gentle. The Jasmine flower in Saudi Arabia has a fresher, lighter scent than French Jasmine."

Slade also carries Emu Oil, which is sought after as a deep moisturizer and its rare healing qualities. She says one drop on the bottom of each foot before going to bed can be very beneficial for diabetics.

Re-enactor Charmaine Routey plays the role of a 'camp follower', which is a baker or cook. She says there were black women who followed the army or were hired as cooks, while some soldier's wives with children actually followed it for safety.

"These women would have lost their homes and had nowhere to go, so they felt safer to be near their husband and the army," said Routey. "If your husband died in battle you had one week to re-marry someone else or leave. Many times the husbands, in case of death, would have pre-arranged for fellow soldiers to take on their wives and children so they would not have to leave -- even if it meant marrying another man."

She also noted there were free Blacks fighting for both sides; "If not they would have been sold back into slavery."

At her campsite Routey was busy kneading bread dough which would be left to rise before cooking by the fire. Living on the move could be difficult and weather had a big impact on baking.

Routey said kneaded bread should "feel warm like a baby's bottom" when it is ready to begin rising; unfortunately, with the humidity on Saturday, she was having a bit of trouble reaching that stage.

A few tents away in the white canvas village, pie maker Veronika Mikolajewski was having no problem rolling out dough to cover pastry shells that were filled with apples. Her home-cooked pies were an excellent treat to be eaten around the camp.

Re-enactors Angela and Colin Bourbonnais were preparing to make candles from beeswax. The Kingston couple had a can of beeswax melting over the fire for the process of dipping both ends of a long wick in and out. Each time the wax dried it went in again, until two candles about an inch in circumference were formed.

Re-enactor Paul Commission from Port Carling Ontario, stood by the grave of a solider who was buried on Nancy Island just behind his tent. The fellow was one of many men who fell in battle at the site nearly 200 years ago.

Native re-enactors have played a key role in the annual battle scenarios taking place at Nancy Island and other battle sites in the province. Christine Pohlkamp of the On-Gwe-Ho- Way, representing the Miami Nation Checomick, was drumming. The On-gwe-ho-way group includes singers and storytellers who know a variety of songs that are and were sung by a number of the nations, and several of the legends that have been an important part of the culture for centuries.

"Our group members drum and sing and also take part in the battles. We have been taking part in the Wasaga Beach event for many years," said Pohlkamp, chatting with tourists who stopped by her site to ask questions about native drums and customs.