(One of the very fine things about remembering the War of 1812 is that it gives American and Canadians in border communities an opportunity to come closer together in honour of our shared history. This post submitted by the Canada/U.S. Binational Tourism Alliance and by Carol Murphy of Burt, New York, located near Lockport in Niagara Country, reminds us of those ties that make up the collective heritage of both our nations when they were still struggling to find their way, together and independently. Niagara At Large is pleased to share it with you.)
Submitted by Carol Murphy from Burt, New York
This Friday, June 1, community partners assembled at Murphy Orchards in Burt, New York to dedicate a new 1812 Peace Garden reflecting “Peaceful Rewards for Fruitful Labors.”
The historic McClew Farm in Niagara, County New York saw bloody skirmishes between two fledgling nations during the War of 1812
The garden is part of the new Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail, which celebrates 200 years of peace and longstanding friendship between the United States and Canada.
“This Peace Garden was inspired by the profound peace and satisfaction of a farmer overlooking the results of a day well spent in hard, productive labor, conducted in harmony with the living earth.” advised Carol Murphy, owner and operator of this historic property. “It is a simple garden, built around the 160 year old outdoor fireplace behind the large, brick farmhouse. A bench faces the prevailing breeze of evening and offers a view of producing apple orchards, growing field crops and majestic, old cherry trees. “Peace” rose bushes and perennial ornamental grasses border slate flagstones. The Peace Garden has been planned to grow larger in future years, with the hope that its expansion will mirror the growth of world peace.”
The 1812 Peace Garden at Murphy Orchards was built with plants and materials donated by Smith Farm Greenhouses in Newfane, Hahn Sales and Services in Sanborn and Stedman Landscaping in Newfane. Labor was provided by the Newfane United Methodist Youth Group.
War of 1812 skirmishes were fought upon the soil of the McClew Farm. British soldiers rowed down Eighteen Mile Creek, the westerly boundary of the farm, and terrorized the new settlers in what is now the Town of Newfane. Four generations of the McClew family cared for the land of this farm, contemplating the beauty and intricacy of living things and celebrating the joy and dignity of hard physical work. In their endeavors, they weighed many choices and learned to treat their fellow men as they treated their land and their plants – with understanding, moral conviction and social responsibility. Between 1850 and 1861, Charles and Anna Maria McClew were a part of the Underground Railroad Network, helping to smuggle people trying to escape from slavery out of the United States and into the freedom – and peace – of Canada.
The 1812 Peace Garden taking shape on the Murphy Orchards site in Niagara County, New York
“Each one of the Peace Gardens in the Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail tells important stories of the people and history of these sites. Murphy Orchards’ Peace Gardens recognizes the McClew Family and their assistance to many who traveled through this binational region – from the soldiers who saw action in the War of 1812 to those slaves who followed the North Star on the Underground Railroad.” said Arlene White, Executive Director of the Binational Alliance, and project lead for this initiative. “The efforts undertaken by Carol Murphy and the community partners involved in this Peace Garden will ensure that visitors to this site understand the important events that took place here and that have shaped our binational relationship.”
The Binational Alliance has been working with Canadian and American community partners since 2008 to develop the Binational Heritage Peace Garden Trail, a legacy project that began in cross-border Niagara as an 1812 Bicentennial project to celebrate 200 years of peace between Canada and the U.S. It has evolved into a Southern Great Lakes initiative, linking heritage, architecture, gardens and cross-border cultural events, in recognition of shared U.S. and Canadian heritage and long-standing binational relationships. 22 Peace Gardens are being launched in 2012, with additional gardens being announced for 2013, and each year thereafter.
Murphy Orchards is a charter member of the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, the New York State Heritage Trail program, and has been designated a local historic landmark by the Town of Newfane. The farm is open to the public and welcomes individuals, groups and social organizations onto the grounds 7 days a week.
For complete details go to www.binationalheritagepeacegardentrail.com .
You can also find out more about Murphy Orchards by visiting http://www.murphyorchards.com . Learn more about the historic McClew Farm site by clicking on http://www.nygeo.org/mcclewfarm.html .
(Niagara At Large invites our readers who dare to share their name to also share their views on this post.)
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