Owen Sound's Black History
Black History Cairn Project
From 1830 through the end of the American Civil War, escaped slaves made their way across the border via the Underground Railroad. The ‘Fugitive Slave Act’ passed by the American Government in 1850 led to bounty hunters raiding border communities forcing many Blacks to move North for safety. Grey County was opened up to non-Native settlers in the 1830s, which led a number of escaped slaves and freedmen to settle in the region. Their courage and hard work contributed to the growth of both the County and the City of Owen Sound.
On July 31, 2004, the Black History Cairn Committee unveiled a commemorative Cairn during the 142nd Emancipation Day Celebrations at Harrison Park in Owen Sound. According to Webster's 1913 Dictionary, a cairn is "a rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument." In this case, the Cairn is a memorial to Owen Sound's Black settlers.
Through symbolism and interpretive plaques, the Cairn traces the route of those abducted from their native Africa, forced into slavery in the West Indies and the United States, and how many escaped to Canada via a network called the Underground Railroad.
Click this image for a larger photograph
The Black History Cairn was unveiled at the 142nd Emancipation
Day Picnic in Owen Sound's Harrison Park in August of 2004
The idea to create a Cairn to commemorate the contribution made to Grey County and the City of Owen Sound by the early Black settlers was first discussed in the spring of 2003. The concept was brought before the Tourism Advisory Committee and a sub-committee was formed.
-
Black
Heritage & History Report: by Councillor Peter Lemon and volunteer
Bonita Johnson-de Matteis, this is the original document considered
by the City of Owen Sound to take on this ambitious project, and outlines
the intent of the Cairn.
One
of the first items on the agenda of the Black History Cairn Committee was
to create partnerships with other organizations to ensure the success of
the project. Since the Emancipation
Day Celebration Picnic is held annually in Harrison Park, the Tourism
Advisory Committee requested the City of Owen Sound donate a parcel of land
in the park for the Cairn; Council approved the request. Partnerships were
also formed with the Emancipation Day Celebration Picnic Committee, The British
Methodist Episcopal Church, Grey Roots: Your Heritage & Visitor Centre,
the Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum, the Grey Bruce Genealogical Society
and Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). Input and support from all
of the partners has insured that the City of Owen Sound and Grey County will
be known as one of the most northern points of settlement on the Underground
Railroad.
- Black Heritage Cairn Conceptual drawing: by volunteer Bonita Johnson-de Matteis, with a description of the symbolism of the elements.
- Harrison Park Map & photos: showing proposed location of the Black History Cairn and photos of the site.
- Emancipation Day Picnic
- Links to other Black History sites:
For more information about Owen Sound’s Black History Cairn Project, contact:
Black History Cairn Committee |
