https://www.fepl.ca/localhistory/files/original/753cfebdca5d16457203876e0c92b985.pdf 4ce5c276384028d3cfb68c8962d8d77b PDF Text Text ·FAITH AND HERITAGE CONESTOGA TREK From . Lancaster Pennsylvania---- -----to Fort Erie Ontario ' Canada June/July, 1997 �PURPOSE To honour our heritage by celebrating the 200th anniversary of our Forefathers' and Formothers' conestoga trek from Pennsylvania to Ontario by retracing their approximate route, in period decor and equipment - as much as practical. Our purpose is to call attention to their courage arid faith; our goal is to establish a fitting memorial, in the Fort Erie area, to commemorate their values and courage in making such a trek. THE BACKGROUND The unrest that followed the conclusion of the American Revolu\ion in 1776 contributed to several waves of emigration. Persons living in the former colonies who had some lingering affection for former ties to Europe were uneasy about their future in the new United States. This uneasiness was most keenly felt among the Germanspeaking people of Pennsylvania. During the last years of the 18th century several waves of emigrants left Pennsylvania by conestoga to establish a new life in Canada. For the most part these emigrants were from the greater Lancaster area of Pennsylvania where they had firmly established themselves in community life. While most of them were German speaking, some were European mercenaries hired by the British during the Revolutionary War, and some were pacifists in search of a less violent community. They shared a strong desire to retain ties to the British Empire, and were willing to endure significant hardship in order to maintain those ties. The long trek, from Lancaster Pennsylvania to Ontario Canada, was a costly trip: it meant leaving family, farms, friends, and their various churches. PROPOSED TREK ROUTE WATER.LOO ,. / : 0o K.ITCH(:N(A GALTO PARIS ·'"" 6_ "'0- .. ORANTFOlll> 1 LA f'_/E ONTA o, J 0 ~- n · , \ ,;-<u~ • ~~ ~T. - ~ - - ::-0.. CATHAIUNES ~ ~"-- ~ ~~~ NEW YORK DAN5VILL~ '- -· - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- -- PENNSYLVANIA "-· THE DREAM For the past several years, Girve Fretz, retired M.P. for the · Erie Riding of Ontario, has had a dream. This dream is summarized in the following paragraphs. The year 2000 will mark the 200th anniversary of what is commonly referred to as the immigration of German-speaking people--the Pennsylvania Dutch--to Ontario, Canada. To celebrate this 200th anniversary, several direct descendants (and their friends) of the immigrants described above are planning to retrace their journey, by horse-drawn conestoga wagons, during June and July of 1997. It is hoped that this anniversary trek will raise funds toward a fitting memorial to those early immigrants to Canada, and that the trek will end with a fitting celebration in Fort Erie--perhaps in connection with other community events--in July of 1997. .- - - - - WI l.LIA/i\!J PORT One of the major routes of migration of early settlers from Pennsy'fania to Upper Canada LANCASTER � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louis McDermott Collection Subject The topic of the resource Local history, Fort Erie and surrounding area. Description An account of the resource A collection of historical documents, photos, news clippings, letters, and writings, assembled by local historian, Louis McDermott, and donated to the Fort Erie Public Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Louis McDermott Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived FEPL-LH -Louis McDermott Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Included in this collection are writings, historical documents, news clippings, images, maps, and more. They were written and compiled by Louis McDermott into a series of binders. The digital collection has been scanned from these physical copies. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fort Erie Public Library and Louis McDermott Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faith & Heritage: The Conestoga Trek Description An account of the resource Listed here is a text pertinent to the Conestoga Trek; a storied pilgrimage made by German-Dutch inhabitants of Pennsylvania to Ontario following the aftermath of the American Revolution. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Louis McDermott Collection Fort Erie Louis Mcdermott Collection