MARCHING AS TO WAR
Hundreds of re-enactors participated in the Siege Weekend at the Old Fort in Fort Erie. A full tent village filled the grounds providing a glimpse of life in 1812.
There is more to the Old Fort’s siege weekend than cannon blasts and the smell of gun powder.
Hundreds of history buffs travelled to Fort Erie from many parts of the U.S. and Canada to play a role in battles and demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday but there’s another important community of people who participate in-character each year.
There are merchants, tradespeople and other historic occupations depicted by people offering a number of goods and services.
One of them is Terry Sanderson, an Oakville resident who is a leather worker that makes belts and other accessories that would have been worn and used by both civilians and military personnel.
His hobby started 34 years ago with a focus on the French and Indian War but for the last 15 years he has primarily paid the most attention to the fine details of the War of 1812.
“There’s a lot of research done trying to find the right colours and patterns,” said Sanderson, who started his craft through his brother’s interest in military uniforms and regalia.
“It just evolved from there into this little hobby-business,” he said.
Across the way from Sanderson at the Old Fort on the weekend was The Elegant Thimble, a collective of three women from the Kitchener and Chatham-Kent areas who make period clothing that females during the early 19th century would have been seen in.
Working together for close to 15 years, the trio says they probably have 100 years of research experience altogether – which includes trips to historical sites and a lot of books.
“It’s years of museum visits and our book collections could sink homes,” said Dawn Luckham, standing with her colleagues Charlene Roberts and Lisa Gilbert.
One of the biggest challenges with their work is that there isn’t a lot of documentation or evidence on what women wore more than 200 years ago.
“We try to be as accurate as possible and also educate the public,” said Gilbert.
It also helps exercise both sides of the brain.
“For me, it satisfies the creative seamstress side of me – but also the intellectual researcher side of me,” she said.
All three said they love coming to the annual weekend in Fort Erie to enjoy the family atmosphere and comradery that exists in the re-enactment community but are also proud to offer some variety for those in attendance.
“A lot of it is about men – but there’s a lot of women that come out too and we’re glad to provide something for them,” said Gilbert.