‘At War’s End’ explored in annual Guided Spirit Walks
For each of the last two years, St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre’s annual Guided Spirit Walks have explored local stories relating to the First World War and this fall’s instalment, At War’s End, will highlight the impact four years of war had on St. Catharines and its residents in 1918.
While it may seem like a continuation of previous years' stories, the museum’s visitors services co-ordinator Adrian Petry said it wasn’t designed that way, at least not thematically.
“There may be one or two repeat characters from previous years, but everything is different, in terms of perspectives and the stories being told,” he said. “This explores the end of war — what people will do when they get home.”
As in past years, museum staff delved into their historical files and done research on those residing within the Victoria Lawn Cemetery to tell the stories of St. Catharines residents from that era. Those stories are then brought to life by a team of volunteer actors during an engaging historical and theatrical walk through the cemetery.
One soldier, for instance, reflects on how the army has given him purpose in his life and with the end approaching, he’s left wondering what his next steps will be and where he’ll fit in.
A teacher at St. Catharines Collegiate, Eliza Fitzgerald, had several of her students die in the war.
“The school had a student-run yearbook back then that gave us a lot of insight into how the students felt about the war as it neared the end, and how they felt about a lot of their teachers,” said Petry, adding there was plenty of primary source material used when researching this year’s walk.
Articles from the Globe and Mail, for instance, explored how women who headed to work in factories as part of the war effort were feeling knowing the men would be returning to reclaim their jobs.
“People were coming off the high of all that stuff and coming to grips with their lives, their losses and their futures,” said Petry.
It was an interesting time in St. Catharines in 1918, he said, noting there was a housing crisis and little was done during the war to address that.
“Contractors and investors were nervous about doing anything during the war because they didn’t know how things were going to pan out and so you had all of these people coming back and nowhere for them to live,” he said.
Actors started rehearsing in July for this year’s walk, which Petry promises is a big group this year with 14 actors portraying more than 20 characters.
Performances will take place in the south side of the cemetery, 432 Queenston St., on Sept. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $11 per person. To purchase, contact the museum at 905-984-8880.