Tag Archives: pentax 645

Out of Sight

As you may know the human eye can only see a small part of the full light spectrum in the world. This is known as the visible spectrum, and it is what photography works with…mostly.

Using special films and filters you can actually photograph in the infrared spectrum. I recently came into possesion of several rolls of Infrared film, sadly not the famous Kodak HIE, but two rolls of Konica IR750, a bunch of (highly sought after) Efke IR820, a roll of (sort of infrared) Ilford SFX200, and bought some Rollei Infrared film. So I purchased a nice Kenko R72 filter big enough to screw into my 35mm lens for my Pentax 645, and the 17-55mm and 70-200mm lens for my Nikon D300. I also have a Hoya 89b filter for smaller lenses.

My first test didn’t turn out too well using some very expired Konica IR750 film…but in the February 1st podcast from the FPP I picked up a couple tips for the second roll I have. But it gave the IR effect. Black skies, white greens. I exposed the film at ISO-10 based on Internet reading, but the second roll will be exposed slower, maybe ISO-1 (like Efke films).

Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Konica IR750 – HC-110 Dil. B 7:00 @ 20C

I also slapped the filter onto my D300 and fired off and got some pretty pleasing results as well, but have to work a bit on my exposure still.

However it was back on Monday that I got my first real taste of what can be done with Infrared film using a roll of the Rollei IR film. Now for the most part IR film is rated at 400, because adding the filter in front has such a high filter factor you have to pull the film several stops, in this case I exposed the film at ISO-25 (that’s 4 stops). I used my trusty Gossen Luna Pro F to manually meter each scene. The results, well they speak for themselves. I can’t wait to actually print some of these.

Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Rollei Infrared @ ISO-25 – Rodinal 1+50 12:00 @ 20C

Now I wait for spring and summer to arrive to work more in infrared, I’m also glad I can still get new stock film because I’m rather enjoying this look.

Long Live Film.

Project:1812 – Fort Amherstburg/Fort Malden

Leave a reply

In most cases when a fort is destroyed and rebuilt it retains its old name. Fort Erie was destroyed four times over the course of its service as a military outpost and maintained its old name. Fort York continued with even when the city it once defended changed to Toronto. But in the case of Fort Amherstburg, after the destruction of this fort, when it was rebuilt it was given the name Fort Malden as it is known by today.

A bastion in the 1830s earthworks.

Fort Amherstburg was built in 1796 after the Jay Treaty forced the British to transfer control of Fort Detroit over to the American government. The simple earthworks fortification on the Upper Canada side of the Detroit River served as the central hub for British Military operations, the Provincial Marine and the King’s Navy Yards, and the British Indian Department in the Western frontier of Upper Canada. The fort had simple wooden frame buildings, and no blockhouses (and oddity in those days). Construction of the fort fell to the Royal Canadian Volunteers (a group of local citizens of Upper Canada raised as a fensible battalion). The fort was manned by members of the Royal Artillery and a detachment from the 41st Regiment of foot. Another group of British irregular soldiers, Caldwell’s Western Rangers also operated out of the fort.

The 1819 Brick Barracks, the only surviving military structure on the site.

When war broke out in 1812, the fort was General Hull’s first target when he landed his forces north of the fort in the small town of Sandwich (Today known as Windsor, ON). He marched south only to be opposed by the troops from Amherstburg, it was this engagement at the River Canard along with news that General Brock was coming with reinforcements forced Hull to retreat back to Fort Detroit. When Brock arrived it was at Fort Amherstburg the general met with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, the two great leaders then launched their operation laying siege to Fort Detroit eventually forcing Hull’s surrender and recapturing Detroit with plans for moving further south. But in 1813 the British fared far worse in the western theater, several failed attacks and sieges forced the British to retreat, General Procter ordering the King’s Navy Yards, warehouse and Fort Amherstburg destroyed by fire leaving nothing for the quickly advancing American army, and the British pulled back along the River Thames (it was during this retreat that the Battle on the Thames occurred and saw the death of Tecumseh). The Americans soon began construction of a new fort over the charred ruins of Fort Amherstburg, calling their new smaller fortification Fort Malden. With the war focus shifting to the Niagara peninsula over the final years of the war the Fort Malden remained incomplete when the British reclaimed the region, building only a small barracks to house a small detachment of troops in 1819.

A visual representation of the 1839 No. 1 Barracks

But by the 1830s the threat of rebellion swept through the Canadas, and the British scrambled to build up their military presence, Fort Malden once again was surrounded by high earthworks and several new buildings where thrown up. The fort was garrisoned by members of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, with the 34th Regiment of Foot using it as a staging area. The fort continued to serve as a military base until 1851, when it was transferred over to the local government who setup a lunatic asylum until 1871. During this time the earthworks were lowered, and trees planted over the ground, several new buildings were installed as well. After the asylum transferred to St. Catherines (where it still operates today) the fort was left and forgotten. The two larger barracks were moved elsewhere in Amherstburg, one split into three separate buildings, all of which still stand today, and the second was left intact and used as a stable until 1920 when it burned down. The grounds were slowly sold off for private ownership; the 1868 laundry/kitchen became a private residence. It was in 1937 when many of these historic sites were purchased by the federal government for restoration, Fort Malden among them. Today the Fort Malden National Historic Site contains the original 1819 barracks fully restored to what it would have looked like when it was built after the War of 1812, the 1868 building now serves as the fort’s museum. Visitors can also see the remains of the 1830s earthworks and see outlines where the other fort structures once stood.

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: www.amherstburg.ca/Attractions/Details/fortmalden.aspx
Web: www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/digi/war1812/contents/surrender/fortmalden.htm
Web: www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/digi/war1812/contents/retreat/retreatamherstburg.htm

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 75mm 1:2.8 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (320TXP)
Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 5:30 @ 20C

Project:1812 – The Capture of Fort Niagara

Leave a reply

The British were mad, and rightly so. In December of 1813 as the American’s retreated to winter quarters across the Niagara River they not only destroyed Fort George (Except for the powder magazine) and then at the urging of the treasonous Joseph Willcocks burned the town of Newark (Niagara-On-The-Lake) in an effort to turn the Canadian sentiment against the British rulers. This of course wasn’t the case, it made the local Canadian and British commanders turn their hatred towards the Americans.

The British Launch site for the operation

When General George Drummond arrived in the Niagara region as the British retook the area he immediately ordered the retaliation for the atrocities he saw. The Americans had left the civilian population without shelter or supplies. Many had taken shelter in the ruins of Fort George or built crude shelters out of the ruins of the town. Drummond’s first goal was to take back Fort Niagara, although it was the most powerful and defendable fort in the region, after the American’s had taken the Niagara region the fort was poorly defended by a drunken commander some members of the 1st US Artillery and 24th US Infantry. The remainders of the troops at the fort were sick or recovering.

The brigade landed several miles south of the Fort so that the pickets wouldn’t see the boats on the river.

On December 18th, 1813 Colonel John Murray lead a force of 562 British regulars across the Niagara River. Troops from the 1st Royal Scots Grenadiers, the 41st Regiment of Foot’s Light and Grenadier companies, and the 100th of Foot with members of the Lincoln Militia acting as guides and boatmen struck out under the cover of darkness from Upper Canada landing a few miles from the Fort. Drummond had made it clear to Colonel Murray that he did not want a long siege against Niagara, but a quick strike to take it back by surprise. Murray ordered the troops to remove their flints to prevent any accidental discharges. The American pickets were too busy keeping warm than actually watching for troops and were quickly overcome, surrendering the password the brigade made quick work of the other pickets without raising the alarm.

The Salt battery, part of the American defense along the river.

As the British approached the fort, they answered the challenge with the correct password and putting on a fake accent; they quickly took the gatehouse and opened the gate to the rest of the forces before the alarm had been raised. But it was already too late; Colonel Murray’s Brigade was inside and making quick work of the fort’s defenders. American troops managed to barricade themselves inside the south redoubt refusing to comply with the surrender order. They held off for several hours before the British forced their way inside and the order was given to bayonet the men inside.

The main gatehouse at Fort Niagara

Fort Niagara once again flew the Union Jack, and remained under the flag for the rest of the war. Steel and surprise had taken the fort giving the British again a foothold in the US; from there they struck out and continued on their mission of revenge of the burnings of 1813 by burning everything from Fort Niagara to Buffalo. The capture of Fort Niagara cost the British five men, and six wounded. The Americans lost sixty-five men, another six wounded, and took four hundred prisoners. The British also seized seven hundred muskets, and various clothing items including much needed shoes.

Written with Files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: www.eighteentwelve.ca/?q=eng/Topic/42
Web: war1812.tripod.com/ftniagara.html

Photos:
Contax G2 – Carl Zeiss Planar 2/45 T* – Efke KB50 – Blazinal 1+50 9:00 @ 20C
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Tri-X 400 – HC-110 Dil. B 7:30 @ 20C

Project:1812 – Fort Niagara

Leave a reply

Situated with commanding view of the mouth of the Niagara River, Fort Niagara has stood guard over the area for over three hundred years. It remains some of the oldest buildings in the upstate New York area. It has survived two wars, one siege, and has changed hands five times over its service. Today the old fort sits on state lands with sports fields and picnic areas that once served as prison camps and training grounds.

The gate house which dates back to the French Period.

An overview of the fort, when it was still in use, the grounds would have had many more buildings and tent lines.

The French established their first fort on the site in 1678, known then as Fort Conti served as an armed trading post and terminus of the Niagara Portage road. However a winter decimated the fort’s population and was eventually abandoned. The French returned and reestablished themselves in the area in 1687, and by 1688 the fort became the centre of the fur trade for the region. Extensive construction expanded the fort as tensions between the French and British Empires threatened to spill into North America. The Seven-Years war, or French-Indian war as it was known as in North America came to the fort in 1759 when British forces laid siege, eventually forcing the surrender of the fort in July 26, 1759. Under British control, the renamed Fort Niagara was expanded yet again.

The French Castle, the oldest building on the site was built in 1729.

The Fort continued to be held by the British through the American Revolution and remained a loyalist stronghold, throughout the conflict. It served as a base of operations for Butler’s Rangers. The British continued to hold onto the fort even after the Treaty of Paris was signed. It was not until 1796 that the Jay Treaty forced the British to turn over the forts on the American side of the boarder. The United States Army took control of the fort. A relation between the troops and officers between Fort Niagara, and its opposite, Fort George was amicable, and often commanding officers would have dinner with their counterparts. That of course all stopped when war was declared in 1812, Fort Niagara and Fort George and their various batteries along the river exchanging artillery fire. The most intense exchange between the two occurred prior to the Battle of Fort George in 1813 which saw the British forces driven from the Niagara Region. But in December of 1813, following the Burning of Newark (Niagara-On-The-Lake) and York; Fort Niagara found itself under British attack and through a clever surprise attack saw the Union Jack once again flying over the Fort. After the treaty of Ghent was ratified in February of 1815 the British once again turned Fort Niagara over to the United States.

A battery of “Long Nines” at Fort Niagara.

However the age of masonry forts was at an end, modern weapons, and advanced in Technology discovered through the bloody American civil war saw a much larger camp based military base expand around the old fort through the latter half of the 19th century and into the 20th century. The old French fort slowly deteriorated under the Military. Camp Niagara served the United States Army through the First World War and even the Second World War. During the Second World War a Prisoner of War camp was situated on the property also. However the locals were interested in the fate of the French fort, by 1931 the colonial fort was starting to be restored, and the grounds open to the public, and the fort was fully restored by 1934. The army continued to operate Camp Niagara through the Korean conflict and in 1963 dismantled the camp and turned the grounds over the civilian government as public land, Fort Niagara State Park was opened to the public in 1965. The US Coast Guard however maintains a detachment at the fort, giving Fort Niagara the title of longest continuously occupied Military bases in North America. Today the fort is a National Historic Site and musuem and is open to the public, they also host a reenactment of the capture of the fort on the Labour Day long weekend.

The Fort Niagara Cemetary, which contains the bodies of the men & women who died at the fort, and a memorial to those losts during the attack in December of 1813

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: oldfortniagara.org

Photos: Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Tri-X 400 (400TX)
Dev: Kodak HC-110 Dilution B 7:30 @ 20C

Project:1812 – The Burning of Niagara

1 Reply

The tourist town of Niagara-On-The-Lake has not always been a town of boutique stores, fancy restaurants, and theaters. With horse drawn carriages carrying tourists along it’s quiet tree lined streets and the broad main street. In fact, the town has only been known as Niagara-On-The-Lake since the 1880s (officially recognized in 1970). In 1813 it was known simply as Niagara (renamed from Newark in 1798 when General Simcoe moved the capital to York), and it was under occupation of American forces.

One of many upscale hotels in modern Niagara-On-The-Lake

Following the Battle of Fort George in May of 1813 British forces had withdrawn to their strong hold at Burlington Heights, working towards building themselves back up to strength, leaving the entire Niagara region occupied by American troops. However the invasion force moved slowly through Upper Canada, only to be repulsed by the British at the Battle of Stoney Creek and Battle of Beaverdam. And now the British marched on Fort George, and winter was coming. General McClure faced with these, along with dwindling supplies. He made the choice to withdraw to winter quarters across the river.

St. Mark’s Anglican church dates back to the late 18th century. It was the home parish to many officers from both Fort Niagara and Fort George including Sir General Isaac Brock. The building they now worship in was rebuilt after the town was burned.

Usually such a retreat was a peaceful operation, military supplies were taken with the invading force, military outposts destroyed and the civilian population left alone or given a chance to leave with their possessions and supplies and seek shelter. But one man had another idea. Joseph Willcocks, who had earlier in the year turned to the Americans offering his service along with like minded men who have become disenchanted with British rule now served the American army as the Canadian Volunteers. Willcocks approached General McClure with the suggestion to burn Niagara, to give the British no quarter, supplies, or shelter when they returned and to turn the civilians against the British. McClure agreed. American Milita and Canadian Volunteers flooded the streets giving the populous mere hours notice before their town was going to be put to the torch. By the time British forces arrived the town had been reduced to ashes, the population seeking shelter from the harsh winter in the ruins of Fort George or makeshift structures constructed in the ruins. Willcocks’ plan backfired, instead of turning the population against the British, it united them, against the Americans. British troops launched an all out, no holds barred assault against the American side of the Niagara River. Starting first with taking back Fort Niagara and the end of a bayonet, then burning everything from Youngstown to Buffalo. By the end of 1813 the entire region had been reduced to ashes.

Niagara probably had many carriages, but probably not as fancy as this one today.

McClure for his part was stripped of command, Willcocks was branded a traitor and a warrant was put out for his capture. Willcocks eventually was killed in action at the Siege of Fort Erie in 1814. Both sides committed atrocities by the standards of the day. There were certain rules of engagement that were followed, and if they weren’t often officers, usually exempt from punishment, were forced to answer for their crimes. These actions also set a dangerous precedent for the remainder of the war, leading to the invasion of the US east coast in 1814 and ended with the burning of Washington DC. The citizens of Niagara however were undaunted and eventually rebuilt their town, which now stands as the Loveliest Town in Canada, a plaque in the historic downtown, and Fort Mississauga’s blockhouse (constructed of brick from the ruins of the town) are the only reminders of the dark chapter in the town’s history.

A block of buildings along the main drag of Historic Niagara-On-The-Lake.

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: discover1812.com/page/1813
Web: www.niagaraonfire.com/

Photos: Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Ilford Pan F+ (ISO-50)
Dev: Blazinal 1+50 11:00 @ 20C

Film Photography Retreat

Leave a reply

Sometimes a change of location is good, and as you all know I have a love for the northern section of Ontario. So over the course of the summer Tim, Chris, Tom, Mat, Dan, and I started formulating an idea for a retreat up into northern ontario for a weekend film retreat, eventually settling on the last weekend in September. We all being fans of or connected to Film Photography Project. The numbers changed over the course of the summer, settling on Tim, Dan, Chris, Tom, Myself, and Tim’s Friend Eric. Six guys, a lot of beer, and even more cameras everything from a 8×10 beast, to 35mm (no 110, sorry).

It Rained.
A Lot.

But it didn’t stop us much, we still managed to explore Sturgeon Bay, French River, and of course the lovely Naiscoot Lodge we were staying.

Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5, SMC Pentax A 645 80-160mm 1:4.5
Kodak Tri-X Pan, Kodak Tri-X 400, Kodak Portra 160
Polaroid Automatic 250 Land Camera – Polaroid Chocolate

Photostock Pt. 2 – The M119

Leave a reply

Agh, I’ve been remiss on posting more from the Photostock Event back in June of this year and for that I apologize, but things went straight down the tubes after photostock and I’ve been running at a million kilometers per hour since, and still haven’t stopped. But anyways I’ll get some more photostock up here over this week. Anyways onto the actual content.

The M119 is a unique roads, it’s clasified as a state highway but is far from it, a national historic senic route runs from just outside the village of Harbor Springs to Cross Village, at Photostock I took the oppurtunity to drive the length of the route and stop to grab photos along the way. This beautiful undivided senic highway runs along the edge of Lake Michigan and gives the passanger some amazing scenery to look at along with the driver a fantasic road to drive along. Just watch out for bikes, hikers, and on coming traffic. The M119′s nickname, “Tunnel of Trees” is well earned. Even on a bright sunny day at some points you will need to keep your sunglasses off and lights on.

The route is dotted with lookout points, homes, and cottages, three villages, even a cemetary. If you’re ever in the area, take hte time to give it a drive.

Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Shanghai GP3
Ilfsol 3 (1+9) 8:00 @ 20C

Project:1812 – Fort George

1 Reply

Located just outside the historic town of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Fort George stands guard over the Niagara River, her guns set to fire upon Fort Niagara across the river in Youngstown, NY. In fact it was Fort Niagara that spurred the construction of Fort George.

The largest blockhouse on site, historically these were used as both barracks for troops and a defensive emplacement should the walls be breached.

Fort Niagara after its capture by the British in the French-Indian War in 1759 remained a loyal British stronghold throughout the American Revolution. When the Jay Treaty was signed in 1796 the British Army was forced to surrender the massive fort located strategically at the mouth of the Niagara River. They began construction of a new Fort on the Upper Canada side of the river named Fort George. Completed in 1802 it soon became the military headquarters for the region and directly under the command of General Isaac Brock of the 49th Regiment of Foot.

Cannons mounted along the large ‘flag bastion’ on site.

The new fort featured both log and earthwork bastions, cannons, blockhouses, a powder magazine, kitchens, a hospital, and a smithy. Its job was to defend British interests on the Niagara River, provide shelter for British troops, the local militia and the Indian Department. There is a story of how on the eve of the American declaration of war against the British Empire and subsequent invasion of Upper Canada, that the officers of Fort Niagara were dining at Fort George with their British counterparts. Upon hearing the news that war had been declared the dinner continued and the American officers were sent back to Fort Niagara, and the next day the two forts opened fire upon each other. The Americans laid siege to Fort George in May of 1813; a massive naval bombardment followed with a ground attack forced the British to retreat back to their fortifications at Burlington Heights. The Americans used the fort as their base of operations as they attempted to push further into Upper Canada. But after the engagements at Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams they retreated back across the river later in 1813 allowing British Forces to re-establish their garrison at Fort George.

The original powder magazine, the only original structure on site.

Fort George remained in British hands throughout the rest of the conflict. Although the fort remained garrisoned through the rest of the war, the completion of Fort Mississauga located closer to the mouth of the river lessened the importance of Fort George. The fort was left in ruins by 1820, the grounds repurposed for agriculture and even a golf course, as most military operations had been moved to Fort Mississauga or Butler’s Barracks. At the start of conflict during the First World War saw the grounds once again home to the much larger Camp Niagara training base. The 1930s saw a great interest in restoration of many of the historic forts in the Niagara region, Fort George was reconstructed at that time using the original plans from the Royal Engineers. Most of the buildings that occupy Fort George today are reconstructed with modern materials based on the original plans and layout, the powder magazine is the only original building on site and the oldest building in Niagara-On-The-Lake. The fort is operated under Parks Canada as a National Historic Site, reenactors on site dress as the 49th Regiment of Foot. The crown forces operate a drill school every April at the fort as well.

The officer’s quarters and mess.

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (TXP)

Sources:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition, Revised and Updated
Gilbert Collins
www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/natcul/natcul2.aspx

Project:1812 – The Battle of Beaver Dams

2 Replies

The Battle of Beaver Dams created two Canadian Folk Heroes and was one of the stranger battles of the War of 1812, for it wasn’t won by force of arms but through audacity and deception. By the end of May 1813 most of the Niagara peninsula was in the hands of the Americans, they held Fort George, Newark (Niagara-On-The-Lake) and Queenston Heights. The British had been forced back to Burlington Heights, but after the Battle of Stoney Creek had established a series of outposts along the Niagara Escarpment. One of these outposts was at DeCew house near the settlement of Beaver Dams. The outpost at DeCew House was under the command of Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of the 49th. Along with the Lieutenant was fifty handpicked men of the 49th and a band of Mohawk Warriors.

Laura Secord’s home in Queenston where all the action started.

The Americans still smarting from their defeat at Stoney Creek set out on a new offensive on June 22nd, a column of 600 troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles Boerstler set out from Fort George and made it to Queenston by 11pm on the 22nd and billeted in the town. Several officers stayed at the home of Laura Secord. During the night she overheard their plans to attack DeCew house and slipped out heading north walking the 27 kilometers to the house located in modern day Thorold. The Americans set out again in the morning of the 23rd, as they neared the escarpment at St. Davids they were spoted by Native scouts who also headed towards FitzGibbon at DeCew house. Their story was corroborated by the earlier information the Lieutenant had received from Laura Secord. FitzGibbon realizing he was seriously outnumbered began to lay his own plans for the American forces that were still under the impression the element of surprise was on their side.

The Ruins of DeCew house in Thorold, ON

By the 24th the Americans had made it over the escarpment and began to march along the Mountain Road towards the settlement at Beaver Dams. FitzGibbon had deployed his native warriors in the woods along the mountain road in ambush, and the small detachment of the 49th at the rear of the American column to prevent them from retreating. Boerstler became aware of the native warriors in the woods but refused to take any actions against them. As the American column approached the north east corner of Thorold Township the Mohawk warriors attacked the column, ambushing them in the woods. The American column broke, and scattered while continuing to be harassed by the Mohawks. The Americans wanted to drive the natives out into the open so that they could bring their artillery to bear, but with the warriors attacking from all sides it was difficult for the American commanders to organize their men into an effective counter attack. The battle raged on for a couple hours, FitzGibbon hearing the musket fire rode out to see what was happening, giving order for his own men to muster for battle. By the time he had arrived the Americans were preparing to pull back. FitzGibbon rode out to meet the Americans under a flag of truce only to encounter the Americans riding his way under the same flag. But FitzGibbon had a plan. He knew that his force was far outnumbered, even the native allies were pulling back, but even still he told the American officer that more natives were coming and he could not count on controlling them, in addition to the natives more British regulars were on their way and that their best move would be to surrender now. The Americans called FitzGibbon’s bluff and refused to surrender to a force that they could not see, but the bold Lieutenant offered to allow them to inspect the forces. The ruse was perpetuated as a group of Dragoons showed on the scene. FitzGibbon convinced the leader of the Dragoons, Captain John Hall to portray FitzGibbon’s superior officer, Major DeHaren, Hall stepped into the role with pride, informing the Americans that they could not inspect the British forces. The ruse was working, Boerstler was despite, he had many tired soldiers and more wounded. But the whole thing was nearly undone on the arrival of the actual Major DeHaren who began his own negotiations for the American Surrender. FitzGibbon pulled the major aside and informed him of the ruse that would allow for a British victory. DeHaren went along with the ruse and the surrender was signed.

The former battlefield memorial park in Beaver Dams, at the time I was unaware a new park had been constructed in downtown Thorold and the plaque moved there.

FitzGibbon was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Glengary Light Infantry for his actions at Beaver Dams. Laura Secord however was not recognized for her actions under later in the 19th century when FitzGibbon issued a written statement confirming her involvement in bringing the information to the Lieutenant. Today DeCew house is nothing more than a ruin having burned down in 1950; Ontario Power Company stabilized the ruin and installed a plaque explaining the value of the structure. The actual battlefield is paved over and a historic plaque that used to sit there was moved to a memorial park first in Beaver Dams but was moved to a new park in downtown Thorold.

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 75mm 1:2.8 and SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Plus-X Pan (PXP) and Ilford HP5+

Sources:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition, Revised and Updated
Gilbert Collins
Web: www.battleofbeaverdams.com

Downtown Bristol

Leave a reply

This one is for my friends at Kodak!

Despite Ektachrome being cancelled in 120 and 35mm formats, I happened to find a decent sized stash in the back of my stores, mostly E100VS.

Over the Easter weekend I had a chance to go south…to Tennessee, and one of my stops was the towns of Bristol. Why towns? Simple there are two Bristols, one in Virginia and one in Tennessee, and they share a common downtown along State Street, as the name implies is the State line. When I stopped in on the town on my way down I was quickly rained out, but Monday as I started the long drive back home, the weather was perfect so I took an hour and just wandered along State Street.

Of other interesting fact…Bristol is the birthplace of Country Music.

The Town’s train station.

State Street, very idilic with the Stars and Stripes moving softly in the slight breeze.

I just love these old school signs.

Or even older painted on for businesses no longer there.

Sadly it was still too early for lunch

More old school signs…sadly this business is gone.

I wonder what’s behind these shutters…

Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Ektachrome E100VS

alex luyckx | blog

Explorer, Photographer, Wanderer

Tag Archives: pentax 645

Out of Sight

Project:1812 – Fort Amherstburg/Fort Malden

Project:1812 – The Capture of Fort Niagara

Project:1812 – Fort Niagara

Project:1812 – The Burning of Niagara

Film Photography Retreat

Photostock Pt. 2 – The M119

Project:1812 – Fort George

Project:1812 – The Battle of Beaver Dams

Downtown Bristol