“Barrels & Brass” event coming this month to downtown Amherstburg
- Ron Giofu
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The public will get an opportunity to visit the Jazz Age and Prohibition in 1920s Amherstburg later this month.
The Marsh Historical Collection is presenting “Barrels & Brass” Aug. 21-23 in the Open Air Weekends footprint with three days worth of activities. Many are free, but others require a person to register or purchase a ticket.
“This is something different for us at the Marsh Historical Collection,” said collections co-ordinator Meg Reiner. “We’re trying to showcase the town’s history to a wider audience. That’s how the event was born.”
People who come out will be able to experience everything from blind pigs to silent movies and see the town through characters based on those from the 1920’s.
Reiner said Windsor gets a lot of recognition for its involvement in the prohibition age but Amherstburg has stories of its own.
“The idea is to experience what it was like in the 1920’s,” she said.
The event, she continued, is designed to dig into the fun side of local history at a time when “Amherstburg was a hopping place, benefitting from the post war recovery, rum-running and modern entertainment.”
A press release issued about the event states: “During Prohibition, Essex County had a reputation. Toronto papers described the area as ‘the Essex Frontier’ or ‘Ontario’s wild west.’ The small town of Amherstburg did not shy away from the funny business, and actively took part in the lucrative, albeit shady enterprises that characterized the decade.”
During the day, there will be a lot of family-friendly activities with “swinging nightlife” offered in the evenings.
“There’s a lot you can just show up for but other events you will need to buy a ticket or register for,” said Reiner.
Migration Community Productions will be performing skits throughout the weekend highlighting scenes of what occurred in Amherstburg during the 1920’s.
Tours will be led by the actor playing Mayor Fred Park, who was the town’s mayor in that era.
“We’ll have displays throughout the downtown core covering general history at that time,” said Reiner.
Those displays will come in handy during the evening hours for those interested in gaining access to one of the three “speakeasys.” Passwords are required for entry, with clues contained in the displays.
“There is no cost to get into a speakeasy, but you have to figure out the password,” said Reiner.
Speakeasys will include “The Service Station,” which will be operated by G.L. Heritage Brewing Co., “Dark Rabbit Exports” held at The O located on Murray St., and “Cell Block 89” by Wolfhead Distillery, the latter also being on Murray St.
Local storyteller Olwyn Coughlin will be telling two stories, one in the day Saturday that is free and another at a ticketed event later that afternoon. Her afternoon show “River Tales on the Boblo Boat” is in the gazebo in King’s Navy Yard Park at 12 noon while “Spilling the Tea on Temperance” is a ticketed event at Teller’s Café within Hotel STRY at 4 p.m.
“We’ve got quite the music lineup for that weekend. They’re all local musicians,” said Reiner.
The musicians, who are sponsored by the Shaanti International Museum of Costumes and Dolls, include the Ray Bower Quartet, The New Standard, the Mike Karloff Trio, the Coffee House Combo and Hugh Leal’s Speakeasy Quartet.
Dates, times and locations are available on the Marsh Historical Collection’s website, where a virtual program is also available.
“We’re recreating the Liberty Theatre in a tent on Richmond St.,” said Reiner. We’ll be playing silent films accompanied by live music.”
There will be a Marsh Historical Collection presentation entitled “The Good Ship Vedas & Other Stories” featuring special guests Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. That will be free and held at Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157.
The Amherstburg Rum Runners Walking Tour will also be held, and it is being presented by Encore Windsor, known for the award-winning high-demand rum runners tours in Windsor.
The Amherstburg Library is also presenting activities Aug. 22 from 1-4 p.m.
The “Barrels & Brass” event is gaining the support of many local businesses, Reiner added, including platinum sponsor Valente Contracting and gold sponsors Mailloux’s Farm Fresh, Joe Meloche Ford, Valente Development, and Lally Auto Group.
“I think it’s going to be a fun, new event for the town,” said Reiner. “It’s going to be the bee’s knees.”
For more information, go to www.marshcollection.org or call 519-736-9191.
“Barrels & Brass” event coming this month to downtown Amherstburg
By Ron Giofu