Pensioner’s Day celebrated at the Park House Museum

Park House summer student Callie McRorie conducts a tour during “Pensioner’s Day” that was celebrated by the museum July 4.

Park House Museum volunteer Mark Feltoe demonstrates how to use a printing press. The printing press was the original one that was used by the former Amherstburg Echo newspaper.

Pensioner’s Day was celebrated at the Park House Museum earlier this month.

One of only two original pensioner’s cottages in Amherstburg sits behind the museum building itself and it was open as part of Pensioner’s Day events. As part of tours conducted by summer student Callie McRorie, she noted the “Pensioner’s Scheme” occurred in Amherstburg from 1851-58 where retired soldiers came back to live in town and help reduce defence costs as the new residents used to serve. They obtained jobs in town with many having duties to maintain Fort Malden, keep a guard there, and watch over three blockhouses and a picket house on Bois Blanc Island. Pensioners, who had to be chosen and stay in good conduct otherwise possibly losing their cottages, also were liable for service as special constables or as a back-up for the regular militia in the case of an emergency.

McRorie’s presentation pointed out the initial group came from England and Ireland. They arrived in Quebec in June of that year came to Amherstburg July 4, 1851, making the July 4 celebration the 175th anniversary. The town’s population at that time was 1,200 people with 200 homes, a church, port and shops.

“Some people in Amherstburg were not happy with the idea of bringing people over to live in a part of their town,” said McRorie.

Park House curator Kat Bezaire read a letter from Sarah Pollard, a wife of a pensioner that came to Amherstburg in the 1850s. Bezaire noted that Pollard still has descendants who live in the community.

Bezaire was hopeful for higher attendance, but thinks the heat and the previous night’s thunderstorms had something to do with it.

“People are dealing with a lot of downed trees right now,” she said.

The Pensioner’s Cottage at the Park House was recently upgraded and repaired thanks to funding from the Stephen P. Copeland Foundation and other donors.

“It’s looking as good or better than it did in 1851,” Bezaire said.

Bezaire said the Park House Museum is trying to use it for programming more often.

While there is a lot of focus on the War of 1812 and the Rebellions of 1837, Bezaire said there isn’t as much focus on after that.

“We tend not to focus on what happened next,” she said. 

The Park House Museum belonged to Mathew Pollard and was originally located on Fort St., while the second original cottage is at Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada. Others are believed to be in town but part of homes that were added onto over the years, Bezaire indicated.

Upon retirement from the British Army, the Army provided pensioners with four-room cottages for their residences. A total of 88 cottages were built around the Amherstburg area and occupied by British Army Pensioners. 

“It really took the town from soldiers living at the Fort to the town it is today,” said Bezaire.

Bezaire said there was a point in history where there were seven people living in the Park House at the same time seven people lived in the pensioner’s cottage.

Among the upcoming events at the Park House Museum is the Aug. 7 “Music off the Back Porch.” The event is held monthly where music performances are held from 6-8 p.m. Hartt Goldman and Matt & Denise Romain are the scheduled performers next month. Bezaire will kick off the night with a talk on the museum and pensioner’s cottage. It is a free event but donations to the Park House Museum are appreciated, and people are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

Pensioner’s Day celebrated at the Park House Museum

By Ron Giofu