Youngstown Heritage  Tours & Tourism

Educational Program

December 19, 2013 proved to be an exciting day for 650 students from Lewiston-Porter, Wilson, Tuscarora Indian School, and Stella Niagara Education Park.  Students participated in a two part educational program as part of the 200th anniversary of the British capture of Old Fort Niagara and the burning of Youngstown, Wilson, and Newfane.  

When students arrived at the gates of the Fort, they were greeted by uniformed soldiers, blocking their entrance with muskets.  The students stopped in their tracks and a hush could be heard through the crowd while soldiers asked them questions testing their knowledge of the assault on Fort Niagara.  As classes "passed the test" they were granted entrance into the Fort.  Bob Emerson, Executive Director of Old Fort Niagara, provided an informative and compelling account of the British attack. He described how the Fort was captured and demonstrated weapons and tactics employed in the assault.  It was an amazing show with military marches, musket demonstrations, and cannons firing. Students also had an opportunity to meet re-enactors and explore the French Castle.

The second part of the educational program consisted of a variety of learning stations that offered activities, interpreters, and events to help students understand and experience everyday life in the 1812 era. The Red Brick School, St. John's Episcopal Church, the First Presbyterian Church, and St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church provided perfect venues for this part of the program. Students were excited to receive a haversack to store souvenirs and other items they collected throughout the afternoon. Students learned about maps, map making, and surveying.  In addition to reviewing the town's geography, they also learned about the people who lived in the town of Porter and the hamlet of Young's town. They were able to meet Agnes Greensitt, Issac Swain, Reuben Wilson, Elijah Doty, and other local residents from 1813. Re-enactors were dressed in authentic period clothing and used props to help make these historic men and women come alive. The sound of children's laughter could be heard while they used quill pens to diligently work on calligraphy and perfect their penmanship. At a few of the venues, the Niagara Artillery Battery was able to provide an enriching opportunity for students to participate in military drills. Students stood at attention, their eyes on the soldiers, careful not to miss a command.  They followed orders while they learned about the life of a soldier and performed drills with wooden muskets at their sides.  Other stations included learning about the history and significance of the 1812 Flag, the importance of the Tuscarora Nation in saving American lives during the burning of the region, music of the era, and discussions from the author of River Burning, Norah Perez. In addition, students were able to watch a special viewing of the film, Niagara on Fire, presented by the Niagara-on-the-Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.  These engaging educational stations offered an extraordinary opportunity for students to be immersed in the learning process and to experience part of local history.