North Buxton Draws Thousands To Annual Homecoming

Thousands of people from all over North America will assemble in North Buxton this weekend – 3rd to 6th September – to study their family histories, play games and share memories of days of long ago – and not so long ago.

This is the 86th “Homecoming” – an event which grew out of a 1924 gathering initiated by the Sunshine Club of the British Methodist Episcopal Church for former area residents. From a single day of remembrances, the annual event has grown into a four-day celebration with a genealogical conference, music, dancing and friendly “family feud” team sports all culminating with a grand parade under the expert control of Parade Marshall Mr. Earl Prince.

The long weekend is organised by staff and volunteers of the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum. Spencer Alexander, a sixth generation Buxton resident and assistant curator at the Museum, describes the area: “the original site of the Elgin Settlement was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad for hundreds of fugitive slaves. Known as the most successful settlement for refugees of slavery in Canada West, it is one of the few remaining Black Canadian Settlements still in existence since the pre-Civil War era.”

The settlement dates to 1849 when 9,000 acres were secured for both escaped slaves and free blacks. Rules were strict. Only blacks were allowed to purchase land, which was divided into 50-acre farms. Owners were required to build a house 33 feet from the road measuring at least 24 x 18 x 12 feet with a porch, a picket fence and flower garden. They had to remain in residence for a minimum of 10 years during which time they were expected to pay for their farms – a rule which gave stability to the settlement.

The following year the King school was established with high academic standards and an advance curriculum which included Latin and Greek. Many pupils were encouraged to go on to post secondary education. Within a few years white children were admitted to classes making this one of the first integrated schools in North America.

Corn, wheat, oats, tobacco and hemp were grown, more forests were cleared, more homes constructed. By the 1860s the Elgin Settlement, now known as Buxton, boasted a population of approximately 2,000.

In 1872 the Elgin Settlement was officially dissolved and the area renamed South Buxton and North Buxton. Today many descendents of the original settlers call North Buxton home. Having proudly maintained their history they were rewarded in 1999 with the designation of a Canadian National Historic Site.

It is the long history of fugitive slaves passing through the Underground Railroad to freedom in Canada, the establishment of a successful community and the ongoing contribution to local, Canadian and international society which is being celebrated this weekend.

Today (Friday 3rd September) the annual US/Canadian History and Genealogy Conference takes place at the Buxton Museum. Saturday 4th September features a family baseball tournament, a horseshoe tournament and a holey board tournament – all free to spectators. From 10.00am to 4.00pm an authentic quilting bee (with quilters in period costume) takes place in the Log Cabin. The evening
ends with a Party in the Park dance.
Sunday features church services during the day with free Campfire Stories by historic Buxton figures from 8.00pm to 10.00pm.
The highlight of Homecoming is the parade which begins at 12.30pm on Monday with a variety of fun family activities in the park during the day.
For full details of the four days of activities, go to www.buxtonmuseum.com.

Marlee Robinson
marlee@ckdp.ca