Unveiling of plaque commemorating Griffin House as a National Historic Site

 Wednesday, August 1, 2012 was a significant day in the history of  Griffin House - the Government of Canada honoured the Griffin House with an official plaque unveiling ceremony, commemorating its National Historic Significance.  

 The day also marked the anniversary of Emancipation Day, commemorating the abolishment of slavery in the British Empire, August 1, 1833.

 Enerals Griffin was an escaped African-American slave from Virginia who settled in this cottage in 1834.

Dr. Richard Alway, O.C., O.Ont., Chair of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Master of Ceremonies (MC)

Ms. Evelyn Auchinvole, Historian and Archivist, Stewart Memorial Church

Mr. Brian McHattie, City Councillor for Ward 1, Chairman of the Hamilton Conservation Authority 

Mr. David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale

Ms. Deborah Brown-Simon, Member, Friends of the Griffin House 

Mr. Ian Kerr-Wilson, Manager Museums & Heritage Presentation, City of Hamilton  

Griffin, a beautiful black Percheron horse, helped mark the historic occasion. His name was the result of a school contest, chosen in honour of the Griffin House.

  The text of the plaque was read in both official languages by Sophie Augurusa.

The National Anthem was sung by Tiana Trafecante.  

PMr. Amandeep Chawla, National Historic Sites Promotions Officer.

Anne Jarvis, centre, worked for more than 10 years as a volunteer at Griffin House. Anne forged ahead with the original National Historic Site application and was overwhelmed at the ceremony.

   Jim Green, right, takes a breather. He had made several trips to Fieldcote for equipment.

The shuttle that took us to the site.

 The people who came out to share a bit of history.

 The unveiling.

"Built in in 1827, this home is associated with Black Settlement in British North America during the first half of the 19th century.  Purchased in 1834 by Enerals Griffin, a Black immigrant from Virginia, it remained in his family for 154 years.  More elaborate than most residences of Black settlers in this period and situated within a predominantly Euro-Canadian area rather than in an organized refugee community in southwestern Ontario, this house conveys the diversity of the Black settler experience.  Griffin House is also a rare surviving example of residential vernacular architecture typical of Upper Canada in the early 19th century."

Wilma Morrison - Wilma almost singlehandedly looks after the Nathaniel Dett Chapel in Niagara Falls, a Black historic site.

She started collecting books on Black History which grew into a library and the books were recently donated to the St Catharines Library.

She has been awarded the Order of Ontario and recently the Queens Jubilee Pin in recognition for her work in Black History. 

  The descendants of Enerals Griffin.