Lewiston enlists to help War of 1812 funding fight

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060730 FT niagara2/gnn DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Youngstown -British troops from the War of 1812 march the compound as a tourist snaps a photo Sunday afternoon during that period’s encampment at Fort Niagara.

March 8, 2011

Town officials hope to secure $325K which will, in part, fund three-day festival next year

By Nick Mattera Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Tue Mar 08, 2011, 09:04 PM EST

LEWISTON — Local plans to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 may receive a shot in the arm courtesy of the Town of Lewiston.

It what would be the largest allocation of funding in all of New York State, Town Supervisor Steve Reiter said he plans to earmark $325,000 in Niagara River Greenway money to the Lewiston Historical Society to fund projects associated with celebrating the war which the Niagara region played a key role in.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for Lewiston to put its best foot forward,” Reiter said. “Once again, instead of sitting in meetings and talking about things and wishing things were happening, we are actually doing and making things happen.”

Regional, state and federal monies have been allocated to different communities all across the U.S. and Canada to fund War of 1812 celebrations.

In Maryland, $25 million is being spent, half of which will go directly to nonprofit groups and organizations.

In the Niagara region of Ontario, which encompasses Niagara Falls, Ont., St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Thorold and Port Colborne, the figure exceeds $19 million.

In New York state, no money is being allocated for War of 1812 related events forcing municipalities to fund projects on their own. Aside from the Niagara County Legislature, which has earmarked $10,000 and now the Town of Lewiston, no other local governments or municipalities have approved funding for the celebration despite the region’s strong ties to the war.

Now, with potentially more than $325,000 in hand, plans to bring thousands of heritage tourist to the region can be fulfilled.

“Lewiston is going to be ground zero for the entire national 1812 effort,” said Lee Simonson, president of the Lewiston Historical Society.

In what was described as the first major battle of the War of 1812 and the largest at the time, the Battle of Queenston Heights will be reenacted and funded partially with money from the Town of Lewiston, Simonson said.

The battle, which saw more than half of the entire U.S. Army stationed in Lewiston, was lost by the Americans when they attempted to invade Canada through Queenston.

Aside from it being the first major battle, it was historically significant due to the death of British Major General Isaac Brock.

“We already have commitments from a number of reenactment units who want to be here that day,” said Simonson, who added the efforts will be coordinated with the Friends of Fort George, a Canadian group who is also dedicating much of its efforts to celebrating the war and its significance to the region.

Simonson said the Queenston Heights reenactment will be the largest bi-national event in the history of Western New York.

This event will be funded with $25,000 in greenway money and $55,000 in private funds.

Simonson plans for a three-day festival from Oct. 12-14, 2012, to aid in celebrating the battle at Lewiston’s Academy Park.

Simonson said the eyes of the nation will be upon the Lewiston community when it kicks off its events celebrating the War of 1812.

“We are very excited and there’s a lot of work being put into this,” he said. “You see a Lewiston community here that wants to take advantage of every opportunity when it comes to these events and projects.”

A proposal must now be submitted to the Niagara River Greenway committee for approval.

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