What's In A Name? ...

By Adrienne Horne, M.A.
Regional Project Manager
Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

For the next few weeks we will be featuring a brilliant article written by Adrienne Horne, M.A., Regional Project Manager for the Western Corridor War of 1812 Bicentennial Alliance. I was fortunate to meet Adrienne and spend some time with her this past summer in Penetanguishene. We had the privilege of touring some wonderful historic sites in the area during the War of 1812 Bicentennial Regional Directors meeting. Adrienne was particularly fun as she shared some of her own childhood experiences, knowledge gained over the years and reflection of her own children’s points of view; all relating to the War of 1812 and “Living History”. This article was generously submitted to our War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebrations website by Adrienne Horne for all to enjoy!

Part 1 …

"I have been working on this wonderful project to commemorate the War of 1812 for over a year now. It has taken me nearly 10,000 km across Southern Ontario; and as I drive I see all the names I am now reading and hearing about from 200 years ago.

It is amazing how many of the names for places in our communities come from the War of 1812; and does anyone notice or know the significance these people had on who we are as a nation and even what nation we live in for that matter?

Most historians will tell you that the War of 1812 forged this nation as the people came together as Canadians for the first time to defend their land and homes from an invading force. Most people are familiar with Brock, Simcoe, Tecumseh, and York, as these were the major people and places of significance for the war; but what about MacNab, Ingersoll, and Brant? These are also important people from that time and had influenced the outcome of the war in their own way.

Hamiltonians see the name MacNab on all sorts of things in their city, not to mention that his stately home, Dundurn Castle, was built upon a key site for the war, Burlington Heights. The heights have been an important location for people to meet rest and get supplies for centuries. The British army also used the Heights, as they built a fort and mounds to stop the enemy from advancing to York. Do you know that at the age of 14, Sir Allan Napier MacNab, before his successful law and political career in Hamilton, fought at York and was part of the attack on Fort Niagara? Born in Niagara, his father was a Lieutenant under Lt. Col John Graves Simcoe (later becoming Lieutenant Governor for Upper Canada)".(To Be Continued)