Jim Addy, Mayor of Harpers Ferry,
shares a laugh with Gwen Robinson ...while signing a
proclamation to officially twin with Chatham-Kent Sunday
Official twinning ceremony links C-K with Harpers Ferry
By
Yvonne Bendo
Monday,
October 20, 2003 - 09:00
Local
News - HARPERS FERRY, W.VA — Gwen Robinson had a dream.
Sunday, at the confluence where the two rivers meet through the gap in the Blue
Ridge Mountains at Harpers Ferry, West Virgina, that dream came true.
As visitors began strolling along the historic downtown streets, Chatham-Kent
was officially twinned with Harpers Ferry.
“It’s linked us together in a cause that we both believe in,” said
Robinson, who represented Chatham-Kent in signing the proclamation with Harpers
Ferry Mayor Jim Addy.
Mayor Diane Gagner was unable to attend “due to previous commitments which
could not be altered,” she stated in a letter.
The two communities share history as abolitionist John Brown held a conference
in Chatham in May of 1858 to plan a raid on Harpers Ferry. That raid, which took
place on Oct. 18, 1859, resulted in the death of a number of Brown’s small
army of men — including two of his sons. Brown was also captured and later
hanged.
The truth about Brown’s activities and his fight to end slavery are emerging
as the two communities work together.
“Harpers Ferry did not know a lot about Chatham and many people in Chatham
didn’t know a lot about Harpers Ferry,” Robinson said.
The proclamation states the twinning is an “event for educational heritage and
historical significance . . . whereas the two communities are forever
conjoined.” It further states that the connection with Brown will help the two
communities continue to advance their shared cultural history.
“What started with John Brown, after travelling around in southwestern
Ontario, chose our town, Chatham, to hold his convention . . . what started
there came to fruition here, however it wasn’t very successful,” Robinson
said.
“But with the death of John Brown, certainly we know the Civil War followed
shortly and we did finally get the Emancipation Proclamation.”
However, those efforts must not be forgotten Robinson said, adding the twinning
“brings the whole abolitionist slavery issue to the focus of the present day
population so they can become educated and aware of the things that have
happened . . . it’s an enlightening thing for both areas.”
She said that’s crucial in understanding people.
“If people know my past, they may not love me but they will respect me if I am
doing something out of my inner feelings, my spirituality in my life . . . and
if I’m doing it with a good heart and honesty.”
Addy said Brown and others who fought against slavery “sacrificed their lives
for the good of this country and for humanity.”
The former history teacher admits he doesn’t use those words lightly.
“Using the words of Abraham Lincoln, ‘They died so that this nation could
live,’” Addy said.
“It is for us, the living, to remain true to the vision of these people in a
society in which all individuals are accepted as citizens of the United States,
regardless of colour or creed.”
That struggle continues today, as Addy noted, “we’re aware of the subtle
incidents of racism and we’re also aware that we must be ever watchful as
sentinels of liberty to see that this country and this world survives as a home
for humanity.”
The twinning is also expected to help promote tourism between the two
communities.
Robinson, a descendant of a slave and a free man, said her ancestors come from
both Canada and the United States.
And she’s not alone.
“Probably a lot of black people in the United States and Canada have relatives
on both sides of the Canadian boundaries, so we have to start looking at each
other a little differently, I hope, and acknowledge each other,” Robinson
said.
The history books in both countries originally told little of the struggles of
blacks and what was told was portrayed in a negative way.
Robinson said working together to uncover the history and the connections is a
means of ensuring the truth comes out — both the good and the bad.
Mon
October 20th 2003
