Lecture: A Tale of Two Colonels
Niagara’s Militia in 1914
Thursday, Nov. 5 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
A special lecture to remember with The Brown Homestead
In June 1914, a massive military exercise took place across Niagara culminating in a mock skirmish involving 3,600 men nearby The Brown Homestead. Return to the place that stood witness to this dramatic event and discover this little-known piece of local military history during this special presentation to commemorate Remembrance Day.
Date: Thursday, November 5
Time: 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m. for visitors wishing to explore the John Brown House)
Admission: By donation, suggested $5 per person
Space is limited. Pre-registration required.
Military trainees march along Pelham Road, in front of The Brown Homestead. June 1914. Credit: St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre.
Meet Mark Wright
Mark Wright is a Chippawa resident and dedicated volunteer at The Brown Homestead. An avid reader, collector, and history buff, Mark has been conducting research on the topic of this particular Niagara military exercise since 2024.
More About the 1914 Niagara Exercise
Between 1914 and 1918, families across Canada proudly answered the call to serve the war effort on the homefront. One particular exercise took place here in Niagara approximately 112 years ago, as groups of men from across southern Ontario came to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a week of spring training.
These exercises took place during the week of June 7 to 12, 1914, culminating in a mock skirmish at Power Glen in the vicinity of the Niagara Escarpment.
Conducted across four different Niagara townships, the “sham” battle involved 3,600 men including infantry, cavalry and artillery. Its finale was fought far enough west for the weapons fire to be likely within earshot of the Powers family farm (now The Brown Homestead) west of St. Catharines in what was then known as Louth Township.
A few weeks prior to this exercise, prominent military leaders including Sir Sam Hughes paid a visit to the Powers family farm, as evidenced in historic photos of our site. Why did they choose to visit this modest farming family out in rural St. Catharines? As it turns out, a key commanding officer responsible for leading much of the upcoming action was a direct descendant of Homestead patriarch John Brown.
Learn about this intriguing piece of local military history and its exciting TBH connection during this upcoming FREE community talk!