Cultural Landmarks of Hamilton-Wentworth

Battlefield House

Location:  77 King Street West, Stoney Creek

Mary Jones Gage and her two children, James Jr. and Elizabeth immigrated from New York State to Upper Canada in 1790 after the death of Mr. James Gage Sr. in the American Revolutionary War.  Mr. Gage reportedly died while defending Fort Clinton against the British.  The small family arrived in the area of Stoney Creek and accepted a land grant of two hundred acres in Saltfleet Township in exchange for their sworn allegiance to the British Monarchy.  On this land, the family constructed their home which was a traditional log house.  Later in 1796, the log house was replaced with a larger storey and a half house. The Georgian style home was built symmetrically with a balanced number of windows and doors.  The house also possessed the Georgian twelve over twelve multi-paned sash windows and flat window heads.  It also had a large verandah, steep roof and large chimneys.  The new Georgian style Gage home would later be known as Battlefield House.

The War of 1812 had broken out in Canada and families on the border with the United States faced the reality of the war first hand.  On June 5, 1813,  the invading American troops under the command of General John Chandler and General William Winder stormed the house of the widow, Mary Jones Gage and imprisoned her and her children in the basement.  The American troops had planned to use the home as their headquarters, due to its strategic location and the perimeter around the house had great visibility.  However, the house was recaptured by British troops and loyal Native forces.  The Gage family was subsequently released by the victorious troops.  After the war, the lives of the Gage family continued as it had always under peace.

Changes to the structure of the house were directed by James Gage in 1830.  The storey and a half  house was renovated to include an entire new floor, making the home a full two story house.  In 1835 Mary Jones Gage sold the house and moved to Hamilton, Ontario.  After this time, the house was bought and sold, until Sara Calder who was the great-granddaughter of Mary Jones Gage bought the house recognizing its historical significance in 1899.   Sara Calder, on behalf of the Women's Wentworth Historical Society paid $1,900 for the property securing it with a deposit of $900, and the remaining payments were made by her through a mortgage until it was obtained through subscription.  Though the house was in a major state of disrepair, the Women's Wentworth Historical Society of which Sara Calder was president, restored and refurbished the home.  They reached out to the community requesting items that could be used to refurnish the historical landmark.  Dishes, pictures, and furniture were needed and the community's response was overwhelming.  On October 23, 1899 the Battlefield Park was officially opened by Lady Aberdeen.

On the centennial of the Battle of Stoney Creek, June 6, 1913, a monument was unveiled by Queen Mary through the use of a transatlantic cable on the property of Battlefield Park.  The Battlefield Monument was commissioned by the Women's Wentworth Historical Society to commemorate the soldiers who fought protecting Canadian from American invasion and the peaceful relationship enjoyed between the United States and Canada.

In 1962, the Women's Wentworth Historical Society decided they could no longer afford to maintain the home and property.  Therefore, the Niagara Parks Commission decided to take responsibility for the site.  The Commission restored the house during the 1970's in an attempt bring it back to its original 1835 state.  The house is currently owned by Stoney Creek and is maintained by dedicated volunteers.

Today, the house is like it was over one hundred fifty years ago.  Every year, countless people attend the re-enactment of the battle in June, visit the museum, and the Battlefield Monument.  However, people also come to see the site where the British troops and Native allies ended the American invasion into Canada.  

References:
Gardiner Scrapbooks.  Special Collections, HPL.
Wentworth County Scrapbooks.  Special Collections, HPL.
Wentworth Landmarks.  Special Collecctions, HPL.

Link:
Battlefield House Museum