KINGS LANDING, N.B. - Reginald Springer was overwhelmed as he stood before a recreation of his great grandparents' house on the grounds of the Kings Landing Historical Settlement in southern New Brunswick.
A former Fredericton resident who moved to Ontario to pursue a boxing career in 1948, Springer was one of 30 descendants of James and Sarah Gordon to make the trek to the community west of Fredericton to celebrate the opening of Gordon House.
The small log cabin nestled in a wooded area recreates the home of James Gordon, a black carpenter who built the home for his family in 1835.
Gordon, who was either a descendent of Loyalist slaves or free blacks, later leased the land from owner Rev. William Henry Shore.
"I don't even have the words to describe this," Springer said.
"Can you imagine my grandfather seeing his parents recognized like this because there was significant bigotry going on back then that he used to see, but it has pretty much lifted. It's a great day. " "
The Gordon House, a project that Kings Landing officials say has been in their plans since first opening in the 1970s, was built with funding from the Tourism Department. It was officially finished on the weekend when Gordon's descendents brought along family artifacts to help furnish the house.
"This is a huge accomplishment and not only for Kings Landing, but for New Brunswick in general," said Alain Boisvert, executive director of Kings Landing.
"This is not only about the building, it is about emotion and memory, the great memory that the black community deserves in New Brunswick."
Recreated log cabin celebrates history of black settlement in New Brunswick
-
Published on
June 8, 2009
- Published on January 3, 2010
-
The Canadian Press ~ The News
- Rate
- Top of the page
