What a homecoming; Buxton Annual History and Genealogy Conference

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

In the hopes of gaining a better understanding of how some of our ancestors navigated their way through North America, I have been researching different parts of South Western Ontario and have learned that Canada has a very rich history.

I was excited when I received an email from Irene Moore Davis (President of the Essex County Black Historical Research Society), inviting the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper to the Buxton Annual History and Genealogy Conference being held on Friday, August 30^th at the North Buxton Community Church located in the heart of North Buxton, Ontario. When you get a chance, be sure to take a look at the last edition of the paper, where I take our readers on a tour of South Western Ontario. The article is called A Journey into our Past; Tangible Evidence of African History in Ontario, and in it, I explain the historical relevance of the town of North Buxton.

This year’s conference will have a host of exciting speakers and storytellers; the speakers confirmed for the 2019 conference include:

• Kenn Stanton, “Adventures in Genealogy: Dumpster Diving, Chocolate Turtles, and Photo Mysteries Solved”
• Adam Arenson, “African Canadian Emigration to the US 1860-1930”
• Richard Dana, “The McCurdy Family Legacy from Their Arrival in Canada Forward”
• Abiola Afolabi, “First Baptist Church Amherstburg – Church History and Connections to the Omoluabi (Character) Program and Newspaper for Youth”
• Sharri Phillips, “My Journey to the Daughters of the American Revolution”

The Conference kicks off the Buxton Homecoming, which runs from Friday, August 30^th – September 2^nd, 2019. This event draws former residents who relocated to various parts of Canada and the United States for a return visit to the Buxton community. The first Homecoming was initiated by the Sunshine Club of the British Methodist Episcopal Church and was held on Labour Day in 1924. It was originally a one-day event but has now spawned into a full four-day celebration where Africans now living in the diaspora have an opportunity to fellowship with each other and learn more about their history through: music, conferences, and activities. The entire community of North Buxton works together to welcome visitors for a weekend they will not forget.

I had an opportunity to speak with one of the organizers and curator of Buxton Museum Shannon Prince. Our conversation gave me insight on the look and feel of the weekend. “Thank you, Shannon for taking the time to share some information with me about the conference and homecoming. What makes this event so special to community?”

“Homecoming in Buxton is a very special time and for many of our visitors, it is an emotional experience,” Shannon began. “It is a reminder of the injustices endured, and how many courageous people made the perilous journey of the Underground Railroad to acquire: freedom, an education, and to build a future for themselves and their descendants, many of which return during this celebration and connect with long lost family members. It is wonderful to see; people show up with t-shirts that have their family names on it. You can see the connections happening in front of your eyes; it is a very special experience.”

“What are some of your favourite memories from the homecoming?” “Hmmmmm!” Shannon paused for a minute. “There are so many! One for sure would be when we had Toney Cohen come and share his experience of tracing the steps of runaway slaves. He told us about the difference between his journey and the Underground Railroad Journey that slaves embarked upon 150 years ago. What really captured the audience was his story of runaway slave Henry “Box” Brown who had a crate constructed and used it to ship himself to freedom. Cohen spoke on his own attempt to recreate the experience, even the part where instead of the box being turned right side up, it was packed upside down, and he had to hang that way for a few hours until he arrived at his destination.”

“That must have been quite the story; anything else that stands out to you?” “Yes! I really enjoyed when we had Elisa Carbone, the author of Stealing Freedom visit us. Her book was inspired by a true story about a young slave girl’s escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. What makes this story fascinating is the fact that the young slave girl dressed like a boy in order to make her daring escape.”

“What else do visitors have to look forward to this year Shannon?” “We are excited to be premiering the Harriet Tubman Story; this will be an excellent addition to our festivities. Everyone is invited to the conference, and you can register online at:

http://www.huronresearch.ca/communityhistory/buxton-history-and-genealogyconference/?fbclid=IwAR1GeFZYsvYxExea6oH5hSPvgYtA9urOSlAjsV7mNczE5lJGNty-B91tPcY. Looking to do something different this Labour Day Weekend? Take an explorative trip to North Buxton Ontario for an experience you will never forget.