The Dawn Settlement

Photo by Alan L Brown - August, 2004

Plaque Location

In the Municipality of Chatham-Kent
at coordinates N 42 35.088 W 82 11.774

Click here for an interactive larger map
© 2010 Microsoft

Plaque Text

In the 1830s, the Reverend Josiah Henson and other abolitionists sought ways to provide refugees from slavery with the education and skills they needed to become self-sufficient in Upper Canada. They purchased 80 ha of land here in 1841 and established the British American Institute, one of the first schools in Canada to emphasize vocational training. The community of Dawn developed around the Institute. Its residents farmed, attended the Institute, and worked at sawmills, grist-mills, and other local industries. Some returned to the United States after emancipation was proclaimed in 1863. Others remained, contributing to the establishment of a significant black community in this part of the province.

Related Ontario plaque page
Josiah Henson (1789-1883)

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Settlements

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Here are the comments for this page.

Posted December 9, 2008 - Delighted to find your website. Nice job! Am studying a group of kindred spirits of the time. If you ever find that Alonzo Barnard was a participant in the pre-Dawn community, please tell me.
Linda Bryan, 1752 Gulden Pl., St. Paul, Minn 55109

Posted November 23, 2008 - Thank You!

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