Historical photo of Oil Springs. Image courtesy of the Oil Museum of Canada.Historical photo of Oil Springs. Image courtesy of the Oil Museum of Canada.
Sarnia

'A distasteful piece of history that previous generations wanted to ignore'

The 160th anniversary of a disturbing race riot in Lambton County is being marked on March 14.

Oil Museum of Canada Educational Program Coordinator Christina Sydorko said a Black settlement was burned to the ground in Oil Springs on this date in 1863.

Speaking with Sarnia News Today, Sydorko said the oil industry in the town was booming at the time, attracting people from all over North America, Europe, and many Black labourers.

"They were freedom seekers and they were trying to participate in the economy to support their families," said Sydorko. "One of the things that they were doing though, is because they faced barriers due to racism, they were cutting wood and they would only charge 50 cents for a cord of wood, whereas White day labourers were charging six shillings for a cord of wood."

Sydorko said tensions started to build as a result, and became heightened when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that year.

In it, he declared "that all persons held as slaves are and henceforward shall be free."

"There were a lot of tensions on the other side of the border in the United States and there was a lot of fluidity [with Canada]," Sydorko said.

Tensions peaked when, according to newspaper articles, a Black man was accused of shoving the wife of a prominent hotel owner.

"Whether or not she was actually shoved is a matter of debate," said Sydorko. "This caused tensions within the White community and they nominated a leader and on March 14 [1863] about 100 to 200 men gathered in the centre of Oil Springs and marched to the Black settlement on Centre Street."

Sydorko said Black residents were ordered to leave town.

"This was at night. They were sleeping, they were in their nightclothes. There were women and babies, babies were screaming, and they torched their houses."

Sydorko said the Black labourers and their families fled into the woods, but it was reported that one man was badly beaten.

"The [greater] community was upset by the riots, so there were a number of constables sworn in and individuals were arrested."

Sydorko said the museum has developed an interactive lesson, in both French and English, and a virtual exhibit to teach students about the riot.

"It brings [the riot] to public view so that it's no longer hidden, or uncomfortable, or a distasteful piece of history that previous generations wanted to ignore."

Sydorko said there hasn't been much interest locally.

"It's being accessed by schools outside of Lambton County. I do know that it's being accessed by schools in the Toronto District School Board, but I would love to deliver this program to local students. Putting local content in local schools."

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