Remembering
Speedy 1804 - 2004
"Last
Fight of the Speedy" by Peter Rindlisbacher
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It
could be argued that October 8, 1804 was the most significant
day in the history of the Northumberland area. The events of
this day dramatically changed the planned settlement patterns
in the newly developing colony in Upper Canada. That night the
H.M.S. Speedy, traveling from York (Toronto) to the proposed
district town of Newcastle for a trial, sank off Presqu'ile
Point. The twenty passengers on the ship, including several
of Upper Canada's most influential officials were lost and plans
for the settlement in the area were then scrapped. If not for
the sinking of the H.M.S. Speedy, the local area would have
become developed and have no resemblance to what we have today |
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