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Rev Josiah Henson of Dresden Ontario was the inspiration for Uncle Tom, in Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin Dresden Ontario
Photo by Lucy Izon
Dresden, Ontario - This ‘hot spot’ is the site of the 'real ' Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Just outside of the village of Dresden in southwestern Ontario is a 200-acre piece of land that was purchased as a refuge for fugitives from the United States in 1841. Now a Historic Site, you can still see the cabin of Reverend Josiah Henson, a slave for forty-one years who escaped with his family using the Underground Railroad (Historica video) in 1830. He helped to establish the community, the Dawn Insitute Settlement, and the British American Institute, a school for the advancement of fugitive slaves. He was the inspiration for the Uncle Tom character in Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous 1852 anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Where: Dresen is located on the Sydenham River in the 23-community municipality of Chatham-Kent. Visitors can also enjoy harness racing at Dresden Raceway, bird and butterfly watchers should consider also stopping at Point Pelee National Park, and car enthusiasts can plan to visit the region in late May when hundreds of classic car owners showcase their vehicle downtown Chatham. Quick tip: visit the Dresden.ca website for instructions for the Dawn Settlement Walking/Driving tour.

More Southwestern Ontario 'Cool': Niagara Falls froze l 10,000 butterflies l invention of the Blackberry l Napoleon's brother's honeymoon l North America's first oil well l Icewine l The Tipping Point l world's most lilacs l world's first long distance phone call l Hockey Legend Wayne Gretzky l one of North America's largest POW WOW's l world's largest single day maple syrup festival l Johnny Cash proposal

Click for Tourism information for Chatham-Kent

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Lucy Izon Travel Journalist


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