Fifteen acres were donated to the Barnabite Fathers in 1954 on condition that they build a shrine. The shrine was dedicated in 1965 and is a sight to see in the middle of green countryside. I particularly enjoyed the 24 foot peace mural behind the alter created by Professor Joseph Slawinski, a native of Poland.
From there we drove north to Fort Niagara in Youngstown on Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River. An outpost was established here by the French in 1679 and the permanent fortification known as the “French castle”,
was built in 1726. The Castle was designed to resemble a large trading house to calm the suspicions of the Iroquois. In actuality, it was a citadel able to withstand Indian attacks. Other buildings were constructed over time. Britain gained control of the Fort in 1759 during the French & Indian War and held it during the American Revolution. The British were forced, by treaty, to yield it to the United Stated in 1796. The British recaptured Fort Niagara in 1813 and then it came back to the United States in 1815 at the end of the War of 1812. Fort Niagara served as a training station during both World Wars. The last Army units were withdrawn in 1963 and today the Coast Guard is the only military presence on site.Today the Fort is maintained and operated by a non-profit association in connection with the New York State Park Service. Volunteers, dressed in period costume, give tours. Three volunteers, dressed in British uniforms, fired the cannon while we were there.
A woman was in the kitchen baking cookies on an open hearth and they served us cookies and lemonade.
We drove south by a different route and stopped at a stand in someone’s front yard to buy peaches. I was surprised at how much fruit is grown in this area, and I am enjoying it tremendously
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