Culture

Centennial table flag (1982) with achievement including the motto: Vestigia nulla retrorsum

An important terminus of the Underground Railroad's overland and maritime routes, Dresden is near the former Dawn Settlement, a community of refugees from slavery. Dawn grew up around the British-American Institute, a vocational school whose principal founder, in 1842, was Josiah Henson. The grounds of the Settlement are now the site of the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History (formerly Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site),^[5][6] which lies just outside Dresden's borders at the corner of Park St. and Freedom Road (formerly Uncle Tom's Road).

The town and its organizations (including the Horticultural Society, Rotary and IODE) have striven to develop Dresden's historical legacy and its natural features, particularly the Sydenham River.^[7] Since the 100-year flood of 1968,^[8] Dresden's floodplain has been improved with the addition of landscaped parklands, an arboretum featuring the area's original and diverse Carolinian forest flora,^[9] and the 5.8 km Trillium Trail, which includes a historical walk section. The trailhead and interpretive centre is on St. George Street, near the bridge over the Sydenham River.^[10] The 2.4 km historical walk has numerous plaques describing over 50 sites connected to key figures and industries that helped shape the town.^[11] It celebrates a history that, while typical of rural settlements in the region, is unique to Dresden, given its strong ties to the Underground Railroad.

Dresden was once home to not only Rev. Josiah Henson, famous because of his association with the title character of Harriett Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, but a variety of prominent figures from the Underground Railroad period. A recent discovery through the Trillium Trail Project, verified by research done in partnership with the Promised Land Project,^[12][13] is that large sections of the original town site were owned between 1853 and 1873 by William Whipper, a prominent member of the William Still Underground Railroad network. Several houses from this period still survive.^[14] The local Catherine McVean Chapter of the IODE offers historical tours to visitors who wish to know more of the town's history. The town is also home to civil rights actions both in the 1850s and 1950s, and this and other historical events are commemorated on various Ontario Heritage historical plaques in the town.

The Sydenham River, which flows through the town, is known for its many species of fish and mussels, and, in its watershed, semi-aquatic amphibians, turtles, snakes, and dragonflies. However, a number of these species are at risk.^[15] The Trillium Trail, particularly in the downtown arboretum area, has informative signage about the rare plants and animals inhabiting the Sydenham and its watershed.

The town features a number of special events each year, including a Show and Shine for classic autos, and weekly concerts on Thursday evenings during the summer months at Rotary Park.

Harness races are held at the Dresden Raceway in the summer. The Raceway has a ½-mile oval track with a grandstand, and offers a range of betting and dining options. The track is also used to train pacer and trotter horses, and for occasional demolition derbies and truck and tractor pulls.^[16] The Dresden Fair, with an exhibition, a cattle show, and a midway, takes place over three successive days towards the end of July each year.^[17] It has been held, in one form or another, for nearly 150 years.^[18]

The downtown area runs for about 3 blocks, with stores and businesses that serve the local and surrounding community and tourists. For a bit of colour, the streets are lined with planters courtesy of the Dresden Horticultural Society and many volunteers. In October, just before Halloween, there are cornstalk and scarecrow decorations on the lampposts. There is a grocery store, a drug store, jewellery and gifts, photography studio, a hardware store, post office, automotive supplies, dentist, doctors, optometrist, a gym, legal advice, and more. A medical facility, operated by the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, opened in 2012.^[19]

In 1871, 72% of Dresden's 700 residents were Black Canadians. This number has steadily declined over the years. By 1949, Dresden was 17% Black.^[20] The proportion of Black residents dropped to 11% in 2001, and reached a historic low of 5.5% in 2016.^[21]

The North Star: Finding Black Mecca, a 2021 film about Chatham-Kent's black communities and history is partly filmed in Dresden.^[22][23]

Human rights history

Hugh Burnett returned to his home town of Dresden, after serving his country in World War II. However, he was not served in some restaurants because he was black. So, in 1948, he and other African Canadians founded the National Unity Association. They collected 115 names on a petition to end discrimination. This resulted in a referendum in Dresden which asked "Do you approve of the council passing a bylaw licensing restaurants in Dresden and restraining the owner or owners from refusing service regardless of race, colour or creed?" 108 voted that restaurant owners should serve everyone. 517 voted against.^[24] The vote in favour, was roughly equal to the proportion of African Canadians in the town - indicating nearly all European (white) residents voted against ending discrimination in Dresden.

In 1954, Burnett was part of a delegation to Ontario Premier Leslie Frost and the cabinet. Soon after that, the Ontario Fair Accommodation Practices Act passed. It stated that "no one can deny to any person or class of persons the accommodation, services or facilities usually available to members of the public."^[25]

However, some restaurants and barber shops still refused to serve African Canadians. Justice William F. Schwenger investigated the complaints as a one-man commission. On the basis of his recommendations, Charles Daley, the minister of labour, declined to prosecute two Dresden restaurant owners who had refused to serve black people. Daley said "I understand these people will in future obey the law, although I have not spoken directly to them".^[26]

On October 29, 1954, Hugh Burnett, Bromley Armstrong and Ruth Lor Malloy went to Morley McKay's restaurant with a reporter. They were denied service.^[27] Mr. McKay was the first person to be charged under the Act.^[28] After a long legal battle, Mr. McKay opened his restaurant to everyone.

In 1954, the conflicting attitudes of white and black Dresden residents over the issue were recorded in The Dresden Story, a 30-minute National Film Board documentary.^[29]

On July 31, 2010, a plaque was installed in Dresden that honoured Hugh Burnett and the National Unity Association. It reads:

Hugh Burnett and the National Unity Association Between 1948 and 1956, the National Unity Association (NUA) of Chatham, Dresden and North Buxton, under the leadership of Hugh R. Burnett, waged a campaign for racial equality and social justice. Their efforts led to the passage of Ontario’s Fair Employment Practices Act (1951) and Fair Accommodation Practices Act (1954), and laid the groundwork for subsequent human rights legislation in Ontario and across Canada. Traditional Anglo-Canadian rights, such as freedom of association and freedom of commerce, had historically been interpreted to permit discrimination on grounds of race, colour or creed in providing services to the public. The NUA inspired recognition of freedom from discrimination as a fundamental principle; this led to a revolutionary change to the course of Canadian law and Canadian history. Hugh Burnett and the NUA were early pioneers in the articulation of equality rights for all Canadians, now constitutionally inscribed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.^[24]