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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Heritage Port Stanley
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250327T133000
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DTSTAMP:20260404T075316
CREATED:20250618T175821Z
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UID:100970-1743082200-1743087600@heritageportstanley.ca
SUMMARY:Letters from the Past: The Life of Sam Shepard at Windjammer
DESCRIPTION:At the March 2025 meeting\, held inside the historic Windjammer house\, the audience was treated to a theatrical and heartfelt portrayal of Sam Shepard\, a prominent 19th-century figure in Port Stanley’s history. Craig Cole\, performing in character\, brought Shepard’s life and letters to vivid life—revealing personal love stories\, early trade ventures\, political tensions\, and moments of national mourning through documents found in his old home. \nKey Points from the Presentation:\n\nCraig Cole appeared as Sam Shepard\, wearing the original Shepard top hat\, traditionally awarded to the first ship into the Port Stanley harbour each spring.\nThe performance was set at Windjammer\, the home Sam and his wife Mary built and where the letters were said to be discovered in an old desk drawer.\nShepard’s letters spanned from 1863 to 1871\, and included correspondence to:\n\nHis wife Mary\, expressing deep affection and family concerns.\nHis business partner Yarington\, who had moved to Nevada and invited Shepard to join him.\n\n\nShepard shared frustrations about profit margins from grain deals and confessed to buying gold with his earnings\, which didn’t always yield returns.\nThe letters gave insight into travel expenses in Chicago\, including:\n\n$3/day for a hotel room\n$0.15 for a shave or boot polishing\nCigars for $0.03\n\n\nHistorical side notes included:\n\nThe first dried apples shipped to England by Shepard.\nHenry Bostwick\, son of John Bostwick\, drowned in Lake Tahoe after also relocating to Nevada.\nA Port Stanley procession honoring President Lincoln after his assassination.\n\n\nLocal fears surrounding Fenian raids in the region.\nOccasional trips aboard the Mary Rose\, the family’s ship.\nSam and Mary Shepherd had two sons: John and Francis (Frank).\nYarington’s extravagant wedding and their political commentary\, especially regarding Sam Price\, the local Justice of the Peace\, were also included in the readings.\nThe event concluded with applause for Craig Cole’s engaging\, informative\, and imaginative storytelling.
URL:https://heritageportstanley.ca/event/letters-from-the-past-the-life-of-sam-shepard-at-windjammer/
LOCATION:Windjammer Inn\, 324 Smith St\, Port Stanley\, Ontario\, N5L 1C6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Heritage Talks & Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://heritageportstanley.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WindjammerInn.jpg
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