This cache has been placed as part of an initiative by the County of Peterborough, its member municipalities, the City of Peterborough and local First Nation communities to celebrate Canada 150+. There are 23 geocaches placed throughout the region showcasing local history.
The geocoin stock has now been exhausted. Please continue to enjoy exploring local history through other geocaches within the Canada 150+ collection.
GC Codes full list: GC74A7F - Payne Murders & First Execution, GC74A76 - Victoria Museum at "Inverlea", GC72PWE - Memengweshii, GC72PWP - Historic Curve Lake Village, GC72PX1 - Old Rail Road Stop, GC72PXA - Hiawatha Church, GC72VFW - Sucker Hunt at "Welbeck", GC74A7Q - Richard Birdsall, GC74A7V - John Deyell, GC74A7Y - Cavan Blazers & Paddy Maguire, GC72VG3 - Balm for her Wounded Heart, GC72VGA - Sedgwick Lime Kiln Park, GC72WDJ - Nepheline Syenite A Global Lustre, GC75D68 - Havelock Public School, GC72WDT - The Brush Factory, GC72VGJ - Sam Edgar Crypt, GC72VGQ - Nelson Brawl at the Keene Hotel, GC75D6H - Lang Grist Mill, GC72VGW - Catharine Parr Traill, GC72WDZ - The Pope Stallion, GC75D5Q - Adam & Eve Rocks, GC74A8B - Going to School on the Oregon Trail.
Across the street, on the North West corner of the 4-Corners in Keene, is the original site of the Keene Hotel, now located down the road at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.
On this site, in 1836, Nelson Brothers, John, Andrew & Robert, began a brawl at the Keene Hotel that saw John Blizzard beaten severely.
Militia men of Otonabee & Asphodel had met for training in Keene. Already drunk when they arrived at Mrs. Patterson’s tavern, they raised a ruckus about politics of the day. The Nelson’s, like other Reformers, accused Tories of fraud and were calling for rebellion. The story goes that Andrew Nelson threw the first punch at John Blizzard. John and Robert Nelson joined in, and beat Blizzard so severely that he woke the next day with a black eye and a bloody and disfigured face.
Blizzard, won his case in court, despite having no memory - partially due to the half a gallon of whiskey he had drunk! Andrew Nelson was ordered to pay Blizzard £5 and cover the cost of the Constable and Court (£3, 5 shillings and 11 pence.)
Events like these are common in Upper Canadian history, and precipitated the historically significant Rebellion of 1837.