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.
The "Cavan Blazers", most active during the 1840s-1870s, were a notorious group of young Protestant men who were also key members of the Loyal Orange Order. These Orangemen were renowned by Protestants for their generosity to the poor, sick, orphaned, or widowed. However, history may better recall their staunch social & political views, pranks & exploits on friends & foes, and fiery conflicts with “green” Irish Catholic settlers.
Local Orange-Green conflicts were especially common on the “green” St. Patrick’s Day every March 17th and The Twelfth (or Orangemen’s Day) on July 12th. Battles were fought with fists, swords, muskets, cannons, and flames – the latter a possible source for the Blazers’ name.
One devout Roman Catholic, Mr. Patrick Maguire, was married to a Fannie Choate of the Church of England. Together with their 5 children, they lived on the 6th concession of Cavan in the midst of the Blazers’ stronghold. A skillful farmer, Justice of the Peace, and military captain, Paddy was also a leading organizer of the first fair held here in the district of Millbrook.
Despite Paddy’s “amicable relationship” with the Orangemen around him, the Blazers took exception to the monthly Roman Catholic masses conducted in his home and set fire to the rear of his house while a visiting priest was mid-service one Sunday. From this came their slogan, “To hell with the Pope and Paddy Maguire!”
Source: Millbrook and Cavan Historical Society. 1990. This Green & Pleasant Land: Chronicles of Cavan Township. pp. 34-39.