Dundas Valley Historical Society Speaker Series: Mara Benjamin

Visit the Dundas Museum & Archives for the next Dundas Valley Historical Society meeting featuring a presentation by Mara Benjamin titled “Griffin House National Historic Site and Interpreting Black History in Hamilton.”

Built in 1827 on what is now Mineral Springs Rd, Griffin House is an important part of the story of Black settlement in the first half of the 19th century in what became Canada. In 1834, the house was bought by Enerals Griffin, a Black immigrant from Virginia, and it remained in his family for the next 150 years. “More elaborate than most residences of Black settlers in this period and situated within a predominantly  Euro-Canadian area rather than in an organized refugee community in Southwestern Ontario, this house conveys the diversity of the Black settler experience. Griffin House is also a rare surviving example of residential vernacular architecture typical of Upper Canada in the early 19th century.” (Parks Canada).

Mara Benjamin is the Site Supervisor at Griffin House National Historic Site and Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum in Ancaster. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from McMaster University and a Master of Museum Studies degree from the University of Toronto. Her professional background has focused on heritage preservation and presentation, archaeology, and community engagement. She will be speaking on the history of Griffin House National Historic Site and her team’s role in interpreting Black History in Hamilton.

This event is open to the public. The meeting starts at 7PM, but feel free to arrive a bit earlier to enjoy some refreshments and conversation. Admission is $5 or FREE for members of the Dundas Valley Historical Society. To become a member of the Dundas Valley Historical Society, click here.