CALEDONIA — History sets sail on June 10, 2025 when a forgotten paddle wheeler’s bell takes centre stage on a fundraising cruise for the Middleport Heritage Society (MHS).
Hosted aboard a Grand River Cruises riverboat, the event will combine historical storytelling, scenic views, and a rare piece of Ontario’s maritime past, offering guests a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear the bell of the Red Jacket ring out over the Grand River for the first time in more than a century.
The cruise will board at 6 p.m. at 36 Brant County Rd. 22 in Caledonia, departing at 6:30 p.m. sharp and returning by 9 p.m.
Along the route, guests will enjoy appetizers, a guest lecture by historian Karen Richardson, door prizes, and a cash bar, all in support of the preservation of St. Paul’s Chapel in Middleport.
The featured guest isn’t a person, but an artifact: the historic bell from the Red Jacket, a paddle wheeler that travelled between Brantford and Buffalo in the 1830s as part of the Grand River Navigation Company.
With dates engraved from 1830 and 1952, the bell carries a storied legacy that organizers are eager to bring back to life.
“This is something really special,” said Blain Albin, a board member of the Middleport Heritage Society and operator of Grand River Cruises. “I’ve been around boats my whole life, and I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the history of this river. To bring this bell on board – something with such a direct connection to the past – is an honour.”
The bell’s journey is as winding as the river it once travelled. Following the Red Jacket’s retirement, the bell was reportedly given to a schoolhouse in Newport, a riverside community in Brant County. There, it was mounted in a tower and used to call children to class and announce community events.
In the 1930s, a lightning strike damaged the schoolhouse tower, and the bell fell into the attic. It was later relocated to a separate wooden belfry before being stored at the Birch Baptist Church, along with Women’s Institute documents and other community artifacts. It has remained out of sight ever since – until now.
“There’s something powerful about hearing that bell again on the river,” said Mary Ann Rose, President of the Middleport Heritage Society. “It connects us to a time when the river was a lifeline for travel and trade. This event helps us honour that legacy and use it to support the future.”
That future includes the restoration and stewardship of St. Paul’s Chapel, a historic church in Middleport that the Heritage Society is working to preserve. Proceeds from the June 10 cruise will go directly toward these efforts.
“It’s not just about looking back,” said Rose. “It’s about building a future where this history still has a place in our lives.”
Adding to the evening’s historic atmosphere will be a presentation from guest speaker Karen Richardson.
A respected historian who previously worked with both the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead and Haldimand County Museums, Richardson will explore the region’s deep and diverse history in her talk: Where the River Runs Through Us: Stories of the Grand River & Onondaga Township.
“She’ll cover everything from early Indigenous settlement to the era of the Grand River Navigation Company and beyond,” said Albin. “It’s going to be both informative and inspiring.”
Tickets for the cruise are $40 and include admission, appetizers, and one complimentary door prize ticket. Additional tickets for prize draws will be available at $2 each.
MHS merchandise will also be available, including copies of their Treasured Family Recipes cookbook ($20) and branded polo shirts ($30, sizes S–XXL).
“This event is about coming together as a community,” said Albin. “It’s a chance to enjoy the river, learn about where we come from, and contribute to something meaningful.”
For Albin, the bell’s return is personal. “I’ve read about it, talked about it, imagined it,” he said. “But to actually have the bell on board – to let people hear it ring as we move through the same currents it once sailed – it gives me goosebumps.”
The Red Jacket, like many vessels of its time, was part of a short but significant period in Ontario’s development when rivers served as primary routes for moving goods and people.
The Grand River Navigation Company sought to make the waterway navigable from Lake Erie to Brantford, building locks and canals to support the effort. Though the project was eventually surpassed by railroads, it left a lasting imprint on the region’s infrastructure and heritage.
Rose and Albin both noted that interest in local history continues to grow, especially when it’s presented in engaging and interactive ways. This event, they believe, strikes that balance.
“History doesn’t have to sit in a display case,” said Rose. “It can ride the river, ring out across the water, and invite people to take part in its story.”
Anyone wishing to attend the fundraiser is encouraged to book early, as seating is limited and interest is expected to be high. Organizers are also hoping to capture a photo of the bell aboard the cruise boat in the days leading up to the event to share with the community and attendees.
“There’s a sense of homecoming here,” said Albin. “This bell is returning to where it belongs – not just physically on the river, but in the hearts of those who care about preserving our past.”
For ticket information or to learn more about the Middleport Heritage Society and its restoration projects, contact Grand River Cruises or visit the MHS website.
On June 10, as the boat glides through the twilight and the bell tolls across the current, history will not only be remembered – it will ring out loud and clear.
