CAYUGA—It’s unlikely that there is another Haldimand County resident who is more passionate about Civil War history than Cayuga’s Ray Gardner.
Over the past decade, Gardner has steadily transformed his 40+ acre ranch into a monument to that history, complete with a replica church, cemetery, bank, barber shop, sheriff’s office and cell, and new for 2023, a saloon. Gardner also owns the only functioning gatling gun in Canada, painstakingly crafted by Mennonites, a Wells Fargo stagecoach that his son has been meticulously restoring for years, also the only one in Canada, and four working cannons, complete with an ammo box directly from Gettysburg.
Gardner spent years taking part in re-enactments with both the 9th New York Calvary and the 6th Ohio Calvary before he decided to start his own show. It all began when he saw a re-enactment at Cayuga’s Ruthven Park put on by the 9th 23 years ago.
“I got interested, and next thing you know here I am,” said Gardner.
Along the way, Gardner has taken part in some impressive re-enactments, the grandest of which was the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg battle.
He recalled, “We had over 200 cannons on the battlefield. The blue and grey infantry had 15,400 men. The mounted calvary and confederate union had 420 horses. You have to imagine 200 horses lined up along a bush and 200 lined up on the other side, and we would go on a full sabre charge across that field on a full gallop. You feel like it’s the real thing – I’m telling you.”
When he first started his show, there were eight re-enactment shows in the province, but over the years that number steadily decreased with the only remaining shows in the province on Gardner’s ranch and in Otterville in the fall.
Gardner said that the Covid pandemic “really messed things up,” adding that several people in the industry have passed away from various causes. He said that he feels even more inspired to continue in their absence: “I just want to keep this thing going.”
Joining Gardner at the re-enactment are members of the 9th New York Calvary and the 102nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment.
Gardner is no stranger to military history, having served as a sniper in both the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Regiment. He served a short term in the Vietnam War as one of over 30,000 Canadians who volunteered to participate.
“People didn’t realize Canadians were involved in Vietnam,” said Gardner. “Now there’s a monument being built; one day I’ll go see it.”
Recently, Gardner has been through a serious health scare, diagnosed last year with throat cancer that resulted in a lengthy treatment.
“I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t know what the hell happened,” said Gardner on his diagnosis. “Last October, I went into the hospital for five weeks. I weighed 140 pounds, and I left weighing 95. I’m just getting myself back again.”
Throughout the process, Gardner had to endure 38 radiation shots to the neck, but fortunately, “They did some tests, put a tube down my nose … (and) they couldn’t find it, it had gone dormant. I beat it.”
Cancer, evidently, wasn’t going to keep Gardner from his favourite passion: “I wasn’t going to give up. What kept me going is this Civil War stuff. I want to do it.”
He added, “What am I going to do, sit in a rocking chair and wait? I want to get out and enjoy my life. I’m 78 now – I’m still riding my horse.”
You would never know that Gardner came so close to death as he spryly shows off his props and replicas like an excited schoolboy, animatedly relaying stories of the various battles and events he has hosted or taken part in over the years. That enthusiasm is contagious, and Gardner hopes that a large crowd turns out this year to see the results of all his efforts, promising a grand return and a show that will knock people’s socks off.
In addition to the battle re-enactments, Gardner promised an exciting bank robbery and other surprises to be seen.
Gardner is also considering a potential second re-enactment this fall, based on the events that led to the infamous gunfight at O.K. Corral as depicted in the movie Tombstone.
“I think people might get a big kick out of that,” said Gardner on the tentative plans.
In the meantime, the Civil War re-enactment runs August 19-20 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Circle G Ranch in Cayuga, located at 5938 Highway 3. Tickets are $12.50 for adults and $6 for children aged 6-12. Children 5 and under can enter with two non-perishable food items, to be donated to the Cayuga Food Bank. No advance tickets will be available, and the event is cash only.
