Essay by Mya Tatem, published here courtesy of the Halton Black History Awareness Society
This week, Local-news.ca presents the third winning essay from the Halton Black History Awareness Society essay contest for Halton secondary students, “Local Lens: The Black Experience in Halton.” This week, we’ve got second place winner and White Oaks Secondary School student Mya Tatem’s essay. Congratulations, Mya!
The Tale of the Turner Chapel
At 37 Lakeshore Road West, there is an antique shop: Jed Gardner Turner Chapel Antiques. Though few people know the history behind it, the true story is one of hope. Black history in Oakville is often overlooked, but that of the Turner Chapel is one of many impactful stories that have taken place here. The history of the building, the stories of the many contributors, and the importance of the building today make the Turner Chapel a strong example of what Black history means in Oakville, Ontario.
From the 1830s to the 1860s, there was a large number of former slaves escaping into Ontario, including Oakville, by hiding in goods shipments. Since Oakville was named the official Port of Entry for imports entering Canada by ship in 1834, Oakville specifically became a common place for former slaves to end up when they escaped by ship (Oakville Museum et al.). There were hundreds of African American fugitives in the area. I think this is why people like Samuel Adams and his brother-in-law, Reverend William Butler, saw it as so important to build the church — so that they had a place for themselves in their society.
Samuel Adams and Rev. William Butler began organizing the church around 1860, as a new location for the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church. After facing some setbacks, and with a small mortgage, they were able to begin building it. The cornerstone of the building was placed in 1891. There were many skilled artisans in the neighbourhood, so the building was built by expert bricklayers. Since the building was to become so useful and important to its neighbourhood, it is fitting that it was also built and organized by those neighbours. The chapel’s doors opened on January 1st, 1892 (Oakville Museum et al.). Along with being a place of worship, the chapel was used as a sort of community centre. As stated in a 2016 Waymarking article, people would gather there for weddings, garden parties, operettas, and other meetings and events. It was also the home of a renowned choir that even travelled to sing at other local churches. It was a place of community and belonging for those seeking a new beginning. It was also one of the first properties the group of ex-slaves and their descendants could own. It was a culmination of what the neighbourhood needed.
Hence, Turner Chapel stayed open until the end of the twentieth century, until most of the original members of the church had dispersed to other areas. For a time, the building was leased to a small congregation as an Anglican church. In 2000, the owners of the church put the property up for sale, and it was bought by Jed Gardner (Withers). He had already owned a successful antique business in Bronte for a decade, after studying Fine Arts at Laurier University. He was an expert on antiques and had done appraisals on Antiques Roadshow. Gardner worked with the Oakville Historical Society (an organization focused on exploring, preserving, and promoting Oakville’s heritage) to preserve the old structure (Oakville Historical Society). To use his words, it is “entirely appropriate to house beautiful antiques in a structure which is, itself, an antique” (Withers).
Part of the story of the Turner Chapel that cannot be left out is the person behind its name. The chapel was named after Henry McNeal Turner who was an inspiration to many. Although he wasn’t supposed to as a Black man, he managed to receive an education from some lawyers at the law firm where he worked as a janitor. He joined the AME Church in 1858 and studied divinity at Trinity College (Anderson). Later, he was the first Black chaplain in the Federal Forces, appointed by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. His name was used for the chapel because he was well-known as a human rights advocate, a preacher, a scholar, a writer, and a community worker. After all this time, that is what made Jed Gardner decide to leave the name “Turner Chapel,” to honour the historical importance of the name.
Today, the building is protected by the Oakville Heritage Act, which is an acknowledgement of its cultural and historic significance. As is written on Waymarking, it “stands as a reminder of the large number of free and fugitive slaves that traveled to and through Oakville…” (Echo). Outside the door, there is an informational sign that explains a brief history of the church building. This informs the passersby and customers who stop to read it about some of the events that led to that antique store being what it is today. The history of this place should be honoured because it has been part of its neighbourhood for over 130 years now. It has been incredibly important, as somewhere people found refuge, kindness, and hope. In other words, a place that has had such a strong impact on its surroundings, especially on its neighbours, should be recognized. The sign honours the history because it places it on full display and on the site where it took place when it easily could have been hidden and forgotten.
I was fascinated by the history behind this building. It helped me to learn about different approaches to learning about history. I was able to research many contributors individually and then see what connections they had to one another. Similarly, I was able to make a connection with myself, especially when I visited the store in person. Since I have always had an interest in antiques, I found the complexity of the history of an antique building that contained antiques interesting too. The experience has made me wonder about what Oakville was like for people like Samuel Adams and his family in the 1890s. I might not be able to even imagine it. Yet, I believe this story is a hopeful one because it represents the stories of how people found freedom and a sense of belonging in Oakville, and how people can continue to find it today.
Ultimately, the tale of the Turner Chapel is an important one to know because the building itself is full of history. It holds the history of its namesake, Henry McNeal Turner, Samuel Adams, and Reverend William Butler, the original members of the church and the Black community in Oakville, and their descendants, not to mention all the stories the antiques inside have to tell. It is a strong example of Black history in Halton because it is the inspiring mark of a community.
Sources:
Anderson, G. H. 1998. Turner, Henry McNeal (1834-1915). History of Missiology. Boston University. Url: https://www.bu.edu/missiology/missionary-biography/t-u-v/turner-henry-mcneal-1834-1915/ (accessed April 11, 2022).
Echo, B. November 11, 2016. Former Turner Chapel, Oakville, ON. Methodist Churches on Waymarking.com. Waymarking. Url: https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMTEGP_Former_Turner_Chapel_Oakville_ON (accessed April 11, 2022).
Howell, A. June 13, 2010. THE OAKVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER. Oakville Historical Society. Url: https://www.oakvillehistory.org/uploads/2/8/5/1/28516379/2010_june.pdf (accessed April 11, 2022).
Lau, L. Feb. 17, 2022. A tour of sites significant to Black history in Oakville and beyond. Oakville News. Url: https://oakvillenews.org/oakville-culture-and-lifestyle/tour-oakville-historical-sites-blackhistory/ (accessed April 11, 2022).
McDougal, A. 2021. Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History Exhibit at Oakville Museum. Collection of posters and artwork from Oakville’s Black History Exhibit. Oakville Sun. Url: http://oakvillesun.sheridanc.on.ca/2017/02/12/black-history-month-events-in-oakville/img_0167-2/ (accessed April 11, 2022).
Oakville Historical Society. 2022. ABOUT. Oakville Historical Society. Url:
https://www.oakvillehistory.org/about.html (accessed April 11, 2022).
Oakville Museum, et al. 2010. The Underground Railroad: The gateway to Canada (1800s). Oakville Memories: Old & New. Url: https://images.oakville.halinet.on.ca/exhibit.asp?id=117&PID=9999822 (accessed April 11, 2022).
Ward, Stephen. 2002. Henry McNeal Turner. New Georgia Encyclopedia. Url: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/henry-mcneal-turner-1834-1915/ (accessed April 12, 2022).
Withers, Reginald. Feb. 2015. THE HISTORY OF TURNER CHAPEL – Jed Gardner Turner Chapel. Google sites. Url: https://sites.google.com/site/jedgardnerturnerchapelantiques/home/the-history-of-turner-chapel-antiques (accessed April 11, 2022).
