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GWENDOLYN LAZIER
PLAQUE TEXT:
At 18 years of age Gwendolyn Lazier rode on horseback from Belleville to Washington via New York City and Philadelphia. Along this 788-mile (1268 kilometre) route she acted as our ambassador inviting a wide range of officials to the 140th U.E.L. celebrations. Here is seen extending such an invitations to president Calvin Coolidge at the White House.
W. Allan Dempsey a 17-year-old cadet walked from Belleville to Toronto from April 21 to April 26 1924. En route he distributed invitations to the 140th U.E.L. celebrations. Once in Toronto he invited the premier and his cabinet, the mayor and his council.
The publicity from the efforts of these couriers and the extensive activities resulted in a turnout of over 20,000 for these celebrations.
GPS Co-ordinates: 44° 09' 39.78" N 77° 22'59.16" W (44.16083333, -77.38305556)
Street address: Parkette on northwest corner of Front Street and Dundas Street.
When this plaque was unveiled in September, 2005, an improbable guest was none other than Gwendolyn Lazier, then 100 years old. She told a reporter that her father figured she wouldn't get any further than Shannonville. After all, she said, "I'd never ridden a horse before and I haven't ridden once since." On the day of the plaque's unveiling, she accepted a ride in a stretch limousine.
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