A glimpse into the past...
Posted September 29, 2011 at 7:00 pm
By Doug Platt, Museum Curator
One of our recent acquisitions to the Museum is this artificial wooden leg, generously donated to us by the Niagara County Historical Society.
The prosthetic leg was found along the shores of Lake Ontario in Hartland in 1984 and dates back to the late 1800’s. The leg is now on display as part of the Museum’s “War and Disability” exhibit, as the prosthetic is identical to those used by soldiers who had a leg amputated as a result of combat.
The leg’s presence has sparked some imaginative speculation as to how it arrived on the shores of Lake Ontario. Perhaps it belonged to a soldier who was buried at Fort Niagara, whose grave was washed into the lake during a storm, or perhaps a shipwreck contributed to the leg’s final resting place. We may never know the real story, but this rare and thought-provoking artifact offers us a glimpse into the past and to the history of disability.
We would love to hear your thoughts and welcome your comments!
What do you think is the "real" story of the leg?
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