Ridgeway is a small unincorporated village near the City of Fort Erie along the shores of Lake Erie.
It is mainly a farming community, which sees an influx of tourists and cottage dwellers during the summer months. Many American tourists choose Ridgeway as a summer destinations due to the close proximity to several international bridges.
Ridgeway is best known for “The Battle of Ridgeway”. The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish American organization that was dedicated to freeing Ireland from British rule.
Many of them were Civil War veterans who believed that if they captured Canada they could use it as a bargaining tool against Britain.
In the fall of 1865 they organized themselves into an army and began their preparations to invade Canada. On June 1 st, 1866, the Fenians crossed the Niagara River just north of Fort Erie invaded Canada.
Meanwhile British forces were mobilizing both local militias and British garrison troops to defend against the impending invasion. After several skirmishes the Fenians fell back to Fort Erie. A second engagement later that day at Fort Erie left the British victorious.
