Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

'The Famous Mudballers: The Evidence'

by jmaloni
Mon, Apr 16th 2012 09:45 am

Press release

It's one of Lewiston's most famous legends: A group of teenage boys constructed a homemade cannon out of logs, made some cannonballs out of mud, and took a shot at a British warship on the Niagara River.

It happened in the spring of 1810 when relations between the U.S. and British Canada were on edge - just a couple of years before the official War of 1812 was declared. Lewiston folks didn't have many nice things to say about the British across the river. The redcoats would regularly come across and wreak havoc as they looked for their deserters.

Finally, after more than 200 years, evidence has surfaced that proves the legend is true.

Jim Fischer, of Hamlin, N.Y., possesses a copy of a letter written decades later by one of the original mudballers, detailing the escapade. He is coming to Lewiston to not only discuss the contents, but to present the Historical Association a copy of this coveted letter, which will become a treasured part of the Lewiston Museum's archives.

Find out more during a special presentation by the Historical Association of Lewiston at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 23. The free event takes place at the Barton Hill Hotel & Spa, 100 Center St.

Hometown News

View All News