Closing a story that started nearly 200 years ago, an artifact belonging to Chatham-Kent's first mayor was handed over to the municipality's current mayor during the week.
On Wednesday, the sword of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Douglas McLean was presented to Mayor Darrin Canniff as a gift to the people of Chatham-Kent.
Local historian John Rhodes was present for the ceremony and described the sabre as being in "outstanding condition."
Rhodes said he was surprised by the light weight of the Gibb manufactured weapon. "That's what impressed me most about it. The hilt, the blade, everything is in perfect condition. You can still read the manufacturer's name just below the hilt. It's quite an historic piece," he noted.
The scabbard, which is also two centuries old needs to be restored. The leather it was made from has deteriorated, though the metal trim still exists and will be used in the restoration.
The sword was donated back to the municipality through the estate of the late Evelyn McLean, the great-granddaughter of Lt. Col. McLean.
One of the conditions on the return of the sword was that it is to be displayed in city council chambers.
"The city has agreed to that," Rhodes said. "If City Hall is moved to the new facility the sword will go with it," he added. Rhodes also mentioned that Mayor Canniff has agreed that the weapon, appraised at around $10,000, will never be sold.
Lt. Col. McLean was part of the Rebellion of 1837, on the Loyalist side, and moved to Chatham in 1841 to open a legal practice.
He became mayor in 1856 and again in 1857. He secured the post twice, as mayoral terms only lasted for one year at the time.
The sword was lost to the family following McLean's death in 1868.
"It did not resurface again until 1950," Rhodes explained. Adding that the sword somehow came into the possession of local gunsmith Bob Guy at that time. It then disappeared again until Evelyn McLean went searching for it.
"She told me she paid a 'hideous price' for it," Rhodes recalled.
He described Evelyn as a "marvelous woman," who was a historian herself. "After she retired as Dean of Women at the University [Windsor] she accepted a history related position with the City of Windsor," Rhodes explained.
Evelyn passed "during the COVID outbreak several years ago," Rhodes said.
"Very few communities have something in [their] possession that belonged to their first leader," he said of the sword. "It's a huge benefit for this thing to still exist and to be now in the public sector, where it's going to remain forever," Rhodes added.