Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Fort Henry" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Canada 32c Fort Henry stamp issued June 30, 1983. Once the early explorers and settlers of Canada had established roots in the New World, they soon realized they must somehow protect their holdings. But, whether they came from France, England ... or from any of the other great European nations, they could not expect aid to arrive quickly from an army or navy stationed thousands of miles away in the Mother Country. Therefore, it became necessary for the nations to erect forts in the New World to protect the territories their explorers and settlers had claimed for the homeland. One fort built to guard British interests in Canada was Fort Henry. Fort Henry was erected in 1813 and is located at Kingston, Ontario, on a strategically important peninsula where the British operated an important port and naval base on the St. Lawrence River. It was the only fort to be built of a series of six detached casemated redoubts which were planned to be built in the early nineteenth century at this location. Over the years, Fort Henry was gradually enlarged, and after the construction of the Rideau Canal, the fort was replaced by a new stone fort, completed in 1836. Fort Henry was garrisoned until 1890, but it later fell into disuse. However, in 1939, it ws completely restored and today is a popular tourist attraction. Image Size: 19.5 x 17 in. Overall Size: 23 x 19.75 in. Unframed. (B08177)