CHATHAM, ONT. – This August, Tragedy Forgotten: Dresden 1957 is coming to Chatham-Kent as a week-long storefront exhibit at Turns & Tales, along with a special film presentation at the Capitol Theatre on Aug. 14, the anniversary of the excavation collapse that took the lives of six Dutch immigrant workers in 1957.
The exhibit opens Sunday, Aug. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m. Visitors can meet the filmmakers and be among the first to explore the exhibit, which includes historical artifacts, archival material and interpretive displays, explains a release.
Tragedy Forgotten: Dresden 1957 will tell the story of the disaster, the men who died and the circumstances that brought them to Dresden. The exhibit will run through Sunday, Aug. 16.
Director Eric Philpott will present the film in the Rotary Lounge at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham on Aug. 14. Doors open at 6 p.m. Then, beginning at 6:55 p.m., the presentation will take audiences through Philpott’s discovery of the story, the historical investigation that followed and the process of bringing it to the screen.
At 7 p.m. — the time the excavation collapsed — the audience will observe a moment of silence for the six men who died. The presentation will conclude at 8:30 p.m.
Both the exhibit and the anniversary presentation are free and are being presented with support from seven Chatham-Kent councillors who contributed $21,250 in Ward Funding to the Dresden 1957 project.
“Events like these give us a chance not only to share what we are discovering as the film takes shape, but also to meet people in the community and hear their own stories and experiences,” said Philpott in a statement. “It is easy to become absorbed in the filmmaking process, but spending time in the places where these events unfolded — and listening to the people who live there — is essential to telling this story well.”
The Dresden disaster occurred during construction of a pumping station beside the Sydenham River. Six workers were killed when the deep excavation collapsed, the release describes. The tragedy was front-page news across Canada and the Netherlands but is virtually unknown today.
Philpott’s late father, Keith Philpott, was the 25-year-old site engineer on the project. The filmmaker began investigating the tragedy after discovering records, correspondence and other materials his father had preserved. His connection to the story is also shaped by his mother’s experience as a Dutch immigrant.
“The Dresden tragedy is an important part of our local history, but for far too long it has remained largely unknown,” said Coun. Jamie McGrail. “This exhibit, presentation and documentary will help preserve that history and ensure it is shared with new generations, both within Chatham-Kent and beyond.”
For more information about the documentary and upcoming events, visit Dresden1957.com or follow Facebook.com/Dresden1957.
