Standing are, from left, Gail Dash, Elaine Rissel, Sandra Johnson, Elizabeth Lindquist, Anne Farley, National Society United States Daughters of 1812 state president; June Rumford, and Debbie Kopinski, National Society United States Daughters of 1812 registrar. Seated are Sharon, Terwilliger, Dunkirk chapter president, and Mary Raye Casper, National Society United States Daughters of 1812 national president.

The Dunkirk Lighthouse was the sight of the recent formation of the chapter of the National Society United States Daughters of the War of 1812.

Mary Raye Casper, national president, along with Anne Farley, state president, and Debbie Kopinski, state registrar, met with a group of ladies at the lighthouse to sign the charter for the new chapter. The society was formed in 1892. Dunkirk was selected for the formation of the new chapter because of Celea Sampson Cole, wife of Seth Cole, for her role in saving a U.S. salt boat in the Dunkirk Harbor in July 1812.

“Widow” Cole as she was known because her husband had died, observed a U.S. boat being pursued by the British and rode on her horse from the Canadaway Creek area to Fredonia to alert the militiamen that the British were coming. This was the first naval fight of the War of 1812 in Dunkirk and the British returned to their ship and fled towards the area of Buffalo.

During the organization ceremony, those charter members took the oath of office, and Sharon Terwilliger was appointed as the first organization chapter president. All those charter members then signed the charter. Following the ceremony, all had a tour of the lighthouse and grounds, followed by a stop off at the mouth of the Canadaway Creek.