2017.003.040
Object Title
Pittsburgh Township Coat of Arms
Object Name
Coat of Arms
Artist/Maker
Syd Taylor
Date Made
Circa 1976
Materials
Metal --Wood
Eminent Figure
Robert Fray
Catalogue Number
2017.003.040
Dimensions

Length 38.1 cm x Width 28.1 cm

Description

The official crest for Pittsburgh Township that is mounted onto a rectangular shaped piece of stained and painted wood. The crest is metal and consists of a shield in the centre that is divided into 4 sections, from top left to bottom right they are: a cornucopia, a sailing vessel, a wooden fortification building and a farmer ploughing a field. At the top of the shield is an image of a beaver standing on top of the year "1850". There is a supporter on either side of the shield, both are male and one is dressed as a soldier. On the ribbon underneath the shield is "TOWNSHIP OF PITTSBURGH". The piece of wood that the crest is mounted in is rectangular in shaped and has two black coloured horizontal lines traveling down the left side and two black coloured vertical lines traveling across the top edge. These four lines intersect in the top left corner.

History

The official crest of Pittsburgh Township was designed by Township Councillor Syd Taylor who volunteered to design the crest so that it would be ready in time for the October 17th 1976 Freedom of the Township ceremonies which helped mark the Royal Military College's centennial. Although Pittsburgh Township was incorporated in 1950, the township was surveyed in 1790 at the same time that fortifications were being built on Point Frederick and the Royal Navy Shipyards were being established at Point Frederick and Navy Bay. The township's crest depicts details from the township's martial, farming and fur trading history. A British solider and a 'tar' support the crest. The upper quarter shows the fighting ship St. Lawrence, built in 1812 to carry 112 guns. The lower right hand quarter holds a blockhouse, the chief means of land defence in the early days. The upper left and lower right hand quarters show the fruits and labour of clearing the land for farming. The "rampant" beaver at the top of the crest symbolizes the fur trade which was so instrumental in the exploration of Canada.