Cape Breton Places & Foods

Good day, my friends. One day I had occasion to call on the family physician, and when I arrived at his office, the waiting room had some ten or twelve people there. Having nothing else to do but settle down and wait until my turn came, I naturally did what everyone else does; looked over the old magazines, and then at the other people waiting to see the doctor, wondering what was the matter with this one, or what was the matter with that one, and getting quite a bit of amusement out of the shy look of each new arrival, as everyone tried to keep quite still, and look unembarrassed.

There was one old gentleman who particularly took my eye; light spring coat, spats, and a light coloured hat . he was joined by another old gentleman, a small man with a round cheery face, who shook hands, who shook hands, and the first thing I knew they were talking about Halifax. When the cheery one said, “I can remember Halifax fifty years ago, just as well as I can remember coming here today,” I sat up and took notice. Then the thought struck me that if the many changes taking place in Halifax as compared to the old days were such a topic of interest in that room, and made everybody feel so interested and at home; that there must be thousands more in Halifax who would like to have memories of by-gone days revived, and thousands of new-comers who would like to know more about the city in which they are living; and so that is the purpose of these broadcast talks.

Nearly everyone who speaks to through the medium of the microphone these days ha a message of importance about the war, but I believe that there is still room for a friendly chat about this and that, to give our minds a rest from the strenuous times about us.

Among the places the old gentlemen talked about was the Old Garrison Clock on Citadel hill, and how they used to sit on the hill in the shadow of the Clock and talk things over, in the summer evenings or Sunday afternoons. It struck me , as a mighty good idea.
If more of us would slow up once in a while, and go find an old friend and relax for an hour or so by the old Town Clock, we would be better able to carry on afterwards.

So I have decided to make this old Town Clock the starting point in these weekly chats with you, which we will call Tales Told Under the Old Town Clock.

We will wander far from the old Clock, but every time we pass it, it will remind us to go hunting up other subjects of interest to chat about.

Only this week, I received from Mr. Barnes of Rolf Clark Stone, a beautiful calendar, which is now hanging up in my office. This calendar has a lovely illustration with the Old Town Clock with the following description under it;

“The Halifax Town Clock took up its position two years and a day before the battle of Trafalgar. Plans were prepared on instructions from H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, while commanding his Majesty’s Forces in Nova Scotia- the same Duke of Kent who was later to become the father of Queen Victoria. They were finally approved in 1801. The clock itself arrived from England on June 10, 1803, in H.M.S. Dart and was placed in position on October 20th of that year.

“Those were trying days for England. The Garrison Clock, as it was called then, ticked off the tragic hours of the Napoleonic War and the War of 1812. While still strange to its new surroundings, it recorded the time spent by Bonaparte by his fruitless preparations to invade England. It continued to serve the good people of Halifax during the dark days prior to Waterloo, and the victorious days which followed. It told the time for all to see, during the depressing campaign in the Crimea. It said “Good-bye” and “Welcome home” to those Canadians who fought in South Africa. It struck the departure hours for countless thousands, sailing from Halifax to do their part in the World War of 1914-1918, and struck as confidently during the retreat from Mons, as during the last glorious hundred days.

“And now mellowed by the years, it looks on once more while the Empire fights its greatest fight=mildly amused, perhaps, by the same doubts and fears so often expressed during the other wars it has watched. When the time comes to record the end of this war, the job will be done and the faithful old clock, its roots in the past, its face to the future, will go on as before, keeping a kindly eye cocked towards the little island whence it came.”

What more fitting place for us to start our little jaunt in Halifax today than by a visit to the Old Town Clock itself?

It is a familiar sight to all of us, some more than others. For a number of JHaligonians its North face is a guide as to whether they are on time for work, as they walk briskly over the diagonal path across the Citadel Hill, from North Park Street to Brunswick Street, or take a short cut from Gottingen Street by Glacis Barracks, to reach the downtown section of the city.
Few Haligonians have ever been inside the Garrison Clock structure, which boasts such an unusual shape. This statement can be taken as fact, from a man who has lived there for 33 years. That man is ex-Sergeant W. J. White, formerly of the Halifax Police department. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt and while it is not contempt in this case, few of us pause to wonder about the mechanism that has ‘ticked” faithfully on for nearly a century and a half, giving the time to Halifax people. According to Sergeant White a number of tourist visitors call to the Old Town clock and ask to see the interior of the structure, but few regular residents of the town ask to see the faithful time piece at close quarters.

However, let us pay our visit to the tow clock- Let’s pause to examine the conspicuous cornerstone in the wall, at the base of the hill-removed by a few feet from busy Brunswick Street itself/ The stone seems to have been selected hardly with an idea to make it stand out with any prominence. Brown in colour and with no relieving hues for the letters, it is necessary to lean forward to read the inscription.

This tells us of the erection of the clock in the days of the Duke of Kent, when that Gentleman whose name loomed rather large in the city’s earlier days, made this city his home, while on duty on this side of the Atlantic, and after whom the street un the rear of Broadcasting House was named-Kent Street.

The inscription on the stone tells us that the town Clock was erected in 1803 and further, that this particular stone was laid by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who today you know as the Duke of Windsor. The ceremony took place in 1919 on his visit to the city, and was supposed to be the inauguration of the new foundation for the historic clock. True, a short retaining wall was erected, but today the immediate vicinity of the walls presents a sorry sight. There is litter about and plenty of mud, caused by the water from the springs that abound on the Eastern slope of the Citadel Hill. Really it seems time that Halifax paid a little more attention to keeping the immediate vicinity of the clock in more presentable shape.
But let us get along with our tour of inspection. A long line of wooden steps leads us to the clock structure. Count them as you mount and excluding the upper platform, there are 52 steps. Rather fitting, don’t you think, for the introduction for a place devoted to the telling of time…a step for each week of the year. It is rather a disappointment that the other set of steps, leading to the doorway lack a couple of an even dozen. If that was remedied, we would have one for each month, and then things would be complete in their significance.
Knock at the door and you are greeted by a man who stand straight, and has a smile that hardly bespeaks of the 78 years that have passed since he was born in the city of Dublin. But if you know anything of the past history of W.J. White this well preserved physique is hardly surprising…you see, he is, by many of the veterans, accepted as the “Daddy” of Boxing in this city, and he was by no means a ring adversary who could be overlooked in the days of his prime. A man that had the privilege of boxing with Jim Corbett, and Philadelphia Jack O’Brian, in the days when their names meant much in the boxing world, certainly had to be good, and Sergeant White, in exhibition with them, proved his caliber well/ these incidents that loom large in his memory occurred when the noted pugilists visited here.

Evidence in his pride in his associations with the ring is given by a large lithographed sheet, showing as it’s details, the world’s champions in the manly art of self-defense, from the days of Pipes right through to Dempsey.

Why is it given a place of honour, in its frame and standing on an easel?- The answer is interesting. It was a gift to Sergeant White from the one time champion himself, Jim Corbett.
But it’s not the most honoured article in the room. For on the wall hangs pictures of a famous Canadian airman, Joe White, whose feats in the First World War won him high recognition. Among the medals under the frame, with the pictures of the tall, dashing flier, are the distinguished flying Cross, and the Croix de Guerre. No wonder the veteran Police Officer is proud of these medals, won by his son, who, unfortunately, later in his flying career, was to meet disaster while in service at Camp Borden.

Sergeant White came to Canada with the Royal Artillery in 1886, and by the way, the speaker’s father was in the same Garrison Artillery Unit, and so I have a particular regard for him, as I have for another old comrade of his, named tom Doherty. These are the only two left of that famous North Irish Battery, that I know of now,- After a brief period of service in Bermuda, Sergeant White came to Halifax, and has made his home here ever since. It was in 1887 he joined the Halifax Police Department retiring about 18 years ago with the rank of Sergeant. He took up residence, with his family, in the Old Town Clock 38 years ago, and as a means of curbing the vandalism of youths, who were causing destruction to the historic edifice.

Well-up we go, more and more steep stairways, with loose rope handrails, past on landing, then to the one directly behind the four faces of the clock. There, housed in a wooden and glass door box,-are the works.-The things that make the hands go around. In four directions the metal tubes and bars extend, through the faces of the clock, and to these the hands are attached.

A metal plate bears the name of the maker “Vuilliamy,=London-No. 371”, but no date.

Every Saturday Mr. White winds the clock…that is, he turns the spindle to which is attached the thin steel cable, to which a heavy weight is suspended, and which drops through a well that goes down through the whole tower, right through the living quarters, and into a deep pit in the cellar. The weight once up=the clock is ready to keep on ticking for another week, or even a day or so more. A pendulum with a massive circular weight, also extends downward for several feet, keeping the works moving at their regular, measured pace.

Many can recall the bells that tolled the time from the tower. They were three in number, but these, also powered by separate cables, were disconnected years ago. Now only one bell remains in the tower, the others having been removed- and are stored at the City Field workshops, where they were shown to me the other day by another well known old servant of the City, my old friend and comrade of militia days-Sergeant ‘Bun” Thomas.

“The clock keeps pretty accurate time, although I have to watch it with changes in the weather.”-says caretaker White. “I may have to adjust the pendulum, or even move the hands a bit, but I try to keep it right.” He added that it was in some need of attention to its works.

An interesting feature of the old clock, and showing somewhat the trend of population in the earlier days, is the fact that the face on the West side, where the Citadel towers above, and that facing South to Sackville Street, are smaller than the others. It was not necessary for them to be designed to be seen from such distances as the faces on the East and North sides.

Up in the tower, below the level housing the clock mechanism Mr. white has his workbench, where he putters at some hobbies, and about are interesting pictures of earlier police force days. Occupying a place of prominence, and further proving the love W. J. White held for the activities of the ring, is a picture of John L. Sullivan famed world’s champion.

Thanks to Sergeant White, we have had a very interesting visit to a historic spot, made more interesting by his evident pride in the timepiece that has served the city so faithfully.
Let’s hope, that Halifax will not to long fail to realize the honours due to such a vulnerable structure, and that everything possible will be done to preserve this clock linked with the city’s storied past. Some paint would not be amiss today, and surely the surroundings are worthy of every attention. It is also respectively suggested to the civic fathers, that the two bells now in storage in City Field workshops could be presented to the Hon. Angus L. Macdonald to put aboard the corvette, H.M.C.S. Halifax, to be used as the ship’s bell, as apparently they never intend to place them back in service in the Old Town Clock.

Of course, in these days when watches are not so scarce as personal possessions, and clocks for the home can be secured at low prices, and correct time is given by Radio. The need may not be so extensive for the friendly guidance of the old clock. But it is an old friend, and as such, it deserves our affectionate care. I hope many of my listeners will make it a point to visit the Garrison Clock soon.

Just to refresh your memory before we leave, remember the Old Town Clock has ticked off the hours since October 20th,1803, and mellowed by the years, with its roots well planted in the past, and its face to the future, it keeps a friendly watch of the hours in this old city, which has been referred to “Warden of the honour of the North”.

Another clock much younger, but very prominent as far as I am concerned, the Studio Clock, has been keeping pace with the Old Town Clock while I have been chatting with you, and it tells me, it’s time to say-Cheerio and all the best!

Here’s another amazing fact. A point about halfway between Elmsdale and Milford Station, which is about halfway between Halifax and Truro is exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.

You see, there are exactly ninety degrees between the equator and the North Pole and the forty-fifth parallel cuts across the Halifax-Truro road at that point. Believe it or leave, nevertheless it’s a fact.

Halifax has a church that was built in a day. In case you are not familiar with it, may I point out that this church is called Our Lady of Sorrows and is located in the Roman Catholic Cemetery on South Park Street. Service is held in it once a year, on All Souls Day. Nearly one hundred years ago a large number of interested citizens, having gathered the material together assembled one morning at dawn, and by sunset that evening the building was completed including the roof.

Sports fans, particularly those interested in hockey, will be surprised to know that Hockey, Canada’s national pastime, was first played on the Dartmouth lakes, just across the harbour. As a matter of fact it was just seventy years ago. There was only one rule, but no set number of men to a team. School boys and Indians were the players. The sticks had shorter handles with rounded heel and blunt blades, and were called hurleys. A ball was used instead of a puck and goal posts were rocks on the ice.

Colonel B. A,. Weston remembers playing hockey in it’s primitive form in 1865-66-67. he recalls the only rule, which was one more of conscience and very flexible in interpretation. The players were not supposed to raise the hurleys above their shoulders or to slash at their opponents. This same rule in modern day hockey can be classed in a similar category. Captain J.T. Sutherland of Hamilton, Ontario, one of Canada’s earliest prominent hockey players also recalls the playing of hockey at Halifax before Confederation.

Believe it or leave it, nevertheless it’s a fact that the possession of Bible once saved the lives a Nova Scotian crew from South Sea island cannibals. The fortunate Nova Scotian who always carried a Bible was Captain Jim Ellis of Maitland whose ship becalmed near a cannibal king’s domain. The cannibals came on board and were looking the situation over, when quite by accident, the Captain’s Bible was discovered by the cannibal chief. He immediately ordered his men ashore and returned to present the Captain with a very rare sea shell. It appears that a missionary some years before had done a favour for this cannibal chief, and at the same time taught him that the Bible was a good book and all men who read that book, were good men, and should not be interfered with. It is said that the Captain was a firm believer in missionaries after this experience.

The mention of the Bible brings to mind a fact which to strangers might be news. Nova Scotia has a Paradise and a Garden of Eden within its boundaries. Paradise is a lovely village and will be found in the Annapolis Valley. The Garden of Eden as the name would denote is also a place of beauty, and has a Mount Adam and a Lake Eden. The first settler was William McDonald of Scotland, a pioneer of the sturdy Highlanders who selected Nova Scotia as their abode in the new world. This attractive spot in Pictou Co.

Leads into the picturesque valley of the East River Saint Mary’s, with its beautiful intervals, great timber resources, numerous water courses, fine fishing and abundance of game. That’s our Garden of Eden.

Believe it or leave it, Halifax has a house whose total width is only ten feet. This house can be found at 36 ½ Dresden Row. It has stood on its foundations for many years and is a two story structure, boasting four rooms. On the ground floor there is a living room in front, with the door opening right on the street and one window close by the door. To the rear is the kitchen with two bedrooms upstairs.

Next time you go up to Dresden Row take a look at No. 36 ½.

Strange as it seems, it’s true, that Scotch heather, exactly the same kind that grows wild in old Scotland grows wild here n New Scotland. You can see it in Point Pleasant Park, if you take the trouble to enter the park via Tower Road and keep on going until the road turns to the left in a large circle. There, you’ll find it growing in a field outside one of the old forts that was used years ago by the Imperial troops. But how did the wild heather of old Scotland take root in New Scotland? Well here’s the explanation. The Imperial troops brought their bedding with them, which consisted of covers filled with straw. A Scottish regiment came out here and after a period of time when ordered to renew their bedding, dumped the old hay and heather they had gathered in Scotland, outside the fort and refilled their bedding with Nova Scotian hay. In the course of time, the heather took root, and has been growing wild ever since at this spot, and there it is growing wild in Point Pleasant Park.

It is surprising to be told that Nova Scotia had the only giantess in the world. There have been lots of giants but only one giantess. Her name was Annie Swan and she belonged to New Annan, Colchester County. She was one of a family of thirteen children. The other twelve were quite normal in size. Annie weighed eighteen pounds at birth and at eleven years of age was so big that she could get into her mother’s clothes. Her mother was a woman of five feet, seven inches. Annie kept on growing and at maturity weighed 509 lbs. and was eight feet, one inch in height.

She married an American giant who was well over seven feet tall. They built a special house for themselves with doors nine feet high and ceilings of eleven feet and large rooms in proportion. An ordinary person when dining with them, had to climb upon the chairs like a child, by placing one foot on the rung to get on the seat.
They had two children, a boy and a girl, but neither of them lived any time. The boy weighed twenty two pounds and the girl eighteen pounds at birth.
Annie Bates, that was her married name, was for a number of years was under contract with the great American Showman, Barnum, and traveled extensively and even was presented to Queen Victoria. She died in 1888 at the age of thirty-six. You can see some of her clothing at Green Hill museum in Pictou County. It is said that her skirt would reach up to the head of an ordinary woman.

Are you aware that the faces of the Old Town Clock are different sizes? If you closely inspect the Old Town Clock, you will see that the faces on the North and East are larger than the faces on the South and West sides. You see, the Duke of Kent was a very practical man. The people all lived on the North and East side, so he had large faces towards those directions. Nobody lived South and East of the clock, so he had small faces on those outlooks. Next time you go by, take notice of this old fact.

Speaking of Halifax, it reminds me of the fact that Halifax once had a coloured policeman. The late Doctor Akins, who wrote A History of Halifax, and read it to the Nova Scotian Historical Society in 1839, has this to say about police matters in Halifax around the year 1821. “Drunken people were frequently seen in the streets in those days, yet the peace of the town was tolerably well preserved by the three or four police constables. Old Jock Henderson was very corpulent, but his great knowledge of his profession rendered him as an exceedingly useful officer. Jock Mahar was celebrated as a detective, but King Alcohol at last put an end to his usefulness. The practice of publicly whipping thieves had almost altogether gone out of fashion by this time, though occasionally resorted to at the workhouse.

Among the oddities was Constable Hawkins. He was a Negro, one of those who were brought from Chesapeake Bay by Admiral Cockburn. He had for some time been employed at the work house to do the whipping. He was usually dressed in an old military green uniform, epaulets, plumed cap, with red sash, and on state occasions, a sword.

With constable’s staff in hand, this worthy might be seen in the morning at the opening of the police office, escorting prisoners down George Street to the office for examination, accompanied by a mob of boys.

And now for one of the most amazing facts! Believe it or leave it, Nova Scotia was at one time owned by a woman! On May 16, 1613, a ship arrived at Le Have with some forty people aboard, including two priests. There at Le Have they set up a cross, bearing the arms or crest of Madame de Geurcheville, and claimed the entire Atlantic Seaboard for her, she having purchased it from the King of France, with the right to send out an expedition to stake her claim.

Madame de Geurcheville was the wife of the Governor of Paris and very influential in court circles.

The expedition was led by Mons de Saussaye. Madame de Guercheville never came out here, and apparently never did any more about her claim and purchased rights. It would appear she was a sort of agent of one of the religious orders anxious to establish themselves in the New World. So, believe it or leave it, nevertheless it’s a fact that Nova Scotia for a short while was actually owned by a woman.

Can you imagine an army starting off to capture what was believed to be the strongest fortress in the world, armed mostly with pitchforks, rifles axes and cannon balls but no cannons? When you read the story about the first capture of Louisburg in 1745, by an untrained army of recruits under a Boston merchant named William Pepperell, you will find out that this statement is not far from the truth. It is also an interesting fact that the generosity of the government of those days was stretched to the point where it magnanimously gave each volunteer an extra issue of one pound of sugar and a few ounces of ginger for risking his life.

Strange as it seems, nevertheless it’s a fact that a lottery provided the funds to build the first Halifax lighthouse. In the year 1752 it was decided that Halifax Harbour needed a lighthouse at its entrance so someone thought of the bright idea of raising the necessary funds through the medium of a lottery. The point selected was Sambro at the western entrance. One thousand tickets of three pounds each were sold and the first prize was to be five hundred pounds. When the authorities in the old country heard about it the lottery was quashed, nevertheless the lighthouse was built, the funds being provided by the authorities to repay the purchasers of the tickets.

Almost incredible gut true is the fact that the Halifax Citadel was at one time eighty feet higher, than it now is. When the city was first founded a small wooden fort was established at its peak. When the present stone fortress was erected with its drill shed and star shaped moat, it was necessary to take the top of the hill off to give a flat surface to accommodate the area taken according to plan, and as a result some eighty feet of earth was removed from the crest of the original hill.

Dartmouth citizens may be surprised to know that at one time to travel on the ferry on Sunday, it was necessary to assure the captain that the passenger was on the way to or from church. According to an old history of that town published in 1890, it is recorded that the early ferries were only allowed to run on Sunday to carry passengers who were members of Halifax churches and were desirous of crossing the harbour to attend Divine service. It does not state whether the Captain would ask passengers to quote the text of the sermon heard or not, before he would ferry them back to the Eastern capital.

It would surprise many to know that if they have the honour of being asked to visit Government House, the residence of our Lieutenant- Governor, that they would be invited to enter Government House by the back door. You see, when Government House was built, Hollis street was then “Main Street”, where the prominent citizens lived, and the front entrance faced east towards Hollis Street and the Harbour. Barrington Street was then back in the pasture, so to speak, adjoining the Governor’s fields. Gradually the centre of traffic was moved up the hill and Barrington Street has become the main thoroughfare and Hollis Street,- well that certainly is not one of the spots where one takes visitors these days, if it’s beautiful residences they have in mind. So, for at least the last thirty years the Barrington Street entrance of Government House has been used as the main entrance, which is really the back door. So dear reader, you see, it’s the usual thing to be invited in, via the back door.

Speaking of Governors, brings to mind the fact that Nova Scotia at one time had two Governors. The history books record the fact that in the year 1635 Charles de La Tour believed himself to be the Governor, and carried on as such and suddenly Sieur d’Aulnay de Charnisay, turned up and claimed he had been appointed to that high office. These two French gentlemen fought it out for nearly twenty years and the stories of their activities in Nova Scotia ended in one of the most remarkable romances ever recorded, when Charles de La Tour and Madame de Charnisay joined forces, after both had lost their former life partners, through the fortunes of war.

Believe it or leave it Nova Scotia has the destination of being the only province of the Dominion of Canada and the first colony of Great Britain to possess a flag of its own. The flag of Nova Scotia is a silver field with a blue St. Andrew’s Cross, a small shield with the Royal Arms of Scotland being placed as a escutcheon upon the cross.

It traces its origin to the Charter of New Scotland granted in 1621 to Sir William Alexander [afterwards the Earl of Sterling] by King James the Sixth of Scotland and First of England. In this charter the name Nova Scotia [which is Latin for New Scotland] first appeared in contradistinction to Acadia or the Acadie of the French . the flag itself is derived from the Royal Coat of Arms granted to Nova Scotia in 1625 by King Charles the First of England, and son and successor of King James the Sixth. This ancient and beautiful armorial bearing is the oldest of all the Arms borne by the British Dominions, and by reason of the unique combination therein of the Royal and National Arms of Scotland is pronounced by heraldic writers as the grandest of all.

In the register of the Lyon Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms at Edinburgh, the Scottish heraldic office of the British Government, the Arms of Nova Scotia are recorded as follows; “Nova Scotia, the Province, of Bears argent, a cross of St. Andrew azure, charged with an escutcheon of the Royal arms of Scotland. Supported on the dexter by the Royal Unicorn and on the sinister or wild man proper. Crest, a branch of Laurel and a Thistle issuing from two hands conjoined, the one armed and the other naked. Motto:”Munit haec et altera vincit.”
The mount at the base is adorned with Mayflower and Thistle floral badges, the former being the national flower of Nova Scotia and the latter the badge chosen by James the Third, king of Scots. The Latin motto may be rendered; “With this [the naked hand] he labours, and with the other [the armed hand] he protects “ It is a sturdy motto, for implies not only diligence in our own business but an active interest in our public welfare.

The Royal Arms of Nova Scotia were granted by Charles the First as a signal mark of royal favour to the New Scotland which had been founded as a compliment to New England. They may be seen on doors in the Province House at Halifax, and the banner is flown at the masthead on the public and private buildings around the Province.

The Ancient Arms of Nov Scotia, in the changes following the union of the Provinces in 1807, were officially supplanted for a time by a commonplace design of a salmon and thistles, but they are now officially restored to their proper place, and this unique and ancient armorial achievement of the romantic days of the Stewart Kings is after three centuries of colourful history the official badge of nova Scotia and the basis of her famous Flag.

Is it any wonder, with so many interesting facts available in the history books of Nova Scotia, that Tales Told Under the Old Town Clock, which have given details of historic and unusual events of our storied past, have proven a popular radio feature?

Some of the items mentioned in this introduction have been selected in more detail for your approval in the stories printed herewith, along with those talks for which the greatest number of requests for copies were made during the past year.

There are many more strange and interesting items stored away for future use, for more Tales to be Told Under the Old Town Clock.

Though the Island of Cape Breton was restored to France by the Treaty of Aix in Chapelle in 1748, the British government was determined to retain a firm hold of Nova Scotia. It was decided to settle therein a numerous colony of British subjects, “as the best means of firmly attaching it to the Throne, as well as the most effectual protection against aggression.” Accordingly in the spring of 1749,a fleet of thirteen transports with 2,576 officers and soldiers, farmers and tradesmen, under the Hon. Edward Cornwallis appointed as Governor of the Province, set sail for Nova Scotia. Halifax was founded by these settlers on June 21, 1749.

When the French power was finally shattered, the total white population of Nova Scotia was only 13,000, of which 2,000 were French. The capital, Halifax. Was a little garrison town only fourteen years old, comprising some 500 families. Settlers from the neighbouring New England colonies caused a considerable increase in this number, and additions came from King George’s German kingdom of Hanover. Afterwards, when the American colonies had thrown off their allegiance some 20,000 who either would not or could not remain in their homes under a new flag, migrated to Nova Scotia, calling themselves the United Empire Loyalists. A rebel invasion was repulsed in 1776, and until 1812 the menace of privateers persisted, but from that time until the present day, the history of Nova Scotia has been one of uninterrupted peace, although her son’s have taken part in the Empires struggles in other parts of the world, and have brought much honour to their native Province and Canada. In the present struggle, Nova Scotians are doing their part, with many overseas as well as on guard along her coast, and on the sea, and in the air, in Canada’s Active Forces. Let us hope that war may be kept away from our shores by these gallant men.

Some amazing things have happened in this fair province during the past three hundred years, that are worth relating. For instance: The Government paid the board of a man for sixty years, and even today does not know who he was.

That sounds very strange, but when you are familiar with a story of a man who was simply known as Jerome, you will know that it’s true. This man Jerome was landed on the shores of St. Mary’s Bay in 1854, from a sailing ship. When the good people of Sandy Cove found him, he was suffering extreme pain, as both his legs had been amputated, just below the knees, and he was left on the shore with simply a jug of water and a loaf of bread. Every effort was made to find out who he was and the case reported to the government. For sixty years he lived, during which time he never spoke, he never read and he never wrote a line. In the meantime $104 per year was appropriated for his board. He died in 1912 and was buried at Meteghan. The secret of his identity went to the grave with him.

Nova Scotia is a land of romance. The annals of Nova Scotia are replete with romantic and adventurous stories. Tradition has it that more than nine centuries ago the Norsemen landed on this peninsula and names it Markland, but the record of that voyage is only dimly enshrined in the sagas of their poets. Whatever settlement was made by them, Markland was again left to the wild Micmacs who hunted the moose and caribou, sang their songs of love and war, and offered sacrifices to their gods in the light of a thousand lodge fires.

Then Columbus came and five years later john Cabot under authority of letters patent issued by Henry the Seventh of England, crossed the Atlantic, and on June 24, 1497 planted the flag of Britain on the Northeastern seaboard of North America.. To Cabot belongs the honour of being the first European discoverer of the mainland of North America. His discoveries gave to England a claim upon the continent which the colonizing spirit of her sons made good in later times.

The first attempt at settlement of Markland – named Acadia by the French –was made by a native of France, Baron de Lery in the year 1518. he arrived too late in the season to construct houses for his people and so returned home leaving part of his livestock in Canso.

After de leery none came to colonize these lands until Jacques Cartier, the hardy St, Malo mariner, sailed with his men into the Gulf and up the River St. Lawrence to the point where Montreal now stands. Attracted by his findings of the wealth of the new world fisheries came a horde of English, French, Spanish and Portuguese fishermen, who plied their calling off the coast and dried their fish on the shores.

In 1598 a French nobleman, Marquis de la Roche, armed with a Royal commission, sailed with a party of fifty convicts for Acadia. He landed them on Sable Island and went in search of grounds suitable for a settlement, but was forced by adverse gales to return to France. Only twelve of the convicts remained alive when rescuers reached them seven tears later.

A few years later another nobleman of France, Pierre du Guast, Sieur de Monts, received from his monarch, Henry the Fourth, a patent constituting him Lieutenant- General of Acadia. He was also given a monopoly of the fur trade. De Mont set forth on march 7, 1604, with a party of 120 farmers in two ships to people the territory named in his grant, Acadia, or New France, which covered lands, now Nova Scotia, and also adjoining territory.

With de Monts sailed Samuel Champlain, an experienced navigator, and a Picardy nobleman, Baron de Poutrincourt. After sighting Cape La Have the party skirted the coast line, explored the Bay of Fundy and finally established the first settlement in Nova Scotia, on the shores of a beautiful harbour on the Annapolis Basin, which they christened Port Royal. That settlement was at Lower Granville, seven miles from the present Annapolis Royal.

Champlain at this time explored the coast of what is now New England and in 1606 a large number of artisans from France joined the colony. In that year also came Marc Lescarbot, law3yer and poet and man of affairs, who became the ablest historian of the French colonial transactions of that period. In the following winter Champlain instituted at Port Royal his famous “Order of the Good time”, of which many stories have come down to us.

The English meanwhile had obtained a foothold in Virginia and from thence in 1613 came an armed force under Samuel Argall, which utterly destroyed Port Royal as encroaching upon the territories of the English. From this historical inroad dates the long and bitter struggle lasting a century and a half for the possession of Acadia [Nova Scotia] – a conflict that was not ended until Wolfe’s victory at Quebec and the surrender of new France.

Great Britain’s first attempt at the settlement of what is now Nova Scotia was made in 1621 when, on the ground of prior discovery, King James the First of England and sixth of Scotland granted to Sir William Alexander, a Scottish gentleman of his court, the lands lying between New England and Newfoundland,’ to be holden of us from our kingdom of Scotland as a part thereof”.

It is therefore a fact worth noting that New Scotland sprang as it were, direct from the loins of old Scotland, Alexander resolved by the favour of the king to engage his countrymen in extending the glory of their native land by forming a New Scotland across the ocean. The name Nova Scotia used in the document conveying the grant was the suggestion of sir William, who said to the King.” My countrymen would never adventure to such an enterprise unless it was as there was a new France, a new Spain, a new England, that they might likewise have a new Scotland.’ In this document lies the origin of Nova Scotia as a Province.

Sir William Alexander dreamed of a feudal state, with himself as Lieutenant-Governor. In order that he might take possession of his lands after the feudal fashion he had Nova Scotia made a part of the County of Edinburgh. Therefore different parts of Nova Scotia were 3,000 miles apart at a time. Thereupon he entered upon the ownership of his barony with all the display of ceremonial of Edinburgh Castle.

An interesting outgrowth of that undertaking was the creation of a Scottish order of Knighthood, known as the Baronets of Nova Scotia which was bestowed upon each of the gentlemen who subscribed 3,000 marks toward the exploration and colonization of the new land. This order was conferred upon 140 persons. Each creation up to 1638 carried with it a barony of four by six miles in Nova Scotia. The order was not wholly bestowed upon court favourites. All parts of Scotland and Scottish life were respected in the roll of honour. Although the baronets raised a total of about 26,000 pounds the expeditions they sent out were not very successful, and finally in 1632 treacherous session of Nova Scotia to France by Charles the First brought the enterprise to an end.

Oliver Cromwell, the next ruler of England, recovered what Charles of England had basely surrendered and Acadia became once more Nova Scotia; but this position was changed again in 1667, when Charles the Second gave away what Cromwell had won, that is to say, “all the country called Acadia situated in America which the most Christian King had formerly enjoyed”.

Another war, however, soon came between England and France after the expulsion of James the Second, Port Royal was compelled to surrender to a force from Boston, and possession of Nova Scotia again changed hands. The country retreated to the French through a Treaty of King William the Third in 1697; but at the end of a further war, in 1713, the mainland of Nova Scotia passed into the possession of the British, a position which has never since changed. France retained her hold on Cape Breton Island until Louisburg was captured in 1758.

To reach these results many battles were fought and many interesting historical events happened in New Scotland, as for instance, the two sieges of Louisburg, and the famous expulsion of the Acadians, celebrated in Longfellow’s poem Evangeline.

Tales Told Under the Old Town Clock is presented in the hope that it will prove acceptable to the many people who have been listeners to the series of tales broadcast over CHNS, Halifax, every Sunday at 12:45, and who have requested copies of the various tales told before the microphone relative to the history of our City and Province and the Atlantic Ocean, with which our past activities are so much associated.

No attempt has been made to present these tales in regular story-book form, but rather to keep the radio atmosphere. The actual radio continuity is printed exactly as it was used on the air during the past twelve months.

The material for these radio talks was obtained from various sources. The historical facts from numerous history books and publicity material and historical pages read from time to time. Individuals too numerous to mention have contributed by expressions of their interest and by suggestions of subjects for talks, and in some cases actually telling he facts as they know them and these facts were simply put into broadcast form by the narrator of the tales. Special thanks are due previous writers on Nova Scotian history and wherever their writings are known as the source of information such mention is made in the script of the talk concerned.

The co-operation of Bob Chambers, the Halifax Herald’s popular illustrator, and Arthur Kane of the Maritime Photo Engravers is especially appreciated, they have contributed much toward the composition of this book. My thanks are also due to Bert Wetmore and Berton Robinson who have co-operated in collecting information from time to time, for some of the Tales Told Under the Old town Clock.

William C. Borrett - -Station Director, Radio Station CHNS, Halifax, Nova Scotia

During the past twelve months, a series of talks have been broadcast over Radio Station CHNS every Sunday under the title of Tales Told Under the Old Town Clock. These talks were all based on fact, and covered a wide variety of subjects dealing with past events in the history of Nova Scotia, which have earned for the province the title of “Canada’s most storied province”.

Many listeners have written to the narrator of these tales asking for copies of the talks broadcast during the past twelve months, hence this book of twenty-five tales selected from the radio scripts as presented before the microphone.
Preparing these weekly talks have been a most interesting task, and many facts have been discovered which at first seem incredible, but are substantiated by the records of history.

Insurance

 ”What about insurance-should we buy additional coverage?”

This is the first question farmers ask themselves. Being involved in agri-tourism is a huge responsibility. You are potentially liable for any mishaps occurring on your property on the day of the visit. Your responsibility continues after your visitors leave. Several days later, someone could claim they suffered food poisoning from a food product purchased on your farm. Protect yourself, your family, your farm, your employees and your future. Contact several insurance companies and brokers. Remember, agri-tourism is a new concept to the insurance industry, so take it upon yourself to ensure you are adequately covered.

When you are determining how much insurance is enough, consider the number of guests who will be visiting your property and the dangers about which you are concerned. You should be comfortable with your choices and the amount of coverage you purchase. Talk to other people who have hosted visits on their property to get advice. Don’t wait until something happens. Be proactive. Avoid the risk and have the best coverage for your personal needs.

Public Safety

Your main concern must be the safety of your guests. Although it is not easy, look at your property through the eyes of a guest. Look for ways to make it safe for guests who are looking for a new and safe experience. Your familiarity with the raised step when entering the barn could be a potential risk to the unsuspecting guests who are looking around and not up and down. Make a check list of areas needing your attention.

Seek some help in creating this list. Ask a person typical of your guests to come and wander around. A person unfamiliar with farming will spot potential dangers which may be easily overlooked. Conducting a mock tour is also helpful in identifying problem areas. Watch your guests and see what they enjoy, what they find unique, what they see as dangerous or as potentially risky.

The obvious pits, electric wire fencing, and machinery are easy to spot as dangerous areas. It is the small pot hole, the raised step, the low ceiling that often goes unnoticed and creates problems. Paint your low beam a neon orange and have the guide verbally point out its existence. Develop attractive and visible signs indicating steps ahead. Place caution tape around certain areas or find a way to eliminate the problem. Manure tanks, farm ponds and poison ivy patches are all dangerous to farm visitors. Be aware of the dangerous spots and steer your guests away from them. Not only do you need to be aware of these and other areas, but you need to ask your guests to use caution. Remember, some of your tours may include children or senior citizens.

Facilities

It is imperative to have clean and adequate washroom facilities for guests. If you are dealing with groups, more than one washroom should be installed. Port-a-potties will work, but as numbers grow, permanent facilities will be necessary. Make an informed decision after you have looked at the costs, your revenue and what your guests need. Also consider what is required of you. Washrooms must be kept clean and properly stocked. They need to be monitored on a regular basis.
Benches and shade trees add value to your property and make guests visits even more enjoyable. Have garbage bins and recycling barrels available for trash. Post clearly marked signs with information about your property, stock and products to enhance your guests’ learning experience. These features will help your guests feel more comfortable during their visit.

Don’t forget yourself. You may be the ambassador for every farmer in your township, country, or province, so set a good example. Keep your property tidy and dress appropriately. Manure from head to toe is not going to give your guests a good first impression.

Personal Presentation

Visit other attractions in or around your area. Take notes. What did you enjoy? What made your experience good, bad, or exceptional? Watch others. Are they having fun? Listen to others. What are their compliments and complaints? Now go back to your property… what would they say about your facility? How do you compare?

Parking

Make things easy for your guests! Let them know where to park. Provide signs or arrows clearly pointing to parking spaces.
If you are expecting motorcoaches, ensure they can turn into your property and leave safely. Is your lane wide enough? Motorcoaches come in different sizes. The average coach can weigh up to 12.5 tons, stand over 11 feet tall and be 110 inches wide. Is there a flat area where a group of people can get off the bus without having someone stumble and fall?

Target Markets

The Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression set off a migration. People living in the country moved into town to earn a better living. Even today, more and more people are living in urban centers away from farm land. As a result of these historical migrations, the majority of modern families in virtually every developed nation lack even so much as a grandparent who lived on a farm or who can even remember being back on the farm. (Bennet, 1995, p. )
Agri-tourism’s target market includes these people who don’t have another opportunity to “Get out of Town”. They are encouraged to spend time outdoors and to explore a lifestyle different from their own.

According to the 1994 Annual Edition Tourism Works for America Report,” pleasure travel continues to dominate U.S. resident travel, accounting for 70%” of all travel. Of that 70%, over 12% traveled for outdoor recreation. The report goes on to include rural tourism development as a new trend, “…there is a growing recognition of the role played by small towns in the big picture of tourism.”

With the trend of “cultural and outdoor activities remaining one of Canada’s most popular attractions,” farm tours provide the perfect fit.

The Canadian Government Railway now had time to assess their material losses - 300 cars and 20 locomotives. The wreckage was promptly cleared away and on December 9 the first train since Thursday left North Street for Windsor. But more catastrophic was the fact that 55 employees of the C.P.R. lost their lives. A complete list of their names appeared in the paper:

Aikenhead, Nathaniel
Bauer, Middleton
Campbell, Martin
Chapman, W.
Coleman, V.J.
Crowdis, Jabez G.
Drake, W.L.
Dwyer, James
Elliott, Frederick
Elliott, John W.
Ellis, Robert
Fenerty, George
Ferguson, Geo. A.
Fleming, Patrick
Floyd, John
Fougere, Wm.
Gaston, John
Goomes, Victor
Guess, Frank M.
Guess, John
Guess, Wm.
Hamm, Harry
Hinch, William
Jackson, Lewis
Langwill, Joseph
Latter, Ralph
Lovett, Wm.

Malloy, John
Mctiernan, Bartholemew
Mowatt, Alex
Moore, Samuel W.
Murphy, Martin
Murphy, Patrick
Neary, P. Guy
Neary, Robert
O’Grady, Edward
Pickrem, Roy
Pickup, George Wm.
Quirk, George
Scallion, Thomas
Schurman, A.M.
Shea, Joseph C.
Shea, Maurice
Simmonds, Joseph A.
Squires, Mary
Stockall, Joseph Sr.
Stratton, William
Underwoods, Ben
Vaughan, Wm.
Wamback, R.
Watters, P. Jr.
Weir, Joseph
Wilson, Robert
Young, Florence

The Fact that after the snow, rain fell in torrents and then became slush which eventually turned to ice, made some of the streets almost impassable. Few had cleaned their sidewalks or gutters and in some places the water was two feet or more deep. The street cars were unable to