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Battery Hill Wilkins Grant Upper New Lairg SKETCHES

*i><<><£<*&Z<><&i><><$^^ Grades on Nova Scotia railways, Sydney to Amherst, are as severe as grades in much more mountainous country. Hence, the Mountain-type Santa Fee 4000 series was introduced in the early 192 0's. Their low ten-driving wheels gave them good power but low speed. About 1929 the improved Santa Fee 4300 series came to the Mulgrave-Truro run. The wheels under the fire box could be energized at very low speeds.

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The improved Santa Fee was new to the area about 1929. It had a booster to give power to the wheels under the fire box. 4013 was scrapped in 1955. 4300 was scrapped in 1958.

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The Mogul moved both the way freight and the Cannon-Ball in the teens and early twenties. LANSDOWNE SKETCHES — 2nd EDITION ERRORS in FIRST EDITION Page 4 - Some readers believe the cover title refers to four different areas; Lansdowne, Upper New Lairg and Battery Hill are the same area: Wilkins Grant is an area of 2500 acres generally within the Lansdowne area. See Mid page 40 and See Map p. 22. Page 6 — Mildred MacDonald should read Fraser for 1949 - 50. Shirley MacKenzie was omitted and apparently should read 1948 - 49 and Mrs. MacLellan would appear for one year 1950 - 51. Dan C. Fraser states these dates are correct, Annie Crockett 1905 - 06, Beatrice MacKay 1906 - 07; Bessie Ross 1907 - 08; Sadie Shultz 1908 - 09; Ethel Tully 1909 - 10. Page 11 — Colonel Dan Sutherland says he never heard of his family having the nick-name Cumberland. Page 11 — Tupper Matheson's father was Neil. Page 15 — My father was christened in St. Columba Church, also. He, his father and his grandfather are on the rolls of this church. Page 17— Ernest Matheson, Glengarry, assures that John Drydendied in 1930. Page 18 — It was Alex Ross' cream. John Roddie told the story well. Page 18 — The Baillie brothers live on the Duncan MacPherson place which shares a line fence with Uncle John Roddie MacPherson's farm. Pagel9—Rev. Dr. D. M. Sinclair says the Gaelic word, Sabha I is pronounced Saval; a barn. Page 19 — It was Neil MacKay who owned the gramaphone. Page 27 — It was Dr. Christies' relatives who lived in Bedford; hence, all names in the picture reading Mowatt should read Christie. Figure Mr. Mowatt is George Christie, cousin of Rev. George. On left is a younger George Christie and his sister, Dell, stands behind him. Dr. Christies' wife was Rae Mowatt. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Steam locomotive pictures. Credit Robert Tibbetts, Tibbetts Paints. Mrs. Preston MacQuarrie picture, credit Abbass Studios, Sydney, 1975. Pictures page 44, Credit Pridham Studio, Amherst. Information received indicates that the Montreal road leading from Gairloch to West River Station was so named because many along the road chewed tobacco - Montreal Twist.

It is known that the farm marked Simon Fraser on the map of 1879, P. 22 and also known as"Saval " was originally granted to Alexander Gunn. It is said that the name Battery Hill originated from this family name.

Dan Ross, Lansdowne, who died just after War I used the word, Casherie, frequently. It was not until I heard Rev. Dr. D. M. Sinclair offer the Lord's Prayer in Gaelic that I knew the word meant "forever " Dr. Sinclair gives these facts of the Gaelic language. . . . gu siorruidh agus gu brath. Amen. ... for ever and ever, Amen. "Gu siorruidh" is quite a common exclamation. Both words siorruidh and brath mean "ever "

58597 ^ICTOU ANTIGOM1SH REGIONAL LIBRARY GAIRLOCH CHURCH and MINISTERS Some have expressed interest in Gairloch Church History; Lansdowne formed part of this congregation. Almost all of the following facts are taken from the Centenniel booklet of 1922. History by D. W. MacDonald. "The people of New Lairg, Gairloch and Millbrook all belonged to the Church of Scotland, while those of the lower settlements belonged to the General Associate or Anti-burgher church." The first church built in Gairloch was erected between 1816 - 1822. This church was replaced in 1857 by the structure that still serves today. In 1822 the United congregations of Gairloch and Saltsprings gave a call to the Rev. Hugh McLeod, a Gaelic speaking clergyman from Scotland - the first minister of Gairloch. Mr. MacLeod left after about four years and the next induction was for Rev. Donald Macintosh in 1833. At the time of the disruption, 1843, Mr. Macintosh and five others of the Kirk Presbytery of Pictou, returned to Scotland. Although the celebrated, Dr. Norman MacLeod preached some in Gairloch after 1843, it was 1853 before Rev. Alexander MacLean was inducted. In 1857 he transferred to Pugwash. Pictures of succeeding ministers are reproduced here so that the line of pastors who served Gairloch is fairly complete. The building is 4? feet by 76 feet. A trip up to the attic to see the timber and fastenings is worthwhile. See Pages 25 and 26. (1) Note the first Rev. Norman MacLeod preached along the Middle River in 1817. He left Pictou in 1820 and commenced a settlement in St. Anns, Cape Breton, and then in 1850 - 52 founded a settlement in Waipai, New Zealand. Many student ministers served in Gairloch especially during summers. The list is incomplete and includes Mr. MacAlily, Mr. Cox, Mr. Arthur Douglas, Mr. Langly MacLean, Mr. Thomas Salters, Rev. Edgar Dewar, Mr. Smith and Mr. Whiteway. Assisting Rev. John Posno was Mr. Cecil Burridge and assisting Rev. Donald MacLeod was Mr. Martin Thomas. NOTE: Rev. Posno and Rev. MacLeod were Hopewell pastors and had oversight of Gairloch. GAIRLOCH PRESENTATION On Friday, December 24, 1879, the church committee of Gairloch congregation Viz: Messrs W. Munro; R. G. MacLeod and D. Sutherland waited on Mr. Brodie at the Manse with one days' factory make of cheese for the use of the manse consisting of four large cheeses weighing 66 lbs, 65 lbs., etc., making in all over 200 lbs. Prime No. 1 cheese. Mr. Brodie was not at home as he had services in the house of Robert Munro, Elder, and was late in returning. On getting home and seeing so great a mountain of cheese he thanked them sincerely and the friends who contributed both of the congregation and others, and the owners of the cheese factory. ThankstoMarjorieMacKenzie Hawkins who supplied this item from The Monthly Record, The Church of Scotland in N.S., N. B., and adjoining provinces. Edited by the Rev. P. Melville, St. Columba Kirk, Hopewell, 1880. Mrs. Hawkins states that the cheese factory was located just east of the church by the brook and on the same side of the road. She recalls participating in a concert held on the upper floor of the cheese factory. She was of pre-school age and recited a poem, every word of which she now recalls, much to the delight of relatives and neighbours. [SEE BACK PAGES] ALICE LOUISE JOHNSON MRS. D. PRESTON MacQUARRIE DANIEL PRESTON MacQUARRIE 1888-1956

To Mother who came, and stayed and to Father who used the power and became an institution. of example well. PREFACE

Pictou County has had a number of good historians. This is not history but a little is bound to shine through. Rather it is a short collection of stories and chronicles that will help readers to know the people that lived at the Head of the Middle River in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in earlier days.

We remember the early settlers who wrested farms from the wilderness with their bare hands and made homes that housed these common and not so common people that are referred to here.

We honour their memories and would like to name all of them but there are just too many.

A child has said, "My memory is what I forget with." Lest forgetting occurs too soon, this is written.

J. R. MacQUARRIE, NOVEMBER 1975 Henry Charles Keith Petty- Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquis of Lans­ downe and a member of the Irish nobility, was Canada's fifth Govern­ or General after Confederation and the fourth Irishman to be so honored. Lansdowne was born in 1845 and was educated at Eton and Oxford. He succeeded to the title at 21 and immediately became active in the House of Lords. At 26, he was appointed a Lord of the Treasury and served as Under-Secretary for War from 1872 to 1874. He was named Secretary for India in 1880, but resigned this post following a difference with Gladstone over Irish Home Rule. Appointed Governor General in 1883, his tenure was relatively uneventful, despite the tensions of the Riel Rebellion. An ardent MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE fisherman and outdoorsman, he GOVERNOR GENERAL enjoyed fishing in New Brunswick OF CANADA and it is recorded that in four 1883-1888 seasons, he had taken 1,245 salmon. He travelled twice to the west coast. His first visit was largely by primitive means of travel and he visited many Indian tribes and witnessed their rituals. In contrast, his second trip was by way of the new Canadian Pacific Railway and he thus became the first Governor General to use the line all the way. Returning to England in 1888, Lansdowne was at once appointed Viceroy of India where he served till 1893. He turned down the ambassadorship to Russia and served in various cabinet posts. He was War Secretary when the South African war broke out and took some of the blame for the country's unpreparedness. Later, he served as Foreign Secretary for five years and Leader of the Unionist Opposition in the House of Lords. He joined the wartime coalition government without portfolio, but resigned in 1917 and led a group seeking to promote overtures for peace with Germany. He died in 1927 at his daughter's home near Clonmel in Tipperary. From (920 CAN) Canada, Centennial Commission Canada: the founders and the guardians: . Fathers of Confederation, Governors General, Prime Ministers. .Ottawa, Queen's Printer, 1968. 3 LANSDOWNE

Lansdowne was so named by Act of Legislature in 1884 in honor of the then Governor General of Canada, the Marquis of Lansdowne. The Dictionary of Place Names and Places of Nova Scotia states, "This community is located near the headwaters of the Middle River in North central Nova Scotia. About 1803, people from Lairg, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, moved into this area and called their settlement New Lairg. Some of these pioneers were: James Barkley, Robert Campbell, James Gordon, Alexander Sutherland, Alexander Gunn, Alexander MacKenzie, Robert McDonald and John McKenzie. This part of New Lairg eventually came to be called Battery Hill. But in 1884 by Act of The Provincial Legislature this was changed to Lansdowne, probably in honor of the then Governor General, The Marquis of Lansdowne. A new school was built in 1891. A Postal Way Office was established at Battery Hill in 1855. One was established at New Lairg in 1847. Farming is the basic industry. With introduction by Dr. C. B. Ferguson, Archivist of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1967. Page 345. Lansdowne Station is, according to the railway sign posts, 25V2 miles East of Truro, and 18 miles West of New Glasgow. The elevation at Lansdowne is 464 feet above sea level, while the elevation at Gordon Summit, two miles west, is 566 feet. This results in an average grade of 1 per cent over the 2 miles between these two points which is quite a steep grade for a railway.

THE BIG THREE PRESTON, TUPPER & SYDNEY There is no doubt in my mind that the big three in Lansdowne between the Two World Wars were Preston MacQuarrie, Tupper Matheson and Sydney MacKay. All were prime movers, each generally agressive in his own way. Only Preston clung to the security of a steady job on the railroad. He was generous with his earnings and I suppose if anyone ever set a good example and had a host of friends and nary an enemy, it was him. Uncle John made it big with Shell Oil but figured his older brother beat him in attaining the real things in life. Tupper was the greatest philosopher. He read and he thought, and he made me think when he opined that a tight (skinflint) of a man was awfully near to being a crook. He had lumber camps, lumber mills, horses and a corn mill and a car. In many ways Sydney was the most remarkable man of all Lansdowne, perhaps all Canada. Who knows? He was the oldest of 15 children and he acted as father to the 14 younger than he. He was venturesome, generally in lumbering operations and he had his ups and downs with the markets. All of these gentlemen were kind and understanding to young people. We should try to emulate their ways; learn to speak generously, act kindly and laugh hilariously.

SCHOOL

The record says a new school was built in 1891. This is probably the one we went to study in from 1920 on. It is the one that they raised the flag on November 11th, 1918 when Kaiser Bill gave up. It was the only time in everyone's memory that a flag had flown from the flagpole atop the school and John Dan MacLeod crawled and squirmed through the small pie-shaped space where a pane was missing in the circular attic window and; hence, gained the peak and installed the flag to wave victoriously. John Dan's brother, James Gordon MacLeod had lost his life in the conflict in September, 1918. A list of teachers would be interesting of course and is appended. D. W. MacDonald was a teacher as well as a surveyor. He taught in Lansdowne and for several years at Lome. He was old school indeed and there was no compromise. The child was not spoiled by lack of rod or anything else. In this one-room school there would be 20 to 25 pupils the average year during the 1920's and almost every grade from one to eleven would be included. Poor teacher. Well the time came that Latin must be taught so that potential nurses might be properly educated. The Trustees searched diligently and were about to give up when one with the credentials showed up. Well you cannot imagine the furor when it was learned that the teacher was a Roman Catholic; and she was coming into our Presbyterian domain. The verbage increased. One woman said that Sydney as a Trustee was as soft as a cow-flap in June or he would have prevented the catastrophe. Why the whole system did not bog down completely I will never know, but hear this. After eight months the teacher endeared herself to all so completely that they engaged her for a second year.

It is assumed that the original school stood near where the existing school building still remains today, 1975. Jane C. MacPherson, Gairloch, later to be Mrs. John Robert 5 MacQuarrie, taught here in 1886. The new school was built in 1891.

Teachers and dates are not all known prior to 1910. From 1910 on this list is believed to be accurate. J. R. MacQ.

Dan Willie MacDonald, 1895-1896. Sadie MacLeod, 1928 - 1930. Bessie Ross, Kathleen Fraser, 1930 - 1931. Sadie Sholtz, Nellie Greenhall, 1931 - 1933. Sadie Gordon, Kay MacLeod, 1933 - 1935. Annie Crockett, Euphemia MacLean, 1935-1936. Beatrice MacKay Marie Salter, 1936-1938. Alice Henry, Mabel MacQuarrie, 1938-1940. Ethel Tully (Matheson) 1908-1910. Isabel MacKay 1940-Christmas. Louise Johnson, 1910-1912. Rita Sinclair, Christmas - June. Rena MacQuarrie, 1912-1914. Catherine Graham, 1941 - 1942. Dolina Maclvor. 1914-1915. Elinor Embree, 1942 - 1943. Dolina MacLeod, 1915 - i916. Mary Ruth MacLeod, 1943 - 1944. Catherine Baillie, 1916 - 1917. Anna Cameron, 1944 - 1946. Ella Sutherland, 1917-1918. Mabel Crockett, 1946 - 1947. Christine MacPherson, 1918-1919. Jean Gordon, 1947 - 1948. Donelda MacDonald, 1919 - 1920. Mildred MacDonald, 1948 - 1949. Beatrice Duprey, 1920 - 1922. (Violet) Mrs. Palmer MacLeilan Isabel Fraser, 1922 - 1923. 1949 - 1951. Ruth Muir, 1923 - 1924. Mary Chisholm, 1951 - 1954. Alice Hockins, 1924 - Feb. 1925. Elaine MacQuarrie, 1954 - 1955. Gladys Frame, Feb. 1925 - June 1926. Wilma Murray, 1955 - 1958. Ella B. MacLean, 1926 - 1928. School Closed 1958.

The MacQuarrie children of the Station were John Robert, who married Margaret Ross; Mary Isabel, who married James Collie; Milton Roy, who married Margaret Cruickshanks; Donald Johnson, who married Fern Rushton; Jane Christene, who married George Rae. SB

LANSDOWNE OLDTIMERS — 1950

(Left to right): Dan MacLean MacLeod, Sydney MacKay, Willie MacLeod, Charles Tupper Matheson, John Willie Murray, Dan Alex MacKenzie.

LANSDOWNE AUTOMOBILES There was the occasional auto seen in Lansdowne but certainly Sydney MacKay was the first to own one. It was a 1917 marvel; a Ford Model "T" and right-hand drive. One never knew where one might find it; just where it got tired; the magneto point got dirty; there was water in the gas or there being not enough gas in the tank under the front seat to gravity feed the engine on the hill, Sydney attempted to turn on the narrow road to back up the hill and ended up in the ditch. And then there were tires, two flat at a time. They sounded like cannon, small 30" x 3Vi" and 60 pounds pressure. The first electric lights were novel. They were given energy by the magneto and the magnets gave energy in direct proportion to the speed of the engine. A Model "T" in high gear on those tortuous roads had a slow turning engine and the lights went out or became poor candles. Then the 7 driver depressed the low gear peddle and the lights became very bright and aim was taken for 100 feet and the car jumped into high and certain darkness. Often-times Sydney and others too, in their enthusiasm to make better speed than a horse, forced the car too much in low gear, the lights whitened to the burning point and did just that. Then the motorist walked to the nearest farm and borrowed the farmer's only lantern. Each morning the "Car" would have a different lantern hanging from the radiator cap. Uncle John and Sydney had countless safaris and they were never refused a lantern. Of course, this was motoring by feel; the lantern would show only ten feet in front of the car at best and that dimly. One must know that Daniel Murray, farmer, Sunday School teacher, deacon and generally good Kirkman was a pillar of the community. Sydney made reference to him one night. They were down the river about eight miles and Uncle John borrowed the lantern and they headed upstream for home. Soon they came to Tat's hairpin curve just the width of the wheel tracks and on the left a precipitous fall of 100 feet into the brook below. The lantern shade was dirty when they got it, and now it was also red with mud so that a child's Hallowe'en pumpkin gave more light. The steering wheel in the driver's hand took a complete turn before the wheels on the ground took heed. Sydney's sense of humor, and faith in self, shone through when he said, "I have no more control over this thing than the devil has over Danny Murray." Once Sydney and Uncle John decided to tear the engine down in our barn. They were exploring; neither had done the like before. After several days the time to start the engine came and miracles of all time, it did start and what a roaring explosive commotion. Father said his Guernsey cow, which pastured tight against the railway fence, would go sound to sleep while two Santa Fee locomotives would puff and snort on a stuck train on the ruling grade between Stellarton and Truro, (where our home, Lansdowne Station was) but when the old Ford made the first internal explosion, it was infernal to the cow and she bounded through the field, so that at each lope she would clear any fence and then she disappeared in the woods, father fearing for her safety. Tupper got an Overland, 4 cylinder, in the dead of winter. What an event. It was almost anti-climaxical for who ever heard of an automobile being on the go in February. It was unloaded from the boxcar and hauled the 200 yards to the building that had been Johnie Fraser's store by a pair of horses. Johnnie Marshall had to steer because he was the only man in the crowd that had seen a "gear shift" car before. I suppose the Overland was a 1920 model and Tupper traded it for a what I suppose was a 1922 Baby Grand Chevrolet Touring. What a vehicle! Giant MacAskill could have stretched his legs full length in the reat seat. In June 1926 Tupper took Father and a bunch of us kids down to Roddie Balfours. After we passed John's Jimmy and William's Jimmy (Douglas that is) we met Ernest MacDonald with his spotless 1925 Ford. What a crash!! The fenders were stronger than todays bumpers. The Baby Grand got us to Dannie MacLeod's and then both front wheels turned in toward each other. I could not help carry the baby the two miles home because I had just been released from Aberdeen Hospital, where my ruptured appendix was removed and I could get away with murder. John Dan MacLeod bought a '26 Chev. in '27. A U.S. Model with disc wheels. A beauty. Fabulous!! Father purchased a '26 Star in '28 and I was a chauffeur without a license. Three years later in 1931, Trueman and I loaded lumber in boxcars for J. J. Collie. It was going to some faraway port called Pugwash, "for furtherance by water." We earned $40.00 and with it purchased a 1926 Pontiac complete with license and two gallons of Super blue gas worth 52 cents. We drove home like lords. Trueman let me drive. I really believed I had more experience but I do not know what Trueman believed. It was a fawn and green Coupe with a rumble seat. The Baby Grand front fenders, were installed and we put the 21" old Star tires over the 20" Pontiac tires and exceeded 65 miles per hour if we had a five-mile runway. A beauty that did not end her days until 1934 when, with a new owner, was struck by a train. Willie Hugh MacLeod purchased a '25 Ford coach in '26 and I think Sydney got his '25 coach later that year. Willie Hugh had installed an electric light plant in his home in 1924 and of all things, a flush toilet. Lansdowne had really gone into orbit or the 1920's equivalent.

THE BROKEN RAIL Trueman skipped school a nice afternoon in June and found a broken rail at Lansdowne Crossing. Instead of telling the driver on the West bound Way Freight, at 3 p.m., he told me and instead of us telling the Driver on No. 6, passenger at 4:20 p.m., also West bound, we ran down the railroad to meet my father who was coming on his speedy. Anyway as long as the hot sun was on the rail it was tight and safe but when the sun set the rail tossed around like a flail. Trueman got a $5.00 reward from C.N.R. He probably saved a quarter million dollars for them. It is almost certain that all 33 loaded cars and the Santa Fee locomotive would have been derailed at high speed when the East Bound fast freight came rolling down from Gordon Summit at dusk that evening. Trains were playthings. West Bound freights would often be stuck or travel so slowly that we could jump on and have a ride. One night we rolled a large lump of coal off a gondola for a friend's stove; it just missed John Dan's three-wheeled speedy. We had to move it before he saw the lump and we did not have the power. Four of five of Lansdowne's teenagers became proficient at mounting trains. No one got killed but Trueman broke a leg. George MacKay travelled coast to coast on trains many times and when the Depression struck, he was already a professional. In 1930 Chester, Trueman and I went to Saskatchewan with him. What an education. We stooked and threshed and were back home in seven weeks, wiser, a little wealthier and much older. Hector Thomas MacKenzie wondered how it was travelling "side-door pullman."

DRIVE TO THE RIGHT When the powers decided that we should drive on the right side of the road everyone feared an endless collision of automobiles. The move was necessary because Americans had many of these autos and they were coming to visit more and more. So it was that a decree came forth in 1924 that all should "Keep to the Right." A sticker with letters "4" inches high was fixed to each windshield. Well maybe it caused some trouble among automobile drivers, but it was small potatoes to the trouble Sandy MacLeod and Preston MacQuarrie had with their horses. Each had a bay driver each of which was twenty-years-old and each of which knew exactly how to proceed the five miles from Lansdowne to Gairloch Church each Sunday and probably race a little on the way home. The first Sunday under the new rule was a horror. The horses had sore mouths, the drivers had sore arms and short tempers and the ladies in the buggy were tense with the surety that nothing could prevent a major disaster. Time works wonders.

BLUEBERRIES AT CUMBERLANDS Everyone in Lansdowne picked blueberries in August. There was usually one big day when everyone went. Sometimes a big deal was made to have the passenger train stop at Campbell's Siding in Colchester County and berries or not, one stayed until the return train at 5:30. Other days one drove to Fall Brook seven miles. That also was in Colchester County just a mile or two beyond the County Line which crossed the clearing at Pugley's which during the 1920's was a Sheep Ranch. Everyone had a talk to the lonely shepherd who had the job each summer to look after all the sheep in Stewiacke. (Souiac). Bears were his constant enemy and his

10 little log cabin seemed a weak fortress. Sometimes the berries were good on Saval, the big cleared hill just west of the big fill on the railway. They said it was the largest railway fill in Canada and Dan William MacLeod worked there driving a horse and cart moving earth out of the big cut to the big fill which got the railroad across the head of the Middle River and carried trains a couple of months before Confederation in 1867. But to pick berries on Saval was tame stuff, the real place to pick blueberries was at Cumberlands. The Sutherlands had cleared a large farm about four miles south-west from the Station but had abandoned it at the beginning of World War I. These Sutherlands were known as Cumberlands, and no doubt their forebears had something to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden. Anyway one never felt far from the bear when picking blueberries at Cumberlands. Colonel Dan Sutherland, River John, now a spry 97, and living in River John, is a descendant. He still drives his own car. 1975.

THE CORN MILL A LANSDOWNE INDUSTRY Charles Tupper Matheson's father, Robert Matheson, built a dam on the Middle River, IV2 miles East of Lansdowne. A Mill to crush corn was built up on the bank 100 feet from the wheel. Power was transmitted to the Mill by a steel cable that ran in a single grooved, 5 ft. diameter wooden pulley at either end. A railroad siding served the site. It seems strange today that an industry could survive importing corn by the carload from the corn belt in The States, then unloading, milling and drying into cracked corn and corn meal and finding a profitable and ready market for the product in Nova Scotia. Yet I am assured that this was the case. Duty was one of the villians that caused this thriving little industry to cease. It probably closed about 1910 after a life of less than ten years.

THE DIPLOMAT It often happened in Upper Pictou County homes. The venturesome of the family would leave the farm and settle in Boston. Christy, Rory and Angus all remained on the farm. They never married. Everyone knew that Christy was the main spoke in the wheel, and even before the old folks died that Rory and Angus would not contribute much to the running of their considerable farm. For would not the both of them when they observed a passerby coming along the narrow road, walk out the quarter-mile lane and hail the traveller, whether

11 neighbor or stranger, and keep him in conversation for stories on end and hopefully and almost always learning some juicy morsel that did little to improve mankind. And Rory would stare in awe and clap his left hand in his right and say "Goodness Gracious", and Angus would clap his right hand in his left and exclaim, "Gracious Goodness." Then they would both try to tell the story to Christy when they finally got back to that busy woman- and with varied and suitable embellishments. And just before milking the same neighbour always came in and Angus told a bit of the story, clapped his right hand in his left and would say, "Gracious Goodness", and Rory would break in with a line clapping his left hand into his right exclaiming, "Goodness Gracious" and Christy in exasparation would roar "Where's the milk bucket?" and shoot through the kitchen door like a cannon ball. Christy did not have to ask where the bucket was. She put it there. Not only was she a good manager and good worker she was also a wee bit of a diplomat.

UNIQUE STATION The Lansdowne railway station was unique in that it was a dwelling house 80 feet back from the rails and the waiting room was the parlor. I have often rejoiced that our house had the most useful parlor in all Pictou County. Now the uninitiated must realize that parlors were opened up only if company came on Sunday, whereas, ours was open six days a week and aired-out on Sunday. Another unique feature was that father was the maintenance of Way Foreman while mother was the station agent. She sold tickets to Winnipeg on the harvest excursion for $25.00 and she sold tickets to West River for 10 cents and to New Glasgow return on market days (Tuesday and Saturday) for 75 cents. While looking after four passenger trains, Nos. 5&6, 11 & 12 and sometimes the "flyer" a through passenger train to Sydney and two way- freights, she telephoned everyone on the River and managed to get five of us off to school and then herd us from the tracks all evening lest we be killed by a train. In the midst of all this she would get up a tasty meal promptly for an auditor or a moose hunter from New York. Four of us used the train to attend high school in Truro, or Stellarton. While we carried water from the spring across the track, any number of exciting things might happen before we returned; we graduated from a five-pound lard pail (that held only four pounds of lard incidentally) to a ten pounder to a bucket as we grew; and I think it was a badge of honor to stagger to the door with a vessel too large. Lumbermen tended to create the most excitement for they spread money around. Of course, J. J. Collie, through thick and thin was the 12 lumberman with whom I was most closely associated. But one remembers, John A. Fraser, Tupper Matheson, Sydney MacKay, Jim MacNutt, Dave Porter, Jimmy Fraser, Culloden and others. In spring the buyers and shippers came. Tallyman, Tom Wilton was so short he stood one foot on the other to reach our phone and it was not high. Glendenning was not much taller. Sterling Gordon, who surveyed more lumber than the rest put together, told his stories embellished to a turn and had to bend to talk on our phone. Dan Purtell, a lumber buyer, phoned J. J. Collie, from our place, and asked how far away are you. He continued, "seven miles, O.K. I'll see you in seven minutes", and he tore out and into his 1928 MacLaughlin Buick." What a way to live! Yes, the stories are legion. There is no doubt the old station was House by the side of the road" and by the side of the railroad too.

Looking West at the freight shed. The station is on the cameras right; left to right, Mrs. Sandy (Maggie Gordon) MacLeod with the mail bag waiting for No. 5, The Express for Sydney. Annetta Fraser, later Mrs. Anderson Murray, Meadow- ville; Mrs. Willie Hugh (Mar­ garet MacKenzie) MacLeod also waiting for No. 5, with seven cans of milk for New Glasgow.

13 Tf

Looking East, the Freight Shed on the left. On the "pumper" Rena MacQuarrie, sitting; (left to right); John Dan Mac­ Leod, George Davis, Don­ ald Fraser, Preston Mac­ Quarrie, John MacQuarrie, Frank MacKenzie, kneel­ ing. i1

The waiting room was in the parlour (open door). John Roddie MacPherson and Grand Nephew John MacQuarrie. Circa 1920.

14 JOHN A. FRASER (ELGIN) & NANCY'S CELLAR People dream but it was no dream when Sandy MacQuarrie and his son-in-law, Johnnie (Elgin) Fraser came to Lansdowne to load a gondola rail car with soft wood slabs for the Drummond Mine. They had been accumulated the previous winter, almost all of them coming from Collie's Mill and moved by a pair of horses and bobsleds owned by Willie Robertson who accumulated the long straight rows of slabs, bark up, with regularity and precision. His life was one to emulate; if he could not say good about one he said nothing. Johnnie Elgin also more than once ran a lumber camp complete with sawmill near Lansdowne. One winter, 1925-26, his crew lived in the old farm house that my great-grandfather built beside the Middle River. It was at least the second house on that site and there certainly was a dwelling of some sort there in 1827, when children from that home were baptized in St. Columba Church, Hopewell, by Rev. John MacRae. The farm was two miles from both Glengarry and Lansdowne Stations. Johnnie Fraser (Elgin) often came from Lome or Hopewell by train at 8:05 A. M., with his lumber loading crew, did a prodigious days work and departed on the 5:00 P. M. train. At lunch time in the parlor waiting room, he would be the best story teller and he spoke of Trafalgar, Drug Brook and Nancy's Cellar. What fascinating names; he knew these locations in detail and to me listening, they were the most romantic spots on earth. I still do not know whether my grandmother told me or whether I had a dream but it is indellibly retained that a Micmac Indian lady told my grandmother how the roots of the low bushes along Drug Brook at Nancy's Cellar, when steeped, would produce a liquid with uncommon healing power. It seems that one victim was cured, when at death's door with diptheria. I still plan to effect some miraculous cure that will confound all science. Fifteen years after I had first heard of The Cellar, I found myself and a 1937 Ford truck with 3,000 ft. b.m. of three inch spruce from George Howard's mill, which was sawing logs for J. J. Collie, not far from Trafalgar, at 4 o'clock in the morning trying to get the whole up the steep, twisted and slippery hill at Nancy's Cellar. The achievement was great. The romance still there had changed. It was March, 1941 and all trucks had to haul on the frost of early morning or else risk breaking through the ice on the big swamp. The War was on and it was near the end of my trucking career.

The community of Lansdowne had much in common with Lome. Both had railway stations only six miles apart with Glengarry in 15 between. Both were named after Governors General. D. W. MacDonald was a school master of high repute in both communities, firstly in Lome and George Alfred Sutherland of Lansdowne was a well-known singing instructor in both communities. The Marquis of Lome became Governor General in 1888. He was a Scot, John Campbell, Duke of Argyle. It is noteworthy that he composed the lyrics, based on the 121st Psalm, of the hymn sung to the tune Sandon, "Unto The Hills."

"SIR SIMON FRASER" LORNE, N. S. In St. Columba Church there is a plaque erected to the memory of Sir Simon Fraser of Australia. Simon was the son of William and Jane Fraser who lived on the farm occupied in the 1920's by James K. MacLeod, noted bass singer of Lome. Simon was under seven years when his father was killed in the saw mill they owned near the site of the present MacKay Mill. He was the third in family of five. School nearby was non-existent and he travelled ten miles on horseback to Rev. Alex MacGillivray, MacLellan's Mountain to get lessons in the classics and mathematics, etc. Born in 1832 he was about twenty when he decided to go to Australia. A list of about 60 of those emigrating exists. They sailed from Pictou with Master Kitchen in charge of the barque Aurora, and from Halifax, they departed about September 14th, 1852. Captain Ross much experienced in command. Simon Fraser became the foremost civil engineer and leader in Australia. He built the greatest bridges, roads and railroads and then entered politics in 1874. He journeyed to England and was knighted by Edward VII in 1907. In his 40 years as a member of parliament he was never defeated. He died at his home in Melbourne in 1919. Daniel Cumming Fraser, Lansdowne, is a grand nephew.

STORYTELLERS Dan William MacLeod was the champion in my eye. He visited our house once a month and told the same stories each visit. I never tired of hearing them like the other folk. He always said to me, "Now don't go to bed John Christmas, you might miss something." His best story was of how he and brother, Alex, drove by horse to Crows Nest on the St. Mary's River and preserved the salmon caught in cold black mud wrapped in fir boughs and finally packed in a metal lined food chest and taken back home. The fish were out of water seven days and were delectable. Johnnie Fraser could tell the best train stories. He was a brakeman

16 when a brakeman was just that. He was like a cat on his feet and could run the length of the train on the edge of the little bouncing 12-ton coal hopper cars setting brakes in the black of night. Some life, and with link and pin couplings to boot. Daniel Cumming Fraser is his son.

TUPPER MATHESON'S LUMBER CREW, SPRING 1922

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Back: Peter Sutherland, Jack Sutherland (with Peevee), ? , ? , ? , Second row: William Simon Fraser, ? , C. Tupper Matheson, ? , Henry MacKay, ? , Front John Dryden (with stillson and clenched fist). NOTE: It is highly probable that Jim Boles and Jack Farrellare in the picture. Can you identify more?

JOHN DRYDEN Johnnie Dryden fired boilers in sawmills around Lansdowne. Everyone knew him and everyone liked him. He lived alone at Dryden's Lake, Glengarry and in April, 1929 he was murdered. It was said he had $57.00 and a gold watch. The county was incensed. No one ever swung for it. An Irishman by the name of McDonald, who had previously worked at the Malagash Salt Mine, was found guilty of something, spent two years in jail and was deported. 17 FARMING - LUMBERING Lansdowne - Lairg would be referred to as farm country originally but lumbering was a large industry during World War I and the 1920's. Twenty-six pair of horses moved lumber on bob-sleds to Lansdowne Station one winter and 7,000,000 board feet of lumber accumulated for shipment in the Spring by rail to be exported from Pictou and Pugwash. The English Market was moderately fussy but when Stirling Gordon announced that the next cargo was Irish, terror was struck into the hearts of the lumber owners; it would be inspected exactly and ruthlessly. As one drives through the Stewiacke road, now one cannot find Matheson Dam and Logan Brook Hill has disappeared; and where is the path to Semples Lake? During the 1920's Upper Stewiacke farmers moved all of their mill feed through the Stewiacke road by horse from Lansdowne. They purchased a full car of middlings, bran, shorts and gluten in 100 lb. jute sacks and on the appointed day, the train placed the car and probably 20 pair of horses, pulling 20 truck wagons or sleds as the season dictated, descended in parade formation, the whole challenging Sparks Three Ring Circus for grandeur and thrill. All this came complete with strange accents, for the Stewiacke people spoke a different dialect than Pictonians. I do not know which was more correct English but we kids felt a little superior to those through the woods who did not speak properly.

THE CRANKCASE This is not quite a Lansdowne story. The obliging mail driver took Uncle Roddie's cream (two cans) to the Station weekly. The car the maildriver drove was getting the worse for wear. One day it clanked unduly and even squealed; dry of oil and no oil for miles. There was only one thing to do, fill the crankcase with cream. The result at destination; black butter, but the engine was unscathed and the mail got through. The obliging mail couriers, brothers, Sutherland and Robert Baillie, now live on Uncle John Roddie's farm in Gairloch, and The Reo Flying Cloud has long ago flown to its final rest. SNOW The older folk never let us forget the winter of the deep snow, 1905. However, there was snow in excess many seasons at Lansdowne. One remembers particularly 1923. Five feet in the woods and the C.N.R. had every man available hired, passing snow up the sides of the big cutting, one mile West of Lansdowne. The snow was relayed three times to get to a spot of repose. Snowplows were useless. Snow caused travellers to be storm stayed and more than once the old station was filled to overflowing. One memorable storm delayed passengers at our house three days. All the travellers were musical and all 18 gathered around the organ for hours on end and the best harmony imaginable was produced. A good time was had by all and it could be said much good came of the storm. At the close of the War, Willie MacKay would carry his new Columbia phonograph in a box strapped to his back through deep snow to the neighbors. He left it at our house a week. What an event. It was the latest out and had flat (disc) records rather than the cylinders. However, snow and frost were a must for lumbering operations. Large swamps could be crossed and timber was made accessible that could not be gained except during the winter season. Winter sports were common. Skating was enjoyed by all after hours of shovelling the last storm from the ice. Skiing on the hills of Lansdowne was an experience. One remembers skiing on Saval on a clear starlit night. About four coasts per night would be enough on the half-mile slope; it took so long to get back up the hill.

SAVAL The name Saval was applied to a large hill all cleared and farmed at one time by Frasers and-or MacDonalds. I never did learn the significance of the word Saval. It lay just South of the railroad and West of the big fill or across the track from D. W. MacDonald's place In my day it was unworked and considered capable only of growing a few blueberries. Consequently, one remembers how John MacPherson put much of Canada in perspective when he and Mrs. MacPherson returned home in 1926 after having resided on the Prairie for three years. When they detrained at Lansdowne he said for all to hear, "I wouldn't give an acre on the top of Saval for the whole damned Saskatchewan." ALMOST A RAILROAD TRAGEDY It was the day school closed, June, 1923. The through freight, guided by a Santa Fee locomotive had come to the foot of the three-mile grade, from Gordon Summit and the driver saw a small child walking between the rails as they rounded the curve. The wonder of it all is that the cow catcher picked him up rather than roll him under. The boy was Willard Matheson, 2'/2-year-old son of Tupper and Ethel Matheson. He was following his older brothers to pick strawberries. It was 3:15 p.m. The train was eventually stopped and the mother and boy were taken aboard. The boy recovered from a broken leg and concussion and grew to mature manhood. The mother; however, was dead from diptheria in less than two months and the father was left with six sons. Neil, Trueman, Ira, Robert, Willard, Lewis. Lewis was reared by his aunt Clara, Mrs. C. A. Dickie, Eastville, Colchester County.

19 GEORGE MURDOCK MacKAY & THE STEWIACKE VALLEY AND LANSDOWNE RAILWAY Lansdowne had a great booster in the man George Murdoch MacKay. He was a brother of Sandy, the father of Sydney and Chester and the 13 brothers and sisters in between. Another brother was John MacKay, father of George, Henry, Willie Dyer, and Catherine, and I remember a sister Christy. George Murdoch was an able promoter, had travelled extensively and I am sure it was he who brought home the porcupine quill, a foot long, from Africa. Here from a 1950 issue of The Halifax Herald is an account of the railway that was almost a reality largely because of George Murdock MacKay. The act to incorporate this private company was passed by the Local Legislature on May 11,1886. It provided for the construction of a railway "from some point on the Intercolonial Railway between Brookfield and Milford stations, to some point at or near Lansdowne siding on the Pictou branch." It also specified that the act would become void should construction not be commenced within three years from the passing of the act and ten percent of the capital expended on the project, or if the railway were not in operation within ten years. The capital stock of the company was given as $160,000, divided into eight thousand shares of $20 each; and the incorporators of the company were George Murdock MacKay, David McGill Johnson, Alfred Dickie, Robert B. Smith, Hugh Dunlap, Eliakim Tupper, "their associates, successors and assigns." The settlers in the Stewiacke Valley, some of whom are still living were keenly interested in seeing a rail line run from what was then called Graham's Siding (now Brentwood station) on the old I.C.R. to Lansdowne in Pictou County. One of the most keenly interested was George Murdoch MacKay who worked tirelessly in promoting the project. He felt that a railroad would bring a tremendous boom to the farming and lumbering districts. The Municipal Council of Colchester, from which the company had to receive authorization for the right-of-way for the railway, endorsed his enthusiastic opinion. The original plans of the Stewiacke Valley and Lansdowne Railway were dated, Middle Stewiacke, February 13, 1889, and signed by S. H. Holmes, the President of the company, and Lionel H. Buck, the company's Engineer. S. H. Holmes was the Hon. Simon Hugh Holmes, Premier of Nova Scotia and head of the Holmes-Thompson Government from 1878 to 1882. Simon Holmes was born at East River, Pictou County, in 1831; and 20 ^Qjj^ag^jffr f iw^y^**^ ~. 'S,*^R eLnoiKr \fry^ ^ £

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\»r A" ' MaNfS to- / ^ Co. 1If J' following his premier-ship, became Prothonotary and Clerk of the Crown in Halifax County. He passed away in this city in 1919. The matter was formally introduced at the first meeting of the Council in 1887, was held over until the following day, January 12. The directors of the company addressed the Council in support of their memorial, showed profiles and plans, and exhibited a map of the county showing the proposed route. They estimated the right-of-way damages at $4,000. Considerable discussion ensued, opinions being expressed, among others, by councillors, William Creighton, of New Annan; David Neson, of Waugh's River; James MacKay, of Earltown; R. H. Brenton, of Brookfield; and J. C. Crowe, of Upper Londonderry. The necessary authorization to proceed with the railway plans was given. The survey of the line was made in 1887 starting at what is now called Brentwood (Graham's Siding). Plans were to carry the line from that point through Middle Stewiacke, Upper Stewiacke, Cross Roads, Springside and Eastville. The Legislature in that year also granted permission to the company to extend the line to the coal-fields of Westville. Weldon Dickie, a life-long farmer of Middle Stewiacke, and then a 21

lad of 10 or so, discussing the survey, stated that the appraisers were David ("Squire") Archibald, Upper Stewiacke; John Dickie, Middle Stewiacke; and Mr. Cunningham, from Bay Head. The line started at what is now Brentwood station and in the first five miles passed over lands owned by Thomas A. Brenton, Peter Graham, Woodbury Moore (at which point it crossed the Little River), Burpee Stevens, Estate of Alexander MacDonald, Alexander Sutherland, Frederick and James Lockhart, Crawley James, Ezra Stevens, and over various Crown lands. The plans of the Stewiacke Valley and Lansdowne Railway showing the right-of-way acquired where filed at the Registry of Deeds Office for Colchester County on February 13, 1889, before the Registrar, J. K. Blair. The Legislature also approved the directors' request, in 1889, "to build branches connecting with the Intercolonial Railway on the western shore of the harbor of Halifax, and at Windsor Junction, and at such other points as may be deemed advisable, and also with the Windsor branch railway at or near Windsor through Newport; also an extension and branches running into and through the counties of Guysborough and Antigonish and connecting, if dee.ned advisable with the Eastern Extension railway, or any other railway.

Work of organizing and financing the company began. Many residents of the district purchased stock. In addition, actual preliminary work was begun on the first part of the line. But further funds were imperatively needed. Henry Cox, a former school teacher, and resident of the Stewiacke Valley, who was about 20 years old at that time, recalls that George Murdoch MacKay headed a committee which went to England in search of financial backing for the project. Mr. Cox states that a substantial sum was raised from Lord Claude John Hamilton who was deeded, in return, a mortgage of the railway by the shareholders. A document, still on file in the County Court House at Truro, shows that the railway was mortgaged on February 7, 1889, to Lord Claude John Hamilton and John Dennis" Pender.

Work then began apace, hundreds of laborers, including a large number of Italians, were given employment during 1889. According to Mr. Cox, it was the plan of th<" company to finish the roadbed the first ten miles, and then seek assistance from the Provincial and Federal governments in the form of grants. Before the year was half gone; however, the money was exhausted - and the directors of the company were unable to secure further financial help even through the roadbed for the first ten miles had been prepared and railway ties piled along the right-of-way. 24 The project, which had begun with such high hopes, was now to reach a dismal finale. With no more money forthcoming, work had to be abandoned. Lord Hamilton, who had received no fruits from his investment, abandoned hope of payment. In 1895 he was granted a judgement against the shareholders in the sum of $64,000 plus costs of $784. About the same time, three other judgements were also filed, one by William Allhusen for $16,994 and two smaller ones by James S. Lockhart and Alexander Sutherland. It is recalled by Weldon Dickie that a number of shareholders appeared in Halifax courts to test the legality of the proceedings, and found that there was some flaw in the legislation incorporating the company. Then the Government of the province stepped in, took over the properties of the railway and paid off a percentage of the company's indebtedness. Later the whole railway was put up for auction at a sherriff s sale and on January 30, 1896, a melancholy record of sale was made. According to the records, the system was "bought by Alfred Dickie, Stewiacke, at a sheriffs sale for $2,000, from the Intercolonial Railway at a point near Brookfield to Eastville, in said county of Colchester, a distance of 25 miles. Later the railway became the property of an American firm, Hollingsworth and Whitney. And the dream of its promoters was finally dashed. There never was any suggestion that the affairs of the Stewiacke Valley Company were managed inefficiently or imprudently. It was simply a case of inadequate resources and pressure of circumstances outside the control of the men who gave their best to a pioneer enterprise that was deserving of a better fate.

CHURCH

It was five miles to Gairloch church. A full hour one way unless one trotted the horse. A full hour in the vertical backed seats and a full hour back home. The fellow who invented the buggy should have done better. It was all right for two but I was always third or fourth or fifth. Anyway the church was a huge building. One's childhood recollection of it dictates that it would hold all Christendom and we had to sit upstairs in the family seat. I do not know if they were less or more expensive than those down in the main floor when seats were originally purchased. My uncle married an Ohio girl and they moved all over the States and finally lived in New York City. She had heard of the extravagant dimensions of Gairloch church over and over and was assured that Fifth 25 Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York was only a toy church compared with Gairloch. When they finally came to Lansdowne, he, for some strange reason, could not make it to church that Sunday so that his wife had to form her own opinion which I think she did and relayed forcibly. Father told the story that when in 1857 the perfectly good church that was built between 1816 and 1822 was condemned as being inadequate, a Committee was formed to plan a new sanctuary. Three men, each on horseback, drove to Pictou and New Glasgow where they measured the newest churches with care. Then the good people built a new church, one foot longer and one foot wider than any dimension in the County. I have always felt sorry for Pictou and New Glasgow people after I heard the story. I saw it full once, during its Centennial Celebrations, July 1st, to 5th, 1922. Arthur MacPherson, owner of the Rocklin Woolen Mill, had a 490 Chev. and he sent Earl to transport us to the Church. That was the best part of the whole celebration for me. Someone said there were 900 seated at once, some said 1200. I don't know.

THE MINISTERS STIPEND Prior to the 1930's a minister in a rural community had difficulty in acquiring his salary. True, he got all the garden produce he required and it was also true that his horse had all the hay and oats it could eat but the actual cash came to the minister slowly, if not reluctantly, so much so that it was not unusual for the preacher to speak to his parishioners on his own behalf. Rev. Dr. George A. Christie told me in 1956 of his experiences in our congregation 40 years earlier. It was well known that Geordie MacDonald had recently trapped a red fox, the pelt of which had brought the fabulous sum of $20.00 to add to Geordie's already considerable bank account. The time came to talk money and Geordie was asked if he thought he could manage to give a little more to the church. Geordie thought almost a whole minute before he answered in his plaintive but sure voice, "Naah! I don't think: But if I catch another fox I'll give more." On another occasion Mr. Christie visited the brother and sister owners of a prosperous farm and eventually asked if they could manage to give considerably more than the five-cent piece that they had considered ample. Alex nodded assent when sister Jessie spoke up. "No! For the Lord loveth a CHEERFUL giver."

26 TRIP TO BEDFORD Rev. Dr. George A. Christie's wife's people lived in Bedford and everyone was invited to visit. Thus, a good number of the younger adults journeyed by train leaving at 8:00 A. M., spending a few hours at destination and arriving back in Lansdowne at 9:30 P. M. It was a very big day, a relaxing day, in early World War I. It was 1915. Dr. Christie took a picture. Three in the picture would soon go overseas to fight the Hun. One, J. G. MacLeod would not come back. Dr. Christie was a great photographer, Here are a few examples of his art.

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THE BARN FRAMING. Circa 1911. John MacPherson, John MacQuarrie, Alex MacLeod.

Left to right. John Dan MacLeod, John Milton MacQuarrie, Daniel Cumming Fraser, Duncan Neil MacPherson. Circa 1911-12. 28 LOST IN THE WOODS There is no fairer picture than that which our hardwood hills make in early June to September. To those having an eye for beauty, no scene can compare with it. The soft tender green of the "Leafy Month of June" and the blending colours of the foliage of early autumn is a great sight. At the time of which we write the hardwood mountains of Lairg were almost intact and we can imagine their beauty before man came with his axe and his hoe. Our first settlers had no experience in wood craft. They came from the land of the heather and knew nothing about the conditions awaiting them in an unbroken forest. As small clearings began to appear, they made their way from place to place by a blaze and with the utmost caution. Even then they often went astray and many incidents, are related of their losing their way and coming out at a place from where they started. On the 20th of June 1819, the word went forth that Mary Murray, wife of Robert MacDonald, grandmother of D. W. MacDonald of Lansdowne, and grandmother of the Rocklin Frasers was lost in the "Big Woods." Now perhaps there is nothing which so excites and arouses the feelings of everyone as that of a person being lost in the woods and voluntary action is the first impulse of all. At this time it was a serious thing to get lost. At the present day no one can get lost long - but then it was vastly different. With the exception of small clearings dotted here and there the whole country was one dense forest. The home of this woman was on the outskirts of what is now Lansdowne. She left home that morning before breakfast to look for her cows, and not returning, soon the family became anxious. Towards evening the cows came home and the family became alarmed and notified the neighbours, then few and far between. The word went to the nearest settlements and from place to place until practically every man and boy on the east, middle and west rivers were there. They also came from Stewiacke and Musquodoboit. Women came to prepare the food then not too plenty, which the men carried with them. The first two days the search was somewhat de sultry but the third day a systematic search was begun. A code of signals were arranged. There was to be no shouting, no gun to be fired until the lost was found - a tooting of horns at certain intervals. A certain territory was assigned to a number of men, and the men took off in a line a few paces apart. Day after day passed and not a trace discovered, and the men jaded and disheartened, built their fires where they were, partook of their frugal suppers, and lay down under the tall trees to sleep the sleep of exhaustion. On the evening of the sixth day while thus preparing, Alexander

29 Fraser, of Middle River, (afterwards known of as Squire Fraser), father of the present Mrs. Duncan MacDonald and grandfather of Thomas MacC. Fraser said: "Well my last hope is fled that we will ever find her alive, but I am going to blow my horn once more. " And he did. To the amazement of all there was an answering call. For a few moments there was not a word spoken. Philip Matheson, grandfather of the present F. H. Matheson, standing by said, "That's her and I am going to be the first to get her. " "No you are not either", said Alexander Fraser", these two men were in the prime of early manhood fleet of foot and athletic. Clearing the brush and windfalls at a bound it was a neck and neck race, both reaching her together and fired the first gun, the signal found. The embargo was raised and gun after gun was fired from hill to hill. They found her at what is now known as Russell Lake, seven or eight miles from home, and not much the worse. She lived to a good old age and died at Middle River at the home of her son-in-law, Donald Fraser, father of the Rocklin Frasers. When asked afterwards, if she was afraid when lost, she said she relied on the same power that brought her safely across the big sea to protect her in the forest. It is a strange psychological fact, but nevertheless true, that persons lost in the woods wander in a circle, that circle gradually working eastward. So far there is no accounting for this fact. NOTE: Author unknown. Time of writing unknown - but it must have been prior to 1923; -the time of D. W. MacDonald's death. It is quite possible that D. W. was the author.

WESTVILLE TO LANSDOWNE 11 MILES AN HOUR Major J. W. Maddin, K. C, born in Westville, stout defender of over sixty murder trials, was a physical as well as a mental giant; a legendary figure in Nova Scotia because of his extraordinary exploits. He died in his adopted Sydney, N.S., in 1956, aged 85. A few years before the turn of the Century, young Maddin of Westville, met Maud MacDonald of Lansdowne and at least one trip a week had to be made by horse and buggy to the MadDonald home to court the attractive daughter. Her father was the well-known, Dan Willie MacDonald, who died at his Lansdowne home in 1923. He was a school teacher of repute as well as a land surveyor. Her mother was Mary Cameron, and Maud was a first cousin of my grandmother Jane MacPherson MacQuarrie. The Lansdowne boys did not like this situation. One night in late August Maddin left the Lansdowne home with the horse that could come up from Westville in an hour. It was 1:00 a.m., or later and the first quarter mile was all down hill and both driver and horse were out to set records. The rig sped down the hill in the darkness. Just at the foot of the hill the horse froze and braced all four feet and slid to the edge of the twenty foot wide bridge which crossed Jim Fraser's brook. The unfriendly youth of Lansdowne had removed the planks from the top of the bridge. Maddin often told the story of how that horse saved both their lives. He married the girl. She is living in Sydney in her 98th year (1975). Anyone for a game of bridge?

FAMILY MADDIN The stories that can be told of the family Maddin are legion. Although they were as a family domiciled in Sydney, they lent colour to the Lansdowne scene that was vivid and enduring. Mrs. Maddin's parents were visited regularly and the older children lived with them and attended Lansdowne school more than one winter. Then there were vacations. Married couples attending college is now usual, but in the 1890's it was almost unheard of. J. W. Maddin was completing his study of law at Dalhousie and he, Mrs. Maddin and children lived in a rented flat. To eke out, they rented a room to two students, one was the Rev. Ewen MacDonald who married L. M. Montgomery. Times were tough but the rewards were great. Mrs. Maddin says they stayed broke feeding the roomers, which was not in the bargain. All five children, Warena, Agnes, Olive, Langille and Jean were quite grown when War I broke out in 1914. In 1912, with the third car owned in Sydney, they motored to Lansdowne. The car was a Tudhope; the event was colossal. On the way home, they broke a spring and Maddin removed and repaired it at a blacksmith shop in Mulgrave. To cross The Strait, the family were put in a sailboat which towed a raft on which the Tudhope was lashed, the whole being towed by a boat with a single cylinder engine. Agnes learned to drive the car in 1913. The War came and Jim Maddin was soon Major Maddin overseas. Warena majored in chemistry and I think it was she that John Milton and a witty college friend went to visit in Halifax one night and shouted their arrival at the stair. She called back that she could not appear, she was having a bath. To which the male student shouted, "Well slip on a cake of soap and come on down." Agnes, during World War I, took a job in an office in Sydney. One morning, hurrying to work, she ran up the bank onto the railroad and in a

31 continuous motion, turned to run across the bridge and in an instant realized that a train was right behind her. She stumbled and fell right in front of the locomotive and with uncommon presence of mind, lay flat between the rails and the train, a locomotive and one car went over her. Completely unscathed, she jumped up, waved to the horrified train crew down the track and proceeded to work for a full day. Olive, became a lawyer, married an American Consul Johnson, and spent much time abroad, especially in Scandanavia. Langille is a lawyer in Toronto. He spent much time in Lansdowne during summers. Jean could throw a stone farther and more accurately than any boy in Lansdowne school. She had worked chiefly in Boston and Sydney. Now in the insurance business in Sydney, she expounds her philosophies clearly and one might think her father was speaking when she declares. Jean and Agnes still pick wild strawberries, the jam of which is proudly given to all visitors at the delightful laden dining table. They live with their mother, Maud (MacDonald) Maddin in the spacious house tha* has been the Maddin home these 52 years. It is October 1975 and Maud is 97. There are always five generations of this family on the go. This is the third sequence that I have known since 1920. Jim Maddin became Canada's best known criminal lawyer. When defending his 62nd murder trial in 1946, a newspaper printed a story. An excerpt of which reads:

"A physical as well as mental giant, Major Maddin has long been a legendary figure in Nova Scotia because of his many extraordinary exploits, such as the single-handed capture of an armed murderer whose gun was still hot from the shots that mowed down a Coke Ovens rival. Although unarmed himself, Major Maddin pursued the man out Lingan road and followed him into a house where he had taken refuge, gambling his own life upon his knowledge of the psychology of criminals, and emerging triumphant from the experimemt, with the killer arm-in-arm, and with the killer's surrendered weapon in his pocket."

This family has been unusual. They were down-to-earth people at a high elevation and they reflected that which was worthwhile, and enduring decades before satellites were known. I think a little of Lansdowne rubbed off on them; certainly a lot of them rubbed off on Lansdowne and the recipients rejoice.

32 SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School was held in the school during July and August. The school was available and it was warm. Hence, we never missed a month of the year when we were not in the old school which some of us did not worship. I suppose on both weekdays and Sundays more was learned than we realized. Much memory work was required. In Sunday School one time, Neil repeated a complete chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel and missed one word and the Minister would not give him the prize that was dangled for two months. But then everyone was doing what they believed in. Some years later I encountered a college professor who told me that he worked hard to get the common student through but it was the clever student that caused him the greatest concern. They might make 100 and that would indicate perfection and no one was perfect except our Lord. One student, a girl, nearly drove him frantic. He knew he was the dishonest one taking one point from her. The school is still standing; the beech trees are all gone, a paved road hustles the students by in a big yellow bus and things are different.

IN THE BIG CULVERT LANSDOWNE, MAY 31, 1867 Nothing could be bigger, more fascinating and awe inspiring than the big culvert. Every boy in the country and many girls had crossed through it. One could walk on the stone foundation flags that were a foundation for the huge arch and not get the feet wet. In summer when water was low these formed a narrow sidewalk on either side. The old-timers said there was a floor in it once and that a banquet had been held. We youngsters could believe it. What a beautiful cool place for a feast on a hot day. The old-timers also said the biggest load of hay ever moved by a pair of horses could go through this monster of masonery and the man on top of the load would never doff his straw hat, -and we could believe it. Mrs. Phil Fetterly, the former Sadie Gordon, of Calgary was born and raised in Lansdowne on the farm adjacent to Waterloo MacLeod's and in 1958 she wrote, "I can imagine I see the old culvert. It always had a fascination for me and how we children loved to wade in the water." We could not agree more. As a matter of fact we think it pretty fascinating yet. If you want to see some good masonery 107 years old, have a peek. Take off your shoes and walk through it; and after this climb up on the fill and look to the West and see the Big Cut that was moved with horses and carts to create the Big Fill (Big Dump) and then look Eastward and note how all the area where the sidings and the former Lansdowne Station stood was moved to help make the huge fill a reality. How many cart loads: A fair task for modern machinery. We are fascinated.

33 OPENING THE RAILROAD TRURO TO FISHERS GRANT (NEW GLASGOW) OR PICTOU LANDING MAY 31, 1867 Confederaton had not been quite consummated when this seemingly momentous event occurred. Yet J. B. King says it was such a political football that the people of Pictou did not display happy emotions. Battery Hill figured formally in two ways the day the railroad was opened. A banquet unique in setting was held there and one of the chief pipers of the day at the Eastern terminus was a Battery Hiller non other than Dan Waterloo. Here quoted are excerpts of the article by J. B. King in the Halifax Herald: issue of February 1st, 1958:- The long drag on the Pictou Branch with its political bushwacking and newspaper guerrilla fighting was over at last, and right on the dot of May 31, 1867, as Sir Sanford Fleming had predicted and promised, the road was officially opened through from Truro to Pictou Landing. One of the Halifax newspapers described the proceedings:- "Yesterday the railway between Truro and the waters of Pictou harbor was formally opened for traffic. At twenty minutes to 8 a.m., a company of between 400 and 500 gentlemen invited by Sanford (sic) Fleming, Esq., the contractor, among whom were His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor and the Archbishop of Halifax, left the Richmond station in a train numbering eight cars, under a salute of Artillery. At Truro a large concourse of people greeted the arrival of the train, the Rothesay Blues, under command of Captain Logan, being paraded in honor of the occasion. At about 11 o'clock the train started for Fisher's Grant, with a considerable accession to the number of guests from Truro. At the Big Culvert at Lairg it was met by a locomotive and car from the other end of the line with a few gentlemen from Pictou and New Glasgow. At this place a luncheon was prepared, and to protect the guests from the rain which fell in drizzling showers all day, it was spread inside the culvert, the bottom of which was bridged over with a floor of timber and planks for the occasion. After about half an hour's delay, the united trains proceeded eastward, stopped a few minutes at the Albion Mines (Stellarton) where a salute was fired, and a few minutes at New Glasgow, where the event did not seem to create any unusual excitement, arriving at the Fisher's Grant terminus about 4 o'clock p.m. Here a banquet was prepared in the station building on the wharf, toasts were drunk and speeches made, the two hours allotted to this part of the day's business passing speedily and pleasantly by;" 34 The Governor, the Archbishop, Dr. Tupper, John Tobin and Sandford Fleming were the principal speakers. At 6 a.m., the train started from Fisher's Grant and after stopping at New Glasgow to leave passengers, a few minutes at Riversdale for refreshments, and again at Truro to leave the guests for that place, arrived at Richmond station at half-past one this morning. "A large part of the line from West River to Fisher's Grant is still unballasted, and in a comparatively unfinished state; and it is probable that the summer will be nearly over before the line can be said to be completed." .„,..„ , , . (This forecast turned out exactly correct.) "WATERLOO" MacLEOD BY J. B. King Most venerable and striking of the pipers who discoursed lively Highland airs at the formal opening of the Pictou Branch was "Waterloo" MacLeod, so called because he had been in action with one of the Highland regiments under Wellington on the memorable day of Napoleon's final downfall. On his way home from the Pictou Landing celebration the night of May 31, 1867, he had a close call from being run down by a train that overtook him in the dark, the noise of its approach drowned in his own skirling as he marched along the new embankment. As a mere lad, "Waterloo" had been in the Peninsula with Sir John Moore, and participated in the famous retreat over the mountains to Corunna, where Sir John was killed by a round shot at the moment of victory. According to Pictou tradition, "Waterloo" was the Highland soldier shown in a famous painting of the death of Sir John Moore as holding "the lanthorn dimly burning" while "We buried him darkly at dead of night, The sod with our bayonets turning-" It is interesting to contemplate how the name Battery Hill was adopted especially in prerailroad days but it would be reasonable to assume that it was because of Waterloo MacLeod. His farm was by far the most easily discernable for miles around. There was one lone spruce tree on top of the hill that made the farm easily recognizable for miles around. From Green Hill Look-off (in 1935) a distance of 12 miles as the crow flies, it was clearly discernable. Now it is said that Dan Waterloo (Donald), the original settler, would walk back and forth on his high domain playing the bagpipes with enthusiasm. On a calm evening one can imagine that the pipes could be heard for miles and some wit might liken the situation to a battery and certainly there was Waterloo's hill. 35 When Donald MacLeod (Waterloo) was in Spain at the battle of Carruna holding the lantern at The Burial of Sir John Moore, he must have been about 18 years of age. If so, then he was 70 years old the day the railway opened and he piped the train into Pictou County. The MacLeods were a legendary family. Mrs. Phil Fetterly, the former Sadie Gordon of Calgary, left her home adjacent to MacLeod's farm in 1912 after having taught two years in Lansdowne and wrote in 1958: "Donald was the old man and pioneer who played the pipes as he roamed over the hills we called "The Grant." I do not remember him but I remember his wife. She was very old, nearly bent double and smoked a clay pipe. They were a plain family, little education, very kindly and good living. They did not mingle much with the people around and only went to church once a year. Don and Alex were sons and there were two girls also, one was a deaf mute. Don went away young. Alex did not play the bagpipes but as he spent many evenings at our home, we often persuaded him to sing songs for us, and he loved to sing his droll songs. Don was the one who went away young and came home an old man. I remember him well. I can hear him saying to my young brother, Martin, "Go west to those great open spaces where you can have a real farm." Don was away 40 years and the story is told of the confusion he endured at his home coming: The railway had been built and the name Lansdowne had been given to the area and replaced "Battery Hill", the place he wanted to detrain. There are many stories of how he got from New Glasgow or Pictou, (Pictou had a Battery Hill). One was by livery through the town of Westville which to him was non-existent and then finally home to great disappointment. All his relatives considered this bearded old man an imposter and were about to turn him out. The deaf girl saved the day. She remembered her brother had fallen out of a tree as a boy and cut the top of his head badly. She went to the stranger, parted his hair and found the L-shaped scar she remembered so well. Charles Tupper Matheson, Lansdowne, who died about 1960 aged 92, told a good story of his brother, Duncan, a locomotive driver, during construction of the Great Northern Railway in the 1870's, etc. Don MacLeod and Duncan Matheson had left home several years apart. Finally they both arrived home and when they compared notes it was evident that they had both worked on the same construction crew and had eaten in the same cook house. They were born within a mile of each other and both had left home as very young men. Tupper also said that Don MacLeod was well up on current events and evidently had participated in the Riel Rebellion and he said that when Riel had Scott shot, "It was shot he ought to be."

36 A GAIRLOCH STORY

Yes, often the boy who stayed on the farm and looked after the old folks did not marry. Ficticious names are used to relate how Rory John and Alex Og met on the road to discuss the hottest current topic; the condition of Angus Dan's cattle. Half of them had died. It was spring, at least mid-March, and the winter had been severe and it was not over yet. Everyone knew that feed in Angus Dan's barn was scarce enough, but what was worse was lack of water. To dig down to the brook properly was just beyond Angus Dan's ambition. Why the last time the cows got a sip at all they fairly stood on their heads and couldn't swallow. Everyone knew that lately the poor critters were eating a little snow when they got to the door or a crack in the barn wall, and everyone knew that Angus Dan was free with the pitch fork to make an unfortunate beast take one more painful step. Alex Og was Angus Dan's severest critic. Og's cattle had died years ago. To get the day's conversation off to a good start, Rory John asked the most ridiculous question, "Does Angus Dan ever water his cattle, Alex?" "Oh yes," said Og, "But they're so damned full of fork holes it won't stay in."

DR. W. A. MacLEOD Dr. Willie was born in Lower Lairg, the son of Robert G. MacLeod, owner of the farm adjacent to the manse. Incidentally on the other or Lansdowne side of the manse and only one mile distant lived another Robert MacLeod, who was always referred to as Bob Haw, to distinguish him from neighbour, Bob Gee. Dr. W. A. MacLeod graduated from Dalhousie Medical School in 1908, and practiced firstly in River Hebert where he married Maud McClary. He spent most of his life in Hopewell and was doctor to Lansdowne people for 50 years. He travelled over half of Pictou Co., by horse, Model "T", Model "A", train and modern automobiles. He was P. C. Member for Pictou East 1956-60. The people of rural Pictou County presented him with a new automobile in 1952 and he said "What the hell is going on here!" He died in 1961 and now the new Consolidated school in Riverton bears his name. 37 HISTORIC JOURNEY IN 1975 On November 12th, 1975, Colonel Dan H. Sutherland 97, River John, R. B. MacDonald, Q. C. , New Glasgow; Harry Sutherland, The Evening News, New Glasgow; and John MacQuarrie, The Canadian Rock Salt Co. Ltd. , Pugwash, motored to Lansdowne and walked the mile into the cemetery at the Captains place (about two miles East of the railroad). It was gratifying to see the cemetery, close by the old Stewiacke (Souiac) Road, well cleared and almost every stone standing erectly and legible with a minimum of effort. Col. Dan and Robert MacDonald identified the stone of common ancestor (pioneer 1802), Robert MacDonald, but the numerous "Sutherland" stones will require another study session in this most interesting cemetery. George Sutherland, Rocklyn, who knows this cemetery and area well, was guide on this worthwhile trip.

Colonel Dan H. Sutherland, River John, by his ancestors' headstone at Lansdowne, November, 1975

38 Thanks to Colonel Don Sutherland for this letter. Wilkins Grant was south of the railway at Lansdowne and continued two (2) miles eastward. The reference to Hopewell is not understood although it is said a school was built there in 1818.

Red Lion P. O., Newcastle Co., Delaware, U. S. A., August 4,1882 My Dear Bro. James Sutherland: For some time back, I lost sight of you, but after repeated enquiries I presently ascertained to my great satisfaction that you live comfortably with your son, James, at Aulac Station, New Brunswick; but that just now you are on a visit to River John. There, I have no doubt you will be kindly treated in the house and by the family of the late brother John H. Sutherland. He himself has gone home; as have all the other members of our family. Let you and she be ready through the saving grace of God to follow them, for we shall be called to our reward soon. Depend on Jesus - on Jesus only. In 1877 John spent a week here. He spoke about you very affectionately. I showed him the Gaelic bible which you gave me on the eve of leaving Nova Scotia, April 8, 1842. It was printed in Edinburgh in 1831. It will be kept to the end. In gratitude for favors done me many years ago I sent by him to you a small present - twenty dollars in silver and told him to get you a good hat or coat as he thought best. You gave me a New Testament as soon as I could read it. You gave me many lessons in reading, I well remember your patience in trying to learn me how to read in the primer or spelling book, - also the black Scotch cap decorated with red, white, and green square spots. It was beautiful and lasted long. My earliest recollection of you goes back to about A. D. 1819. It was during the first summer that our father lived in Wilkin's Grant when you called to see me a very small boy living with Angus MacLeod. Strawberries were ripe and you gave me some. You found me comfortable and wished me to stay there. You coaxed and pleaded; but all in vain. You then tried to run away and leave me behind; but I ran after you and screamed as for dear life. You then switched me moderately (the only one time in your life) to compel me to stay; but finding that we could not be parted you at last allowed me to follow you and lead me by your right hand to father's house. As stated above I left Nova Scotia in 1842, God has mercifully preserved me in Delaware one of the 38 states of this great nation over 40 years! none molesting or making me afraid. His goodness has been constant, health always good. I follow the practice of medicine, possess all the necessaries of life, and enjoy above all else the presence of God reconsiled through Jesus Christ. Reply to this letter promptly, I much prefer you own handwriting. Be not very careful about the spelling or writing. Our family hailed from Cromarty, Scotland, July 4, 1818. How many days were we on the water? We passed the first winter in the house of a widow near Angus MacLeod. What was her name: How long did we stay in her house? When did father locate in Wilkin's Grant: How much did the 100 acres of land cost: How much did you get for it? A railway now passes over the path I often travelled when a school boy. Hopewell has two schoolhouses, two churches, two factories and no hotel!! How many children have you living: How employed: I heard of your grief caused by the explosion of the coal mine in Pictou. How old was your son then: What is your own age: 87: My birthday is August 18, 1815, just three months after the Battle of Waterloo. To me time appears to pass rapidly and pleasantly. Here, the hay, oats and wheat harvests are over and abundant. The prospects for corn are good. Wishing you every comfort, I am your affectionate brother, Roderick Sutherland Lewis Morris Wilkins granted 2500 acres April 10, 1817. Explanation: One might infer from this letter that James to whom R. S. was writing, was visiting his brother, John, and family in River John. James was living with his son, Daniel, in Stellarton; but after the Foord pit explosion in which Daniel was killed, in November 1880, he after that lived with different members of his family, for a time with Robert in Windsor; James in Aulac, N. B. Then for some years, at two different times with Hugh Holmes and family, at Hedgeville, River John; Mrs. Holmes, being his daughter Jane. Once a year he visited at Robert Sutherlands (John's son, at River John), when Communion Service was observed in St. George's Church, River John, services beginning on Thursday, and continuing until Monday. In those days they had Communion only once a year - in early summer. I well remember when Grandfather Sutherland used to have this annual visit to Robert Sutherlands. He spent his last years with his son, James, at Aulac, N. B., passing away in April 1901, or 1902. Written by Mrs. Anna Bell (Holmes) Cameron, granddaughter of James Sutherland, on November 10, 1935.

40 NICK - NAMES Often I have regretted that our family of MacQuarries did not have a nick-name. I cannot imagine a more worthwhile additional load and how clear one becomes. But in our case it was not to be. A philosopher has written, "God must like ordinary people, He made so many of them." Nick-names of Pictou County are very important to the historian and the genealogist. I am sure you can add to the list I have compiled. MacDONALD - Speech. Sputter Kerrogare - Place in Scotland. Quaker - Peaceful Keevack - Tuft of hair. Cheap Hard Og (g) - Young. Mo (H)r - Big. Spootler or Piper Pappy - a John MacDonald. Kricken - Unknown. Weaver. MacMILLAN Duine ure - New man, imigrant from Scotland. Koomukler - Unknown. Probably Micmac. Sootack - Unknown. FRASER Culloden - The battle. Saddler Barley. Tanner. Rock - He had a rocky farm. Thorn - Offspring of Thomas. Mo(H)r - Big Og(g) - Young Buie - Yellow Ban - White Dhu - Black Rhurah - Red. Gow - Musical? Neil Gow, musician. Sootock - Probably Micmac derivation. Botany Bay - No doubt a reference to Australia convict colony. A lake is thus named between Watervale and South Mt. Thorn. MURRAYS - MILLER - of Concord, Middle River SINGADORE - A stevadore (in Pictou) who sang and kept a number of men in cadence while pulling a rope 41 that hoisted heavy weights to or from a vessel. INCHURES - of Earltown. NOTE: Rev. Robert Murray, an Inchure of Earltown was Editor of the Presby­ terian Witness for many years about the turn of the century and wrote many hymns. See - "The Book of Praise, No. 296, 388, 562, 640, 649. See: "The Hymnary", No. 509, & 510. See: "The Hymn Book" No. 216 and 218.

GERMAN PRISONERS AT LANSDOWNE It was spring of 1918 when the prisoner train was shunted in on Lansdowne siding. This lent an air of importance to the community as well as aura of awe and even fear. People living five miles away were grateful for the five miles. The prisoners were for the most part professional men, doctors, lawyers, and the like. They were unacustomed to heavy labour as was required of them working on the railroad. There was no trouble with the prisoners but there was trouble with one of the Canadian Guards. That gent got hold of liquor and went biserk: so much so that almost all the staff were called upon to subdue him down by our barn, but before it was all over he knocked down one side of our pig pen and between the pig and the Canadian the community had a lively evening. Then they had to take another precious box car and create a jail for him. He was the most warlike of all the prisoners.

The thirteen MacKay children (B 1886-1911) that grew to maturity were: Sydney, Cecilia, Jimmy, Johnny, Neil, Willie, Genny, Clarence, Annabelle, Elmer, Albert, Martha, Chester.

The Station House burned in 1942, Frank MacKenzie and family were ten ants at the time. Mail stopped moving by train in 1968. The Post Office closed in 1971. The mailing address for Lansdowne is now R. R. 2, Westville.

42 "A LIGHTER LOOK" NOV. 27, 1975 — Walter Murray in his column, "A Lighter Look" writes humourously: This week about his grandmother. The young lady in the Tin-Type picture:

By all outward appearances A TINTYPE CIRCA 1885 Granny shunned the life of violence and crime. She was a trim, fine-featured lady who "didn't have a gray hair in her head when she died," as mother liked to relate. She drank only tea from a cup, read her Bible from a Boston rocker and went to church from a sense of religious conviction. Granny must have been a courageous little woman. She became a widow early in life but continued to manage the farm, and my mother, from her inner resources - which must have been more than a few. Small grandchildren don't think in these terms, but looking back I assume she was an attractive woman John Mac­ Quarrie, from Pugwash, who has a picture of everyone, has an 1885 picture of my grandmother, Mary Margaret MacPherson, and his grandfather, John Robert Mac­ MARY MARGARET MacPHERSON (later Mrs. Kenny Fraser) and Quarrie, as a handsome couple, John Robert MacQuarrie, who but that was back before they married her sister, Jane MacPherson, married. And, no, they didn't 1886. marry each other; my grand­ mother married a Fraser from Mill Brook and John's grandfather married Granny's sister - whom I remember as Aunt Janie. Pugwash John asks, "Does this not conjure up all sorts of pictures of sisters vieing for one male:" He remembers the sisters as most "aimable" but wonders if I can help with further background information on their courtship conflicts. (And had John's grandfather married the other sister, would that make John and me brothers? There is a question for deep meditation. )

43 The Chronicle - Herald, Wednesday, December 3, 1975 LANSDOWN CHRISTMAS TREE ERECTED IN PHILADELPHIA A 46-foot Christmas tree sent by the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners Association to the city of Philadelphia was erected in the City Centre, Tuesday. The tree was cut in Lansdown, Pictou County, Sunday, and is the largest Christmas tree ever shipped from Nova Scotia. It was sent after the federal government received a request from the Canadian Consulate in Philadelphia for the tree. The request was then passed on to Nova Scotia.

H: :::

MRS. J. R. MacQUARRIE J. R. MacQUARRIE (nee Margaret Ross)

It has been fun. I wish it was more complete. Please write your favourite story and mail it to me and I will try to preserve them. J. R. MacQUARRIE, PUGWASH, N. S. NOVEMBER, 1975 44 sill

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Bew. D. MurdoMarple Presbyterian Church Rev. Roland T. Moores May 4/72 AND WORLD WAR ONE Nov. 11/56 - Dec. SO/62 MEMORIAL

Rev. L. Mulder Rev. Daniel C. MacPherson Rev. Donald C. MacDonald Nov. 28/50-Jan. 15/52 Dec. 3/43-Apr. 12/48 May 19/42 - Dec. 31/43 Rev. Chester A. M. Earle, Rev. F. Clarke Evans Rev. Lambert Olgers Rev, #. A. MacKinnon July 5/38 - June 3/41 July 5/34 - June 30/37 june ie/27. Mar. 31/33 1920-1925

Rev. Geo. A. Christie Rev. A. V. Morash Rev. J. C. McLeod Rev. Thos. Irving 1911 -1920 1908 -1911 1904 -1908 1899 -1904

ew Rev. Rev. Donald McKay Rev. Neil Brodie ~ „, Tr 1876 -1879 1868 -1876 1880 -1886 Alexander Mc Kay Alexander .McLean 1859 -1867 1853-1857 PICTOU ANTIGONISH REGIONAL LIBRARY 4%. PICTOU ANTIGONISH j*i -m REGIONAL LIBRARY K) 58597 971 MacQuarrie, 3 R .613 Lansdowne sketches. PI

Date Due E FOR REF SS? ROOM Pictou-Antigonish Regional Libra

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