TTHEHE PPARARTICIPTICIPAPERAPER AN INVERNESS COUNTY PERIODICAL Provence, France, as seen through the eyes of Jimmy Rankin in May 2004. Media used was watercolor. See story on page 16. The Warden, Councillors and Staff of the Municipality of Inverness County Congratulate All 2005 Graduates Vol 26, No.3 Jun/Jul 2005 The Participaper Page 1 FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK The Participaper INVERNESS COUNTY RECREATION, TOURISM, Editor, Graphic Design and Production Marie Aucoin CULTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE PO Box 43, Cheticamp, NS, B0E 1H0 INVERNESS COUNTY…ON THE MOVE: Phone: (902) 224-1759 email: [email protected] Our Department, Inverness County Recre- (for subscription requests see below) ation/Tourism, is introducing a project The Participaper is published five times a year by the designed to help Inverness County residents Inverness County Department of Recreation and Tourism: adopt and maintain a healthy active lifestyle. John Cotton, Director. Contributions of information and articles, photos and artwork are welcome. We also welcome This project is in partnership with HRDSC, Central and your letters and comments. This publication is a service for North Inverness Health Boards, Public Health, and NS the residents of Inverness County. Others may subscribe at Sport & Recreation. the following rates (postage included): $8.00/yr in Canada or $9:00/yr in the US. Send subscription request, with We are pleased to welcome aboard Leslie McDaniel, payment, to the attention of: Active Living Coordinator, as well as her co-workers Marie Cameron Recreation and Tourism Department Donna LeBlanc and Ardie MacEachern. This enthusiastic PO Box 179, Municipal Building team will be working together to increase public awareness Port Hood, NS, B0E 2W0 of the benefits of physical activity and healthy lifestyle Email: [email protected] choices for all ages. They will also be meeting with Copyright 8 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be used or reproduced in any organizations throughout the County to look at ways of manner whatsoever without the written permission of the Publisher. Printed by: The Pictou Advocate enhancing or increasing recreational opportunities. See Vol 26, No 3 page 27 of this issue for more information on the project and contact information. TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMER/FALL EVENTS BROCHURE: Director’s Desk ........................................... Page 2 Summer in Inverness County...fiddles, festivals, & fun! Ancestors Unlimited ................................... Page 3 Our bright orange events brochure holds a treasure chest Fun at the Seniors Games ............................ Page 8 of information on festivals, dances, concerts, ceilidhs, Community Development Organizations .... Page 13 Jimmy Rankin, Artist ............................... Page 16 special events and outdoor activities. If you didn’t receive Free Square Set Lessons .............................. Page 21 a copy in your mailbox or would like some extra copies Causeway Celebrations News ..................... Page 22 for friends and relatives, we would be glad to mail it out Port Hood Signage .................................. Page 24 to you. Call us or drop in to our office in Port Hood or Inverness County On the Move ................. Page 26 any Cape Breton Island visitor information centre to Gaelic Council ......................................... Page 27 obtain a copy. See our contact information on page 31. Cribbage Results ......................................... Page 28 We’d like to make special note of a unique opportunity ECRL ...................................................... Page 30 for visitors and residents of the County. The Recreation/ Municipal Contact Information ................. Page 31 Tourism Department, in partnership with Dance Nova Scotia, will be offering free square dance lessons at some The Participaper is in its twenty-sixth year of of the weekly square dances. The lessons will take place an publication and is distributed free of charge, as a hour before the dance begins. Check out page 29 of this service to residents of the Municipality of issue and the Inverness Oran for more information on Inverness County. Non-commercial advertising is dates and locations. accepted for publication at no charge. THE SUNSET SIDE OF CAPE BRETON: Congratulations to Frank MacDonald and his staff of Inverness Communications on another beautiful and DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT informative issue! This year’s cover is an archived photo ISSUE OF THE PARTICIPAPER of the Canso Causeway complete with a piper in full dress. The cover was chosen to complement the 50th IS 12 AUGUST, 2005 Director’s Desk continues on page 29 Page 2 The Participaper ANCESTORS UNLIMITED HELPING TO FIND YOUR INVERNESS COUNTY ROOTS By Dr. Jim St. Clair PRIMARY SOURCES (PART I): h. to her nephew George Gouray, of the Island of A major source of family history information is Jersey - 50 pounds; located in the books of Wills and Probate records, i. to her friend, Mrs Dulendia, wife of George held in the Registry of Deeds and Probate in Port Dulendia, Shipwright, of the Island of Jersey - Hood. (Some of the earliest records of probate are 50pounds; also found in the same Registry in Sydney and the j. to nephew, Frances Gouray, of the Island of Jersey one at Arichat). These documents will give insights - 50 pounds; as well into the culture of the time. k. to the daughter of Douce Johnston, wife of The following are several examples from the books Thomas Johnston Jr, of Ship Harbour, who has been of Wills and Probate (abstracted for pertinent named Douce after the writer of the will - 25 information): pounds; 1. Will of Douce Balhache l. to Mrs Buck, her friend, If the red slayer think he slays, Or if the dated 9 May 1842, and wife of William Buck Es- slain think he is slain, They know not probated in October of the quire, 12 pounds and 10 well the subtle ways, I keep and pass same year. (Douce lived during shillings; and turn again. most of her adult life where m. after legacies are paid and - Ralph Waldo Emerson the rotary is at the Causeway debts settled, residue in equal (although she "retired" to Port parts to following: Hawkesbury). Buried near the (i) to the Church of Scotland light house at the canal at the Causeway, she was a located on part of her property in Plaster Cove; native of Jersey. (ii) to Wesleyan Methodist Church in Ship Harbour, a. To her friend, Mrs Charles Fixott of Arichat, a Gut of Canso; bureau and a "keeping table" (a “keeping table” is (iii) to the British and foreign Bible Society of Nova used in a dining room - sometimes for eating from, Scotia; and (iv) to the Church of England in Arichat. and other times for the serving of food); [Does This Will is an insightful document showing the anyone know of descendants of the recipient who might interests of an early woman entrepreneur of still have the table mentioned in the will? If so, please Inverness County. contact the Editor.] b. to the three daughters of Mrs Fixott, Mary Ann 2. The "Appraisement" of the Estate of Neil DeCarteret Fixott, Victoria Adelaide Fixott and McDougall, of Judique Intervale - dated 18 July Laura Harrington Fixott - 25 pounds of lawful 1863: money of Nova Scotia to each; a. land/houses - 500 pounds c. to James William Smith, son of James Smith, of b. 10 "milch" cows - 30 pounds Ship Harbour - twelve pounds and ten shillings; c. 3 heifers and a steer - 6 pounds d. to Clement Fixott Hubert and Mary Elizabeth d. 3 steers - 9 pounds Hubert, son and daughter of Ann Hubert of e. 1 bull - 3 pounds Arichat - 25 pounds each; f. 1 horse - 10 pounds e. to her cousin, Mrs LeCraw, wife of John LeCraw, g. 7 sheep - 3 pounds blacksmith, of Sydney, 25 pounds; h. 1 pig - 1 pound f. to Mrs Turnbull, wife of William Turnbull of i. cart, plough, harrow and 4 hoes, traces, 2 axes, Sydney, 25 pounds; 1 pitch fork, 1 ox yoke, 1 chain, 1 pickaxe g. to the wife of John Morgan of River Inhabitants - 6 pounds "who was formerly my apprentice" - 25 pounds; Continued next page...ANCESTORS The Participaper Page 3 Continued from previous page...ANCESTORS j. 2 tables, 6 chairs, 4 pots, 1 kettle, 2 barrels, 1 fire shovel, 1 crane, 1 pair andirons, 1 pair candlesticks, 1 clock, 1 adze, knives, forks and earthenware, 1 saw, 2 augers, 1 draw knife, 1 spinning wheel, 7 pair blankets, 5 rugs, 2 cotton bedcovers, 1 oven. - 10 pounds Total value: 593 pounds and 8 shillings. Appraised by Finlay Beaton and John Beaton. 3. Will of Ann Chisholm, of the Strait of Canso, dated April 1870: a. to "beloved husband", William Chisholm, and his heirs and assigns - a Above and below: Mull River 1916. Horse drawn buggies were the parcel of land assigned to her from a lot of most prevalent mode of transportation. Wouldn’t it be fun to take a land owned by her father, William sightseeing ride in one today? [MACFARLANE COLLECTION PHOTO.] Heffernen, of the Ponds, Strait of Canso; b. to "beloved husband", William Chisholm, four "milch" cows, 1 steer, two yearling heifers, nine head of sheep; c. to "beloved husband" William Chisholm all beds and bedding from estate of her late father, William Heffernen; d. husband William Chisholm to be the executor. A woman with her own property in the 1800s! This was unusual. 4. Will of Celeste Chiasson of Chéticamp, will was dated 15 February 1869: a. to each of her children the share of the property of her late husband and herself - namely: 1. Charles Chiasson and his children; 2. Policap (sic) Chiasson and his children; 3. Mathilda, wife of late Peter Aucoin and her children; After the previous issue was delivered, many residents called about the 4. Celeste, wife of late Peter Meus photo of the Cheticamp hockey team which had appeared on page 5.