O U T L O O K NEWSLETTER of the LUNENBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FORT POINT MUSEUM, LAHAVE - Fort Ste Marie de Grace
ISSUE NO. 22 SPRING 2008
Fort Point Museum, in LaHave, along the Lighthouse Route will open in
June 10.00am- 5.00pm -
No admission fee Our Society Meetings will start in April and will
run from May through Oct.with a Pot Luck Supper at 6:30pm and an interesting speaker to follow at 7:30pm. Anyone welcome - Please join us. (DON'T WORRY - SPRING WILL COME - IT'S JUST AROUND THE CORNER - photo not available on email)
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
As we emerge from our long, cold, snowy winter, visions of summer days and summer friends keep us warm. We will kick off our 2008 season at the Fort Point Museum with our first General Meeting and Pot Luck Supper on April 15th, at 6:30. Johanna Rafuse, our Director of Membership and Volunteers, has organized speakers for our pot luck meetings. The Fund Raising and Events Committee has planned a variety of events and I know we'll be seeing you, our members and friends, in attendance.
We will need some help getting the grounds ready for our new season, I hope we can count on our many volunteers to help out. The season ahead is filled with promise and opportunity. I look forward to seeing you and working with you at the museum this year. After the winter we've had I
think we deserve a long, warm summer, don't you? Warmest Regards,
Donna Malone
PS.: The Board has been working hard and we have also submitted grant applications for student staff funding.
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OUR NEXT SOCIETY MEETING: Tues. April 15th - at Fort Point Museum
6:30 pm - Pot Luck Supper Bring your plate, silverware and a cup.
7:30pm - It will be our first General Meeting and Pot Luck Supper of the season and our new president: Donna Malone, will bring you up to date on everything.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, May 25th is the day of our Lobster Supper at the Museum. We will have two sittings. One at 4pm and one at 6:pm. Tickets are $25.00 each and it a good idea to get them in advance. We were sold out last year.
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Sunday, June 15th -2:30pm to 4:30
High Tea at the Cranberries Restaurant at The Fairview Inn in
Bridgewater. They have offered to host a High Tea fund raiser for us. Tickets are $20.00. A maximum of 64 tickets can be sold. All we have to do is sell tickets. They do the rest.
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OTHER EVENTS
July 26th, - a Home and Cottage Tour
Aug. 23, - Acadian Mi'kmaq Festival 1.00pm .
August 31, - LaHave River Folk Festival
Sept. 20 - Trivia Challenge 7pm -10.30.pm
Oct.17th.- a Wine Tasting Party
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UPCOMING SPEAKERS FOR THE SEASON:
Johanna Rafuse, our Director of Membership and Volunteers,has been busy arranging for interesting speakers for the season. Here is what she has
planned:
May 20 - Hank Middleton: history through songs of rum runnnng and fishery during the age of sail June 17 - Clare Dugas, return visit with new Acadian family stories. July 15 - M. Brook Taylor, author of "A Camera on the Banks," the story of fishery on the brink of change. August 19 - to be announced September 16 - Vernon Oickle, interesting discussions of folklore, superstition and ghost stories.
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LUNENBURG COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: PAST PRESIDENTS AND THEIR
ACTIVITIES
The Lunenburg County Historical Society was organized at a meeting held in the Pentz Elementary School on June 24, 1969. Forty-Seven people attended. Research and writing of this material was done originally by Earle Langille in 1998 as articles for the monthly newsletter of the Lunenburg County Historical Society. (This series was published and is continued from our Spring 2007 issue. (We will publish it as a seperate booklet for our
members.)
JACK (N.S) BLAKENEY ( 1982 - 1983) the 6th president was born in Pleasantville. In 1940 he worked as an auto mechanic for LaHave Auto in Bridgewater. He joined the RCAF and served as an aero-engine mechanic training new recruits and returned to his old job at LaHave Auto at the end of the war. In 1956 he moved to Halifax to teach auto mechanics and later math and science were added to his teaching responsibilities. He retired in 1978. Some important events during his presidency: A report on the erosion at Fort Point, Many expression of gratitude to all members of the various committees for making it a success. . Artifacts from the 1977 dig at Fort Point were returned to the museum.The museum received a long-awaited Income Tax Number. Honorary membership was awarded to Fr,Gilles de Razilly in recognition of is many contributions to the Society; application for the renovation of the basement for additional display space was made; Nancy Creaser and Lillian Romkey were selected to go to France for a special deRazilly celebration. JOHN HIRTLE (1984-1985) our 7th president was born in Lunenburg. He graduated from Bridgewater High School and moved to Boston to study music an voice. Returning to Bridgewater in 1936 he worked for Bridgewater Dairy and Crowell Bros. Hardware. Later he joined the staff of CHNS radio in Halifax as an annoucer-operator, he served at Aldershot,NS as an instructor during the war and joined CKBW as general manager and part owner after the war. He was president of the Atlantic Assoc. of Broadcasters and other radio and broadcasting organizations. He was elected to the Bridgewater Town Council for 2 years and as Mayor for 6 years. Retiring from broadcasting, he took a part-time position with Bridgewater Industrial Development Commission. Important events during John's term as president: A grant of $12,363 was awarded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for a restoration program. This resulted in a committee to look after the contracted renovations in the basement (New Horizon Program).A new basement entry was to be constructed by the contractor doing the renovations. The administrator of the New Horizon's grant wasinvited to a meeting to see the result of the grant. the Society was authorised by him afterwards to spend the unused renovation funds for the purchase of furniture and equipment. a dehumidified was purchases to overcome the problem of the excessive dampness. "Sun" film was applied to the Museum windows to offset of too much sun on the artifacts. New cutlery was purchased. The basement room was painted by three volunteers: Earle Langille, McGregor Miller and John Hirtle. BY-laws and contributions were revised and updated and the legal advisor presented them for approval, subject the approval of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. It was reported that the government would deal with the erosion problem in the future. 1985 was an important year in the life of the Society - renovations to the basement provided a meeting room and small kitchenette. GORDON ROMKEY (1985-1989) was the 8th president. He was born in Bridgewater and received his early schooling in West Dublin. He later attended Lunenburg Academy and Kings Collegiate in Windsor. After completing is studies at Kings,Gordon joined the army as a private in the West Nova Scotia Regiment. During his service years he moved from a private to an officer. In 1942 he married and in 1943 proceeded overseas serving in England for a short time. After this he was sent to Sicily where he was wounded twice. He was sent home and discharged in 1948. He was employed with the Dept. of Fisheries where he retired in 1979 as a District Inspector of Officers and lived in West Dublin. Activities during Gordon's term of office: An additional grant was received from New Horizon to purchase chairs and other essential items like an electric typewriter and a small microwave for the kitchen. The Palisade fence was repaired, poles were ordered and the flagpole repainted. The Lighthouse building was repaired and repainted. Museum Canada visited the site and complimented the society on the way an old grant document was preserved under Plexiglas. A Talent showcase program in August presented entertainment for our visitors. 1996 was the first year the potluck suppers were held in the basement instead upstairs among the exhibits. Plan were announced for the Mini-Festival on July 5th, 1987. Grant were received from the Dept. of Tourism, New Horizon and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Father Gilles deRazilly informed the Museum he would attend the July 5th Mini-Festival. Publicity was aired on CBC Broadcasting about the erosion at Fort Point. Official word confirmed the death of Izaac deRazilly on July 2, 1636. The 400th birthday celebration was a success.Word was received from New Horizon to proceed to establish a French era garden of authentic Acadian style. An exhibit ,Tall Ships of LaHave, consisting of 8 ship models was displayed. A party from France visited the Museum on August 12,1988. Long time curator she planted a harlequin maple tree and her long time invaluable service was recognized with a presentation of an engraved silver tray. Nancey Creaser submitted her resignation. To recognize the event A letter from Dr. John MacPherson stated that Nancey would be presented with a Cross of Meritawarded by the Knights of Malta in recognotion of distinguished efforts in perpetuating the memory of Isaac deRazilly. An application for assistance with the erosion problem was sent to an organization called "Special Places". and account was set up to record ]donations from cooperation toward erosion. During these years several improvements were made. Gordon Romkey passed
away on March 17, 2007 at the age of 85. (to be
continued.)
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We are sad to report that one of our longtime members , Al Bent, passed away early this year. He will be missed, and we extend our condolences to his family and all his friends. Pauline Maschke also passed away in March at the age of 87. in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Her husband Bob; a long time active member of the Fort Point Museum, is buried in Fort Point.Cemetery and Pauline will be buried here later in the summer.
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INTERPRETIVE PANELS
The panels are now in production and will be installed in the grounds early in the summer. Full-size copies of them are on the walls downstairs in the museum during our next pot-luck suppers.
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GARDEN PLANS FOR THE SUMMER
There are a number of projects for the grounds this summer, we hope to achive at least some of them. Our front gate will be up thanks to Earl Smith, and also the doors for the bake oven, a blacksmith is making the historical hinges for the gate and doors. The road directly in front of the Fort's door that was put in to accomodate the trucks during construction needs to be removed and the ground landscaped. Compost will be delivered this spring to landscape around the entrance to the museum. If anyone is dividing up their plants, lilies etc we could use the donation of them.
Plans for designated visitors parking is also on the list, we have the logs to use for this purpose. I (Marina) have started some heritage seed plants for the garden, hopefully some will take. A pole arbor will be constructed for the garden entrance and Concord Grape vines indiginous to this area will be planted.Earl has been busy making benches and bird houses to sell, some will beplaced in the garden, we already have one on order for someone. If there is anyone who would like to help with one of these projects this summer please let me know your help would be appreciated. Outdoor Committe: Marina Fregeau, (Chair) Earl Smith, Jean de Saint - Sardos, David Shirran
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BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE MUSEUM
On Saturday, January 12th we held a birthday party for my sister Kathryn in the new meeting space at the museum. It was a huge success with around 55 people there to help celebrate. Everyone that attended thought the museum looked wonderful and felt it was a great place to have a party or any sort of event. A few friends pulled out their musical instruments and played and sang for a couple of hours to everyone's delight!!!In lieu of a rental cost we asked all those invited to donate however much they would like towards the
museum. We raised $130.00 that night. Lesley Anderson
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TEXTIL SHOWS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
We are also planing on highlighting textiles and having some demos,
during the summer. Showcase on spinning, weaving, hooking and quilting
- one weekend (or longer) each
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CHAMPLAIN IN QUEBEC 400th Anniversary of the City of Quebec
It's now four years since we celebrated Champlain's arrival at LaHave with Sieur de Mons to begin his exploration of Acadie. For the next three years he and his companions lived first at Ste Croix Island, then at Port Royal, but were recalled to France in the summer of 1607 when De Mons's commission was cancelled. The following year Champlain was again crossing the Atlantic, this time to sail up the St. Lawrence River and establish a settlement at what is now Québec City. Once again serving as lieutenant to Sieur De Mons, who had received a new commission from the king but who did not take part in the expedition, he left Honfleur in April 1608. He arrived, first at Tadoussac, and then on 3 July, at the site of Québec. Here he established a new Habitation on the shore of the St. Lawrence, which became the centre of his new colony.
(picture of the Habitation not avaiable on email) 1608 Habitation, the
founding of Quebec City
The settlement that slowly developed around the Habitation was in the historic lower town. But it was not established without a struggle. Sickness, bad weather and mutiny among some of the settlers plagued Champlain during his first year in Québec. Even the local Montagnais suffered from hunger during the exceptionally long, cold winter, and it was with great relief that the settlers saw the first supply vessels arriving from France in early June.
>From then until the end of his life Champlain remained in charge of the
affairs of Québec. He crossed the Atlantic many times to solicit assistance from the French authorities for his struggling colony. Once, in 1629, following a period of hostilities between England and France, he was actually taken prisoner by the Kirke brothers and brought back to England, only to discover that the war had been over for several months. Champlain's administrative responsibilities did not prevent him from continuing the explorations of the New World that he had begun in Acadie. In 1613, he stayed in France for long enough to publish the first account of his Voyages, with many maps, including his first representation of the whole of New France. He travelled up the Ottawa River, south into New England, and explored the lower Great Lakes, accumulating information which would result in his important map of 1632. That same year he published the later volumes of his Voyages, which give an account of his life's work in North America. Champlain died in Québec on Christmas Day, 1635. He had crossed the Atlantic Ocean 29 times, explored huge areas on North America, written books and drawn maps, and founded a French community in North America that would endure to this day. The Province of Québec is celebrating its 400th anniversary this summer, and there will be lots for visitors to see and do. Joan Dawson
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IT'S EASY TO BECOME A MEMBER
Just fill out the form below and mail it:
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Name:............................................................
Address:........................................................
Phone:home:.....................work:.................
email:.............................................................
Interests:.......................................................
Dues are $10.00 per person
Please mail to: Fort Point Museum, Membership P.O.Box 99,
LaHave, NS B0R 1C0 *****************************************
LUNENBURG CO. HISTORICAL SOCIETY Fort Point Museum - Ste.
Marie de Grace
P.O.Box 99, LaHave, NS B0R 1C0 (688-1632)
email: Ichs-fortpoint@ns.sympatico,ca
web site: www.fortpointmuseum.com
Officers: President: Donna Malone (688-1970)
Past - President: Gary Malone
Vice-President - Johanna Rafuse
Treasurer - Mary Fulleman
Secretary - Phil Kenny
Directors:
Johanna Rafuse, Jim Sewell, Carol Kenny, Ellen Hunt, Neil Theriault, Verne Lunan, George Himmelman and Hank Middleton.
Newsletter: Edith Wolter (543-7702)
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