Do you know about... Beaubassin

An Acadian Homestead, painting by Nova Scotia Museum artist Azor Vienneau

Today there is little sign of the village of Beaubassin that once lay by the Missaguash River at the boarder of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Green hayfields and pasture lands have now replaced this once thriving community, but almost 340 years ago it was a much different place.

In 1672, Jacques Bourgeois and other settlers from Port Royal traveled up the Bay of Fundy and found a rich land, perfect of settlement on the largest salt water marsh on the Atlantic coast, a marsh we know today as the Tantramar. The community quickly prospered due to the hard work of the Acadians; the marshes were dyked and drained and farms soon dotted the land and spread beyond to other communities along the Isthmus of Chignecto such as Minudie, River Hebert, Nappan, Maccan and Aulac. Over the years Beaubassin grew in importance and eventually became the centre of local government in 1684. In 1696, and again in 1704, the settlement was attacked and burned by New Englanders. However, on each occasion, the village was immediately rebuilt. But then in 1750, the wars between the French and English were reaching a climax; the village was destroyed for the final time which foreshadowed the eventual expulsion of the Acadians.

Acadians Dyking the Marsh, painting by Nova Scotia Museum artist Azor Vienneau

In the summer of 2004, Parks Canada acquired some 107 acres, on today’s Fort Lawrence Ridge - including part of the historic village of Beaubassin. On July 7, 2005, it was designated a National Historic Site.

This summer Parks Canada is continuing their archaeological dig on the site of Beaubassin and have began to uncover new insights on the people who lived there. The dig continues Thursdays to Sundays until August 16th. If you would like to participate, call Fort Beausejour-Fort Cumberland National Historic Site of Canada at 506-364-5080

Did you know about… Davis Day

On June 11th of every year, we in the Cumberland County observe “Davis Day,” though sadly few know anything about it.

On June 11th 1925, the coal miners of our region were on strike against BESCO (the British Empire Steel and Coal Company). In New Waterford, Cape Breton the strike turned to violence when miners were confronted by BESCO police. In the ensuing struggle, Bill Davis, a coal miner who was just happened to be walking by at the time, was shot and killed by the company police. Davis was a of father nine with a tenth child on the way and was reportedly on his way home with milk for his children when he was shot, adding to the greater shocking tragedy of his death.

In remembrance the miner’s union, the United Mine Workers of America, designated June 11th as a day of observance in memorial of all coal miners who worked and died in the mines and named the day in honour of Bill Davis.

Pictured above is Mr. Albert Arseneau at the Davis Day remembrance in River Hebert. In his 90's, Mr. Arseneau is the oldest living miner in River Hebert.

As a foot note: the British Empire Steel Corporation would purchased by the infamous Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation (DOSCO) which ran all steel and coal operations in Cape Breton until late 1960’s when the Nova Scotia Government nationalized their assets. Today, the long and illustrious history of both coal mining and steel making in our province has come to an end, yet we still remember the scarifies that our forefathers made for us by going down in the mines.

Did you know about...

For a diversion away from the day to day announcements that we’ve been doing so far, I am beginning a series articles that will tell the story of some of our little known but fascinating historical tidbits that has helped us form the tapestry that is our county’s heritage. The series will be called: “Did you know about…” If you have any suggestions on particular stories that you would like to see included, please drop me a line or two and I’ll see what I can do. Thank you.