Category: Bill Hamilton’s Tantramar Flashback — Series 1

Just in case you may be wondering this column is not about a hockey team; although, if you continue reading, youll find a reference to the sport. Instead, it will highlight three members of the Canadian Senate, all of whom called Sackville home. Last fall during the federal election, it was noted that an unusually… Continue reading…

On Saturday October 13th, 2001 A. Wayne MacKay will be installed as Mount Allison’s thirteenth President. Such an occasion, important to both town and gown, prompts consideration of the life and times of Mt. A.’s first President, Dr. Humphrey Pickard (1813–1890). Two strands of New Brunswick history are found in Pickards ancestry. The first may… Continue reading…

In less than two weeks, on October 8th, 2001, most Canadians will be marking Thanksgiving. As with many customs and traditions, the celebration of Thanksgiving is deeply rooted in the past. Three major sources, folkloric, religious and historical, converge to give us todays familiar holiday. For centuries in western Europe, it was traditional to have… Continue reading…

First-time visitors often comment on the rich architectural heritage to be found in the Tantramar region. As a starting point, they may have been a guest at the Marshlands Inn, Sackville, the Gaspereau River Heritage Inn, Port Elgin, or perhaps enjoyed a meal at historic Bell Inn in Dorchester. As they move about, they soon… Continue reading…

This summer I spent some time browsing through back issues of the Family Herald, a popular Canadian weekly that ceased publication on Sept. 26. 1968. A column entitled Chapmans Corner caught my attention. Could it possibly have a connection with the community of the same name, located near Little Shemogue? This area was settled about… Continue reading…

A feature of Yorkshire 2000 was a conference on the theme of migration and its impact on this region. One of the most active participants in the discussions, was retired journalist Douglas How of St. Andrews N.B. Once more, he became the surefooted investigative reporter, probing for answers to questions that many in the audience… Continue reading…

The comment is often made that history is all around us. This is especially true when studying architecture. From the simplest cottage to the most ornate public building, all have stories to tell. Sometimes it is comparatively easy to research such structures, as was the case with the Ford Block, featured in this column several… Continue reading…

According to the calendar last Monday was Victoria Day. While everyone appreciated the break, I suspect that not many people paused to reflect on the reason behind the holiday. Why observe Victoria Day in 2001? To begin with the obvious, the holiday honors the memory of the longest reigning British monarch, Queen Victoria, born May… Continue reading…

While Mount Allison varsity and various town teams were garnering headlines, it cannot be overlooked that minor hockey was thriving on the Tantramar. For a number of years, service clubs, local firms and community organizations sponsored teams. As time went on, a Minor Hockey Association was formed. The program received a boost in the mid… Continue reading…

Over the years, Allison Gardens fulfilled an important role as a multi-purpose facility. While recognizing that it cannot be complete; here are a few examples of non-hockey events. There were appearances by groups as diverse as the Harlem Globe Trotters and Don Messers Islanders. The encounter between the Globe Trotters and the Mount Allison varsity… Continue reading…