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*Newsletters Archive*
| May, 2004 | |
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South Shore Genealogical Society PO Box 901 68 Bluenose Drive Lunenburg NS B0J 2C0 Phone : 1-902-634-4794 Ext. 26 ssgsoc@hotmail.com www.rootsweb.com/~nslssgs Summer Office Hours: Monday through Friday 1:00 to 5:00 PM Zellers - Club Z#: 840345301 |
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SSGS OFFICERS
President: Sheila Chambers Vice President: (vacant) Past President: Ralph Getson Secretary: (vacant) Treasurer: Mary Saul Newsletter: Heather Stoddard Membership: Roger Mason Publicity: Pauline Wessell Program & Education: Joan Parks-Hubley Office Administration: Barbara Spindler Computer Information Manager: Sueann Bailey
President's Report On April 16 & 17, I attended meetings in Yartmouth for LIMM ( a curators meeting) and Liverpool (a volunteers meeting). Both contained a wealth of information that was applicable to both Societies. It was here that I learned about new provincial initiatives, federal funding objectives, how to get youth volunteers, and to realize that there are other groups out there who are going through the same problems as we are.
Words of Wisdom learned at these meeting were:
Volunteers are worth 2.3 billion dollars to Nova Scotia
As volunteers we have no money therefore we must think!
Sheila Chambers
News From The April meeting Your executive at their April meeting spent considerable time discussing the direction and/or focus for our Society. There have been several things that have happened that have made us realize that we need to expand/modernize what we do if we want to be able to serve our members and clients better. As a member of the South Shore Genealogical Society, you must have input in the direction we take. We also want to hear from those who are not members yet. What do you want to see our Society do that would make you become a member?
Items discussed by the executive were:
We require a five year plan that is reviewed and expanded each year. For example:
We will propose that we partnership with the LaHave Islands Marine Museum Society and take part in the Planter Celebrations in 2010.
The age of our volunteers working in the office: we need to get younger people involved.(Perhaps we could get youth volunteers from the high schools if there was a chance of obtaining a scholarship upon graduation.
We need upgraded office equipment: We should set up a special fund so that we could upgrade a costly item like the electronic microfilm reader (parts of our present reader are scary.)
We are in need of protection for our information that we have gathered from our members, other donors, and agencies. We are investigating a new provincial effort that links all museums, historic groups and genealogical societies with a secure database that would give us the capabilities to offer selected information electronically to the user public for a fee paid to the SSGS.
SSGS Members in Action. A number of our members currently have projects in motion, the following articles highlight three members, and their contributions.
Seniors Program Brings Enjoyment
Two years ago, Joan Parks Hubley and her husband Frank, began a reading group for residents of Melville Gardens in Halifax when Joan's father, Max, 82, was admitted to residency at the assisted-living seniors centre.
She and Frank looked for some activity Max would attend. Realizing her father liked to read, Joan proposed to the activity co-ordinator a weekly seniors program, during which she and Frank would generate discussion among the residents by reading short stories and poems to them.."Many come for the social setting, others for the stimulation of hearing us read and then talking about it afterwards", says Joan. "Others will nod off, and we don't mind that, as long as they're happy. Some even like to be there to serve the goodies we always have afterwards." Frank isn't sure if this program is available in other centres, "and it should be", he says. "It's only a couple hours a week from our lives and makes a huge difference for these people."
He is certain more volunteers could spend time with seniors, be friends with them and add to their lives.
"It's the highlight of our week", says Joan."these are really interesting people with great senses of humour. This isn't charity work for us. It's enjoyment."
The Chronicle Herald Apr. 5, 2004Armchair Explorer Discovers Centuries of Wamboldts
Ivan Wamboldt has one very large family- and he's traced it all the way back to the year 833. Ivan was born in Camperdown, and he lived in Bridgewater; to which he and his wife, Helen, have returned for their retirement.
He enjoys genealogy, meeting people from all over the globe either in person, through letters or e-mails. The South Shore Genealogical Society member is presently working with a man in Minnesota. He knows his great-grandmother lived in Halifax, but as yet, they've been unable to track her down. Today, they can trace his family all the way back to Zwingenberg in the early 1500s without a single break. After that, the name pops up "here and there".
About 12 years ago, the family visited Zwingenberg for the first time. "We visited the church where our family records were. It was built in 1258 and most of the original walls were standing. It was so moving, this is where my ancestors worshipped hundreds of years ago."
Johan Peter and Johan Adam Wamboldt came to Nova Scotia on the English ship Ann as part of the British Government settlement of our province. Other Settlers at that time came from Montbéliard, Switzerland and Holland. Besides Wamboldt, Ivan has researched several family names including Zwicker, Sarty, and Crouse, as well as Helen's Family Shey, Johnson, Whynot and Fralic.
His meticulous research fills five fat binders. He's given copies of his efforts to the South Shore and Queens Genealogical Societies. "I guess they were happy to get it", he says with typical modesty.
Courtesy of Lighthouse Publishing Progress Enterprise, Mar. 24, 2004
Cataloguing War Graves The Maple Leaf Legacy Project is trying to catalogue the graves of the men and women who gave their lives to serve their country.
One local resident who has stepped in to help is Clarke Johnson, a former resident of Ottawa who moved to Western Shore in 1992. Mr. Johnson said he has always had an interest in Canadian history and had relatives who were shot down while serving overseas. But is wasn't until he watched a television program that aired last Remembrance Day that he learned about the Maple Leaf Legacy Project. While the ultimate goal of the project is the creation of a virtual war cemetery which can be visited on-line, photographing the grave of every Canadian killed in wartime is a huge endeavour, which in some cases may simply be impossible.
Progress Enterprise, Apr. 14,2004
Lunenburg Strays in Newfoundland By: Terry PunchThanks to Kim Stevens, I have a list of four men from Lunenburg and one from Mahone Bay who were married at Sacred Heart Church, in Curling Newfoundland, between 1870-1900.
22 Nov 1871: Norman MESSER(Lun.) & Catherine WALSH(St. John's NL)
11 Dec 1875: Leander SCHWARTZ(Lun.) & Maria MOXLEY(Bonne Bay, NL)
29 Nov 1877: Benjamin HAMM(Lun.) & Frances Martha HELLIER(Bay Of Islands, NL)
8 Feb 1891: John NEVILLE(Lun.) & Ina PETIPAS(Summerside,NL)
23 Nov 1891: James HYSON (Mahone Bay) & Elizabeth MEAGHER (Benoit's Cove, NL)
Captain Richards Drowned at Sea Taken from Bridgewater Bulletin Dec. 23, 1913
Reporting the loss of her captain, James Richards of LaHave in a gale on December 11th, the schooner John Parker, from Barbados to Halifax, arrived in port on Saturday. The John Parker was navigated into port by her mate, Wilkie. Captain Richards was washed overboard by a heavy sea when taking his reckoning standing just aft of the dock house. His son, Aubrey, was at the wheel. The seas were washing over the schooner but doing little damage. While the captain's attention was taken up with his instrunients a heavy sea swept over the schooner's bows. Aubrey Richards at the wheel shouted a warning to his father, but the wind carried away the sound of his voice. The next instant the waves dashed over the deckhouse and Captain Richards was swept into the sea. Aubrey saw his father go overboard and whilst shouting to the crew put the schooner about.
Mate Wilke immediately unlashed the dory and with a seaman managed to get it launched without being swamped by the heavy seas. The mate saw Captain Richards struggling in the water some distance away and turned the dory toward him. Captain Richards who was unable to swim was unable to swim was also dressed in heavy clothing and did not have a chance. For a long time and at the risk of their lives, the two men scoured the vicinity, but the drowning man was not seen again, and Mr. Wilkie, taking command of the schooner was forced to abandon the search.
Captain Richards, who is a native of LaHave was very well known in Halifax and was a thorough navigator. He leaves a widow and eleven children. The seaman who launched the dory deserve recognition for their bravery. It is one matter to launch a boat from the davits of a steamer but it is another matter to put a dory overboard from the side of a tossing schooner in a heavy gale.
Perhaps All Are Lost
Lunenburg Schooner W. Cortada With Entire Crew Believed Gone To BottomTaken from Bridgewater Bulletin Feb 23, 1915
The storms of the Atlantic and a German Raider have played considerable havoc with Lunenburg's foreign sailing ships. Within a fortnight news has been given out of the loss of perhaps three and at least two fine three masted schooners owned at that prominent shipping port. On February 4th a message from Cape Race wireless station announced the abandoning at sea of the schooner Fleetly bound from Lunenburg to St. John's Nfld, the crew having been taken off by the steamer Mechanician which arrived at Avonmouth on February 16th. Last Thursday's press despatches included news of the arrival at Buenos Ayres of the crew of the Lunenburg Schooner Wilfred M. from St. John's for Bahia, which had been sunk at sea by a German converted cruiser. Now the owners of the Lunenburg schooner W. Cortada have come to the conclusion that the vessel, which sailed from Lunenburg on January 11th for Ponce, Porto Rico, has been lost at sea with her full crew. If this is the case, the loss of the Cortada will be even more deeply felt in Nova Scotia shipping circles than the loss of the other two ships. The crews of both the Fleetly and the Wilfred M. were saved, but the crew of the W. Cortada are believed to have gone down with their ship. The W. Cortada had on board seven men all told, the master, mate, four seaman and a steward all of Lunenburg. On Saturday last the schooner Eddie Theriault owned by F.K. Warren of Halifax from St. John's for Bahia, put into Barbados in a sadly battered condition and reported the loss at sea of one of her crew. Tho this was sad enough, the bad weather which delayed the Edie Theriault may have been her salvation, in that she was not, like the Wilfred M., placed within the power of German cruises. The war risk on vessels to South America ports is reported to have been advanced, following the news of the sinking of the Wilfred M. and for British steamers. This may therefore, have some effect upon ships trading from Nova Scotia to Brazilian ports. Among Nova Scotian vessels now on voyage to Brazil are the schooner Frances, which sailed from Halifax over a fortnight ago with fish, the H.R. Silver from St. John's Jan.22 for Bahia and the schooner Robert J. Dale, from St. John's early in February for Bahia. The schooner General Laurie is now loading fish at Halifax for Northern Brazil and the Annie Marcia is to load fish at St. John's, Nfld., for Brazil.
A Lunenburg despatch relating to the W. Cortada is now recorded as lost with her full crew. She sailed from this port January ll, for Ponce, with a cargo of dry and pickled fish and lumber.
Her owners Zwicker and Company, Limited have come to the conclusion she was lost in the bad easterly gale of 18th January. The following comprised the crew. Edwin Backman, master; Esrom Beck, mate; Samuel Heisler, Kenneth Meisner, Gaton Demone, Edison Beck, seaman; Calvin Dagley, steward. The crew are all of Lunenburg and all married. The Cortada was two years old, three masted, and 120 tons register. The vessel and cargo are covered by insurance.
A Prescription Taken from Bridgewater Bulletin, Nov. 1920
If you are poor-work.
If you are rich-continue to work.
If you are burdened with seemingly unfair responsibilities-work.
If you are happy- keep right on working. Idleness gives room for doubts and fears.
If disappointments come-work.
When faith falters and reason fails-work.
When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead-work.
Work as if you life were in peril. It really is.
No matter what ails you-work.
Work faithfully- work with faith.
Work is the greatest material remedy available.
Work will cure both mental and physical afflictions.
Silent Partner
Acquisitions at SSGS -Misc. Issues of South Shore Record Newspapers, from Marilyn Hiltz
-A Land of Discord Always, by Charles D. Mahaffie Jr.
-Gentleman and Jesuits, by Elizabeth Jones
-Soldiers Of The King, by Hattie A. Perry
-The Acadians of Nova Scotia: Past and Present, by Sally Ross and Alphonse Deveau
-Seaboyer-Creaser Family Research, by Peter Lans
-Middle LaHave School Information, from Clayton Lohnes
-Bluenose-A Portrait of Nova Scotia, by Dorothy Duncan and donated by Eleanor Gilfoy
-History of the County of Lunenburg, by DesBrisay and donated by Eleanor Gilfoy
-Genealogical Handbook For Atlantic Canada Research, by Terrence Punch and donated by Eleanor Gilfoy
-An Illustrated history of Nova Scotia, by Harry Bruce and donated by Eleanor Gilfoy
-New England Genealogical Register Vol. 156 Apr 2002 and donated by Eleanor Gilfoy
-Nova Scotia Historical Quarterly vol. 5 #3 Sep. 1975 and donated by Eleanor Gilfoy
Acadian Family Reunion This summer the Guidry-LeBine and Pettipas Family Reunion will take place in Lunenburg. The reunion will bring together descendants of Claude Guédry. The variations of the original family name such as Guidry, Gaidry, Jeddrey, and Guildry, are brought together every five years. The reunion is hosted in alternating places between Louisiana and the Atlantic Provinces. The reunion will take place at two times this year with the first one on August 5th, and the second on August 7th.
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