ParksProject
Website Design and Content
© by Eric Krause, Krause House
Info-Research Solutions (© 1996)
All Images ©
Parks Canada Unless Otherwise Designated
Researching
the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada
Volume 6: Number 9
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES
OF CAPE BRETON
LIEUX HISTORIQUES NATIONAUX DU CAPE-BRETON
Vol. 6,
No. 9
September 2004 -septembre 2004
News from AGB
Here
is a little travelling news (related to the marriage of the Bell's eldest
daughter, Elsie) from France written in September 25, 1900 by Mrs. Alexander
Graham Bell to her friend Mrs. George Kennan in the United States:
"...since then it's been nothing but dressmaking. Probably when I return I shall find you know more about Paris fashions than I do, but Mamma and I have been studying them in the exhibition all the morning and at dressmakers all the afternoon and all days before this. They are lovely empire gowns, all made with real Napoleonic designs, some very graceful, Greek effects, and some beautiful modern "creations". I believe I am going to have a deep violet dinner gown with Watteau plait and Medici ruff, and a claret velvet calling dress which I may wear at Elsie's wedding if she is married in a church. Mamma is running the whole thing for me so I don't feel any responsibility except about her cloak which I am running. It's almost a dress, reaching down to the ground with Medici ruff and wide reveres. Daisy's calling gown is dark blue cloth, Elsie has two, one in which she will go away, of claret-colored cloth, and another of very pale turquoise blue, just off the white which will be trimmed with dark fur.
Excuse the millinery. I am hoping that Mr. Langley and Mr. McCurdy together will give us something else to think of, but when we are working at it early and late it's hard to keep it from our tongues. Your see Alex and Bert are due here about October 13, and we have not time to lose if we would have things done." (Letter Books, Binder 118, pages 4 & 5)
And for the rest of us here on Cape Breton Island in September 2004, we have the following AGBNHSC news to share
Tour of Beinn Bhreagh Hall
Heritage Presentation staff with, as Aynsley graciously put it, a 'few office types' thrown in the mix, accepted the generous invitation extended by Dr. Mabel Grosvenor to tour the inner world of Beinn Bhreagh Hall.
A first time opportunity to most of those involved, it was a memorable experience and took away some of the mystery that one feels looking at the 37 room home from across the Bay or from an outdoor walkabout during guide training. Our guides were great-grandson Joe Blair who added a nice touch of family interpretation along with Theresa MacAulay from Boularderie who has assisted Dr. Mabel with her Baddeck visits for the past 20 years plus.
The tour was followed by 'tea break' at Highwheeler courtesy of Ms. MacFarlane and while she didn't pour, she did pay which went over very well!
CBC Film
A CBC film crew was here revelling in our scenic setting spending a great deal of time filming at Beinn Bhreagh and in Beinn Bhreagh Hall for an upcoming documentary on AGB somehow related to 'The Greatest Canadian' contest you may be hearing about. They also filmed some artifacts particularly those related to the telephone and photophone. We'll keep you updated. The program will likely air in November.
Special Visits
Author Charlotte Gray was here immersing herself once again in this site's copious primary resource material as she continues to develop her storyline for the book she is writing about Mabel Bell.
The curator for the Bell Homestead National Historic Site in Brantford, Brian Woods, made his annual 'Trek to Baddeck' which he has done the past few Septembers spending time at this Site and Beinn Bhreagh.
MacLean's Magazine
An historic photograph of Alexander Graham Bell pictured with Superintendent Fearon of the Halifax School for the Deaf and young deaf and blind Charley Crane requested recently by MacLean's Magazine will appear in the special 'Canadian Innovators' edition issue of MacLeans scheduled for release October 21st available on the stands for 3 months.
Silver Dart Replica
A new association (Aerial Experiment Association # 2, 2004) is in the process of forming to bring to fruition the project of creating a full scale replica of "Silver Dart" that will be capable of flying during our 2009 celebration of 100 years of powered flight in Canada. Ray Larson, representing the group which is based in Ontario, visited AGBNHSC and he also met with Gordon MacRae who was part of the team that built two Silver Dart replicas in Baddeck a few years ago.
Marconi & Canso Islands, NHSC
Marconi and Canso Islands National Historic Sites of Canada closed their doors at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15th, another visitor season completed. We look forward to the results of the VIP Survey that took place at Canso this year. While Marconi is closed it was opened briefly on Friday, September 24th, when Linda Watson provided a tour for a pre-booked group of educators and some lucky visitors who were thrilled to find the site open.
Basketry Workshop
The 18th Century Crafts & Creations Guild held a basketry workshop On September 25 and 26, 2004 at the Fortress of Louisbourg, NHSC.
Mr. Werner Turtschi, Swiss Master Craftsman who specializes in European willow basket making conducted the workshop. The participants of the workshop had a choice of making either a round or oval bottomed basket. A mix of English willow and Nova Scotian willow from Metaghan, Clare County was used in the making of these baskets.
Anne Muggah, Loretta Leahy and Gailene Webb will be going to Halifax to attend a two day advanced session to learn how to make the more difficult square and rectangular bottomed baskets. Anne Muggah is pictured below making a basket .
|
Click
on the |
During the month of September, we had approximately 15 visits from various cruise ships.
A pilot project with Ambassatours Shore Excursions was developed for visitors from the Seaborn Pride cruise ship that came to the Fortress Thursday, September 23, 2004.
Along with a general guided tour of the site, they received a special program on 18th century arms and accoutrements from Bruce Allen during which they practised rolling their own musket cartridges.
They were then treated to a special presentation by Bill O'Shea on the use of antiques and original artifacts to produce a range of exacting reproductions. They left with a special 18th style gift which was a hand scripted certificate of honorary citizenship to the Town and Fortress of Louisbourg signed by DuQuesnel, Governor in 1744.
Feedback was extremely positive although they all would have like to have more time to spend exploring Louisbourg. A similar package will be offered on their return voyage on October 7th.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Kyle Allen and wife, Amber on the birth of their son, Caelin Reid on September 25th. Caelin Reid weighed a healthy 6 pounds 13 ounces.
Anyone wishing to submit an article to the Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Please forward to Donna MacNeil at donna.macneil@pc.gc.ca or telephone 733-3551.