Dining / Lodging
History/Events
Thursday, February 17, 2011
No 6 May 1995
SPECIAL VE DAY 1995 EDITION
By
Jean Kyte
- 1939 & 1940
On September 3rd, Huntington and D.M. Johnston, then Chief of Police, attended a meeting in Sydney with other Cape Breton municipal leaders, "to organize the towns, City of Sydney, and rural communities in Cape Breton County, in preparation for possible air raids by enemy planes..." Dr. H. J. Townsend of Louisbourg was appointed chairman for Louisbourg to deal with the Mayor to organize an "Air Raid Precaution Committee" in the town. The first "blackout" was on September 7. On September 10, Canada declared war.
By September 14, an ARP Committee was organized, with Dr. Townsend as chairman, George Lewis, secretary, R.A. Peters, Fire Chief, D.M. Johnston, Chief of Police, Councillor Guy B. Hiltz and Mayor Huntington. For the duration of the war, this committee met faithfully to supervise the "blackouts" ordered from time to time by County officials.
On September 27 Mayor Huntington wrote Lt. Col. Dobbie, Fortress Commander, Sydney, respecting the defenceless condition of the port of Louisbourg in the event of enemy attack. He suggested that some action be taken to protect the shipping piers of British Empire Steel and Coal Corp., and the port in general. The letter was politely acknowledged from Halifax noting that "... it is impossible adequately to guard all desirable points. Therefore, our forces are concentrated in those places which are considered vital to Canada." However, copy of the letter was sent to Ottawa.
The major topic of interest in the town was the question of a new lighting system. The Red Cross was organized October 2.
In April 1940 a meeting was called to consider the town's participation in the nation-wide YMCA War Service Fund appeal. The meeting was so poorly attended that the group decided to seek the assistance of the Women's Institute Branch and a week later the WINS agreed to help with the fund raising. On June 10, Huntington noted that Canada declared war on Italy. On August 5, about 500 swordfish were landed and on August 17, the Mayor bought a revolver as instructed by Town Council, that had decided to arm the town's policeman.
On August 19, National Registration of all persons 16 years of age or older, took place in Louisbourg as well as Canada. Six hundred and seventeen people registered in Louisbourg.
The N.S. Power Commission started putting up power lines. On October 19, there were twelve Lunenburg sailing vessels in port, and they sailed the next day.
On December 10, a town-wide Greek War Relief collection was authorized. The sum of $162.00 was raised from a town still in depression times.
The number of vessels entering port either for bunkering or coal cargoes began to increase, and the town became more familiar with the flags of their countries - Finland, Greece, Latvia, Iceland, Panama, Poland, Yugoslavia and Norway. Norwegian ships were a familiar sight over the years in the port, with George Lewis the Norwegian Consul (since March 25, 1921).
- 1941
The N.S. Power Commission began work on a new lighting system in March. By June Germany and Russia were at war. On July 14 a meeting of the Community Club was held to arrange for comforts for H.M.C.S. LOUISBURG.
On July 22, the first swordfish of the season was landed and bought by Lewis and Co. The next day an advance party for Michael Lerner, international sportsman who pioneered the capture of swordfish by rod and reel, arrived. Lerner himself arrived the next day to begin his fourth trip to the town. During the next two weeks he landed seven swordfish, and donated the proceeds to the Queen's Canadian Fund war relief and the Community Club for the comforts for H.M.C.S. LOUISBURG.
Mrs. Marion Hassler, also a rod and reel enthusiast, arrived in August and made a number of landings. She sponsored a town dance in the Masonic Hall, which was appreciated by the townspeople, as was a showing by Mr. Lerner of a movie taken by his professional photographer of an informal concert by young people of the town.
Meanwhile, fishermen landed 350 swordfish up to the end of August.
The war was being brought home slowly to the town. The major industrial company in Louisbourg was the L.H. Cann marine repair shop on Commercial St. On July 26, 1941 there were three damaged ships in the harbour - the British ship BIAFRA had collided with another ship in her convoy, the Norwegian S.S. FIDELIO had rammed Big Lorraine Head (she was later sunk in convoy) and S.S. IOCOMA had lost her rudder and grounded near Port Nova. The pier underwent repairs for three months in the summer and fall.
The Navy League of Canada Branch was organized October 16 and work started on the Hut on November 3.
The impact of war hit in the winter of 1941. On September 30 a Latvian Ship, S.S. EVEROJA, straggled into port with a jagged hole in her bow where she had been rammed by another ship in her convoy. The ship repair plants in Sydney were working
full time, so the ship was sent to the L.H. Cann repair plant at Louisbourg. Later in 1941 the harbour began to fill with the convoy ships from many lands.
On November 19, a detachment of the Veterans Guard of Canada (the Home Guard) was organized with twelve men, most of whom were World War I veterans: Cpl. William MacKinnon, John Pope, Wilfred Troke, Malcolm MacLeod, D.J. MacIntyre, J.R. Defriese, Michael Murrant, Alex MacDonald, Charles Dickson, Dan Smith, Arthur Gaudet and James Pope. Their headquarters was the I.O.G.T. Hall, now the Louisbourg Library.
On December 8, the town was hard hit with the news of death in England in an accident, of 21 year old Ronald M. Cann, R.C.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Cann.
On December 23, 1941 the corvette "LOUISBURG" (Flower Class) paid a courtesy visit to the town and the crew was given a tour of the Fortress site, a dance and a lunch, and presented with an address and a picture of the surf at Louisbourg. There was a sense of loss and personal
sadness when she was sunk in the Mediterranean in February of 1943.
- 1942
Rationing of some foods was taken in stride as it was ordered by the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. On June 20, sugar was rationed (half a pound per week per person, replacing the voluntary rationing of three-quarters of a pound in effect since January). Sugar rationing continued to November 27, 1947. Tea and Coffee were rationed in August (one ounce of tea and four ounces of coffee per week, but not both), and butter was added to the list in December (one-half a pound per week). Meat rationing came along later. Gasoline was also rationed.
The ration book had coupons which had to be taken out by the seller of the provisions. Members of the Red Cross collected meat coupons and turned them in to the Board "thereby making more meat available for overseas." Meat coupons had "change" tokens - small blue disks with a hole in the centre. Inevitably some cheating took place, but most people took the restrictions stoically, feeling their sacrifices were helping the war effort.
There was mail censorship (Louisbourg was an East Coast Port) and envelopes were duly stamped. Victory Bond campaigns were enthusiastically supported and school prizes were often a number of $0.25 "war savings stamps" which, when a booklet of $4.00 was completed, could be turned in for a War Savings Certificate.
In September a platoon of the Cape Breton Highlanders Reserve Battalion held its first drill. The drill instructor was Cpl. MacKenzie, assisted by Corporal William MacKinnon of Louisbourg (supervisor of the Museum at the National Historic Site in West Louisbourg) a member of the Louisbourg Detachment of the Veterans Guard of Canada. The platoon members were: Howard MacQueen, Trueman Hunt, Archie MacVicar, Walter Jewell,Jr., Edward MacVicar, John MacDonald, William Stewart, Alex Hunt, George MacGillivary, Howard Magee, James Burke, James Harte, Ernest Matheson, Albert Bate, Carl Levy, James MacKay, George MacKay, William Hilchie, William MacGillivary, John MacKinnon, Wilfred Covey, Charles Crooks and Gordon Troke.
A First Aid Squad with a Nurses Unit was organized with lectures by Dr. Moe Ulberg. Under Oscar Harris and Ed Levy, the two squads were composed of: Oscar Harris - Frank Stacey, Walter Jewell, A. Covey, James Harte, Joe Burke, Enoch Cann and Harold Cross, and under Ed Levy - Charles Bagnell,Sr., Charles Bagnell, Jr., Ervin Levy, Wilson Levy, Murray Fleet, William Burke and Ralph Townsend. The Nurses' unit had Miss H.R. MacDonald (the Public Health Nurse for the town), Mrs. Ruby Stewart, Mrs. Winnie Kyte, and Mrs. M. Ulberg.
The Battle of the Atlantic intensified in 1942. Many young men joined the Merchant Navy. In May, the MONT LOUIS was lost in the Caribbean, with William Bagnell, Jr. and John A. MacIntyre among the casualties. On September 5 the LORD STRATHCONA was torpedoed in Wabana Harbour, Nfld. She had been a regular caller to Louisbourg for years. Louisbourg was the winter port for the North Sydney-Port-aux-Basques passenger ships. The town came to look on the visits of the CARIBOU and KYLE as part of their own winter activities. On October 15 the CARIBOU was sunk on her trip to Newfoundland with the loss of 137 of the 235 aboard. The town heard the news in disbelief. It just didn't seem possible that a ship so familiar and so much a part of the winter routine could be a victim of war. Worse was yet to come.
On November 2nd., the S.S. ROSE CASTLE, a coal carrier with crew from the area, was torpedoed in Wabana Harbour as well. Pat MacMullin, whose family lived in town, was among those killed.
In December, the military negotiated the site of the military camp on Kennelly's Point, and construction started December 13.
- 1943
In May, "sugar for canning" ration coupons became available, 10 to 13 lbs. per person, to enable women to take advantage of home made jams, jellies, pickles and other preserved food, to alleviate the monotony of the daily diet.
The Boy Scouts were reorganized in St. Bartholomew's Church, Town Council "adopted" the newly-launched H.M.C.S. LOUISBURG, named to replace the town's namesake sunk the previous February in the Mediterranean. In June, a CWAC platoon was welcomed to town and gave a precision drill and later a concert. The anti-submarine net was replaced in July.
In October, Louisbourg was the first community in the county to "go over the top" with Victory Bond sales of $117,600 against a quota of $85,000. The male members of the Navy League tendered a dinner of appreciation to the ladies who continued to supply sandwiches and sweets each night at the Navy League Hut to members of the Armed Forces and the Merchant Marine.
- 1944
Ninety swordfish were landed in July. In September a public meeting was held to discuss post-war problems, and in October another meeting was held to arrange a civic reception to welcome men and women who would be returning from the Armed Forces. A banquet was held in the Navy League Hut on December 28. A Civilian Rehabilitation Committee was organized, but it was not particularly successful, although it met periodically for the next couple of years.
- 1945
V-E Day was celebrated with general rejoicing, followed by an abrupt slow down of activity both socially and commercially.
In July a naval tug left for North Sydney with three anti-submarine gate pontoons. This was the last except for the one anchored off the head of government wharf being used as a moving buoy for the stern of the Canadian frigate, ORKNEY, which was undergoing repairs and refitting.
On July 23 the first swordfish were landed. August 14 was V-J Day. On September 2 the R.C.A.F.station officially closed, on October 11 the Senior Naval Office closed, and on October 23 the ORKNEY sailed. On November 19 Mayor Huntington attended a 9th Victory Loan Campaign dinner - in Sydney.
- ARMED FORCES IN LOUISBOURG
The office closed October 11, 1945.
- ARMY
The camp was located on both sides of the road where the old Kennelly house once stood. On the east side of the road were eight round topped corrugated huts and on the west side, four or five similar ones. Huts were about 25 feet long and ten feet wide. On the west side two or three wood and tar-papered shacks were placed. Near the shore, there were two wooden buildings housing searchlights. The engines for generating the power were in a small wooden building at the edge of the trees east of the searchlight building. The guns were positioned on two concrete gun emplacements and one was mounted on a rubber wheeled carriage.
The army detachment, except for a small guard, usually decamped during summer.
- THE R.C.A.F.
The station tracked planes over the Atlantic and at one time received a commendation for tracking one plane for 18 hours. The equipment was manned twenty-four hours a day, with four shifts of four to six men. They also tracked ships.
The station comprised an administration building, housing the Orderly Room, a cook house and dining room, a guard house, H barracks with men sleeping on one side and a hospital and games room on the other side. The officers slept in one end of the Administration Building.
In the early days, as the heating equipment was not completed, men were moved to the Dundonald Inn and to private homes in town. Some of the married men brought their families to live with local families. A number of local women married R.C.A.F. men and moved away after the war.
Commanding officers of the RCAF were, F/O B.F. Deshaw, P/O V. J. Hawkeswood, P/O W. H. Noble, F/O S. R. Talbot, F/L J. M. G. Dorais and F/O W. J. McLaughlin.
The base closed on September 2, 1945.
- L.H. CANN'S SHIP REPAIR PLANT
The company did general machine shop, motor repair and small marine repair work until 1941-42 when a complete refit was carried out on all Dominion Coal Ships.
On September 30, 1941 a Latvian ship, S.S. EVEROJA, was sent to Louisbourg for repairs to a hole in her bow. Up to this time, the small marine repair shop was mostly used for fixing loose hinges on deck doors, installing light bulbs on ships and general machine work. To handle the welding of a whole new steel plate to the side of a ship, the plant underwent an abrupt adjustment in equipment, personnel and importance. Cann, the plant owner, issued a call for workers. A stenographer, the first trained one in town, was employed.
During the Battle of the Atlantic, all available facilities were engaged in repair work and Cann's was given a contract by the Department of Munitions and Supply to refit Naval vessels. The plant was enlarged, men from all over Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland as well as other parts of Canada were engaged and new machinery bought. During the war, fourteen naval ships - H.M.C.S. VEGREVILLE, GRAND MERE, COWICHAN, MULGRAVE, UNGAVA, DRUMMONDVILLE, AGASSIZ, LA MALBAIE, CHAMBLY and RIMOUSKI, and H.M.S. AYRSHIRE, BAFFIN, ANTICOSTI, and CALLIFF - were refitted, and repairs and refits made to many merchant ships, naval crafts, scows, derricks and fishing boats. The H.M.C.S MAHONE was towed in for temporary repairs to get her to Halifax, and the PHILIP T. DODGE was repaired after an explosion.
The plant eventually had a work force of 250, handling the machine shop, boiler shop, electrical shop, carpenter shop, fitter shop, welder house and compressor room. No time was ever lost due to strikes or labour difficulties.
The employees supported the sale of approximately $100,000 worth of Victory Bonds.
- THEY ALSO SERVED ....
- WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN TOWN
However, the suspicion was alleviated after the crew members attended several social evenings held in the Anglican Parish Hall. They displayed good manners (bowing from the waist when asking permission to dance, and quickly removing one of their own men who had become drunk.) Their behaviour overcame the initial antipathy and many townspeople accepted them socially, inviting them to their homes for dinner and to spend the evenings.
The ship remained over a month, and the crew of about thirty became friendly with the townspeople and particularly with the men who repaired the ship. They had an orchestra of five aboard which played for a number of dances and one of the crew was a professional fakir, billed as Rolando, who performed such deeds as sticking a knife through his tongue and driving needles through his breast muscles. He treated the citizens to a free performance in a local hall from which several women and one man were carried unconscious.
This first exposure to wartime conditions which proved pleasant socially and financially for the town was probably largely responsible for the friendly attitude with which the people greeted the numerous servicemen, both Canadian and foreign, who were stationed at Louisbourg during the war.
Between 1942 and 1944 the marine repair plant increased its staff to 225 employees. Canadian, British and American naval vessels tied up at the wharves along with merchant ships. By this time thirty-six men from town had enlisted, leaving only the older married men for work. Since they were mostly jack-of-all-trades, skilled workers had to be imported - electric welders, tinsmiths, machinists, pipe-fitters. Of the 225 men employed at the plant in 1944, 115 were "outsiders", of whom 18 had brought their families to town.
Along with the increase in population through the war industry, there was also a rise in population due to the building of an airforce camp outside the town, an army base at the Lighthouse, and a naval station in town. At times it was estimated that the "from away" population exceeded the native population.
This invasion of new families, servicemen and industry created a distinct break in the economy of the town and in its social life. For the natives who worked at the plant, it meant the first steady employment most of them had ever had in town. The security of a steady weekly pay envelope resulted in a rise in the standard of living which was quite apparent in 1944. The criteria for this rise included enlargement of the large general store and increase in staff; increase in trucking operations between Sydney and Louisbourg to cope with the greatly increased demand for provisions; expansion of the ship chandlering company which provisioned ships; increase in number of scheduled bus trips between Sydney and Louisbourg; higher status gained by several families which had suffered from chronic poverty - the higher status resulting from the fact that the fathers obtained regular work at the plant; and increase in staff at the local bank and Post Office.
A total of sixteen houses were built during the war. Of these, twelve were built by Louisbourg natives who subsequently occupied them.
Since most of the town houses were large, the housing shortage was solved by householders renting parts of houses,
and taking in boarders. With practically all Louisbourg citizens employed it meant the old standbys of fishing and coal trimming were largely ignored. Fishing boats and lobster crates were left high and dry on the beaches during the summer although absenteeism at the plant became more prevalent during June and July when call of the sea proved too strong for some fisherman. The small tourist business faded completely as government restrictions on gasoline and travel became more severe.
With the men working at the plant or on the pier, and young sons in the services or at sea, the mothers had to adjust to the tempo of wartime Louisbourg. Symbolic of the increased tempo of life was the punctual whistle of the plant which blew every eight hours, announcing a change of shift. The added burden of boarders which almost every wife bore meant people coming and going at all hours. This new responsibility for the housewife gave her a rise in status in the household since she felt she was an important cog in the machinery of the war effort and also in respect to making it possible to increase the family income.
The new positions opened in the Navy League, Red Cross Society, War Savings Campaigns, blackout committees and Home Front organizations, offered fresh opportunities for women to contribute to the war effort. The local branch of the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia had been organized in 1936, the Red Cross in October 1939.
The Women's Institute helped raise money for a Canada-wide fund for an ambulance for overseas, directed the voluntary registration of women in town, filled "ditty-bags" for the Navy League, bought cigarettes for local servicemen overseas, made clothing for civilian relief and comforts for the Women's Auxiliary Service in Great Britain. It also sponsored six blood donor clinics in co-operation with the Red Cross, sent money for milk for Britain, bought Victory Bonds and organized a local share of the national clothing drive. Red Cross members contributed hand-knitted and sewed comforts for the armed services and for clothing campaigns and the "Blankets for Britain" campaign in 1941. They also held fund-raising campaigns and supported local causes, such as the town tennis club, the Navy League, the Salvation Army and families suffering natural disasters, as well as sponsoring various nursing courses, and the shipment of food or clothing to two families in Britain.
With respect to recreational life, Louisbourg citiznes no longer maintained the previous ritual of the Saturday night show and the intermittent church meetings. The knowledge that there might be something doing up town often prompted them to stroll up town after supper. This gradually led to frequenting the Navy League Hut and the restaurants and the Strathcona skating rink until finally the curiosity developed into a demand. Women who thought their dancing days were over found themselves eagerly sought as dancing partners. At first there was criticism of married women who attended dances and social affairs without their husbands, but their new roles were construed as `chaperons' for the younger people. This phase of activity was rationalized under the heading of `war effort' since women claimed they were doing their `small bit' to make things more pleasant for the servicemen. The presence of these older women at the social functions was also justified on the grounds that the age level of the girls attending the affairs was far below
norm. Although the dances were attended by girls as young as 13 or 14 years, there were sufficient informal restraints ensuring community surveillance over them, as they associated with men far older than themselves.
In the case of the younger girls, their mothers were usually present and accompanied them home after the dance. The girls themselves, particularly the high school group, which constituted the most active group in the social affairs, had decided it was more interesting to go stag to the dances because they could meet numerous men instead of dancing all evening with one boy or one another. Unless a girl was considered `serious' with a boy, she was criticized by the other girls if she attended the dance escorted. So it became the custom for all the girls to go in groups to the social affairs, and invariably afterwards the groups walked home together, accompanied by some of the servicemen. Since no restaurants remained open after midnight, parents knew what time to expect their children home, so few lingered along the way.
The influence of these informal restraints was obvious - there was no tension around as in many other port towns by the fear that there would be an onslaught of rape accompanying the influx of servicemen. The smallness of the town, and the ease with which the servicemen were able to become acquainted, and the natural inclination of Louisbourg citizens to be friendly, led generally to understanding and respect between the servicemen, outside workers and townspeople.
- END NOTES
2. Ibid., February 14 and 23, 1939.
3. Ibid., September 3, 1939.
4. Post-Record, Sydney, N.S., article "Louisburg Has Record of Fine Achievement in Repairs to Ships," by Laurie Kyte, undated, 1945.
5. Louisbourg Branch, Women's Institute of Nova Scotia. History of Modern Louisburg 17-58-1958. 1958. Louisbourg District Planning & Development Commission. 1988., p.50 6. THE SCOOP, a privately printed news sheet, Louisbourg, May 18, 1942.
7. Reminiscences of Mrs. Cecelia (Shaw) LeDrew, who lived on Commercial St., Louisbourg, during the war.
8. Clipping, undated (most likely from Sydney Post, Sydney N.S.)
9. Mrs. Cecelia (Shaw) LeDrew.
10. Now, apartments owned by Brian Harpell.
11. Joseph Schull, The Far Distant Ships, published by Authority of the Minister of National Defence, Ottawa, 1950, p. 72.
12. Peter Moogk., "From Fortress Louisbourg to Fortress Sydney," in K. Donovan, ed., Cape Breton at 200 (Historical Essays in Honour of the Island's Bicentennial., 1785-1985) University College of Cape Breton Press, Sydney, Nova Scotia. p. 157., Also, Huntington Diary, January 10, 1943.
13. Letters to author from Steve Burrell and Bob Parr, (1991). They served at the base during the war.
Huntington Diary, September 2, 1945 and Directorate of History, National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa.
14. Post Record, Sydney, N.S. Laurie Kyte op cit.
15. Laurie Kyte., op cit.
Many thanks for the support given by all those who helped in the preparation of the Note, including James Harte, Harvey Lewis, Mrs. Edith (MacInnis) Smith, family of the late Dr. Elinor Kyte-Senior, Louisbourg Volunteer Fire Department, Sydney and Louisburg Railway Historical Society, Mrs. James (Mary) Pope, Mrs. Cecelia (Shaw) LeDrew, Mrs. Margaret Smith, Dan Joe Thomas, Garfield Cann, Alex Johnston, W.W. Lewis Memorial Library, Branch 62 Royal Canadian Legion, Steve Burrell, and Sandy MacDonald.
- Louisbourg Heritage Society, P. O. Box 336, Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, B0A 1M0, May 1995, ISSN 1183-5834, ISBN 1-896218-02-4, Editor - William A. O'Shea
( A Provincial Heritage Property )
By
William A. O'Shea
In May 1994, the Louisbourg Navy League building was designated a Provincial Heritage Property. Cecil Crant, the President of the Louisbourg and Area Lions Club, and Past President, Michael Burke, had recognized the heritage value of the Lions Den, formerly the Louisbourg Navy League Hostel. As a result, they invited me to a meeting in November 1993 where I explained the process of provincial designation to the Lions Club membership. At the meeting, the Lions asked the Louisbourg Heritage Society to prepare the application to the Advisory Council on Heritage Property.
- Introduction
Louisbourg harbour has been a destination of seafarers for hundreds of years. The earliest recorded European visit to the English Port, is that of Captain Leigh who sailed into the harbour in the summer of 1597.1
Thousands of anonymous fishermen - Portuguese, Spanish, French, English and Basque - fished out of this harbour in the 17th century. From 1713 until 1758, with one period of English occupation, Louisbourg was the capital of the French colony of Isle Royale, the centre of a significant fishery and an important transhipment point. In the 19th century, Louisbourg harbour was a stopover for fishing schooners and coal boats. Its significance was marked by a lighthouse, constructed in 1842 in the same location as the French lighthouse had been more than a hundred years earlier.2
In 1895 the harbour became the focus of industrial activity as the terminus of the Sydney & Louisburg Railway (the S&L Station is a Provincial Heritage Property). The construction of a coal loading pier and a freight wharf brought regular employment to the town. A fleet of Dominion Coal Company boats loaded coal year round and sailed from Louisbourg to New England, Newfoundland, Quebec and Montreal.
World War II saw a serious effort at securing the harbour because, "The ice-free haven of Louisbourg was to be a reserved anchorage whenever Sydney Harbour was closed off by ice or enemy mines."3 Louisbourg was also a terminus for coastal convoys and the base for a refitting operation for corvettes, frigates and other naval craft.4
As a result, in 1942, the Navy asked that Louisbourg be secured by a coastal artillery unit during the winter months. This led to Wolfe Battery with two 18-pounder guns and two search lights staffed by 41 personnel.5 There was also a Naval detachment and an Air Force group. One of the purposes of the naval detachment was to monitor and manage the anti-torpedo net which was installed in Louisbourg Harbour in August 1943.6
- The Louisbourg Navy League - 1941
A local women's group anticipated this increased activity in and around the harbour. In September 1941 the Louisburg Community Club called a meeting to discuss, ". . . ways and means of providing entertainment for the men (of) the merchant navy who visit Louisbourg, particularly during the winter months." This committee, consisting of Mrs. A. W. Cameron, Mrs. D.M. Johnston, Mrs. William MacKinnon and Mrs. L. H. Cann, invited the Sydney Branch of the Navy League of Canada to send a delegation to Louisbourg.7
The Navy League began in England in 1895 as a Society, ". . . with the primary aim of ensuring adequate naval defence." The first Canadian branch was formed in 1895 and was soon active in making submissions to the Federal government on the need for maritime defence and a naval reserve training programme. During World War I the League was involved in the, ". . . recruiting of naval and merchant navy personnel, operation of hostels for seafaring personnel, provision of services to the dependants of seamen and, in the final stages, the rehabilitation of naval veterans." Between the wars the League continued to support a Canadian-flag merchant marine and maintained hostels. During World War II the Navy League operated 24 hostels in various ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.8
Two days after the initial public meeting in Louisbourg there was another meeting of citizens called by the Community Club to discuss, ". . . the questions of organizing a branch of the Navy League in order to provide recreation and reading room and other means of entertaining the men of the merchant marine who visit Louisbourg during the winter." The Reverend George Arnold, Reverend Thomas N. Mitchell and Walter Jewell were elected as a committee to pursue the possibility with the Sydney Branch.9 The meeting in Sydney was successful and the Louisbourg Navy League was officially organized on October 16, 1941. David Gibson, National President of the Navy League, was in Louisbourg and addressed the meeting. The first executive included several of the women responsible for getting the movement started in Louisbourg, local politicians, some interested men and all the local clergy. Wilfred Covey was elected president. The building and furnishings, estimated at $7,000.00, was provided by the Navy League of Canada. Membership was $1.00 and associate membership $.50.10J. W. Stephens Ltd. of Sydney obtained the contract to construct the building and began work on November 3, 1941. According to Melvin S. Huntington, the Mayor of Louisbourg, the main building was to be 60 feet by 30 feet with a 20 foot by 30 foot leanto at the back.11
The Navy League Hut opened on January 6, 1942. National President David H. Gibson noted that, ". . . with the opening of this latest hostel it may now be truthfully said that operations of the N.L.C. is Trans-Canada wide in scope - extending from Victoria on the Pacific Coast to Louisburg, most easterly point on the Dominion's Atlantic Shore."12 Indeed by 1944 there were hostels in Louisbourg, Sydney, Halifax, St. John, N.B., Three Rivers, Quebec, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria.13 Mayor Melvin S. Huntington presided at the opening. Other dignitaries attending included Rev. Fr. Ronald MacLean, Naval Chaplain in Sydney, Messrs. Lou Moffat, John M. MacLeod, M. W. Buchanan and H. M. Isreal of Sydney and Wilfred Covey, President of the Louisbourg Navy League.
The Navy Hut when completed was 80 feet by 30 feet and contained a kitchen, dry canteen, two showers, three toilets and a reading and writing room. The main room of the building was for dancing and entertainment.14
The building was a focal point for the wartime town of Louisbourg and the civilian community participated in the operation of the facility. A. D. Cann, a member of the Navy League executive, described this involvement in a speech prepared in 1960. He remembered that, "For the duration of the conflict the Navy League was the only place of entertainment for the men. It was open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM every day. Sleeping accommodations were provided and entertainment given to them. The crew of any naval ships in port for a long or short stay was looked after . . . recall if you will the merchant seamen, the naval personnel, the RCAF men of the Radar station about 60 in number, the military station at the Battery at the lighthouse. All were well provided for. Even on Sunday evening after church the Navy Hut rang with voices raised in sing song. Lunches were provided by volunteer groups of women in the town . . . For every crew member of the ships bound overseas from this port the Navy League provided Ditty Bags filled with small gifts from Captain down. We would indeed be remiss in our duty if we did not pay our tribute to the faithful workers. During those trying days a tremendous work was undertaken and accomplished by the citizens of this small seaport town."15
Perhaps the most dramatic time for the Navy League centred on the events of January 21 and 22, 1943. On January 21, a United States submarine chaser (SC-709) covered with ice grounded on the Bar at the entrance to Louisbourg Harbour. The next day, after initial attempts at rescue had failed, local fishermen and the crew of a visiting schooner rescued the SC-709 crew. The sailors, all suffering from exposure, were taken to the Navy League Hut to an emergency hospital set up by local women, several of whom were Registered Nurses. The Louisbourg effort was recognized in August 1943 by the Robert Simpson Company of Montreal in an advertisement appealing for support for the Navy League. D. H. Gibson, who had been in Louisbourg at the official opening of the Hut in January 1942, is quoted as saying, " . . . these . . . men were exposed on the upper deck during the howling gale and fierce blasts of the winter wind and icy spray coating their clothing. They dared not go below for fear of their ship keeling over with the weight of ice. Rescued by gallant Louisbourg fishermen,they were brought into the Navy League . . ."16
After World War II the Navy Hut continued to be used by merchant seamen visiting Louisbourg. In 1955/56 the Navy League reported that there were 369 ocean craft cleared by local Customs and that the hostel and facilities were always available to crew members.17 In 1955 the building became the base for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet corps in Louisbourg.18 The Sea Cadet, Navy League Cadet and Wrennette movement have provided training, comradeship and good memories for many young men and women of Louisbourg over almost 40 years.
Other organizations using the facility during World War II included the Red Cross, Women's Institute, Community Club and Junior Red Cross. After the war there was a Well Baby Clinic, Kinsmen Club meetings, and Library. In the later 1950s and early 1960s the Catholic Women's League sponsored weekly dances for community youth and the Brownies and Girl Guides met in the building. In the 1970s and 1980s the Navy League was used by the Pentecostal Church, Married Couples Club, Senior Citizens, Scouts and the Louisbourg Lions. Ongoing uses include wedding receptions, retirements, square dances, New Year's dances, citizens meetings, 18th-century military drumming instruction of the Fortress of Louisbourg Volunteers, and a polling station for municipal, provincial and federal elections.
The Navy League Hostel continued in the possession of the Navy League of Canada until 1986. Bill and Pat Mullins, Gerry and Christina Gartland and Jean Kyte were active in their efforts to maintain the building during the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1986 the Navy League sold the building to the Louisbourg & Area Lions Club. A condition of sale was that the Navy League would have use of the building at no cost for a ten year period.19
At present, in addition to serving as the Lions Den, the building is still the headquarters of the Navy League Cadets. This is fairly unique situation for, according to Douglas J. Thomas, the National Executive Director of the Navy League of Canada, "To the best of our knowledge it is the last such building of its type still standing. It is indeed unique that Sea Cadets are still making use out of the structure. Its importance in caring for our sailors in the Second World War should not be overlooked."20
A. D. Cann talked of intangibles that make this unadorned structure important for both Louisbourg and Nova Scotia. He said, "When one is dealing in human lives it is not possible to picture the effects, the influences that people exert on others and thus it is difficult to assess accurately what this branch of the Navy League has meant to countless thousands of merchant seamen, of the personnel of the three armed forces and of the citizens of this Atlantic port . . . "21
- Structural History
The Navy League Hut is a simple frame building with the gable end facing on Main Street. Structural history is difficult to establish in detail since the record is sparse. Construction was by J. W. Stephens Ltd. of Sydney starting in November 1941 and ending in January 1942. There are no extant plans.22
As described by M. S. Huntington the original structure was planned with the main building and a leanto structure on the back measuring 20 feet long by 30 feet wide. The evidence of the leanto construction can still be seen in the sloped ceiling of the kitchen in the rear of the building.
There was an addition to the building made in 1944. This was probably an extension over the shed-roofed kitchen, though there are not details in the Minutes or any financial data to support the nature of the work. There is just a brief comment at a 1944 meeting that, " The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the painting of the interior of the Navy Hut also plumbing the new addition."23 However, a photograph of the building, taken between 1947 and 1950, shows a distinctive line in the asphalt siding along the east side of the building. This line suggests that the addition in 1944 included the modification to the kitchen leanto roof and an extension of the second floor. The extent of this second floor addition is not clear since there was already a second floor on the structure as indicated in the Minutes in 1942 which directed that, ". . . officers of Navy League be authorized to have upstairs of Navy League Hostel work completed with flooring where necessary to convenience (the) Red Cross Society."24
The front of the building included two doubled windows on either side of a small pedimented porch entrance which was supported by wooden columns. Over the porch roof there was another window. On either side of the entrance there was a veranda with a waist high wall. On the basis of photographs it is evident that a storm porch was constructed in winter. The side verandas were removed by the Navy League sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. At about the same time the entrance was completely closed in, retaining the pedimented roof but removing the supporting pillars. During renovations in the late 1980s the front windows which were in a deteriorated state of repair were closed in. The Lions added a fire escape in the rear and an access ramp on the west side of the building. Neither of these have modified the original structure. The original siding material was asphalt simulating brickwork. This was on the building until the mid 1960s when it was replaced by wooden shingles painted white.25The Navy League Hut has undergone some limited modification since it was first constructed in 1941/42. In most instances, these changes were made by the Louisbourg Navy League organization as it sought to increase its serviceable area or cope with the costs related to normal structural deterioration.
The designation of the Navy League as a Provincial Heritage Property is a credit to the initiative and foresight of the Louisbourg & Area Lions Club. At this point in time the Navy League is the youngest building on the provincial registry and the first civilian World War II building to be designated.
- Endnotes:
1. J. G. Bourinot. Historical and Descriptive Account of the Island of Cape Breton and of its Memorials of the French Regime. Montreal, W. Foster Brown & co., 1892, pp. 137 - 138.
2. John R. Dunn. The Louisbourg Lighthouse. Manuscript Report Number 32. National Historic Sites Service, National & Historic Parks Branch, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, July 1971, p. 7.
3. Peter Moogk. "From Fortress Louisbourg to Fortress Sydney," in K. Donovan, ed., Cape Breton at 200 ( Historical Essays in Honour of the Island's Bicentennial, 1785 - 1985). University College of Cape Breton Press, Sydney, Nova Scotia. pp. 157 - 158.
4. Louisbourg Branch, Women's Institute of Nova Scotia. History of Modern Louisbourg 1758 - 1958. 1958. Louisbourg District Planning & Development Commission. 1988. pp. 47- 48.
5. Colonel G.W.L. Nicholson. The Gunners of Canada - The History of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. Vol. II, 1919 - 1967. McClelland & Stewart Limited, Toronto/Montreal, 1972. pp. 457 - 458.
6. National Archives of Canada. Record Group 24, Accession 83-84/167, Box 4061, File S-9080-166/10, Part 1. 7. Melvin S. Huntington. Diary. Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. 27 September 1941. 8. Navy League of Canada. National Council, 305 Rideau St., Ottawa, Ontario. Brief history to W. O'Shea. 25 January 1994.
9. Huntington. Diary. 29 September 1941.
10. Louisbourg Branch of Navy League of Canada 1941 - 1942. Minutes. 16 October 1941. Huntington Diary. 16 October 1941.The first executive included M.S. Huntington, Honourary President; Wilfred Covey, President; George D. Lewis, 1st Vice-President; Hugh Lynk, 2nd Vice-President; Mrs. A. W. Cameron, 3rd Vice-President; Dan F. Nicholson, Secretary-Treasurer; and Walter Jewell, Jr., Donald Wilson, James Crowdis, Mrs. Fred Connington, Rev. Joseph Cathcart, Rev. George Arnold, Rev. D. H. Doyle, Rev. Thomas N. Mitchell, Mrs. D. W. MacKinnon, Duncan MacKay, Mrs. William Phalen and Mrs. Frank O'Keefe.
11. Huntington Diary. 3 November 1941.
12. Sydney Post-Record. Sydney, Nova Scotia. " Navy League Home Opens at Louisburg." 7 January 1942.
13. Stephen Leacock, Canada and The Sea, Vol I. Alvah M. Beatty, Publications (1943) Limited, Montreal 1944. pp. 87 &92. The Navy League clubhouse in Halifax was opened on January 3, 1942. (Thanks to Allister MacDonald for identifying this source)
14. Huntington Diary, 6 January 1942.
15. A. D. Cann. Speech in Scrapbook at Louisbourg Library.
16. Jean Kyte. "Rescued by Gallant Fishermen." Heritage Notes, No. 3, January 1993, Louisbourg Heritage Society. footnote #1.
17. Louisbourg Hostel Committee. Year Ending May 31, 1956.
18. Women's Institute History. 1958. p. 67.
19. Navy League of Canada. Louisbourg. Minutes. 23 Sept 1986.
20. Douglas J. Thomas. National Executive Director, The Navy League of Canada, National Council, 305 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario. Memo to Louisbourg & Area Lions Club. 3 Nov. 1993.
21. A. D. Cann, Speech. Louisbourg Library.
22. Personal communication. John (Jack) Stephens, Superintendent, Alexander Graham Bell NHS to William O'Shea. January 1994.
23. Louisbourg Branch of Navy League of Canada 1941 - 1942. Minutes. 28 August 1944.
24. Ibid. 21 October 1942.
25. The false brick siding was on the building to the mid 1960s. James Steylen, Louisbourg, lived upstairs in the building from around 1959 until 1964 and remembers the siding in place during this time. Conversation, Steylen with W. O'Shea, 29 January 1994. See also a photograph from 1962 showing the building with white shingled front and asphalt brick on the west side. Fortress of Louisbourg NHS, Archives. RB #22, File #23, Photo H.5.
- © May 1994, Louisbourg Heritage Society, Box 396, Louisbourg, N.S. BOA 1M0, ISSN 1183-5834, ISBN 1-896218-00-8, Editor: William A. O’Shea
The Louisbourg Lighthouse (Part I - constructing the light 1923/24) -
Bill O’Shea
The present-day Louisbourg light came into service on February 1, 1924 after a fire eight months earlier destroyed the lighthouse built in 1842.[i] It was constructed in reinforced concrete by E.M. Dickson of Sydney for the federal Department of Marine and Fisheries. Abutting the tower is the base of the 18th century French light. A short distance away is the foundation of the 1842 lighthouse. The modern light continues a tradition of navigational security on the east coast of Cape Breton bridging four centuries. The 3 lights together represent a significant heritage resource.
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A fire on June 3, 1923 destroyed the wooden lighthouse built in 1842. Almost immediately a temporary light was erected on the roof of the nearby fog alarm building to ensure the safety of shipping. The temporary structure stood 45 feet high and was topped by a white occulting (covered briefly at regular intervals) light flashing every 12 seconds and showing 3 seconds of light. It was visible 10 miles out to sea.[ii]
With the short-term problem solved, the Marine Department in Ottawa wrote to C.H. Harvey, its Agent in Halifax, suggesting the construction of a double house and a concrete light tower.[iii] The Department of Marine’s district engineer, J.A. Leger, recommended “. . . that a tower similar to the one erected on Georges Island, Halifax Harbour, be put up.” He also wrote that “About 1/3 of (the) remains of the old French light will have to be removed, (and the) chimney of old (1842) dwelling pulled down.”[iv]
Responding to Leger’s advice, the Superintendent of Lights, P.C. Johnson, wrote that since the temporary light was working well, it could be the model for a new type of Louisbourg light. Rather than build a new tower, he felt that a 500 mm. lantern mounted on a structure similar to a larger buoy would be appropriate. He further reasoned that because the light and the fog alarm could share the same location, only a single dwelling need be built for the one engineer who could watch both facilities. Fortunately for Louisbourg, Harvey’s superiors did not agree with his cost-saving idea. There is a note in the margin of his memo stating that “This would be replacing a 40,000 CP light by a 500 CP one and would not be recommended.”[v]
This reaction is not surprising since Louisbourg was important to Cape Breton’s economy. Beginning in 1895, with the arrival of the Sydney & Louisburg Railway, the town shipped millions of tons of coal to the rest of Canada, Newfoundland and New England. Even after 1919, when shipping from the harbour was largely limited to the winter months, Louisbourg was a significant location with its annual influx of coal boats, ships coming to refuel and fishing vessels.[vi] In 1925-26, for example, a total of 342 vessels entered the harbour.[vii] And, in addition to its role as a guide for ships entering the harbour, the Louisbourg light was important to coastal shipping since navigational technology was still relatively primitive in the early twentieth century.
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Louisbourg Light, south elevation – 1917, Department of Marine & Fisheries Plan (Fortress of Louisbourg NHS)
The plans for a new light moved forward using the design for a reinforced concrete tower drawn in 1917 by the Marine Department.[viii] Public tenders were called for the light and the double house and, by early September, two bids were submitted. The Standard Construction Ltd., of Halifax did not include a deposit cheque with its bid and was disqualified, and so the contract was given to E.M. Dickson of Atlantic Engineering Works of Sydney for $18,100.00. This amount was actually the lower bid submitted by the Halifax company and not Dickson’s original bid.[ix]
Dickson set to work quickly and the Superintendent of Lights, on a visit to Louisbourg on September 28, 1923, wrote that he “. . . found that the contractor was busy engaged at the foundation for the new light.”[x] In spite of his energetic approach Dickson was anxious because he had not received a formal contract. On October 3, he telegraphed the government purchasing agent asking for plans and specifications while confirming that he had material assembled and ready.[xi] The plans were obviously sent as requested, for by October 22 the contractor was writing to the agent to say that the tower was partly constructed and that he would like to be compensated for $5,000.00 worth of work. He also wondered when the Order in Council authorizing his contract would go through. The contract would not pass and be forwarded to the Agent in Halifax until October 25, but Dickson continued working, apparently assured that the project was his.[xii]
On November 10 there was an estimate of the total cost for the lighthouse and dwelling. With the contract set at $18,100.00, inspection costs at $150.00, and the lantern from the Dominion Lighthouse costing $4750.00, the total cost for the light and house was $23,000.00.[xiii]
A new lantern was essential and shortly after the June fire, a request was made to the depot in Prescott, Ontario. The Chief Engineer, in Ottawa, was told that there was an 8 foot octagonal lantern on hand and the depot was instructed send it to Louisbourg.[xiv] The actual installation of the light would not take place until January 1924 when a Mr. Morrison came to Louisbourg to complete that task.[xv]
Meanwhile, work on the tower proceeded smoothly and, by December 18, an official visiting the site found that the tower was completed except for the entrance door and the trim. The foundations for the house were finished and the structure was framed and boarded with the roof and shingling started. The materials were those specified in the contract and the work judged to be first class.[xvi]
On February 20, 1924, engineer Leger wrote that he had competed the final inspection and taken the buildings over from the contractor. He held back $150.00 of the contract to ensure the cisterns were tight and that the tower received its outside wash when the weather was better.[xvii]
The new Louisbourg light house was entered into service on February 1, 1924. The Notice to Mariners describes the light as a petroleum vapour, flashing white, catoptric light showing every 7 seconds. The fixed light was 500 candle power with flashes of 50,000 candle power. It was seen at 12 miles.[xviii]
The Louisbourg lighthouse measures almost 55 feet high (14.5 metres) from the ground to the top of the vane with the base 19 feet in diameter (5.8 metres).[xix] It is an attractive octagonal form representing a classical column divided into a strongly emphasized or rusticated base, a shaft, and a capital consisting of the platform and lantern. There are pedimented caps over the door and 3 of the windows, and decorative brackets support the lantern platform.[xx] The tower is painted white and the lantern is red.
With the completion of the new light the responsibilities of the light keeper changed. Previously, while the keeper had overall charge of the light station, there was an engineer operating the fog alarm who was paid a higher wage. This wage discrepancy caused no end of problems over the years between the light keeper and engineer. The fog alarm began operation in February 1902, [xxi] with D. A. Campbell in charge. In 1916 he was replaced by William Covey. But it was not until Covey became keeper of the new light, at the end of February 1924, that the two positions were combined in one person.[xxii] This resolved the conflicting roles for the next 3 head light keepers: Wilfred Covey (son of William), M. J. Tanner and Roy Forgeron.
The French Ruins
The construction of the new light tower drew attention to the ruins of the 18th-century French light. District Engineer Leger wrote, in mid October, that in moving the debris of the French tower, which was spread across the top of the hill, he found an outline of the 18th-century foundation, 6 or 7 steps of the stairwell, the location of the door and a number of artefacts, including the lead dedication plaque which was probably placed over the door when the light was built. He also recommended that the foundations be preserved. This was a major change in his plans since initially he anticipated removing all that remained of the French lighthouse.[xxiii] What changed his mind?
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The Light Station in a June 1931 aerial photograph
by the Department of Mines & Technical Surveys, Canada.
The double house is on the left and the fog alarm buildings
to the far right. (Louisbourg Heritage Society)
by the Department of Mines & Technical Surveys, Canada.
The double house is on the left and the fog alarm buildings
to the far right. (Louisbourg Heritage Society)
An awareness of the historic French ruins had grown over the quarter century before the new lighthouse was constructed. If you were to look for a beginning it was possibly in 1895 with the arrival of the Sydney & Louisburg Railway. On its opening day, the S&L carried members of the United States-based Society of Colonial Wars to Louisbourg, along with 1,000 citizens of Cape Breton, to dedicate a monument to the military forces taking part in the siege of 1745.[xxiv] In 1900 Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier visited Louisbourg and at the ruins of the fortress spoke about the historic ground, “consecrated by the blood of your forefathers, the English, and my forefathers, the French. . .”[xxv] The momentum continued between 1901 and 1907, when industrialist and Louisbourg resident D.J. Kennelly stabilized ruins at the fortress site and obtained protecting provincial legislation. Then, in 1918, J.S. McLennan published his well-researched book, Louisbourg: From Its Foundation to Its Fall, 1713-1758, giving everyone access to a detailed history of 18th-century Louisbourg.
In 1921, on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, the federal government bought land at the fortress to preserve the ruins and prevent artefacts from being removed. This was followed, in the summer of 1923, by a visit from Dr. J. C. Webster and Major J. Plimsoll Edwards, of the Board. They met with Senator J.S. McLennan and Archdeacon T. Fraser Draper of Louisbourg and in August proposed a major initiative for Louisbourg involving the acquisition of all the historic ruins including the lighthouse.[xxvi]
So when he saw the construction activity at the lighthouse in September 1923, Archdeacon Draper became concerned and immediately wrote to Dr. Webster suggesting that any artefacts found there should be held in safe keeping and that the ruins be preserved. Webster wrote to J. B. Harkin, director of the historic sites branch, urging that the new lighthouse be built alongside the old and that any “relics” be delivered to Draper’s care. The result of this intercession by Draper was that the 18th-century lighthouse ruins were saved.
To preserve the ruins, engineer Leger estimated that it would cost between $50.00 and $75.00 to point the stone. The historic sites people in Ottawa agreed with this and, though the final cost was $130.00, they paid the bill.
As for the artefacts, some may have been given to Archdeacon Draper for safekeeping. But there seems to have been concern that they would leave the community and there was an effort to keep the lead dedication plaque in Louisbourg. The plaque memorializes the efforts of engineer Etienne Verrier and civilian contractor Ganet in the construction of the French light and other principal buildings. The local pressure to keep it in town may have come from either Mayor A.A. Martell or councillor and soon-to-be mayor, M.S. Huntington, who was becoming an advocate of local history.[xxvii] Fortunately, there was also support from the district engineer, Leger, and the local sentiment won the day. The plaque hung inside the tower until the light was automated in 1990. At that time it was transferred to the Fortress of Louisbourg where it is on display.[xxviii]
The Summer of 1926
The new lighthouse was the focal point for an important event in 1926. Louisbourg was planning a Come Home Summer and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, at the same time, planned to unveil 4 historic site plaques at Louisbourg – 2 at the lighthouse and 2 on the site of the fortress ruins. Earlier correspondence between the departments agreed that the plaques would be attached to the lighthouse.[xxix] In March 1926, Mayor A.A. Martell wrote, to the District Engineer about the “summer carnival”, mentioned the historic plaque unveilings and asked if the case would be ready for the historic lead plaque, which was found in the ruins of the French tower in 1923. Heralding what would become a long-term point of concern between municipal and federal responsibilities, Martell also asked if the road to the lighthouse would be repaired for the event.[xxx]
The town celebrated the first day of its Come Home Week on August 10, 1926 with a sports programme and the plaque unveilings. The day opened with a 3 mile race run from old town to the school in the modern town won by Truman Hunt. At 11:30 a.m. the activity moved to the lighthouses where Senator McLennan talked about the history of the site and Mayor Melvin Huntington welcomed the guests before unveiling two Historic Sites and Monuments Board plaques.[xxxi] One of the plaques commemorates the French defenders of the Island Battery in 1745 and 1758, while the other commemorates the French lighthouse and the British batteries constructed in the vicinity in 1745 and 1758.[xxxii]
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[i] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 500 File 20453-k, pt. 2, 2 January 1924 (#262). Melvin S. Huntington Diary, 1 February 1924. Bill O’Shea, The 1842 Louisbourg Lighthouse, Heritage Notes, No 13, March 2002, Louisbourg Heritage Society.
[ii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-k, pt. 2, 16 June 1923, Johnson to Harvey (#253); RG42, Vol. 501, 20453-R, Notice to Mariners No 34 of 1923 (#42), Harvey to DM, Marine, 4 June 1923 (#35), Harvey to DM, Marine 8 June 1923 (#41)
[iii]National Archives, Marine, RG 42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, Johnston to Agent, 5 June 1923 (#36).
[iv] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, District Engineer to Agent, 14 June 1923 (#s 47-48, 49).
[v] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, Superintendent of Lights to District Engineer 4 July 1923 with marginal note dated 12 July 1923 (# 58).
[vi] Brian Campbell (with A.J.B. Johnston), Tracks Across the Landscape – The S&L Commemorative History, University College of Cape Breton Press, 1995. Melvin S. Huntington, Diary, 17 & 19 May 1919.
[vii] Dominion of Canada, Annual Departmental Reports, 1925-26, Vol. 3, 59th Annual Report Department of Marine & Fisheries, pp. 78-79.
[viii] Marine Department plan, Reference No. CR-11840, Designed May 1917, Fortress of Louisbourg NHS archives.
[ix] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, 6 Sept. 1923 (#77).
[x] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R,
[xi] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, telegram, 3 October 1923 (#88).
[xii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, 22 October 1923 (#115 also 114, 119).
[xiii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, 10 November 1923 (#128).
[xiv] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, 27 June 1923 and 16 July 1923. It was to be sent with a set of 8 murettes.
[xv] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, Leger to Agent, 4 January 1924 (#143).
[xvi] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, Brown to Leger, 26 December 1923 (#141).
[xvii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, J. A. Leger to Agent, 20 February 1924 (#154).
[xviii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, Notice to Mariners, No 7 of 1924- Atlantic No 5 (#148).
[xix] Department of Transport, Lighthouse Data Form, Dartmouth, N.S., file 7952-420, 17 July 1962.
[xx] M. Coleman, Louisbourg Light tower, Louisbourg, N.S., Building Report 90-267, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, pp 3-4.
[xxi] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 502, file 20456-7k, Fraser to Chief Engineer, 30 January 1902 ( #152); Notice to Mariners #9 of 1902; RG42, Vol. 500, file 20453c memo to Commissioner of Lights 19 January 1916 (#501); RG42, Vol 502, file 20456-7k, Chief Engineer to Schmidt, 15 August 1906 (#349); Schmidt to Cordeau, 20 Dec 1906; Summers to J. A. Legere, 26 April 1907; Legere to Chief Engineer, 7 Jan 1908 (#s 413-414).
[xxii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 500, file 20453-K, part 2, Hawken to Agent, 25 March 1924 (#279).
[xxiii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, J. A. Leger to Agent, 9 Oct 1923.
[xxiv] Report of the Committee on Louisbourg Memorial, New York, 1896.
[xxv] Daily Record, Sydney, Nova Scotia, 20 August 1900.
[xxvi] A.J.B. Johnston, Preserving History: The Commemoration of 18th-century Louisbourg 1895-1940, in Eric Krause, Carol Corbin & William O’Shea, eds., Aspects of Louisbourg, University College of Cape Breton Press, 1995, pp. 253-285. For an 18th-century effort at commemoration see Johnston’s article Commemorating Louisbourg, c 1767 in the same volume, pages 286-288.
[xxvii] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, District Engineer to Agent 9 October 1924 (#91); Telegram, Engineer to Deputy Minister, 15 Oct 1923 (#103); Draper to Webster, 3 October 1923 (#106); Webster to Harkin, 8 October 1923 (#107); Corey to Hawkin – ADM Marine – 12 Oct. 1923 (#109); District Engineer to Agent, 15 October 1923 (#111).
[xxviii] The last head lightkeeper Roy Forgeron contacted Bill O’Shea at the Fortress of Louisbourg and arranged for this transfer. The plaque is on display in the Bigot House exhibit.
[xxix] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, ADM Interior to ADM Marine, 2 September 1924 and 11 Sept. 1924 (#163).
[xxx] National Archives, Marine, RG42, Vol. 501, File 20453-R, Martel to Leger 6 March 1926 (169); Leger to Agent 10 March 1926 (169, 170).
[xxxi] A.A. Martell was mayor between Feb. 1920 and Feb. 1926. Melvin S. Huntington was mayor from Feb. 1926 until Feb. 1946.
[xxxii] Sydney Record, Sydney, N.S., 11 August 1926; Sydney Post, Sydney, N.S. 10 & 11 August 1926; Chronicle-Herald, Halifax, N.S.17 July &11 August 1926; Melvin S. Huntington, Diary, Tuesday, 10 August 1926; Louisbourg Amateur Athletic Club, Program, Louisbourg, August 10, 1926 in James Peck scrapbook copy Bill O’Shea.
© Louisbourg Heritage Society, 17 Holland Ave., Louisbourg, N. S., B1C 2K7, ISSN 1183-5835, ISBN 1-896218-16-4
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