In 1953, as a requirement for the M.A. degree, James Stuart Martell prepared a detailed thesis on pre-Loyalist settlements around the Minas Basin. Mr. Martell noted in his paper that a brief look at the Acadians was necessary in order to have an idea of conditions around Minas Basin when the Planters arrived. Martell proceeded to do just that and the result is some interesting facts and statistics on the Acadians and the expulsion period.

Mr. Martell’s completed thesis of just over 300 pages was bound in hardcover and distributed in the library system. I’m currently reading a copy borrowed from the Kentville branch. From the thesis, here are some of the statistics and observations from the 25 pages Martell devotes to the Acadians.

I’ve always been fascinated by the various reports of Acadian mill sites in this area, assuming from what I’ve read in various papers and historical briefs that there were only a few in Kings County. However, giving his source as the journal of the officer who directed the expulsion, Lieut.-Colonel John Winslow, Martell writes that in the Minas district the Acadians had as many as 11 mills. Obviously, these would be mainly grist mills, some wind-driven, some powered by tidal waters, such as the mill believed to be located on the little partly tidal stream on Highway #1 between Kentville and New Minas.

Martell writes that statistics relating to the economic status of the Acadians are given by Winslow in his journal. Thus from Winslow via Martell’s excellent paper we are told that in the Minas area the livestock of the Acadians in 1755 consisted of “1296 bullocks, 1557 cows, 2181 young cattle, 8690 sheep, 4197 hogs, 493 horses, and 5007 horned cattle.”

We can see from this that the Acadians in this area appeared to be at least moderately affluent. This great wealth of livestock was apparently owned by some 255 families. The number of families in Minas is obtained from another statistic in Winslow’s journal, the number of dwellings destroyed at the time of the expulsion. Martell writes that the “buildings burnt by Winslow at Minas totalled 255 houses, 276 barns, 155 outhouses, 11 mills and one mass house.”

It seems odd that so much property was destroyed. The long range plan was to settle New Englanders in the areas occupied by the Acadians after the expulsion took place. This plan is hinted at by more than one historian and if it was in the works, one would think that the Acadian buildings would have been left untouched.

Martell tells us that the livestock of the Acadians was forfeited to the Crown and “according to the official audit, either used for victualling the troops in the expulsion areas or distributed among the settlers at Halifax.” One historical writer claims that Lunenburg County settlers also shared in the livestock and there was a great cattle drive from Minas to the South shore.

We learn from Martell’s paper that the Acadians of Minas had already begun construction of rough but passable roads when the expulsion took place. “It might be well to mention,” Martell writes, “that by the year 1755 paths in the forests had been made passable for overland transportation between Minas and Annapolis, Minas and Pisiquid (Windsor) and Pisiquid and the new British capital, Halifax.”

One interesting point made by Martell is that according to evidence, it can be concluded that many of the Acadians were not deported from Minas and Pisiquid “and a considerable number of them remained in the nearby forests even after the coming of the New Englanders.” While it may not have bee a “considerable number,” other historians mention that a few Acadians avoided deportation by hiding in the woods and some eventually returned to work the land they once owned.

Moccasin Hollow, Bloody Hollow, Bloody Gully, Bloody Run, Golden Hollow. These are supposed to be names for an area in Kentville’s west end where French soldiers and their Indian allies are said to have ambushed and massacred a company of British soldiers – either in 1747 or 1752, depending on which historian you believe.

But even though Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton treats it as an historical event in his Kings County history, it’s unlikely that any massacre took place. Even if the event occurred, at most it was a minor clash that story tellers have embellished and enlarged upon over the centuries.

There is a Moccasin Hollow in Kentville’s west end. The late Ernest Eaton, who did much research on Kings County history, gave its location as opposite the industrial park. Edmund J. Cogswell, a Kentville Judge of Probate who died in 1900, wrote in an 1895 issue of the Western Chronicle that Moccasin Hollow was located on the old French Road on John Harrington’s land near the railway tracks.

Besides Arthur W. H. Eaton and Edmund J. Cogswell, other writers have mentioned the massacre at Moccasin Hollow. Eaton apparently based his information on a manuscript by Dr. W. P. Brechin, who in turn may have accessed Murdock’s History of Nova Scotia. Mabel G. Nichols Kentville history, The Devil’s Half Acre, mentions the “battle of Moccasin Hollow (Bloody Hollow).” Nichols appears to have used the Cogswell manuscript as her source.

While what really occurred at Moccasin Hollow may never be known, it’s safe to say the event has been great exaggerated. As I said, it’s a massacre that most likely never really happened. There definitely was a conflict of some sort in Moccasin Hollow involving British troops versus the French and their Indian allies, which I assume were the Micmacs. However, the events at Moccasin Hollow may have been confused with a true massacre, the ambush of Colonel Noble and his troops at Grand Pre in 1747 in which many lives were lost.

I mentioned Ernest Eaton above. It was Eaton who put the Moccasin Hollow event in perspective in 1978 when he was asked to look into it. Eaton concluded that the encounter between the British and French a mile or so west of downtown Kentville has been blown out of proportion. Eaton stated that while some sort of military engagement took place in Moccasin Hollow, the death toll was light, and the persistent folk tale that hundreds of British and French troops were slain is nothing more than that, a folk tale.

Eaton said that the skirmish in Moccasin Hollow took place in 1747 and suggested that A. W. H. Eaton’s 1752 date in the Kings County history may be a printer’s error. The error may have been made of Dr. W. P. Brechin whom A. W. H. Eaton quotes. Murdock’s History of Nova Scotia gives the Moccasin Hollow clash as happening in 1747.

Anyway, if you wish to read more about Moccasin Hollow, Ernest Eaton’s paper containing his research is available at the Kings County Museum. Mabel Nichols’ book on Kentville is available at local libraries and her account can be found on page 193. Eaton’s Kings County history is also available at local libraries and the Moccasin Hollow clash is on page 47. In 1990 I wrote an article on Moccasin Hollow entitled “Not A Historical Site.” I hope to have this article posted shortly on my website in the historical columns section.

In the years from 1856 to 1858, a gentleman by the name of H. S. K. Neal attended Horton Academy in Wolfville. In 1924, when he was in his eighties, Neal wrote a letter to historian W. C. Milner describing the Wolfville of his boyhood school days and reminiscing about the people he met in the town and studied with. Excerpts from Neal’s letter follow. His first reference is to a prominent Wolfville merchant who successfully ran for the Liberals, representing the township of Horton from 1859 to 1863; we get a glimpse of election rivalry in those far off days.

“The political contest between John L. Brown and his brother (Dr. E. L. Brown) was a hot one. I’m not sure whether it was 1856 or ’57, but it was about planting time for I often listened to John L., who was a farmer as well as a merchant. He made no bones about giving Edward (his brother) a call down everywhere he went to speak. Edward retaliated and the war raged until election day. I think it was a close election but John L.’s prestige among farmers and those who dealt with him won the day, but they were bitter to each other for quite a length of time.”

Several references to John L. Brown are found in the Wolfville history, Mud Creek, including one that tells us he “left his mercantile business in Grand Pre in 1847 and moved to Wolfville to the west half of a surgery of his brother Dr. E. L. Brown.” The Wolfville history tells us that Brown’s residence, which was built in 1852 is “the Acadia University president’s house of today.”

Neal’s letter is gossipy and undoubtedly would never be printed in a formal history of Wolfville since he makes personal observations and comments. However, the letter is far more interesting, at least to me, than the often boring details in most history books. His comments on John L. Brown’s election campaign illustrate what I mean; a few more examples follow.

In Wolfville Neal writes there lived “Mr. Fowler who kept a house where people put up for a while; he had a son Elijah and one or two daughters, and an adopted boy… whose father was an old Baptist minister. Near by Mr. Fowlers was a Mr. Blackadar, who had quite a large furniture whareroom. T. R. Patillo kept a store next to Blackadar, dry goods, groceries, and stationery and books. I think he came from Lunenburg or Queens County, of Italian origin. A very smart and keen business man.”

Then there was “James Patriquin (who) kept a barber shop, but his original trade was a harness maker, a fine fellow, well liked and well patronized. He came from Cumberland County. William Thompson kept a hotel, put up travellers as they came along for shelter day or night. He was an Irishman, clever and attentive to all. Wet goods could be had at a cheap rate at that time, although most of the people talked prohibition. Whether they practised it or not, I do not know.”

An example of how explicit, and perhaps unkind, Neal was in this interesting letter can be found when he writes about a Wolfville character, Scotchy S…, who “kept a little speak easy at Mud Creek.” During Brown’s election campaign Scotchy “tried to drown himself three times in one day, but was pulled out. I do not know whether he finished the job another time or not. He had a son, deaf and dumb; he published the Avon Herald, I think that was the name.”

In his letter, Neal recalled the names and origins of students at Horton Academy and Acadia University for the period 1856 to 1858. The list is probably incomplete since Neal apparently depended on his memory to compile it, but it should be of use to anyone looking for information on their ancestors.

From time to time I’ve mentioned a general history of this region by W. C. Milner, The Basin of Minas and its Early Settlers. This is a lengthy, detailed work which was first printed in the Wolfville newspaper, The Acadian, and later bound into a hardcover book. A book which, by the way, was once circulated in the Valley’s library system but now can only found in Acadia University‘s Kirkconnell Room and occasionally in auctions of rare books. A few copies are also owned privately, of this I’m sure. Last year when I mentioned the book, a reader scanned a page from it on militia units and e-mailed it to me.

As I said, Milner has an amazing amount of detail in his book, much more than is found in Eaton’s Kings County history. Milner appeared to have had access to many private papers as well. In several instances, he quoted entire historical essays and recollections on the early days of towns such as Windsor, Kentville and Wolfville. He apparently had access as well to historical documents that must have come from provincial government archives.

Several months ago I decided to do some research on Mr. Milner. Who was he? Why wasn’t he better known as a historian? So far I’ve found few answers. In a recent telephone conversation, historical author L. S. Loomer, Wolfville, suggested I might find Milner in a book called Nova Scotians Abroad, but this was a dead end.

W. C. Milner appears to have been a native of New Brunswick. Several histories on towns and communities in New Brunswick, Sackville for example, exist with W. C. Milner named as the author. A brief mention of Milner can be found on the Internet, but a search of book auction sites for his Minas Basin history turned up nothing.

As for Milner’s knowledge of Nova Scotia and especially Annapolis Valley history, this may be explained by something I found when I did the Internet search.

Milner’s name came up in connection with a website devoted to the history of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association. The first attempt to organise an Association was made in 1918 at Acadia University. This was short-lived but another attempt to organise an Association was made in 1922, again at Acadia University. And says the website, the president was W. C. Milner, who was the “Archivist, Halifax branch of the Public Archives of Canada.”

This explains how Milner was able to write a detailed history of the Minas Basin area. As a chief archivist, he had access to countless documents and private papers, much more so than Eaton when he was preparing his history of Kings County. When you read about similar topics in the two history books, the land grants to the Planters in the Valley, for example, you find that Eaton barely scratches the surface while Milner elaborates on an on, giving details almost to the point of being boring.

Of the two history books, Eaton’s, in my opinion, is the better. Read Eaton and we can see an orderly progression of events from the time of the Acadians onward and understand how we became what we are today.

Since his work covered several centuries of history, Eaton by necessity had to gloss over many events, mentioning them in passing so to speak. Milner, on the other hand, delved deeply into whatever he was writing about and his attention to details was meticulous at times. Read Eaton for a grand overview, but if you want the occasional bit of nitty gritty and historical overload, read Milner.

It’s really too bad that Milner’s Minas Basin history isn’t available to the general public. I’m sure history buffs would enjoy reading it.

If you appreciate witticisms and what the Celts call wry humour, you’ll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you enjoy reading about the early days of a few generations ago, about the pains of growing up in the period just before the second world war, then you’ll also enjoy this book.

Or maybe you’re just country, and like reading about country and how country people lived before television, modern roads and fast foods arrived. If so, then you’ll also enjoy, even cherish Scott Sheffield’s book.

In Musing of a Country Boy, Sheffield looks at growing up in Advocate, Cumberland County, in the 30s, the “dirty 30s” of the depression era when, as the author put it, “a dismal economic pall (was) hanging over everyone in our community.” Sheffield’s book was launched recently at the Kings County Museum; it was praised at the launching for its humour and earthy stories by several speakers, but the heart of the book is its realistic look at a way of life that exists now only in the memories of senior citizens.

However, the humour was fine and Scott Sheffield has a knack for telling a good story. To repeat myself, the book’s best feature is the authors’ sketches of life as it was in an isolated rural area of Nova Scotia. I enjoyed the humour, but Sheffield’s recapturing of life in hard times is what makes the book. Writing of his boyhood and his boyhood friends, for example, Sheffield says, “we were, to say the least, a ragtag group of country children burdened somewhat by our parent’s economic worries. It was 1933 with a dismal economic pall hanging over everyone in the community.”

In another part of his work Sheffield writes that “we groped and grubbed our way through the great depression of the 1930s. I expect it has marked us for life; having experienced the worries, frustrations and anxieties of our parents. I clearly remember on one occasion my mother didn’t have the three cents she needed for postage. She was upset, crying and embarrassed.”

Life in the 30s wasn’t all gloom and doom, however. Sheffield tells us of the happy times spent fishing and learning skills that in the computer age seem arcane and ancient. Such as cattle hunting, cattle herding, milking, gathering firewood, which today Sheffield says are “requirements of only a very few.

You’ll find that Sheffield’s nostalgic, sometimes witty and always realistic look at rural life in Advocate in the 1930s makes his book good reading. The title is a bit of a misnomer, however. A country boy Scott Sheffield isn’t. An Acadia graduate with a B.A. and Masters degree, Sheffield spent some 35 years as a teacher, administrator, school inspector, director of special studies and projects and director of inspection services with the Department of Education.

As I mentioned, Sheffield excels as a storyteller and has a wry sense of humour. Which is perhaps best illustrated by one of the stories he tells in his book. When he was in Advocate a few years ago a visitor asked him where he was born. “I pointed to the Sheffield house and said, ‘in that house.’ I was perplexed by his next question. ‘Why?’ I hardly knew how to answer, so I merely said I wanted to be near my mother.”

Sheffield’s book is available through the Kings County Museum.

When it was published in 1910, Eaton Kings County history was hailed in local newspapers as a great work of “deep interest” to those with Planter and Loyalist ancestors. Eaton’s work was praised in several local newspapers and I reproduce one announcement here for its historical interest and the light it sheds on the author. An appreciation of John Frederick Herbin in an announcement of his demise in 1924 also follows, along with an interesting tidbit from 1850 on the railway.

From the Berwick Register, November 24, 1910 – “The history of Kings County… comprising about 900 pages is just published. Dr. Eaton, the author of the work, an Episcopal clergyman and a literary man of much prominence, has given three years to the writing of it, and in its pages will be found a graphic account of the county’s varied history, from the earliest French settlement to the present time.

“Five years after the expulsion of the Acadians a large number of families of the utmost importance in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, attracted by the offer of the rich lands of the exiled French, removed to Nova Scotia, and from these planters the present population and many notable persons in the United States, and other parts of Canada, are sprung.

“To the story of this migration Dr. Eaton has devoted many pages of his book, and it is not too much to say that in his treatment of it, what to many people will be an entirely new episode of American history, will be brought to light.”

From the Toronto Globe, January 16, 1924 under the heading Apostle for Acadia – “One of Acadia’s most acceptable and persistent spokesmen has passed with the sudden death of John Frederick Herbin of Wolfville, N.S. Mr. Herbin was known as a collector of Acadian relics, and as a poet and novelist with subjects which breathed something of the sadness of the exiled race. He was said to be the only direct descendant of the French Acadians of Grand Pre remaining in the land of Evangeline.

“His history of Grand Pre is an exhaustive treatment of the small community which has been made known to millions through Longfellow’s poem. He also wrote several novels, including ‘The Marshlands’, ‘Heir to Grand Pre’ and ‘Jen of the Marshlands.’ These carried the subtle spirit of the beautiful and romantic Minas Basin region, but did not attain notable heights from a literary point of view.

“Mr. Herbin conducted a jewelry and optical business in Wolfville, of which he had been Mayor, and to visitors he extended a kindly welcome. Those in search of knowledge of local happenings would quickly unloose his enthusiasm and find in him a fount of knowledge which they would remember long years after.”

The Globe concluded the announcement of Mr. Herbin’s passing with one of his poems, Across the Dykes, calling it one of his “best contributions to Canadian verse.”

From a report delivered at a railroad convention in Portland, Maine, on July 31, 1850. – “Kings County Wants a Railway: A meeting of the inhabitants of Kings County was held in the Court House at Kentville… for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the inhabitants of said County in reference to a railroad from Halifax to Digby.

“It is the opinion of this meeting that the inhabitants of this County will cheerfully furnish the land that is necessary for a Railroad passing through it; also aid with their money, labour and materials to the utmost of their ability, in shares amount to 25,000 (Pounds).”

Kings County was represented at the Portland convention by John Hall, MPP, and Samuel Chipman.

As documented in [a recent] column, the first poorhouse or poorfarm opened in this area over 100 years ago. It’s difficult to believe that poorhouses were necessary in a time when most people lived off the land and were mainly self-supporting. However, there were three in this area in the late 19th century, operating as mini-farms and looking after the destitute and mentally incapacitated. In 1922 the three poorhouses were closed and amalgamated into one at Waterville. Here’s the announcement of that opening from the December, 1922, issue of the Wolfville Acadian:

“The amalgamation of the Poor Districts of Cornwallis, Horton and Aylesford in this county has now been effected and the new building for the accommodation of the unfortunate poor which has been under construction during the past summer is now completed and has been taken possession of by the officials who have charge of this responsible and important branch of the municipality’s affairs.

“For a number of years back the proposition to place all the dependants of the county in one central institution and care for them in a manner creditable to the people of such a highly favored section has been under consideration and we feel sure that in carrying out such work no mistake has been made. If the affairs of the Home are conducted in a proper manner, with due regard to the interests of the ratepayers, the burden of taxation should not be unduly increased. If conducted in a business-like manner it ought to be good economy to carry on one institution in place of three.

“The site selected for the new home is at Waterville in the central part of the county. The selection of the farm, as well as its cost and the expense of building, has come in for considerable criticism and with regard to these matters we have nothing now to say. If the change made in the end makes for the public good to the extent we confidently anticipate it will more than repay for any mistakes that may have been made.

“The new edifice is situated on elevated ground and commands a fine view of the surrounding country. The main structure which faces the south is 36 x 37 feet with a wing on the north-east and 36 x 48 feet. It includes a large basement, main floor and attic. The main floor has a large plaza on the south about 75 feet in length. Adjoining are the men’s smoking-room, kitchen, dining room and recreation room on the east -end, with the apartments for the superintendents and officials in this wing at the same end. At the west-end are similar rooms for women for sewing, recreation and dining rooms. The men’s and women’s recreation-rooms are connected by folding-doors which may be opened when required for any special occasion. There are two fireplaces for the men and the same for the women. Some of the wards or rooms are also located on this floor.

“On the second floor are the dormitories for both males and females, the latter using the western part. A long hall running the entire length of the building divides by three doorways and provides as far as is possible for the plan for the segregation of the sexes.

“The attic provides quarters for the help. There is also a promenade with fire-escapes located at either end. The basement is of concrete and is divided into furnace-rooms, work-shops, morgue, etc., with ample provision for fuel storage.

“Adjoining the Home there is a large barn 42 x 65 with 16-foot posts and completed cement cellar. An artesian well provides an ample supply of excellent water.

“Mr. and Mrs. Slaughenwhite,(sic) who for a number of years have efficiently conducted the home at Billtown, have charge of the new home, and the inmates of the three old homes were installed in their new quarters last month.”

In 1864 Ambrose F. Church embarked on a project that would earn him the undying graditude of a multitude of genealogists.

Community by community, road by road, Church mapped out the entire 18 counties of Nova Scotia. The work took Church nearly a quarter century and when it was completed, we were left with a unique series of maps; unique in that the location of residences on county roads were pinpointed, along with the names of the principal householders. Each map also contained a business directory and a list of businessmen, professional people and farmers, another feature genealogical researchers and historians would find invaluable.

About seven years ago I did some research on Ambrose F. Church and wrote two columns on my findings for this paper. Except to rehash my findings – which I’ll do farther along – I have nothing new to add to those columns. However, there’s a new publication available at the Kings County Museum that makes it simple for anyone to search for ancestors on the Church map of Kings County.

Some background first. Ambrose F. Church produced his maps for the provincial government. His contract called for supplying the government with 25 copies of each county map but in the case of Kings County, between 200 and 300 copies may have been made. Church sold subscriptions to his maps, which apparently was part of his deal with the government, and subscribers were listed in his directory. Count the merchants, tradesmen, professional people and farmers listed in the Kings County map’s directory and this should give you a clue as to the minimum number of copies that were made.

It’s likely that only a few hundred copies of the Kings County maps were produced; and it’s also likely that few of these maps exist today. Church’s Kings County map can be found at the Kings County Museum in Kentville, in the municipal office, and the Randall House Museum, Wolfville; I know of only three copies privately owned but there must be more.

This dearth of Kings County maps is what makes the new “book” I mentioned such a great tool for researchers. Recently the community history committee of the Kings Historical Society published the Church map for Kings in letterhead size by dividing it into 14 sections, reproducing it in the same scale (one inch equals one mile) as the original. The result was a bound volume of some 50 pages that is much easier to access than the original map.

The community history committee didn’t stop there, however. As well as reproducing the map in 14 sections, the committee also listed the heads of households that Church printed on his original. Thanks to this feature, one can easily find an ancestor that lived here in the 19th century. After determining that my great grandfather’s residence was in section three, for example, it only took me a minute to find him in the listings

Another feature that will make things easy for researchers is the inclusion of Church’s original business directory listings. On his original, Church also included a number of smaller maps of areas such as Wolfville, Kentville, Sheffield Mills, etc. These are also reproduced in this volume.

I’ve used the word “invaluable” a couple of times in reference to this easy-to-use reproduction of the Church map of Kings County and I’ll say it again: An invaluable addition to the historical publications on Kings County.

The publication is now on sale at the Kings County Museum in Kentville.

The old poor houses once common in the Valley were also called poor farms, apparently because the hapless residents often had vegetables gardens, livestock, and were in effect small farms.

Other than this minor similarity, there appears at first glance to be no connection between poor houses and farming. At least, this is what I thought until what I found recently in the history files at the Kings County Museum revealed that there is.

But first some background. When leafing through the files I found a two-page document on early industries of Kings County and a three-page review of poor houses. The poor house review contained information I didn’t have when I did a column on this subject several years ago. I photocopied this material and the overview of early industries to read at my leisure, with the intent perhaps of incorporating the information in a future column.

When reading the documents at home later I learned that Kings County has had an agricultural society or federation for over 200 years. “Regarding agriculture and fruit raising,” the industry document reads, “a society for promoting agriculture was set up in November, 1789, in Halifax. (On) December 10, 1789, Kings County Agricultural Society began its career. It celebrated its centennial in 1889 by a dinner at the American House in Wolfville.” Later it was noted that by 1898 no less than nine agricultural societies existed in Kings County.

As mentioned, the poor farm history runs to three pages, (actually to be accurate, it’s just over two pages) and its author apparently accessed various sources to prepare this paper. As I also mentioned, there are details on poor farms not found in other reference sources – Eaton’s Kings County history, for example, and Edythe Quinn’s Greenwich history. Quinn’s book is the most detailed work on poor farms now in print. Ms. Quinn must have consulted government records in preparing her excellent history of the Greenwich poor farm.

But back to the not so obvious connection between poor farms and farming in Kings County. The document from the history files mentions the connection, as does Edythe Quinn since I checked her history after reading this document. The overview on early Kings County industries also mentions the connection and it’s found in the following paragraph about the Kings County Agricultural Society:

“Following the agricultural centennial (in 1889), certain general reforms were recommended. Within a few years, a memorial from the Society to the Municipal Council led to the purchase of a Poor Farm for the township of Horton, which resulted in greatly improving the condition of the poor.”

This is the connection and it seems to have been a charitable and wise move indeed. The history file document notes that the purchase of the farm was made “to improve the lot of the destitute,” but that it also “decreased the financial costs of the people’s maintenance.” You can read this last part as meaning that people relegated to the poor farm would henceforth be expected to look after themselves. No more handouts, in other words.

It was a generous, humane gesture by the Agricultural Society in more than one way. Before the poor farm system was established, the poor and needy were often farmed out or boarded in private residences where they worked as labourers and kitchen help. The abuse of this system and the abuse of the people in it undoubtedly prompted the Society to set up the Greenwich poor farm.

In a cabinet at the Kings County Museum – the history files – is a one-page document saluting Thomas Timmis Vernon Smith, the man who played a major role in building the railway through the Annapolis Valley.

“Vernon smith was the son of an iron founder who built some of the first steam engines in England,” the document begins. “Before coming to Canada, he worked with the London Southwestern Railway Company until 1847.

“Dr. Charles Tupper appointed him Chief Engineer of the proposed Windsor and Annapolis Railway, and he took up residence in Kentville… Vernon Smith was a vigorous, impatient man and he planned not only to develop the railway, but also steamship facilities at Yarmouth and Digby. He personally surveyed the sites for the railway and the construction of the bridges over the Avon and Gaspereau Rivers.”

Except to add that the railway was completed in 1869 and he moved on to supervise the building of the railway to Yarmouth, there is little else about Vernon Smith in the document. Much more could be written about a man who was the driving force behind the building of the railway. Smith hasn’t been entirely ignored by railway historians, but recognition of the role he played as a pioneer builder is practically non-existent.

No date is mentioned in the document on Smith’s appointment as Chief Engineer of the fledgling railway. However, Marguerite Woodworth gives the date as May 21, 1867, in her history of the Dominion Atlantic Railway. From this history we learn that Smith was involved from the beginning in efforts to finance the railway, which had a rocky start and was stalled for a long time when an economic depression struck England.

Woodworth’s book has numerous references to Vernon Smith and while they paint a skimpy picture, there’s enough to reveal his personality and some physical characteristics. Of his physical presence, for example, Woodworth writes that “the short, stocky figure of Vernon Smith… became a familiar one to the people of the Valley in the winter of 1868. Daily he was to be seen, alone or in company with one of the engineers, walking the section of the staked right-of-way. Snow and sleet had no terrors for him. He would drive with horse and sleigh to a point near the sections he wished to inspect, then with coat collar turned up, his stick swinging, walk from eight to ten miles over the rough roadbed.”

On his personality, Woodworth reveals that he was an energetic man who was often “at odds with his colleagues over details of the work,” but who had a dream. That dream was the building of a railroad system that “would one day reach through Nova Scotia, opening up resources, developing agriculture and populating the vacant lands – a line that would own branches and its fleet of steamships.”

Smith’s dream was to be eventually realised but not before many trials by weather and financial problems. Woodworth documents the disastrous effects the Saxby Gale of 1869 and the winter of 1870 had on the progress of the railway. These climatic quirks were costly and a railway that was already underfinanced felt the strain. While the Windsor & Annapolis Railway was up and running in 1870 and had overcome many operational and financial problems, the strain had proved too much for Vernon Smith. He resigned in 1872, moving to the newly formed Western Counties Railway.

More on railway builder Vernon Smith in a future column.