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Thanks to Bill Moore, the Avery Model is now operational again!

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The Avery was the first vessel to make the complete journey from Dartmouth Cove to Maitland. This historic journey took place in the fall of 1861. It was then used to tow barges along the route of the Canal. As you can see from the photos the Avery was a steam powered side-paddle wheeler. She was built at Porto Bello adjacent to the Marine Rail system which transported vessels between lakes William and Charles. This system was completed and in operation before the downtown Dartmouth Marine Railway was complete.

Thank you to Bill Moore, Maritime Ship Modelers Guild, for repairing the working model of the Avery which is on display at the Fairbanks Centre. The model was originally constructed by Robert Payne and Michael Concannon, members of Maritime Ship Modelers Guild. The Commission is most grateful for the contributions these gentlemen have made.

-Bernie Hart

Sketch of the Avery

Sketch of the Avery

Avery Model in the Holding Pond by the Fairbanks Centre in 2006

Avery Model in the Holding Pond by the Fairbanks Centre in 2006

New exhibit at the Fairbanks Centre

New exhibit at the Fairbanks Centre

Visitors to the Fairbanks Centre will be treated to a new exhibit – a restored hundred plus year old Peterborough canoe which was donated by its most recent owner, Dr. Donald Gordon.  Not long after the opening of the Fairbanks Centre a fibre glass replica of a birchbark Mi’maq canoe was suspended from the ceiling and now visitors will see this second craft which is turned upside down so that people can view its interior.  The canoe which was built by the Peterbrough Canoe Company in the early 1900s was initially acquired by the Banook Canoe Club and subsequently purchased from them in the late 1940s by Fred Gordon of Milton, Hants Co.  Because of his interest in restoring canoes Don Gordon was delighted to be able to acquire the canoe in 1994 and he began the long and arduous task of restoring it. Three years later Don had the pleasure of launching his prized possession at Birch Cove on Lake Banook.  When you next visit the Centre you will be able to observe Don’s handiwork as the canoe is suspended so that you can see all of the inside features – an interesting contrast to present day craft.

-by Bernie Hart

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See a copy of Henry Findlay’s Diary at the Fairbanks Centre

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See a copy of Henry Findlay’s Diary at the Fairbanks Centre

We will be tweeting On this Day in History (OTDH) excerpts from Henry Findlay’s Diary. A copy of which is on display at the Fairbanks Centre.

Prologue from transcript.

Henry Findlay was employed as lock-keeper to the Inland Navigation Company and its successor the Lake and River Navigation Company until 1872.

From his journal, it is clear that not only was he lock-keeper, but he was also inclined plane operator, maintenance foreman, toll collector and clerk/administrator.

Check us out on twitter at @ShubieCanal

 

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Canal Greenway Park Flume House to be rebuild 155 years after the original

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Canal Greenway Park Flume House to be rebuild 155 years after the original

Well, as they say “what goes around comes around”. It was 155 years ago today that Shubenacadie Canal Lock Keeper Henry Findlay wrote the following Log entry – “Sutherlands commenced shingling flume house.”

The Flume House was the name given to the wooden building over the Turbine Chamber which housed the turbine that powered the Marine Rail system. The rail system carried boats, on an inclined plane, between the Harbour and Sullivans Pond. The turbine was powered by a flow of water from Sullivans Pond delivered through a large wooden flume.

At present, while it is hidden from view, work is under way down in the stone turbine chamber in preparation for the construction of a replica of the Flume House. It will be built this year and will be constructed over the very same stone chamber that was there in Henry’s time. This construction is part of the activities on the Canal Greenway site on Price Albert Road. Another feature, a life-size replica of the Marine Cradle on which the boats were transported between the Harbour and the Pond, was placed on site in October.

The passage of boat loads of materials up and down the inclined plane would have been a familiar sight for Dartmouthians in Henry’s time. I am sure that he never imagined that 155 years later Dartmouthians would, once again, be about to “commence shingling the flume house”.

– Bernie Hart

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