Fibreglass replica of a Mi’maq birchbark canoe hangs in the Fairbanks Centre.

Fibreglass replica of a Mi’maq birchbark canoe hangs in the Fairbanks Centre.

As indicated in a previous article a second canoe has been hung from the ceiling of the Fairbanks Centre.  The first one which was hung several years ago is a fibreglass replica of a Mi’maq birchbark canoe. The original bark version, after which this was patterned was a birch bark canoe constructed by a member of the Mi’kmaq community.  This fibreglass craft was constructed in the 1990s for the CBC to be used in the videotaping of a series of four programs on Mi’kmaq history which were used in schools.

It is important to realize the birch bark canoe, which was invented by the North American First Nations, was unknown in the rest of the world and without it the exploration of this Continent by the Europeans would have been next to impossible.  The bark or skin canoes were developed over the course of thousands of years by the natives of North America.  Champlain writes of his journey to the Great Lakes.  “There is no craft known to the Europeans except the canoe of birch bark with which the journey to the Upper Country can be made…”.

-Bernie Hart

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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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