People

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How Bear River CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS

Published December 22, 2013 by oddacity designs

There may be a few Scrooges and Grinches in Bear River, but most of  the folks around town still know how to celebrate the season. Our fabulous volunteer fire department came through with another village Christmas tree this year, and the trees and candy canes across town makes the town a special “Bear River festive”.  The folks up on Landsdowne Rd. really got into the spirit with their amazing array of Christmas lights.  Even the Flight of Fancy got into the act.

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Then there are the Christmas, “must do” events.  Since it is Noel Lalonde’s  birthday, Myrtle and Rosie’s has a special Friday night celebration, and this year everyone was supposed to put on the dog.  Diane, stole the show and declared herself the winner in an outfit created for her by Zoë , and everyone had to agree!

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For thirty years, give or take, the Greenland crowd has put on a Christmas concert, that has become famous, and rightly so. With the talents of the Hewey family and the Greg Peck family, how could it go wrong?  The little church gets standing room only crowds.  With guest appearances from Elvis and Red Green, we can understand why! We are truly blessed to have such people of talent in our community.

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And then there are those who really know how to go over the top when it comes to Christmas decor.  Right here in Bear River is someone who devotes herself and her home to every aspect of the festive season. Talk about extreme decorating.  Wow, is all we can say. ( Some of these acquaintances do look like hobos!)

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A Walk Down Memory Lane….. Part one

Published November 24, 2013 by oddacity designs

One hundred years ago, the Clarke family ruled Bear River.  Many of them left in the 20’s and 30’s  for a variety of reasons.  Atlee Clark , son of W.W. Clarke and Mary Etta Chute,  was one of those and he suffered from severe homesickness.  To relieve the pain and relive the memories, he wrote the following memories, based on geographic landmarks.  Some of the notations are hard to decipher, but are included for accuracy.

Bear River, Annapolis County, beginning with Seth Wade hill and continuing into town

Seth Wade

Jim Trimper and family, a real bunch

Gus Copeland and Family

Asa Walsh and family, elderly couple

Kniffen Rd (old post rd)  At top of Kniffen hollow Rd. a family of Myron Chute and son apparently living alone.

Steve Kniffen and family.  Daughter Mary went to school with me, had a son Roy.

Dan Marvin, place bought by Peter McGregor (Elsie Henshaw farm)

Rice chap moved from head of the tide (possible Elmer Rice)

Other side of Kniffen Hollow was Joe Warren and family and Cliff Copeland

Wm. (Billie) McCormack and son, Earl, married to Edna Coombs

Continuing from Asa Walsh on Main Rd.

Earl and Edna McCormack  and family.  Moved down with father from old Milbury home.  I think Ira McCormick moved out and Earl moved in.

WW Clarke orchard sold to Geo. Oickle.

Truman Hamilton; later Cecil Miller, married to Hazel Oikle.

Mrs. Scott and colored chap, Otis Myers.  Later bought by Major and Amanda Symonds Below road: Rogers family, later Howard and Viola Cress.

WG Clarke and Nancy Marshall lived three houses below with family.  Eldest Ethel was drowned.  Edith Nancy and Josephine.

Between barn and their home, Fowler Robinson, who worked for W.G. Clarke as handyman.  Then Walter Brown bought it.

W.E. Read and family.  Kate, Fred, Ruth, Willard, Stuart, Bruce.  Now Bruce and wife.

error: Between Read and Robinson lived Harvey Marshall, a carpenter, who I think is closely related to Nancy Marshall, wife of WG Clarke, possibly a brother.

Harding and Elizabeth (Rice) Chute, parents of Herbert Chute who was apparently lost at sea, daughter Maryetta Chute, wife of WW Clarke.  Home passed to AB Clarke (son) on his marriage to Grace Edna Moore.  They rented to Joe Steadman, Joe Mc Kenna (bank manager) and sold to Commander Hood from the Cornwallis base on his retirement.

Eddie Troop and Sam Stevens and family.

Harry Mason and family, then Charles Crabbe and family.  Then a barn. House removed by BC Clarke.

Barn, now gone and Riverview annex built by BC Clarke.  Later closed and rented to Morine family, present use unknown.

Just beyond barn next to Mason house occupied by John Morine, engineer of SS Bear River.  When boat was sold, it was replaced by a converted corvette of steel.  So cold, crew was miserable.  Disposal unknown.  Morine moved to Greenland.  Prior to that, he accused Ira Clarke who was rabbit hunting of shooting one of his cows.  Dad investigated and found it was another person.

RIGHT HAND SIDE TO BRIDGE (Clementsvale Rd. off to left)

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Field with small building roadside, used by Alpheus Chute as storage for  building moving equipment. Later used by undertaker for coffin storage, also a polling booth. (photo 1)

Alpheus Chute and family (Lizzie) .  Winnie younger daughter who married Fred Woodworth. Lizzie worked for Clarke Bros as steno for many years.  Annie married Laurie Nicholson, went to USA, returning every year after his death until the 70’s.  Harry went west to Edmonton.  House still vacant. (photo 2)

Capt.L. Brinton and family.  Harold (Annie) Brinton who died a short time ago.

Church of England, burned and rebuilt.  Rector Rev. A.W.L. Smith of Clements Parish (photo 3)

Old School, burned and rebuilt.  Contractor, Howard Snell.  Could not finish job and finished by ES Langinne of Wolfville.  I was checker of materials. Lumber bought from J. Cunningham, and had to reject large quantities die to poor quality.  Les Fairn was architect and material for building was far in excess of what was needed and much was returned or not used, so original plans were altered and some needed stuff was omitted.  Original plans specified lighting to light a big town and would have cost a fortune so was left out.  Stage had a large number of colored lights specified enough for a New York show. (photo 4)

John Yorke, kept stables. Drove mail to Deep Brook Stn each day. Wife ran millinery shop in basement. He was a farrier, wheelwright.  Family, Dimock, John and Fanny.  Dimock later barbered on addition to Schmidt’s store. (photo 5)

Methodist Church (photo 6)

Dr. Ellison: daughter married W.M. Romans bank manager. After May’s death, Roman married a Milligan (Jessica) and after his death, she lived there many years.  (photo 7)

John Moore and family.  Mary (Hubbard) Elizabeth (spinster) Horace.  They moved away to USA  House rented to Tom Wright and family….Dr. WM Wright (geologist) Clyde and Viola who were half kin to Wm. Later, Horace, Lizzie and Mary Hubbard moved back where they passed away.  House became property of Mel Parker who married Geraldine Purdy.  Now they are both deceased. (photo 8)

W.W.Clarke and Mary Etta Chute and family of  Harry (died of scarlet fever) Atlee, Carrel, Ira.  Atlee married Grace Edna Moore, Ira married Minnie Baldwin of Gravesend, England and Carrel married Anna Schneider of Oswego, NY whom he met at Acadia.  She passed away in May 1967 and he is now married to the widow of Bill Ryan and living in Dartmouth.  His family of Ruth and Wallace are living in Ottawa with their children.  Wallace has three girls and Ruth has three boys, two of whom are married.  Wallace is thinking of retirement from Northern Electric.

WW Clarke property sold to Dr Campbell after death of WW and Mary Etta Clarke.  After death of WW Clarke in 1932, Charles Green and wife lived with Mary Etta Clarke until her death in 1940.  The sons of WW Clarke have all passed away except Carrel.  House was sold to Dr. Campbell after being rented for a very short time to a shyster doctor who did not  pay board and was booted out.  Rented to Lincoln pulp employee O’Keefe who moved to Annapolis. Then sold and Dr. Campbell brought in Dr. Rowton who was a good MD. but his wife was an oddball. He moved to Bridgewater and house went to Chester Kaulback , married to Mary Oickle.  He moved barbershop to small building  built down from house at street. Sold it to some woman who ran an apt. set up for elderly, older and infirm people and carved it to several apartments..  Do not know its present use or disposal.( photo 9)

Chester built a small house next to Clarke property while in Clarke house and another on the Kelly property Charlie Murphy Dunn lived in back.  Do not know much about them. Later, GWVA rented to McLean family.  No knowledge about present use

219th Regiment (I think) looked after by Alphy Banks and often kegs of rum kept under uniforms and supplied by Genps Sanford(sic).  When used by GWVA it was a place for card playing by cronies every day.  Back of bldg. large barn for oxen used by Clarke Bros. drivers George Tupper, JP and collector of customs. Upstairs C. Phinney harness maker.  At back, Charlie Wilson bicycle repairs.  Then Murphy Dunn, cobbler.  Later John Freeman took over Phinney harness maker and leather work. (photo 10)

Down Wharf Rd to river.  Clarke Bros. stables for draft horses, warehouses for all kinds of building materials, wharves full of lumber and piling, storage for all kinds of ships needs such as ropes, tar, pitch, rosin, lime, cement etc. Private stables for driving horses, family cow etc. Hostler, Charlie Garnam who considered himself an authority on horse flesh.  Later stable became used for storing flour and feed, and upstairs all kinds of building materials such as sheathing, flooring, rope, barrels etc.  this was at the back of WW Clarke home.  Both his home and that of John Moore extended all the way back to the river. (photo 11)

W.E. Liller, foreman at Lake Jolly and family.  Roy, Annie, Clara.  He lived at large house at Lake Jolly until after mill closed or in winter time.  Then occupied by Ralph Purdy   and then Waldo Chute. Now occupant unknown.  Below was union bank of Halifax, later Royal Bank.  When bank moved, Howard Cunningham office. All buildings to the Masonic Lodge were owned by Clarke Bros. and used for house furnishings etc. Later for pulp company offices.  When pulp company folded, upstairs badminton.(photo 12)

WW Wade, General store and penny goods.  Daughter Hattie, milliner.   Later O.A. Eisner store.  Then Mrs. Hubley Tea Room

Fred Schmidt Store.  Run by widow for some years after his death.  For a short time run by a Mrs. Rice from Head of the Tide.  In same area, Ira and Gladys McCormick ran a store.Howard Cress lived upstairs and I think McCormacks lived there a few years. Tacked on to store was a small converted storeroom where Dimock Yorke did barbering. (photo 13)

Clarke Bros. wharf for SS Bear River and warehouses for storage of clothes,pins, sheathing, shingles, etc. Also part used by O.A. Eisner,  a cooper.  He later opened a store below Masonic Hall. Moved to Lawrencetown with family and store taken over by Mrs. Hubley as tea room. Facing street across from LV Harris, a small separate building. Upstairs Frank Burrage, a tailor with seamstress, Mrs Letteney, helped by Helen Ford who Burrage later married.  Later, Vernon Peck barbered in the lower part.

This about completes South side as far as I can remember. There may be a few errors due to some names not being remembered as to first names.

now gone buildings on warterfront

now gone buildings on waterfront

editor’s note:  On the left hand side of this photo you can see some of the buildings that are mentioned in Atlee Clarke’s remembrances. The large white one in the middle is the  wharf and warehouse for SS Bear River. Further to the left are the other buildings mentioned in the paragraph beginning with “W.E. Liller ..”

main st. in the 1920's

main st. in the 1920’s

The right hand side of the photo is what the village looked like when Atlee Clarke remembers.  Note the extra building where the entrance to wharf rd. is now…next the 2 buildings where the Legion now stands and then the Mason’s Hall. After the gap is what was W.W. Wade General store, later O.A. Eisnor’s and Mrs. Hubley’s Tea Room.  The last building is the Fred Schmidt store.  Note the Bandstand right before the bridge.

The Great Oakdene Art Event

Published November 10, 2013 by oddacity designs

As if the fabulous color outside wasn’t enough, the group at Oakdene Center flung open the doors to strut their stuff to the community at large.   The studios were cleaned and gussied up and the art beautifully displayed.

A gala opening was held on Friday,  Oct. 18th with food and music and even some wine.  And the event ran through Saturday and Sunday with lots of lookers.

The Oakdene studio artists are Ken Flett,  Rebekah Wetmore, Claire Thorbes, Kelli Jansen, Joan Stanley, Michael Jacques, and Kelly Foxton.

In addition to the studio artists, several other members of the village hung their art, including Sandy Leonard, Cathy Banks, Cheryl Stone, Ann Zimmerman, Craig Dorsey, Gary Fraser,  Marilyn Preus and what art exhibit would be complete without something from Flora Doehler!

See for yourself….

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Claire Thorbes does portraits of pets.  If you would like to commission a work, you can contact her at 467-0518, or clare.thorbes@gmail.com.  Visit clarethorbes.com for more examples of her work.

Rebeckah Wetmore recently moved to the area from Massachusetts.   You can see more of her work at rhwetmore.com

Social news/ November 2013

Published November 4, 2013 by oddacity designs
Paul and Gretchen Volenick have returned from a trip to the New England States where they enjoyed visiting various members of the family, especially grandchildren. 
Frank and Jean Marshall have returned from their annual shopping trip to Bangor where they enjoyed the scenery and the shopping.  It’s great to see Jean walking the River Rd.again.
Glendon and Bev Milbury went off to enjoy the colorful leaves in the Eastern U.S. and missed a few nice ones here.
Zoe Onysko enjoyed several days on the north shore and Cape Breton with a friend in early October.  The Cabot Trail was better than ever!
A big farewell bash was held at the RC Legion recently to say sayonara to Cecil Hooper who is off to Malta on a mission for a few months. Hope he sends some postcards!
Jane (Hamill) Gray has packed her bags and moved to London Ontario.  We wish her well in her future pursuits.
Gary Tooley has also moved, but only as far as Salmon River.  We hope he makes as many friends there as he had here in Bear River.
Mike Read recently traveled to Ontario.
Sue Friend and George Sloane managed to get their roof shingled just in time for the winter, with help from good buddy, Jon Welch.
We are sad to report that Diane and Noel LaLonde have headed to Florida to tend to Diane’s son who was recently injured in a vehicular accident.
There was a party out at the camp to celebrate Harold Porter’s 90th birthday last month and we wish him belated birthday greetings!
Glynnis Jones and Russell Quinn enjoyed a visit from Glynnis’ son from British Columbia.  Glynnis then went off to Ottawa to do some serious sightseeing.
After decades in Bear River, Bud and Dorothy Denton have moved to Dartmouth to be with their daughter.  We wish them all the best and will certainly miss them.
Francois Bellefontaine is still resting in Montreal before he begins the next round of world travels.
Flora Doehler is excited about her new greenhouse that she recently got on sale, and all the gardening possibilities for next season.  In the meantime she is busy making leek and swiss chard pies.
Sue Richmond is on her way back to California for another winter, and looking forward to returning next year.
We sadly waved goodbye to John and Linda McSweeney who headed back to Florida for good, after selling their home on River Rd. We wish them well in the future.
Charles Coupar and daughter, Claudia are spending the winter in Provincetown, Mass.
Condolences to the family of John Lagan who passed away in late October.
Congratulations to the proud parents Matthew and Joy Henshaw on the arrival of new baby girl, Evelyn.  Happy grandparents are Darlene and Rodney Peck.
The Millyard Recreation Cottages and campground has passed the inspection by the Dept. of Tourism and are now licensed accommodations and will be included in next year’s Doer’s and Dreamer’s guide.  Congratulations to Bob Benson for making his vision a reality!

Remembrance Day: Lest We Forget

This year’s Remembrance Day service will be held at the Baptist Church at 9:45, followed by the laying of the wreaths at the cenotaph.  A supper will be held at the Legion at 5 pm, veterans are free and all others just $5.00.

Birthdays

Peggy Chisholm, Nov 4
Elizabeth Mount, Nov. 7
Ann Brown, Nov 9
Janet Postma, Nov 10
John Parker, Nov 12
Francois Bellefontaine, Nov 19
Diane Milbury, Nov 26
Shelly Rice, Nov 30

A trip to the 60’s

Published September 12, 2013 by oddacity designs

Back in the spring, a great music event was held at Myrtle and Rosie’s to celebrate Diane’s birthday.  The theme was the ’60s, and the results were…..groovy, man.  It’s just another example of how folks in Bear River manage to have some fun!

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We all look forward to the next 60’s bash, cause if you lived it, you can’t remember it!

The Bear River Winter Carnival: February 14-17/2013

Published February 18, 2013 by oddacity designs

The Sixth Annual Bear River Winter carnival took place with rave reviews and while the weather was too mild for skating and too stormy on Sunday for the long trek events, the whole shebang was definitely a success and we all look forward to next year’s version.

And the fireworks were amazing!

Thanks to all the volunteers who put it together….

The week of Sept. 8 to 15 2012

Published September 16, 2012 by oddacity designs

 

In Bear River, Nova Scotia this week…

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The Annapolis Highland Winery held their third annual fall festival and the weather was perfect, as was the food and wine.  Music on the deck had everyone relaxed and enjoying the view while sampling different vintages from this award winning winery.  Bear River is fortunate indeed to have such a thriving and exceptional enterprise in our backyard!

The Bass Fishing Tournament was held on Sept. 15 with absolutely no fish caught.  But as co-chair Fred Miller said: “No big deal; everyone had a great time anyway and that’s what it’s all about!”

But someone caught a big one….The Winner of the $1000 prize for biggest fish from the Bear River Millyard Recreation is Brian (B.J) Trimper.  Nice job guys…congratulations!

This one didn’t get away!

 

 

Sept. 1-8/2012 The week in Photos

Published September 8, 2012 by oddacity designs

The week that was….

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In other happenings.

We regret to announce the passing of  Harry Ellis on Sept. 6,. Condolences to his family and friends.

The children of  Bear River went back to school.  Watch out for those school buses.

Francois Bellefontaine  traveled to the Eastern Shore for a few days for a visit with his sister.

It is great to see Brian and Jill Chapman back in town for a while!

It is sad to announce the passing of Carl Goldberg on Saturday, Sept. 8.  Condolences to all his family and friends.

 

A Visit to the Digby County Exhibition 2012

Published August 28, 2012 by oddacity designs

The Digby County Exhibition in Bear River may be small but it sure is fun. If you enjoy country living, this exhibition cover all the bases, from livestock and ox pulls to fruit and vegetable competitions, to home baking and jam making. If you are a city slicker at heart, well go anyway, and maybe you will learn something!

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