view of the tool exhibit
The grand opening of the NEW Bear River Heritage Museum took place June 9th. The new premises at the Oakdene Center is much smaller than previous quarters, but there sure is lots of light.
The museum will open for regular hours in July and August. Look for workshops and demonstrations!
Edward Holland of Ontario, the great-grandson of John (Jack) Payne wrote to us asking if we knew the location of his great-grandparent’s burial sites. He forwarded the following information about his great grandfather, and what a life it was.
Born in England in 1885, John Payne began his military life in 1902, arriving in South Africa for the Boer War just as it was ending. He then served in India and Ceylon. After the outbreak of WWI, John Payne saw action at Mons, Belgium and was wounded during the retreat to France. The very fact that he survived the bloodbath of Mons is pretty amazing. According to his daughter, John suffered from the injuries he received throughout the rest of his life.
In 1926, John, his wife Catharine, and their children moved to Bear River in 1926 under the auspices of the Soldier’s Settlement Act. The family operated a farm in Morganville and John Payne became renowned as a farmer and sportsman.
During the Second World War, John Payne served as a reservist in Canada.
This is an amazing story of how the wheel of fate plays in one’s life.
John Payne in India
John Payne’s medals
John Payne from the Campden 1914-1918 book
page 2 Campden book: John Payne
Obituaries: John (Jack) Payne
According to one elder, John Payne was a fox farmer. When the bottom fell out of the fox fur market, John Payne released the remainder of his stock into the wild. Because of this, the foxes around Bear River have different colors than the foxes in the rest of the province. An interesting legacy!
Anyone with any more information about John (Jack) Payne or members of his family that they would like to share, let us know!
It was a busy Victoria Day Weekend in Bear River with the opening of two summer Markets.
Saturday, May 19 was the first Saturday of the 2012 Market at the Bear River Millyard Recreation. The weather was perfect and the place was hopping!
Angela McMullan congratulates Bob Benson on a job well done.
Maggie Morine shows a friend how to load a dog.
Francois Bellefontaine admires a friend’s hosta purchase.
On Sunday, May 20 ,another perfect May Day was the setting for the Bear River Farmer’s Market on the waterfront park.
In other News:
We wish a speedy recovery to Larry Geshue who is having surgery for a hip replacement.
The last Friday night music event at Myrtle and Rosies for the summer is Friday, May 25th. Don’t worry, they plan to be back in the fall.
Eleanor Balser’s sister, was recently visiting from Quebec.
Peter Pierce and wife from Alberta recently visited with brother Micheal Pierce and Eva Tibbetts.
Bob and Sylavia Smith recently enjoyed a vacation in PEI.
Emily Hurlock is in Toronto visiting with the Nikitin family and seeing the sights.
Sandi Innes spent the past weekend with her aunt and uncle, Carl and Marion Yorke, in the Kentville area.
Belated happy birthday to Ralph Jefferson who celebrated May 18th.
Congratulations to Nathan Waterman and Rosie Meuse on their Tenth anniversary May 25. To help celebrate the special occasion, Ben and Stephanie Waterman and their four children from New Hampshire will be visiting for a week. Also home is Wanda Waterman who has been staying with Ben and family for the past few months.
May 16
Wow, good news happening up at the Oakdene Center! Linda Mae Findlay, president, just received word that the Center has been approved funds of $15,577 under the New Horizons for Seniors Grant. This money will be used to put metal roofing on the front south slope, put new front and fire exit doors on the main floor, and install Lexan plastic on 15 windows for energy efficiency.
Kudos to the Oakdene Board for their tenacity in keeping the old girl going.
A lovely and fun-filled Mother’s day picnic took place on the waterfront Park, hosted by Jon Welch and Erin Schopfler. Nice to see the space being used!
Cecil Hooper has resigned as president of the Bear River Legion, Branch 22. Todd Sloan, first vice president has stepped forward to fill the position.
A tragic highway accident took the lives of Freda and Norm Gammon on Tuesday, May 8th. The accident happened on the stretch of Highway 101 near Grosse Coques, and involved a second car, seriously injuring both occupants. The accident occurred around 9 pm.
Freda and Norm Gammon, both in their 70’s, were well known and well loved in their home community of Clementsvale, where they were actively involved in the vital Clementsvale Garden Club. Their energy and good humor will be greatly missed in the community and surrounding area.
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Raine Ryan , daughter of Shyla Harris and Cory Ryan, has undergone surgery and is doing very well . While she will be spending a little more time in hospital, we hope to announce her arrival home in Bear River soon.
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Joe Zawko has landed back in town after a winter in Florida and is beginning to fill up his calendar with social events of all kinds.
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Betty Levin is back in Bear River and seeing Spring in the village for the first time.
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We wish a speedy recovery to Linda Rice who is in the Digby Hospital recovering from injuries to her hip, from a recent fall.
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Congratulations to Sheila and Mac Justason who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversay on May 5th. A lovely party was held for them at the Changing Tides Diner.
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Lucy (Glover) Mullen is being cared for in the Digby Hospital for breathing problems. We wish her a quick recovery.
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Bear River Nova Scotia is unusual in many ways. A cannon barrel embedded in the pavement on a street corner is one of them
a little worse for wear
....but still standing.
One school of thought of why it is there is that it keeps anyone from taking the corner too quickly. But here it is in the 1880’s, when it was only horse and buggy.
130 years ago
cannon on the corner, 1920's
We would love to know how that came about…. Did some one say: hey, Wilbur wants to get rid of that old cannon barrel he’s got lying around. Let’s put it on the corner next to Clarke Brothers store. People can use it as an ash tray.
Was there a ceremony, or did it just appear there one day?
It’s not like you come across a cannon barrel too often. Historically, Bear River was not a fortress town. There were cannon in Digby and cannon in Annapolis Royal, but Bear River? Was it a souvenir someone brought back on a sailing ship?
A lot of people live in town for a long time before they realize that there is a cannon on the corner. Some people may not even know it is there at all.
It’s just another one of those important little things.
all content on this page copyright of Think For Yourself Publishing, April 2012
A very special birthday party was held for Diane Griffith on Friday, April 20th, with a very special guest flown in for the occasion….
The place was packed, not only to celebrate Diane’s birthday but also her recent release from hospital….and of course the great music.
Another reason to believe that Bear River Nova Scotia is a very special place.
Spring is really happening in Bear River! Here are a few of the tell-tale signs.
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Happy Birthday this month to Roz Rice who is turning 80! To celebrate there will be an open house birthday party at the Advent Christian Church on April 28, from 2 to 4, with refreshments served. All of Rosalinds’s friends are welcome to attend!
Myrtle and Rosie’s has expanded! That’s right, the space formerly occupied by Kelly Foxton’s Trading Post is now part of the kitchen, making much more room in the previous space for tables and merchandise. Drop in and see how great it looks.
Tim Wilson is back in Bear River after a long absence.
Good News! Raine Ryan, daughter of Shyla Harris and Cody Ryan, is off the critical list and doing well. The hope is that she will soon be strong enough for surgery.
We are sorry to hear that Mike Corbett has moved way down the valley. While Noreen Millar and Erin have moved from town they are still nearby in Clementsport.
The former location of the Bear River Bargains and Books won’t be empty for long. Mark Jacques will be opening up his upholstery shop there in the near future. Mark is the son of Stan and Alice Jacques who operated SAM Upholstery for many years, and Mark has been running the business for some time now in Clementsvale.
The Scotch Doubles pool tournament in Annapolis Royal last weekend saw a couple from Kingston walk away with first prize, but second place and $200.00 went to Fred Miller and Andrea. Well played!
And more about pool: Sunday, April 15 is the day for the Tommy Thibeault Tournament at the Bear River Legion. Last year’s winners, Todd and Sam Sloane will be trying to hold on to the trophy against some stiff competition. Good Luck to Everyone!
Phyllis Read is enjoying the company of visiting family over the Easter weekend.
Kyle Ellis is happy to be spending the Easter weekend with his mother, Teresa Henshaw, and a great Easter dinner with the family around the dinner table.
Congratulations to Eric Cox, who won the draw for the quilt at the Bear River Health Clinic.
And for all of you waiting desperately to hear the latest whereabouts of Francois Bellefontaine, we are happy to announce that his latest trip had him touring the countryside of Portugal.
Happy Easter to All.
The most recent pamphlet we can find written by a resident of Bear River about the village is “History and Stories of Bear River, The Switzerland of Nova Scotia.”
This wonderful glimpse of the village, complete with photos, was written in May,1977. Here is it reproduced digitally for your enjoyment. Click on image to enlarge.
Unfortunately Ancil and Ethel Ellis have both passed on, but with enough encouragement, maybe another “old timer” will tell you a few stories.
Bear River Nova Scotia: life in a small town 
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