From our collection, are two glass lilies donated by Mrs. Langley, a piece of raw Trenton glass donated by Mr. Aron Hunter, and a metal business card of the manufacturer Humphreys Glass Co. of Trenton, N.S.. From the early 1880’s to the early 1900’s, glass was produced in Trenton by Humphrey’s, Lamont, and the Nova Scotia Glass Company. Humphrey’s Glass Company operated in three buildings - one on Main Street and two on Glass Street. The company was started by John Humphreys and his brother in 1890, the company was shut down in 1920. Trenton glass is known as a collectable due its distinct color. 

From our collection, a deck light from the wrecked barque Melmerby. The ship was wrecked on Sunday October 12th, 1890, on Melmerby Beach which was then known as Kings Head Beach. The Melmerby was a 1400 tonne barque headed by the Danish Captain Martin Oliesen transporting timber from Quebec to England.

Well passing Anticosti Island the ship entered a bad storm. One of the crewmembers, 16-year-old David Evans slipped and fell off the mast leaving him bedridden. The timber was badly loaded and was shifting the weight of the ship. Due to this the crew had to push some of the timber off into the water which broke the lifeboats hanging from the side. As the storm worsened the captain decided that they were going to steer course for Sydney instead of continuing towards England. A Norwegian ship encountered them and offered help, but Captain Oliesen refused.

As the storm worsened and they approached Sydney a schooner called the Mary led by a Captain Bodreau and his two sons caught up to the Melmerby. Captain Bodreau advised Captain Oliesen to go to Pictou instead of Sydney. Captain Oliesen didn’t know how to get to Pictou, so Captain Bodreau decided to board the Melmerby and go with them leaving his sons to take the Mary ahead to Pictou. At this point the ship was severely damaged, it was leaking, the deckhouse was smashed, and the rudder had fallen off. The wind pushed the ship to Melmerby Beach which at the time was Kings Head Beach. On Sunday the Henderson family of Big Island were the first to spot them. By Monday morning there was a crowd on the beach watching the ship.

The storm was so bad that only a lifeboat managed to reach the Melmerby. When the lifeboat pulled next to them Captain Oliesen was the first to jump in breaking the laws of the sea. 15 men got into the lifeboat leaving six crew members behind on the Melmerby. On the way back to the beach the lifeboat was tipped, 14 of the 15 men, including Captain Oliesen drowned, only one managed to survive. Two of the men left, Samuel Cook and James Flecther who were both strong swimmers jumped off the Melmerby and swam ashore unharmed. Captain Boudreau’s son Alcide walked from Pictou to Melmerby Beach to try and save his father, he arrived there on Tuesday. Five men agreed to go on a lifeboat with Alcide Bodreau to rescue the remaining crewmembers. Those men were Dr. McLean a dentist, Captain Peter Graham, David Fraser a machine shop foreman, Watkins Williams a deckhand, and James MacGuireson a farmer/fisherman. As they approached the Melmerby they threw buckets of oil in front of them to break the waves. When they made it to the ship all 4 remaining crew members, including the bedridden David Evans, boarded the lifeboat and made it safely back to shore. After this the ship fell apart and through the following months people collected pieces of the boat such as this deck light as souvenirs.

Out of the men that drowned only one body was found that being the body of Captain Oliesen. His body was found near Lismore in July of 1891. Based on his possessions it was found that he was a member of the Freemasonry. Due to this, local Masons took interest and had his body buried in a field near where his body was found, and a granite pillar was placed over the grave.

If you would like to hear the story in more detail you can follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvs2NxlD-1k. It should be noted that in the video Captain Oliesen is referred to as Captain Olson, and Alcide Bodreau is referred to as Alphons Bodreau, both are common mistakes. The video also states that Melmerby was originally spelled “Melmervy”, though this is untrue. Much thanks to Jack Cunningham (1903-1994) an auctioneer from Avondale, Pictou County, his nephew whose YouTube channel the linked video is on, and to Corey Hartling, for sharing the story.

From our collection and currently on display, three Francis Drake Ginger Beer Bottles donated by Mrs. Margaret Shackley. Francis Drake's Aerated Water Plant was once located in New Glasgow, the plant was known to produce various carbonated beverages including but not limited to ginger beer. 

From our collection and currently on display, a pneumatic cash tube from the Goodman Co. store! Goodman Co. was founded by Harry Goodman with the help of business partner Vineberg, the store specialized in the sale of domestic and household goods. The store itself had some unique features, one being the pneumatic cash tube system, which was operational long after the system lost popularity, due to the costs associated with removing them. Another being that the store was built on top of the New Glasgow railway tracks, locomotives ran through the center of the building. Customers could walk through the underground tunnel to cross to the opposite side of the building. 

From our collection, this knife was used to carve the ox during the celebration of the opening of the Albion Mines Railway in 1839. The knife is made of blue steel, (tungsten and chromium added to steel), and has a bone handle. The railway opened with a big celebration as it was the first effective steam railway in Canada as well as the first to have split-switch moveable rails. From 1840 to 1889 the railway took coal and sometimes passengers between the Albion Mines in Stellarton and Dunbar's Point in Abercrombie, parts of the track were used all the way up to 1961. Upon its opening the railway had three trains, all made by Timothy Hackworth in Durham, England: the Hercules, John Buddle, and famously the Samson. The Samson, which is currently preserved at the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry, is the oldest surviving train in Canada as well as the first to have run on iron rails. 

Pictured are three Sutherland rifle sights, a Sutherland rifle sight box, and a description of the Sutherland combination rifle rear sight. Murdoch Evett Sutherland was born on October 6, 1875, in Six Mile Brook, Pictou County. Sutherland filed his first patent in Canada in 1902 for an adjustable sight for a combination rifle. Soon after, Sutherland would make improvements to his design and file for patents in France and Great Britain. He intended for his sights to be used in the military, but they never saw such use. In 1905, Sutherland created the Sutherland Rifle Sight Company Ltd. in New Glasgow. Through the company, he would make and sell his rifle sights throughout the county. Sutherland lived in Westville and continued creating new sights until 1907. His most popular rifle sight was for target shooting with the Canadian-made Ross rifle. The company was active in filing patents until 1909. Sutherland would go on to serve for the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI. 

From our collection and currently on display, a Sailor’s Valentine. Popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, used as gifts for sailors’ loved ones upon their return from voyages. Previously thought to be crafted by the sailors themselves, they are now recognized as the work of local artisans. Some were labeled with ‘B.H (Benjamin Hinds) Belgrave Barbados,’ associated with Benjamin Hinds, who owned the New Curiosity Shop in Bridgetown, Barbados which operated from 1878 to 1925. Local Barbadian women were renowned for their shell and needle craft, intricately designing geometric arrangements of tiny seashells glued into these octagonal hinged cases. Designs often featured hearts, nautical symbols, roses and occasionally messages spelled out with shells. 

Pictured are four communion tokens of varying shapes and a communion token box all from the John Knox Free Church of New Glasgow.

The idea of the communion token was first introduced by John Calvin and Pierre Viret in Geneva, Switzerland. The idea was initially rejected by the Reformed church but began to be introduced in France the following year. The purpose of the communion token was to enforce a closed communion. Members of the church who were virtuous and displayed proper conduct would be given a communion token and therefore could have Holy Communion. The coins were in scripted with bible verses such as “do this in remembrance of me”, and “let a man examine himself”. Communion tokens were most popular in Scotland. For this reason, communion tokens often had the image of the burning bush from the Old Testament which is the symbol of the Free Church of Scotland.

The John Knox Free Church in New Glasgow was founded by Scottish immigrant John Stewart around 1844. John Stewart was born in Perthshire, Scotland around 1800. He received a degree in theology from the University of Edinburgh and became licensed by the presbytery of Dunkeld on 26 June 1832. On August 23rd, 1834, John Stewart immigrated to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and became the first missionary to visit many pioneer settlements in Cape Breton. In 1836, Stewart and his wife Alica Murray Drysdale moved to Frasers Mountain just outside of New Glasgow. Stewart was a follower of the Free Church movement which was against state control in churches. Due to this belief, he led most of the members of St. Andrews Church to leave their church and join the new John Knox Free Church that he founded around 1844. In 1874 the Primitive Congregation of the James Church in New Glasgow joined the church. The church is named after "The Reverend" John Knox (1514-1572) a Scottish minister who was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The John Knox Free Church no longer exists and became what is know known as the United Church. John Stewart would go on to create the Free Church College in Halifax which is now a part of the Atlantic School of Theology. Stewart died in New Glasgow on May 4th, 1880. 

On display from our collection is an Iron Pot brought over by Kenneth Fraser on the ship Hector. The Hector had been transporting immigrants for several years before Kenneth Fraser’s voyage in 1773. On July 1st 1773, the Hector departed from Greenock and Lochbroom, Scotland. The voyage was challenging, with 18 children buried at sea before arriving in Pictou, Nova Scotia on September 5th, 1773. Kenneth, his wife Catherine and their children initially settled in Londonderry before receiving a 450 acre land grant on the east side of Middle River in 1783. Kenneth also purchased an additional 100 acres from Walter Patterson on the west side of Middle River, likely what is now Green Hill. He was chosen as an Elder and was described by Reverend MacGregor as an amiable Christian and a pious man. After Kenneth’s death on May 20th, 1792, his heirs received a crown land grant of 150 acres. Kenneth’s grave can be found in the Alma Cemetery. 

From our collection and currently on display, a Hand-Sleigh used to transport mail. This sleigh, one of only two remaining, was initially used by Captain George Christie in the 1870's to haul mail across the frozen harbour from Pictou to Pictou Landing. His son John R. Christie carried on delivering mail for another 45 years until his sudden passing in 1944. During the winters John R. would travel through deep snow on the ice covered harbour with this sleigh, he never missed a day of delivering mail to the communities of Pictou and Pictou Landing. 

From our collection, New Glasgow souvenir china depicting the tram that was formerly in New Glasgow. The set includes a teacup and saucer along with a stand. The teacup and saucer were made by Myott, Son & Co. of Staffordshire, England. The company operated in the pottery industry for 93 years from 1898 to around 1991. It’s likely that this china was made prior to 1925 because at that time the company began to focus on brightly colored art deco style vases and jugs.

This China would have been made by Sydney and Ashley Myott at either Alexander Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent or Brownfield’s Works in Cobridge. Based on the logo printed on the bottom the china must have been produced sometime before 1910. Based on the operations of the tram it can be deduced that this souvenir china was produced between 1904 and 1910. There was another version that was produced that depicts the tram bridge that went over the East River.

The New Glasgow tram ran from 1904 to 1931 through Trenton, New Glasgow, Westville, and Stellarton. In the late 1800’s the New Glasgow Electric Company first proposed the idea of a tram system in town. In 1900 brothers Charles A. Flaherty Jr. and Leonard T. Flaherty moved to Pictou County after deciding to build an electric tram system there. The brothers, who were from St. John, New Brunswick, began looking for a location in Canada to build a tram after becoming associated with an investor, Boston financier W.B. Rogers. The brothers and the investor all eventually decided that the New Glasgow area was perfect for a tram system as it was a growing industrial area. The brothers formed the company Egerton Tram Car Ltd. And construction began in 1903. By Oct. 14th, 1904, the tram car railway was opened and was run by the Pictou County Electric Company. Five tram cars ran on the tracks seven days a week. The tram ran successfully for 27 years with a variety of tickets for workers and passengers that cost 10 cents each. In 1928 the first bus route was introduced in town and the Pictou County Electric Company became Pictou County Bus Services Ltd. By 1930 they began phasing out the tram in favour of buses and by 1931 the tram was shut down. Many thanks to Thompson’s Antiques for the donation of these artifacts. 

From our collection is a 1920 cigar cutter and case which was owned by The Honorable Thomas Cantley a politician and businessman. The cigar cutter and case are ‘Jigger’ brand from England. Jigger razors were first patented in 1919 when they invented the first double edge razor. This cigar cutter was made to be multi purpose also functioning as a corn knife, hair trimmer, string cutter, bottle opener, nail file, and piercer, it also has a chain ring. The cigar cutter would have been sold for 3 shillings in England and is made of nickel-plated brass.

The owner of the cigar cutter Thomas Cantley was born in New Glasgow on April 19th, 1857, to parents Charles Cantley and Catherine Fraser. Cantley began working in iron-forging at a young age. During the First World War Cantley served overseas as a Corporal in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. In 1915 he became president of Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Corp and became a member of the governments Shell Committee. In 1919 he was awarded with an honorary Doctorate in Law from Dalhousie University. As a member of the Conservative Party, he lost the 1921 but won the 1926 and 1930 elections to represent Pictou in the House of Commons. On July 20th 1935 he was appointed as a member of the Senate, a position that he held until his death in New Glasgow on February 24th, 1945. 

From our collection and currently on display, a World War Two era medical pouch used by soldiers in the German Wehrmacht. Embossed on the front of the leather pouch is the manufacture date, 1941. There is also an embossed “S” on the lid of the standing for “Sanitäts’”, the German medical crops for the army. The contents of the case consists of a tin of soap, two small glass vials of iodine tincture, opium and four metal tubes with various medicines packaged inside. Dr. Joseph Baxter MacDonald while in the Canadian Medical Corps brought this pouch back to Canada from Europe after the war. 

Pictured is a traditional Mi’kmaq eel ice fishing spear known as nikoql kasawo’ke’l. The iron forged spear head is wrapped with wire and would be attached to a long pole for spearing. To spear American Eel (known as katew) through the ice one must first cut a hole through the ice at a pot, an area which is believed to have eel. Once a hole is cut out, each possible angle is speared before moving on to another pot. The process of spearfishing through the ice is known as natuwaqnen which refers to looking for eel without being able to see them. Eel is a very culturally significant food in Mi’kmaq communities. Traditionally it’s the first and last meal a person eats as it's believed to help the transition between our world and the spirit world. We acknowledge that we are in Mi'kmaq'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people.