Today was my second day waking in Shelburne. In my room is one of those newfangled Keurig single cup coffee makers, so I've been filling my mug, strolling outside and sitting on a ledge in the shadow of the Shelburne Barrel Factory, perhaps the last commercial barrel factory in Canada. Every day, someone has been pouring a line of bread crumbs to feed the flocks of pigeons and ducks that congregate on the building's roof. The overcast sky didn't seem to damper their appetites.
After breakfast, Susan and I were able to simply walk down Dock Street to the Shelburne County Museum and Archives. As I've already mentioned, Finn Bower, the museum's curator, was honored by the community yesterday for thirty years of exemplary service. I was looking forward to spending the day with her and her assistants, having only met them briefly on a couple different occasions. Before walking into museum and archives, I took a quick look at the Guild Hall, probably one of the coolest buildings in Shelburne, and next to the Ross-Thomson House.
Finn Bower holds history like a sponge and has an enthusiasm and exuberance that is ageless. Almost immediately after we arrived, she began pulling out old records: maps, books, documents and really wonderful old photos. It was intense and fascinating. She looked at me and asked, "Would you like to see the original land grant map for the town?" or "Have you ever seen Joseph Howe's signature?" Susan and I had only to mention a topic to send her scrambling off to the vault for some ancient, yellow document wrapped in Mylar or a thick, bounded book that could only be opened while wearing protective, white gloves. I remember sighing and saying after only a few hours, "I've got information overload." You can't help but to appreciate history while in Finn's presence. The interest she exudes is contagious.
Shelburne_Letter_Memories_of_a_Centenarian.pdf
She gave me a copy of a letter written by Margaret McKenna which she had read from during her speech at yesterday's event. Margaret was born in 1793 and had written the letter shortly after turning 100. She has quite a sense of humor and sharp recollection of life in Shelburne during those 100 years.
We finished by late afternoon and were recommended to view a number of tombstones from the Christ Church graveyard, an Anglican church only a few streets away. The graveyard at this church was said to contain some of the most prominent families from Shelburne. Susan and I walked up and cautiously roamed the grounds. Most tombstones were 18th century and included names likes, "Buskirk, Bell, Harding, Murphy, Ryer and Purney." Many had poetic inscriptions and spoke of tragedy and salvation. I was particularly interested in a monument surround by round, white stones recognizing Black Loyalists who had been buried on the site in unmarked graves.
I spent the evening enjoying the pleasant change in weather by taking a walking tour of the area. There was a great pamphlet available from the nearby Visitor Information Centre. Tomorrow, we're meeting Kim Walker at the Shelburne County Archives & Genealogical Society Resource Centre.
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