Description R.H. Sherwood's Flashback

1. H. Sheerwood’s

Pictou Parade

03/05/78 P.A.

 

OLD TOWNS

The Town of New Glasgow was incorporated in 1875.  This was two years after the incorporation of the Town of Pictou in 1873.  These dates make Pictou the third oldest incorporated Town in Nova Scotia, AND New Glasgow the fourth; that is, if Halifax and Dartmouth are ruled out, both of which were incorporated as Towns but are now cities. 

 

SMILE, DARN YOU

                It takes 43 face muscles ot frown, but only 17 face muscles to smile, so why not smile?

 

LOBSTER CARNIVAL

Thinking about the fourth coming Lobster Fisheries Carnival on July 7 and 8, I suggest it would be a good idea for the carnival Committee to announce that any float in the Saturday evening parade that throws Give Away materials from the floats will be disqualified in the awards.

The reason for this, as it see it, is the fact that any float that throws materials out on the street during a parade, attracts a large number of youngsters.  They rush out to get the free stuff, no matter what it are, and there is danger for them and makes for confusion along the parade route. 

 

PICTOU CASWAY

The Pictou Harbor Causeway, which shortened the mileage to New Glasgow from 18 miles to 10 miles (give or take a few kilometers), was officially opened on a cold, windy, wet day, August 21^st, 1968.  Most citizens expected that the new causeway would be named after Harvey A. Veniot, then MLA for Pictou West, as he had for many years plugged for a causeway across the harbor.

His efforts finally climaxed in the Pictou Harbor Causeway, but while there was a testimonial dinner for the popular MLA, the honour of having the causeway named for him, never came. 

 

PICTOU ITEMS

Joseph Baxter was a constable in Pictou in 1849.  Pounds, shillings and pence were used in Pictou in 1851.  Spanish gold coins were also used.  All transactions were carried out “in Halifax currency.” Decimal currency in Canada was adopted in 1858.  George Bixby was the local jailor in 1884.

 

BOB BEATON

Well known as one of the most outstanding sportsmen of Pictou County is our local resident, Bob Beaton.  A quiet, unassuming man, he has a wealth of stories of people, places, and events, especially in boxing circles.

In earlier days he was a well-known boxer and after retiring from the ring, has been in demand as a referee of bouts.  Because Bob Beaton has been so closely associated with sports in Pictou County, it has been assumed by these who knew him that he was born in the county.  This is not so.  Bob Beaton is a Cape Bretoner by birth, Port Hood being the honored spot. 

 

NOT CANADIAN

What annoys me to no end is the fact that clothing stores in our area stock clothing form the U.S.A. I’ve nothing against this, except that clothing from children carry labels with the name “U.S. Army” and the parents, and the children wear, not aware that they are being brainwashed. 

I think that buyers of clothes for children should insist that the U.S. emblems be removed and the Maple Lead substituted, with the chevrons on the sleeves placed as they are in Canada.  With the points downward instead of up as in the U.S.A.

Mothers, buying clothes with the U.S.A.  markings should refuse to purchase. 

 

PARTING THOUGHT

We shout and we sing, “O Canada” the brave;

But “The Star Spangled Banner” in businee does wave.

 

By Roland H. Sherwood (D. Litt.)

Historical Writer