Greg,
The Cunard 'line' may have more than one meaning. My grandmother lived
during her married life in Rawdon, Hants County. I have her scrapbook.
Dated September 27, 1934 and probably taken from the Hants Journal, here is
a story about one Cunard line.
RAWDON, NS (CP): Quiet, unassuming villagers here have no quarrel with
world historians. They do not wish to argue or build up conclusive proof of
their statements. But if you ask them where Sir Samuel Cunard, founder of
the great steamship company, was born and where he was buried they will
point to two spots in this peaceful village in a valley.
One is a rambling old homestead built 150 years ago. The other is an
unmarked grave in the cemetery of St. Paul's church. Others may piece
together the story of Cunard's life after he left the village but these
simple folk know by the legend of the hamlet that the famous Nova Scotian
was rocked in his crib here in the old Cunard home, and his body lies buried
in the soil of Rawdon.
The simple dwellers in this scattered community not far from Windsor are not
publicity hunters. In their isolated village in the woods they are
satisfied to live as their ancestors did back in the 18th century--tilling
the soil and uncovering the veins of gold which lie buried in the hillsides.
To enter into their midst and chat with them is like setting back the clock
or taking a trip into another world. The work horses and the men behind
them move slowly. Seldom do the triple-toned horns of luxuriously equipped
tourist cars break the silence. Work proceeds almost as it did two
centuries ago and everyone seems contented.
The ancient church stands on the hillside on the far side of the valley.
Just outside the porch is the inscription: "St. Paul's Church, Rawdon;
first erected 1794, present church, 1845, renovated twice in 1913."
The old churchyard is dotted with tombstones. Chiselled in granite and
marble are the names of many old families: Withrow, Meehan, Bond, Weir,
Moxon, Barron, Wellwood--but no Cunards.
Then three miles away, along the tree fringed road suddenly the foliage
parts and an old farmhouse comes into view. It is square and solid with
walls widely set apart. A massive chimney breaks through the centre of the
roof. Inside are four huge fireplaces and an old-fashioned bake-oven with
walls a foot thick.
"Yes, this is the old Cunard place all right," the owner J.A. Meehan
answered. He recounted how his grandfather had come from Ireland to work
for the Cunard family over a hundred years ago. After the Cunards left his
grandfather took over the farm. The present owner is himself a grandfather
now.
A tiny stairway wound almost around itself to get to the second floor, and
in a little cubby-hole cut in the wall Mrs. Meehan pointed out a box of
books. It was hinged with leather and covered with a thick mantle of dust.
Behind a baby's sled, piled high with attic accumulations she pulled out a
volume inscribed: "Abraham Cunard his book". It was dated 1811.
The registry of burials back at St. Paul's church showed that Abraham Cunard
was interred on January 12, 1824, aged 60 years.
That is their link with fame. Historians may dispute it. Encyclopedias
ignore it. Archivists say Samual Cunard was born in Halifax in 1787 and
died in London 1865. But the people of Rawdon know what their fathers have
told them.
*****************************
A picture of the giant new liner (unnamed) launched on Sept 26th, with small
pictures of Sir Samuel, and the S.S. Britannia which sailed from Liverpool
to Halifax on July 4, 1840 inaugurating the Atlantic service of the Cunard
Line, are printed above the newspaper clipping but sadly, and unaccountably,
Athol is not mentioned. However it does mention that Sir Samuel was born in
Halifax in 1787. Sloppy research, no doubt.
The old Cunard property has a Cumberland connection. One of the many Mrs.
Meehan's who have lived in that house is probably the grandmother and
great-grandmother of the present Meehan family living in the community--the
former Thelma Lattie, daughter of Oran Alva Lattie and Nettie Beatrice
Skidmore.
And Greg, if you really want to see another Cumberland County true story
shot down, there's a clipping in the scrapbook about the 'aeroplane' that
took off from the Bremen in October, 1931 with mail destined for New York
and crashed in.....(just ask).
Margaret
----- Original Message -----
From: "greg" <browngr@...>
To: <Downtown Shinimicas
- From: "Ronald N.Gowe" <Ronald_N.Gowe_uid1493@yahoogroups.com>