As part of Chestico Days, the Chestico Museum will present a slideshow that will look back at Port Hood in the 1950′s. The people, places and events of this time period will be featured.
The slideshow will take place on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM at the museum.
Admission is $5/person. Tea and refreshments will be served following the presentation.
PLEASE NOTE: This replaces our Thursday evening ceilidh for this week only.
The Miners Memorial weekend that was held in Port Hood from July 21 to July 24, 2011 was a great success!
The weekend kicked off on Thursday evening with a slideshow and ceilidh at the museum. The slideshow, entitled Coal Mine Disasters in Port Hood, was produced by Marina MacIntyre and was greatly enjoyed by all.
Following the slideshow we were treated to an excellent ceilidh. Starting things off were Lynn Chisholm and her Dad, Duncs MacDonald and John R. Fontaine. They performed a selection of mining songs.
Next, we had Port Hood native Mae (Dan Martin) MacDonald who accompanied her friend, Hristiana Iotzova who played the fiddle. Hristiana is formerly from Bulgaria and was trained in the classical violin. She only recently began playing the Cape Breton fiddle and does so like a true Cape Bretoner! Mae and Hristiana perform together as Celtic Wave.
Closing out the ceilidh was Dara Smith-MacDonald who was accompanied by Mae. It certainly was a lineup of excellent talent!
Friday evening Charlie (Lewis) MacDonald spoke of Port Hood coal mining history and everyone met back at the museum for tea.
Saturday afternoon we had the dedication of the Miners Memorial Monument at the Port Hood Day Park. The monument was unveiled by John Archie MacDonald (representing a miner) and Olive Hawley (representing a miner’s wife). Remarks were made by MLA Allan MacMaster and Gordon Gillies. The Men of the Deeps performed three selections and Neil MacInnis was our piper for the event.
After a delicious dinner at St. Peter’s Hall, the Men of the Deeps performed at Strathspey Place. The performance was enthusiasticly received by all in attendance.
Sunday morning was the final part of the weekend with the blessing of the tombstone of the four Bulgarian miners. Again, we had a good crowd in attendance for this long overdue event.
Thank you to all who took part in the weekend – it certainly was a fitting tribute to our mining heritage!
To view photos. please visit our Facebook page here and here.
The Chestico Museum will kick off our Miners Memorial Weekend with a slideshow documenting Port Hood coal mine disasters and a ceilidh. The slideshow will begin at 7:00 pm and the ceilidh will follow.
Our ceilidh performers will be:
Lynn Chisholm & Duncs MacDonald – Guitar & Vocals
Dara Smith MacDonald – Fiddle
Hristiana Iotzova – Fiddle
Mae (Dan Martin) Obladen – Piano
Hristiana is a native of Bulgaria. She and Port Hood native Mae Obladen perform as Celtic Waves.
We hope to see you at the museum Thursday evening!
In honour of 2010 being declared the Year of the British Home Child, the Chestico Museum will host a presentation and slideshow on Thursday, July 29 at 7:30.
Our special guest presenter will be Cecil Verge, son-in-law of John Guest.
Between 1869 and 1939 approximately 100,000 children came to Canada from Great Britain. Seven of these children came to Port Hood – Jim Baines, William Dowse, John Guest, Eddie Parker, Fred Smallwood, John Waldron and Amy Weakford and they will be the focus of the evening.
Admission is $5/adults and $3/children. Tea and refreshments will be served.
PLEASE NOTE: This replaces our Thursday evening ceilidh for this week only.
The Chestico Museum & Historical Society will be showing slideshow presentations throughout the month of June. They will be shown at the museum and begin at 7pm. Admission is $5.00 a person. The dates for these presentations are as follows:
Thursday June 10th, 2010 – Port Hood: A Journey Back
Thursday June 17th, 2010 – Al MacInnis: Induction into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame & Commentary by Gary Trenholm on the Induction of his coach David Fraser into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
Thursday June 24th, 2010 – Coal Mine Disasters in Port Hood
Wednesday June 30th, 2010 – Bruce Beaton: Induction into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame & Lofty MacMillan: National Labour Leader
Hope to see you there!!
