2019 Chestico Couples

The Chestico Museum and Historical Society is pleased to honour Pauline & J.R. MacDonald and Mary & Joe Morris as this year’s Chestico Couples.

Pauline & J.R. MacDonald:
Pauline grew up in the north end of Port Hood. She was the second of five children born to Agnes (Beaton) and Dan Willie Gillies. After attending Port Hood Consolidated School, Pauline went on to graduate from the secretarial program at Mabou Consolidated School. Her first position was as Secretary at Port Hood Consolidated School.

J.R. was the eighth of nine children born to Isabel (MacLellan) and John Simon MacDonald. He grew up in Mabou Coal Mines and attended St. Joseph’s Convent School. J.R. went on to complete the carpentry program at the Sydney campus of the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology. His first job was as a contractor in Sydney. He worked there for six years.

Pauline and J.R. met at a dance in Strathlorne. They were married in St. Peter’s Church, Port Hood on June 28, 1969. During the November long weekend of that year they moved into the new home they built on Marble Hill.

In 1973, J.R. began Landon Construction and bought the former MacIsaac General Store to serve as a warehouse and carpentry workshop. Both Pauline and J.R. were actively involved in the business. In 1980, it officially opened as North End Building Supplies Home Hardware and remained in that the location until 2014 when the new store opened on Route 19.
Pauline and J.R. raised a family of three children – Melanie, Kelly and Daniel. Today they are blessed with eleven grandchildren – Riley, Keaton, Owen, Avery, Taylor, Cassie, Bridget, Ryan, Jake, Jack and Kennedy
Pauline and J.R. continue to work and are kept busy as their business holdings have expanded over the years to include car washes, storage units and rental properties.

Pauline and J.R. are both members of the Chestico Museum & Historical Society as well as St. Peter’s Parish where Pauline is a lector. Pauline is also a regular volunteer with Bayview Education Centre’s Breakfast program. For his part, J.R. has been a member of the board of the Dr. John Waters Medical Centre since its beginning.

Mary & Joe Morris:
Mary grew up in Deepdale. She was the only child of Agnes (MacDonald) and Alex Dan MacLellan. After attending Broad Cove School and Holy Family Convent School in Inverness, Mary went on to graduate with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from St. Francis Xavier University. Her first teaching position was at Inverness Consolidated School.

Joe was the youngest of twelve children born to Florence (MacDonald) and Patrick Morris. He grew up in Colindale where he received his early education before moving on to Port Hood Academy. Joe graduated from St. F.X. University with a Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics Major) and then travelled to Africa where he worked with CUSO (Canadian University Service Overseas). Once back in Canada, Joe returned to St. F.X and earned a Bachelor of Education degree. His first teaching position was at Port Hood Consolidated School.

Mary and Joe knew each other from their time at St. F.X but it was at a dance in Strathlorne where they became better acquainted.

The couple were married in St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Broad Cove on August 23, 1969. Three priests officiated – Joe’s brothers Fathers Angus and Eugene Morris – and Mary’s first cousin – Fr. Charlie MacLellan.

Joe and Mary both taught at Port Hood Consolidated School following their marriage and in January of 1971 they moved into their new home on Marble Hill in Port Hood.

Over the years their family grew to include four girls and two boys – Natalie, Sheryl, Tracey, Glenna, Roderick and Bobby. Today they are also blessed with four grandchildren – Isabel, Luke, Kate and Aiden.

Mary and Joe are currently retired from teaching. However, both remained active at home and within the community. Mary is a valued member of St. Peter’s Parish Catholic Women’s League, serves St. Peter’s Parish as a Eucharistic Minister and is a past member of the Community Health Board for the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. Mary was also a founding member of the Port Hood Figure Skating club and served on all committees for its duration.

Joe is a member of St. Peter’s Council Knights of Columbus and is a lector for St. Peter’s Church. Joe was also a past manager of the Al MacInnis Sports Centre and was involved with the early planning and development of Sunset Sands RV Park. Joe’s commitment to community extends back to his time coaching Softball at Port Hood Consolidated School and his work on the committee that oversaw the amalgamation of the Inverness hospitals.

We are pleased Pauline & J.R. and Mary & Joe accepted our invitation to be this year’s Chestico Couples. Enjoy the experience and accept our congratulations as you celebrate fifty years of married life!