| The Past is Before Us |
| Collected writings from the first twenty-five years of the Belfast Historical Society newsletter “The Recaller” |
| Edited by Eliza Gillis Viola Gillis and Linda Jean Nicholson |
In the fall of 1976, the first issue of “The Recaller”
newsletter was distributed to over 90 members of the
newly formed Belfast Historical Society. The
newsletter was four pages in length and contained two
articles about local history, an article about the creation
of the Belfast Historical Society, and several current
event notices. In subsequent issues, articles published
in “The Recaller” covered a wide range of subjects,
many celebrating the history, activities, and people of
Belfast.
The Past is Before Us contains a carefully selected
collection of articles published over the past twenty-five
years in “The Recaller” newsletter. This diverse group
of articles, peppered with photographs and quotations
by local historians, presents an overview of Belfast
from the earliest days through to the present. The wide
variety of subjects and authors offer something of
interest to everyone.
The list of authors reads like a "Who's Who" in Belfast
local Belfast history.
newsletter was distributed to over 90 members of the
newly formed Belfast Historical Society. The
newsletter was four pages in length and contained two
articles about local history, an article about the creation
of the Belfast Historical Society, and several current
event notices. In subsequent issues, articles published
in “The Recaller” covered a wide range of subjects,
many celebrating the history, activities, and people of
Belfast.
The Past is Before Us contains a carefully selected
collection of articles published over the past twenty-five
years in “The Recaller” newsletter. This diverse group
of articles, peppered with photographs and quotations
by local historians, presents an overview of Belfast
from the earliest days through to the present. The wide
variety of subjects and authors offer something of
interest to everyone.
The list of authors reads like a "Who's Who" in Belfast
local Belfast history.
|
| Profits benefit the Belfast Historical Society. |
| _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXCERPT |
| “The history of the Belfast district is the story of the men and women who settled here, and through their thrift and industry, their honesty and integrity, their Christian faith expressed through love for family and neighbors, gave Belfast its unique feeling of community.” - Hesta MacDonald, The Recaller, Autumn 1982 |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One: Our Early History The Ship Polly, Letters from Basil Greenhill Where the Polly Passengers Landed, Reprinted from the Prince Edward Island Magazine The Polly Spring by Hugh MacDonald Who Was She? by Janet Dale Dr. Angus MacAulay by Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie A Century Ago by Hugh MacDonald The Irish in Belfast by Father Arthur O’Shea In His Own Words by Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie The Affidavit of Margaret Munn by Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie Notes on Little Sands by Annie MacMillan Chapter Two: Churches St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Reprinted from The Guardian The Reverend John MacLennan by Katharine MacLennan Early St. John’s Church Records “Rest in Peace” by Joyce Kennedy Tea and Bazaar at Wood Islands Church, Reprinted from The Patriot Munificent Gift to Orwell Church, Reprinted from The Guardian Valleyfield Church, Reprinted from The Guardian Rev. Donald MacDonald by Hesta MacDonald Chapter Three: Schools Four Schools by Mrs. Marion (Roddie) MacKenzie North Pinette School, 1910 1929 School Report, Reprinted from the Journal of the PEI Legislative Assembly Belfast School Photographs Year End at Eldon School, Reprinted from The Patriot Christmas in the One Room School by Mary Ross The Country School by Kenneth MacDonald Chapter Four: Businesses Belfast Mills by Hesta MacDonald D. E. Ross and Sons by Mary Ross Hopefield Sawmills by Catherine Fraser Ross’s Store by Hesta MacDonald We Remember Lena Martin MacEachern by Mary Ross MacDonald’s Store by Mary Ross The Butter Factory by Hesta MacDonald We Remember Aage and Algunda Larsen by Hesta MacDonald Chapter Five: Community Service New Channel at Wood Islands, Reprinted from The Islander We Remember Allan Finlayson by Hesta MacDonald Belfast Postmasters by Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie We Remember Dougald McKinnon by Mary Ross Country Doctor by Hesta MacDonald We Remember Herbie Worth by Hesta MacDonald The Community of Belfast, Reprinted from The Guardian |
Chapter Six: The Sea A Few of the Ships That Never Returned by Angus McGowan Master Mariners From Belfast, Reprinted from The Patriot Drowning at Orwell Cove, Reprinted from The Patriot Strait Talk by Dr. Stewart MacDonald We Remember Charlie Lutz by Hesta MacDonald Memories of a Fisherman’s Daughter by Joyce Livingstone Kennedy Rum-running in the 1920’s by Dr. Stewart MacDonald Chapter Seven: Military Service World War I Monument, St. John’s Church Cemetery Memorial Day in Belfast The Military Will of John W. McLeod by Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie Killed in Action: Lieutenant Nicholson The Island of Red Clay by George MacPherson We Remember Them by Mary Ross We Remember Jean I. Morrison by Hesta MacDonald Belfasters Recall A Letter From the Front Man of Many Awards We Salute David S. Ross by Mary Ross Chapter Eight: Progress Horsepower by Hesta MacDonald A Well Story Some Thoughts on Wells by Hesta MacDonald Gus Ross: Well Driller by Hesta MacDonald Once an Issue Always an Issue by Mary Ross Remembering Changes in Transportation by Hesta MacDonald The Wood Islands Ferry by Dr. Stewart MacDonald Electricity – Don’t Take it for Granted by Hesta MacDonald Chapter Nine: People Belfasters in Past and Present of PEI We Remember Bertha Longard West by Helen West MacDonald In Grandma’s Day by Joan Rooney We Remember Edythe VanIderstine by Hesta MacDonald We Remember Christine Matheson Ross by Mary Ross Sir Andrew MacPhail, 1864-1938 Chapter Ten: Celebrations and Recreation 100th Anniversary Celebration by Mary Ross and Viola Gillis 150th Anniversary Services at the Historic Belfast Church, Reprinted from The Guardian Ice Racing, Reprinted from the Minutes of the Federal Driving Club Trotters and Pacers by Isabel MacDonald The First Christmas in Our New Home by Bertha Mae MacIntyre MacDonald Memories of Christmas Past The Hunters and the Bear by Lizzie MacIntosh Chapter Eleven: Recalling our Past Founding of the Belfast Historical Society by Harry Baglole The Belfast Historical Society Objectives The Belfast Historical Society Executive Highlights of the Past Twenty-Five Years History of the Selkirk Awards by Joyce Kennedy The MacAulay Awards Editors Index |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT THE EDITORS Eliza Gillis Viola Gillis Linda Jean Nicholson |
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