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7193 East Bay Hwy
Big Pond, NS
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THE BIG POND TIMES

JULY 2000 VOLUME VII NUMBER 7

36TH ANNUAL BIG POND CONCERT WEEK JULY 16 - 23

COMMUNITY COUNCIL NOTES

Eighteen members attended the June 7 meeting of Council. Big news at the meeting was confirmation by the Big Pond Concert Committee that head liners for the “Friday Concert” would be Rita MacNeil, Lenny Gallant and Mary Jane Lamond. Neighborhood Watch coordinator, Sharise MacKeigan, was busy signing up volunteers for the beach watch during prom party week from June 21 to June 28. Though sidewalk construction is highly unlikely, members advised Councilor Ivan Doncaster that the community recommendation would be for its construction on the north side of the highway from Glengarry Road to the beach. Members expressed displeasure that the absence of proactive contact leading up to the decision on policing appears to be continuing into the implementation phase. Council did accept an offer from Citizens In Action spokesperson, John MacMullin, to do a presentation on the issue. Residents will be advised of the time and location by flier. A motion was passed agreeing that community summer student workers provide up to twenty hours per week assisting tasks assigned by the Volunteer Fire Department. Residents were happy to learn that the CBRM supported swim program is on for the summer.

A nominating committee of Roy MacInnis, Anne Marie Donovan and Carol MacDonald was established to coordinate completion of Council executive scheduled for the fall. The Member at Large and Secretary positions would normally have been up for grabs. Mel Currie moved from Member at Large to President last year. Frank Sampson, new Member at Large, therefore has a year remaining in his term. Anyone interested in serving as Secretary for the next two-year term should contact a member of the nominating committee. The next meeting of Council is scheduled for Wed., Sept.6 at 7:30 in the Fire Hall.

BIG POND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

“Our web page is now more accessible”, says Craig Cormier, of Competitive Computers, who keeps the site running. The new address is: Other upgrades are in process as well. For one, the Business Directory is being redeveloped. Student workers, Avery MacDonald, Merrideth MacDonald, Angela MacPherson and Angela Murphy are gradually interviewing local businesses for inclusion on the site. Craig will take digital photos of those who wish to have them included in their advertisements. If

you want to submit your own advertisement, visit the BUSINESS PAGE and fill in the questionnaire. Watch for further improvements. If you haven’t visited the site in a while, take a look. Let the webmaster know what you think of it and your ideas for further improvement.

CBRM COUNCIL NOTES - JUNE 2000

At a recent meeting in Halifax with Dept. of Transportation & Public Works Deputy Minister Howard Windsor and his assistant, we discussed a number of concerns of residents in District 14. I received a reply June 7th with the following information regarding some of the concerns.

(a) "Trunk 4 - District staff acknowledge that shoulders on Trunk 4 are and have been problematic. The shoulders were recently graded. This operation did lead to clumps of sod remaining on the shoulder and areas that continue to have a sharp drop off. There is not major additional work planned on Trunk 4 this year, but District staff will review the area and attempt to deal with the areas where low shoulders develop on an ongoing basis."

(b) "Trunk 4, near Big Pond - Status of continued upgrades/repaving this year. The Department would like to continue upgrading Trunk 4, near Big Pond. While the Capital Program is not yet complete, funding for a section of Trunk 4 in this area has not yet been identified."

Congratulations: I offer my thanks and congratulations to all those who have accepted offices for the coming year in the Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department. I also congratulate all those who have graduated this spring and wish them every success in their future endeavors. May all your readers have a safe and happy summer. Respectfully submitted, Ivan Doncaster, Councillor District 14, CBRM

FOR SALE! - A gas powered whipper-snipper and two windows are available. The community’s MacCullough whipper-snipper worked last year and a new owner might get another summer or so out of it or could use it for parts. Twenty-five dollars will fetch this beauty. The two solid quality 21X69inch terminal pane windows came out of the patio doors at the Tartan Eagle last summer when they were replaced with ones that could be opened. These windows will go for $100.00 each. Call Mel at 828-3333 by Friday, July 7. If more than one bidder for each a name will be selected randomly.

Agnes MacNeil would like to thank everyone in the community for the lovely evening at the Fire Hall celebrating her 90th birthday. Her sincere thanks to all for their expressions of good wishes and unexpected cards and gifts. Many thanks to those who entertained and those who provided lunch.

Thank You! To Father Gillis, Father Maroun and to all other friends who came to see me during my recent stay in the hospital. Thanks also for the cards and flowers and telephone calls, and for all other kindnesses, including the bringing of meals to our home. Your generous support is much appreciated. Catherine ( Martin) MacNeil, Glengarry Road.

Fortieth Wedding Anniversary

Donald (Brother) and Marie Mac Neil are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary with a party at the Big Pond Fire Hall on August 26th, 2000. The festivities will begin after the 6 PM evening mass at St. St. Mary’s Church, in Big Pond. All are welcome.

Pastoral Airs will take place Sunday, July 16 at 8 p.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Big Pond. We will have an exciting line-up of musicians for this event… including Kinnon and Betty Lou Beaton, flutist Elizabeth Patterson, David Burke, Donnie Campbell, from Inverness an extraordinary young fiddler, Robbie Fraser, and Blanche Sophocleous as host. Lunch will follow in the Tartan Eagle Restaurant. Don’t miss this one!

Krista Ross, has been selected to “Student Works” which is a federal government student exchange program. She will be working in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Kassandra Boulet will be staying with the Ross’ and be working at the YMCA Camp. Krista’s sisters Chantell and Marie Eve will be home from California from July 24^th – August 7^th for a family reunion in River Bourgeois.

Wedding Announcement – Amanda , daughter of Warren & Bernadettte (MacLeod) Spracklin and Ray, son of Mike & Dena (MacPhee) Pruski will marry on July 28^th at 3:00 pm in St. Rose of Lima Church, Northside East Bay. Reception 9:00 pm Big Pond Firehall. Amanda and Ray invite all their friends & relatives to share their special day with them.

Riverview President – ChristineMcDonald,, daughter of Blair & Norma MacDonald will be the new student President of Riverview High School when school reopens in September. This is a very high profile position and we send out our congratulations to another Big Ponder who has done well.

MVP – Keith McCarron, son of Ron and Josephine McCarron, was awarded the MVP Trophy for hockey from East Bay School. Way to go Keith.

“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAS D’OR”

About 35 representatives of communities and organizations around the lake gathered at the Coast Guard College, Monday, June 19 to talk about development around/of the Bras d’Or. Invitations went out from the Bras d’Or Stewardship Society for a “focus group discussion” on “sustainable development”. The opening panel discussion heard from a representative of a federal-provincial initiative speak for more coordinated responses from government on issues that may have, in the past, been left unresolved because of competing jurisdictions. Issues affecting the Bras d’Or are a prime example. Eighteen thousand people live around the lake which is ecologically fragile. With between 22 and 35 competing jurisdictions (federal, provincial, municipal and first nation) setting policy, making regulations and enforcement of clean-up, restoration and development is an impossible task. From this area, Councillor Ivan Doncaster, Guy Harris of East Bay and Dennis MacDonald were among the invited. While all appeared to agree that the clean up and regulation of water quality is a priority there was not clear agreement as to how it might happen nor whether development which affects the Bras d’Or should be coodinated.

Installation of Officers

The Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department held it’s annual Installation of Officers on June 17 at the fire hall. After grace by Father Joe Gillis, the gathering of 120 people were treated to a delicious turkey dinner. The meal was prepared by a number of volunteers and served by Sarah MacPhee and her team, including several of Big Pond’s finest up and comers. Master of Ceremonies, Michael J.H. MacNeil was in his usual fine form. He kept the program running smoothly and offered several entertaining stories to the amusement of all.

There were several notable highlights during the evening including the presentation of the Francis MacNeil Memorial award to Angela MacPherson and David McCarron, who are both graduating from Riverview’s class of 2000. Captain Billy MacPhee was singled out for his hard work and dedication to the department by being presented with the Fireman of the Year award. Billy is in his 14^th year as a volunteer fireman. Service pins were awarded to Fred Edwards, Art Lewis, and Tom MacPherson for five years each, while Dave MacInnis and Cyril MacPherson were presented with 25 year pins. Also noteworthy was the swearing in of Greg MacMillan as the new Fire Chief. In his remarks, Greg thanked former chief Frank Sampson for his service over the past number of years. Following the banquet and presentations a many of the guests stayed to enjoy a lively evening of music and dancing.

Riverview Milennium Graduates

This past year there were three students from the Big Pond area who graduated from Riverview Rural High School. They were Angela MacPherson, Dave McCarron, and Angela Murphy. Angela MacPherson received a $500.00 entrance scholarship to Dalhousie University, $100.00 scholarship from the Knights of Columbus #9476, the Father Stanley MacDonald Memorial Scholarship for $300.00, $400.00 from the Riverview Yearbook Scholarship & $400.00 from the Big Pond Fire Dept. Francis MacNeil Memorial Scholarship; Dave received $300.00 from the Father McGregor Memorial Scholarship & $400.00 from the Big Pond Fire Dept. Francis MacNeil Memorial Scholarship; and Angela Murphy received $200.00 from the Cecilia Sampson Memorial Scholarship.

Also we would like to note that Thersea MacMillan received the Lori Murphy – Cheryl MacAulay Award from Malcolm Monroe Jr. High. This award is presented to a student who excels both in their studies as well as extra-curricular activities. Congratulations to all these students as well as to everyone else who graded.

Mrs Mary MacKinnon - Newspaper clipping ( source ?) 1943
The death of Mrs. Mary MacKinnon, widow of the late John MacKinnon (Iain Peigi Ailein), of " The Glen", Rear Big Pond, took place April 5, 1943, at the home of her son Peter MacKinnon, Columbia Street, Sydney, aged 80. The remains were waked at the home of Dan Morrison, Union street, and the funeral mass was celebrated at St. Theresa's Church, by Rev. A.A. Beaton. Burial was made in the cemetery of her home parish, Big Pond, where services at church and graveside were conducted by the parish priest, Rev. George J. MacLean. On her father’s side Mrs. MacKinnon was descended from the pioneer Rory MacNeil ( Ruairidh Breac) who had 21 sons,and on her mother's side from Rory MacNeil and Donald MacDougall ( Domhnull Muillear) all of whom came over from the Isle of Barra after Waterloo. Her girlhood was spent out on domestic service in the country in the homes of Jonathan MacKinnon, Eoin Neill, Big Pond Centre ( later Domhnull Eoin's); then at Peter Campbell's, Hay Cove( Peadair MacEachain); later with the MacDermaids, Framboise; the MacLeods, Forchu; and Hector MacKinnon, Loch Lomond. The young girl had no schooling or English. At home she learned the rudiments of her own religious faith in Gaelic, which she kept and applied in practice. Her association with the pious protestant homes mentioned served to deepen her faith and imbue her with the spirit of tolerance.
These homes were not only Christian and Highland, but progressive, and in them she learned the art of home-making. There is a belief that in those old days the people were drudges, miserable, poverty-stricken, hopeless. Not so. Then there were well-stocked farms and well-filled homes, with plenty of weddings and christenings. They had roads, schools, churches,mills, stores, religion and patriotism. They paid their obligations in full, rendering to Caesar what was Caesar's, and to God what was God's.
These old folks did things and they made things. In common with all her contemporaries this young girl cleaned with soap made by herself; she learned to prepare the cotton warp and the raw wool, to be woven into plaids , cloth, drugget, quilts, and blankets , using dyes all home- made from tree barks, indigo and wild plants. She became an expert tailoress and learned all the knitting - a necessary accomplishment in the days when a pair of socks brought half a pound of tea. The mother knitted without light, fondling a baby on her lap and at the same time with her foot rocking an older child in a cradle.
With those of her time this woman did the dairying when every container was of wood - the bucket, keeler, holder( cuman), churn, tub, and brush for scouring ( noigein) - all hand-made at home. She took part in the farming operations when potatoes were planted with the hoe in the " coille dhubh" between the burned stumps, in the plowed ground or very often , not plowed; hoeing the weeds later and finally digging up the crop. Next year alternating with grain ( an athernach), reaping acres of wheat, barley or oats with the sickle or reaping hook ( an coran) , tying into sheaves and stooks for threshing with hand flails ( am buailtean) by stalwart Cape Breton boys, and winnowed before the biting winter breeze, the grain then to be ground in the querns or grist mills for the family food. To touch grain with a scythe was unheard of, and there was not a seeder, mower, raker, or cultivator on earth.
She personally experienced the transposition of the community from the pioneer state to modern conditions . Thus she dipped candles by hand ( the mould was later); then came kerosene, and with it the wonderful lantern which would not blow out in the gale; the tin bucket, later fitted with a strainer and a flange for the milking; the creamer, the crank churn, and the separator; the crosscut saw, the sewing machines, shoe nails instead of wooden pegs, the iron shoelast, the hand-drill to bore cold iron; fence wire, the hack saw, the fountain pen, paper bags, rubber, cement, and so on. All these things were new, common-place and then old fashioned within the span of her life. During her own prime the countryside in which she lived was at its prime; her training turned out to be for her not only an art but a livelihood. She practiced every handicraft of earlier life , interweaving them with expert design into each new or modern method, and she excelled in them all. She accepted every new comfort, facility and pleasure to be used and enjoyed, and she thanked God for them and for their good to the people.
Her husband was a son of Jonathan MacKinnon ( Eoin a' Ghrlasaiche) of Castle( Castle Bay JMN ), and Margaret ( Peigi Ailein), daughter of Allan MacIntyre ( Ailean MacRuairidh) immigrants from Barra also, who settled with their large family at Rear Big Pond in The Glen. They were noted bards, singers and entertainers. The husband had spent a lot of his time in Antigonish, picking up Gaelic songs and lore , and he learned to read Gaelic well. Either of them could quote any song in common use, but besides that Mrs MacKinnon knew many old Hebridean songs, never in print, that she learned from her mother (Mairi Mhor) ,noted far and wide for her singing.
The MacKinnons in the Glen had 17 children, and the father died in 1921. Some of the children died young, and others after reaching maturity. These included Lizzie, who was married to Rod MacIsaac, Big Pond, and Veronica married to Neil MacInnis, Sydney, buried in Canso where they lived. Surviving are Joseph, former schoolmaster and local magistrate, now of the City Hall staff , married to Katie, sister of the late Father John S. MacNeil; James with the Sydney Bus Company; Frank, rate clerk, C.N.R., Sydney; Stephen, on national defense construction; Kathleen, married to Dan Morrison, of the Steel Co. inspection staff; Cecelia, wife of Ronald MacIsaac, on national defense construction; Aggie, a Massachusetts registered nurse, widow of the late William Walsh, Boston ( all these now live in Sydney); and Mary, student nurse, now a staff dietician in Massachusetts. The good mother lived to see ten marriages in her family, and the marriage of a granddaughter. She left in that wide countryside only two persons who had lived through her span of life, and who were able to talk of the events of her early days. Even now, her old home is closed.For many years it was a popular gathering place for the members of her family and their friends, and she would have been unhappy to see the change.
Her daughter, Miss Mary, who could not leave Boston, and a number of grand-children also were regrettably unable to attend the funeral.
Mrs MacKinnon's declining years were made happy by the devoted care of her children, and their nine families, surrounding her with forty grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, with whom she kept always in constant touch. They attended at her bedside, at her wake and at her funeral, and their fervent prayers accompanied the soul of this valiant woman as it was called by its creator. R.I.P.

[The author of this article likely was Mrs MacKinnon's son Joseph, Joe Iain Peigi.
The MacKinnon property is the one just east of Con White's. In my time I've heard it called Iain Peigi Ailein's, then Steve MacKinnon's, then Kennedy's; but for many nowadays, it's simply The Blueberry Farm.
As is the case with many of our pioneer families, these MacKinnons have virtually disappeared from the area; but it is clear that many of them have a strong emotional attachment to their ancestral land in The Glen.
Ben Eoin summer resident Sara MacKinnon Shaheen and Irish Vale resident Frank MacIsaac are grandchildren of Mrs Mary MacKinnon.] Jack MacNeil

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