COMMUNITY COUNCIL NOTES - A small turnout of 11 attended the December 2 meeting of the Community Council. In Donnie MacNeil_s absence, Ken MacLellan chaired the gathering. The main topic of discussion was the state of the vacant school. It was agreed that representatives would go through the building and note any material or equipment that might be worth salvaging and discuss its disposal at the next council meeting. In other business, council agreed to a proposal for financial support towards the senior_s Christmas dinner. A few days after the meeting the council decision to demolish the former senior_s building otherwise remembered as the Brack_s Brook school was partially carried out. The fondly remembered structure had become a hazard and eye- sore. As soon as weather permits the remains of the structure will be disposed of. (DMacD)

NEW YEARS GREETINGS - from Community Council President Donnie MacNeil - On behalf of the Community Council executive I would like to thank all Big Ponders for a wonderful year. Only with the efforts of all are we able to have a true community. I would also like to thank Father Bedford, Ann Marie Donovan and the Parish Council as well as Chief Frank Sampson and the Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department, including the Women_s Auxiliary along with each and every member of the Big Pond Community Council for your participation and support over the past year. We wish you a most happy and healthy New Year.

BOOKMOBILE - The bookmobile will be in Big Pond at MacLeod_s store Tuesday, January 26 at 11:15am, Irish Vale at 1:30pm and Irish Cove at 2:00pm

CHRISTOPHER LEADERSHIP COURSE - On December 13, 1998 friends and relatives gathered at the Tartan Eagle Restaurant/Parish Hall to extend congratulations to 11 members of our community who completed the Christopher Leadership Course. A candle light procession by the graduates opened the evening. A welcome and introduction of the graduates and leaders was made by Anne MacPherson. Those completing the course were Mel Currie, Sue Currie, Margie MacNeil, Charlotte LeBlanc, Pierre LeBlanc, David McCarron, Angela MacPherson, Pat MacKillop, Dave MacKillop, Norma McDonald and Anne MacPherson. An overview of the Christopher Leadership Course was given by team leaders Robert Sampson, Dena Preski, Wayne Roach and Cleo Windsor. This was followed by each member of the class giving their final speech for the course. Certificates were presented to the graduates by the leaders. Music by Malcie MacPhee and Arabelle Fougere followed. The graduates were unamimous in their feelings that the course was extremely beneficial, not only giving each of them more confidence in their public speaking but also giving them skills that they can carry back to their families, community and work environment. There is the possibility that another course could be held in Big Pond if the interest is there. If your are interested in taking this course contact Anne MacPherson (828-2301). (AMacPherson)

SENIOR_S DINNER - There was some trepidation in Big Pond before Christmas. Introducing a senior_s Christmas dinner rather than carolling was not an easy decision but reviews by the most important participants confirms the value of the change. Over fifty people came and there were about ten meal deliveries. The turkey, fixings, and dessert were cooked, baked and brought to the Tartan Eagle to be served at nicely decorated tables. The Christmas tree was lit and a fire blazed in the wood stove while Malcie MacPhee, Flo Sampson, Arabelle Fougere and Blanche Sophocleous entertained. The food was delicious; humour, good cheer and affectionate exchanges were everywhere. Margie MacLellan led the humour from the floor while John Abbass kept the servers in line. A final medley of carols and the evening, were capped by a hand-holding rendition of _We Wish You a Merry Christmas_ and _Auld Lang Syne_. The organizers, shoppers, cooks and bakers, servers, _setter-uppers_ as well as _cleaner- uppers_ and entertainers are to be commended. A special thanks to Marie MacPhee who put the idea on the table and coordinated the event. (DmacD)

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - The annual Big Pond bird count was held on December 26, 1998. At least as early as 1966 and until 1974 a count was held here although Big Ponders were not involved. Sometime later it was resurrected informally by Jack MacNeil and his grade 6 students. The current count was initiated about 1983. Incidently, Jack MacNeil and two of his earlier student participants, Fr. George MacInnis and Brian MacNeil continue to be involved. This year a perennial goal of identifying 50 species was reached.

In keeping with a longtime tradition, Christy MacInnis provided a noontime lunch - assisted by her daughters Marie and Terese along with daughter-in-law Darlene MacInnis. Sharon Digout and Dorothy Barnard had welcome morning coffee ready for arriving birders. (Jack MacNeil & DmacD)

MEMORIES - _Cape Breton_s last surviving veteran of the First World War, John Murdoch MacKinnon died a few days ago at the grand old age of 104" - Recent newspaper report.

We should also mention John MacIsaac, Neil R,_s brother, who was killed in action. He was a member of what was then East Bay Parish. Am I missing any names? Have you any information about these men? Who, for example, was John MaNeil? Can anyone provide a list of soldiers from the eastern end of what was then Johnstown Parish - the area from the Richmond line east. (Jack MacNeil - 828-2282)

A.D.MORRISON_S STORE (Part 1) It happened, I would think, somewhat like this: About 190 years ago a small boat pulled out from the shore at Arisaig. Rory Breac MacNeil had pulled up stakes on the mainland and was heading for Cape Breton. He made his way around Cape George, down St. Georges Bay and through the Strait of Canso. He threaded his way through Lennox Passage and arrived in St. Peters Bay where he ran out of waterway. An isthmus blocked the way to the Bras d_Or Lake. No problem. There was a haulover road where in time there would be a canal, and the Kavanaghs_ oxen pulled his boat from the bay to the lake. The Kavanaghs were no doubt pleased to provide the service, for the pioneers coming into the lake were prospective customers for their business empire. And, indeed, Rory Breac and his family, and others who settled the south shore of the lake at least down as far as _Rory Breck_s_ dealt with the Kavanaghs for years.

In time, as we would expect, various businesses arose in the Brook area, one being the Morrison Store which was built where Loch Lomond Road reaches Route 4 - or the Post Road, as it would be called at the time. The following notes give a sense of the store_s early history. (The Donald MacNeil grant lies west of the Loch Lomond road. The Archie MacIsaac grant lies east.)

The 1838 census lists a Thomas Conel who was a

merchant. He seemed to be located in the area near the Loch Lomond Road but the 1838 census does not always follow a logical order. 1857 - Archie MacIsaac received a grant of 80 acres. 1859 - Archie sold 2 lots of land to John Lewis Ingraham of North Sydney, trader. 1860 - Archie sold some land to John Belcher Moore of North Sydney, farmer. This land would later be conveyed to John Ingraham. 1861- 27 January - John MacIsaac, son of pioneer Angus MacIsaac of Ben Eoin and a brother of the above-mentioned Archie, married Ann Campbell of Big Pond (Ann was a daughter of Donald Campbell, and Ann MacDonald, and a sister of big Hector Campbell and an aunt of Joe Hector Campbell). From that date we associate the land with John, so there was an apparent transfer of property from one brother to the other. 1871 - Allan Morrison is living at Red John_s house. He is designated a merchant and he is 26 years old. 1871 - John Ingraham, wife Mary and four children are on this census. He, like Allan Morrison, is listed as a merchant. The family was gone before the 1881 census.

1877 - Ambrose Church, a surveyor and mapmaker, published his map for Cape Breton County. It indicates there was a _John MacNeil Store_ on the shore side of the road, roughly in the area where Malcie and Ruth MacNeil have their home now. John MacNeil would almost certainly be Red John MacNeil who had the land now owned by Joe and Ann Marie Donovan and who built the Donovan home. Red John was uncle to Big Frank MacNeil and grand-uncle to Margaret Frank-Margaret Gillis; Stevie John S often spoke of Red John, but always as a sailor and farmer - never, to my recollection, as a store owner. Church indicates that Thomas S. Lindsay, mail contractor for the Cape Breton run, had a stable somewhere east of Morrison_s on the John MacIsaac land. I wonder whether there is any connection between John Moore_s purchase of the land in the stable area from Archie MacIsaac in 1860 and the awarding of the mail contract to Thomas Lindsay in 1860. Lindsay_s drivers - _good, sober and careful_ - used 46 horses between Canso and Sydney, four of them between Canso and Sydney. I wonder if Moore was providing the stable service for Lindsay.

The _Misses MacNeil_ had an inn near the parish hall - the Tartan Eagle. These women would more than likely be daughters of Alexander Mac Neil, and were known as Kate Sandy and Christy Sandy. I suspect the _inn_ was their own home - Big Pond_s first Bed and Breakfast.

1879 - Robert J. Ingraham sold property to Allan Morrison. 1881 - Allan Morrison, his wife and children Angus D. (6 years) and Jane (4) are found in their own household.

1962 - A.D.Morrison told me the first store in his area was owned by a Mr.Moore from North Sydney. It was situated on that part of the property of Red John MacNeil where Malcie Neilly and Ruth have their home. (A property search of Red John_s lands would probably show transactions between him and Moore.) While Moore_s store was still in operation, a man from North Sydney named Ingraham built a store which was directly across the road from the spot where A.D._s house (now Don and Sharise McKeigan_s home) would be built. Allan Morrison, A.D_s father, bought Moore_s store and put an addition on it for living quarters. Shortly after Ingraham gave up his business - about 1880 - Allan Morrison bought his property and built his own store. The addition which Allan built to Moore_s store was later moved over to the property now owned by Allan_s great grandson, Tom MacPherson and his wife Bev, and it was known to older residents as the Hudson house. (Jack MacNeil)

READERS COMMENT. Jack MacNeil_s recent stories about Big Pond have elicited letters from readers. Here are two of them -

Medford, MA

This next letter was addressed to Alf MacLellan -

Nov. 16, 1998

Amherst, NS

(If you have comments or memories to share please share them through the TIMES-Ed.)

CHANGING TIMES - Bernadette McPherson began to submit reports for the Big Pond TIMES in 1995, delivering informative, succinct and witty summaries which enhanced our modest offerings. Social reporting was only one of her strengths; when one of our editors dashed off to Washington in the spring of 1996 she agreed to be editor for a month. Her first issue was that May and for the next two and a half years Bernadette alternated with the other editors. She did a great job. Now, along with looking after George and Yuri, and working full time, as we say, she is taking all kinds of courses about money. And while she leaves the TIMES with regret she did promise to slip an occasional aside to the paper. We_ll miss her regular contributions. The TIMES staff simply want to thank her very much for being a solid part of our modest community information project, and for doing it in fine fashion. (Don&Dennis, Editors)

REFLECTIONS ON THE MILLENNIUM - This time next year we will have commenced not just a new year, not just a new century but a new _millennium_. Our calendars, letters and cheques (hopefully our computers) will display the year as January, 2000. Impressive! In some respects we should, maybe, downplay the event. It seems to pro- vide a stage for doomsayers, salvationists and every sort of hustler to capitalize on what is just a particular and peculiar change of digits on a calendar. On the other hand we humans seem to have a need for landmark events to assist us in change. The upcoming millennium certainly provides us with such an opportunity to reflect on our past and set our sails for the future. Our individual place in the cosmos and in its history is infinitismily small and brief but-like the dandelion studded field we enjoy at St. Mary_s Church in East Bay so briefly each year - precious and beautiful. What are your thoughts, goals, hopes, in- tentions, even memories, that shape how you will greet the year(s) beginning January 1,2000? Why not share them through the Times over the next months. (DMacD)

BIG POND TIMES- Founded in 1994."It is a newspaper's duty to print the news and raise hell",-Chicago Times,1861.Published by the Big Pond Community Council.Circulation 300.Mailing address- c/o Don MacGillivray, Big Pond,Cape Breton, BOA 1H0- 828-2787-e-mail: dmacgill@uccb.ns.ca. Subscriptions for non-residents is $6.50 for 12 issues ($8.00 for non- Canadian addresses). Contact Josephine McCarron, Big Pond, Cape Breton,, Canada, B0A 1H0. This issue was brought to you by DennisMacDonald,,Jack MacNeil, Anne McPherson, Donnie MacNeil,Alf MacLellan, Carol MacDonald, Josephine McCarron,Don MacGillivray. Editor for the Feb. 99 issue is Don McGillivray. Deadline for submissions is January 20.