Christmas in the 1920s and the 1970s....

Christmas 1920 - taken from the web!

It's Christmas Eve 2011. Trees are decorated, gifts are wrapped and placed under the tree. In most homes more gifts than you can count. In 2011 we are all truly blessed to have as much as we do. Times can still be tough in today's world but things are still so different than they were when my grandmother was a little girl in the 1920s. Imagine waking up Christmas morning to only one gift and that gift was usually a doll, sometimes home made. No playstations, Wii, iPhones or computers back then. No fancy gift wrap or bows, just a gift that might be wrapped, maybe not. No furnaces back then so the house was cold on Christmas morning until nan's parents got the wood fire blazing. They didn't have electricity so no fancy decorations or lights of many colors spread all over the tree and house back then. Christmas time was the only time they would see oranges and it was a special treat all of it's own to the kids. I don't recall nan telling me that they went to church at Christmas but if they did it would've been to the Milton Christian Church. The family was close and they stayed together like most families did back then. Doing things together was so important especially at Christmas time. Guess it just goes to show that spending a fortune doesn't always mean Christmas is WOW! The WOW thing about Christmas to my grandmother and her family was being together.
My grandmother passed that same belief on to her kids and grand kids. Nan always made sure we were together at Christmas and we learned at an early age how important a close family was. Our family has a treasure from Christmas 1976, a recording of all of us kids wishing nan a Merry Christmas. At that time the oldest of us grand kids was my cousin Pat who passed away in 2003. Pat was 14 at the time of the recording and the youngest was my cousin Stephanie who was 2. Awesome Christmas memories don't always have to mean thousands of dollars worth of gifts, the special memories I have are memories of my family. This time of year I tend to think back and remember those times and think of those people who made it memorable, many who are no longer with us.

I'm sure most of the readers of my blog have many fond memories of Christmases gone by. If you would like to share a memory or two, feel free to tell us about them.

Merry Christmas to all of my blog reader and all the best in 2012!

The West House on Waterloo Street is demolished....December 20,2011

The old West house on Waterloo Street was demolished yesterday, December 20,2011. It was the home of Charles and Jessie West and later the home of their son Earl West Sr and his wife Rhoda. The house was approximately 120 years old and the last years it had been sold and fallen into a state of disrepair. Many Liverpool kids might remember taking their bicycles there to be repaired by Earl West who could fix any problem with any bike and normally charged next to nothing to do it. Earl and Rhoda were wonderful people and both lived good and long lives. They had a large family and a few still reside in the Liverpool area. Rhoda was an awesome baker and when entering the house the smell of cookies, cakes and bread always filled the air inside. They loved to play cards, I can't even imagine how many games of cards were played in that house. In the yard, way back when,was a boxing platform and many boxing matches were held here in the 1920s and 30s. Yet another piece of history gone from Queens County!

After the demolition!

Anyone recognize this Queens County house?

Baptist Church Fire, Milton, Nova Scotia

Milton Baptist Church 1821 - 1955

From the Milton Bridge, showing both churches!

On Sunday morning, January 23,1955, the Milton Baptist Church was totally destroyed by fire. The blaze broke out in the furnace room about an hour after the furnace had been started for the Sunday service. By the time the fire was discovered, the furnace room was a blazing inferno and the main part of the church was filled with smoke. The fire quickly spread and went up the steeple which was above the furnace room. Large timbers began to fall as well as the large bell in the steeple.

Milton Baptist Church Fire - Jan 23,1955

The church was built sometime after 1821 and was the oldest of the 2 Milton Churches. Some remodelling and enlarging were done in 1859, 1898 and 1931. A new organ had just been purchased and installed before Christmas 1954, just a month before the fire. In 1859-60 the auditorium was enlarged, galleries put in and the tower and basement were added. In 1898, an addition was made to the west end of the church to accommodate the choir. On July 14,1929 the parsonage for the church was destroyed by fire and was located directly across the street from the church. Houses on each side of the parsonage were also destroyed. The church was insured for $8,000 and the organ for $1500. Of course the rest is history. The Milton Baptists were able to build a new church building and that building still stands to this day. In later years, the church parking lot has been paved and the parsonage next door has undergone upgrades with new windows, etc.

R.C.M.P. Detachment, Liverpool, Nova Scotia

When I was very young, I recall the Liverpool Town Police around the town of Liverpool. I assume the RCMP were there at the same time but looked after the county rather than the town. The RCMP detachment was located down at Fort Point and had been there for many years. In 1980 a new RCMP detachment was built on School Street and by October of that year it was nearing completion. This new detachment is still used by the RCMP in Queens County. I remember Staff Sargeant Peter Williamson heading the local RCMP when I was younger and

Old RCMP Detachment at Fort Point

that's about as far back as I can recall. His sons,
Peter and Charles were around my age and in high school around the same time. Les Kakonyi, Mike Hall, Al LaRocque, Reg Lagasse, Grant Webber, were just a few of the well known RCMP officers who patrolled our county, making it a much safer place.As I had written in a previous blog, it's really hard to believe the RCMP detachment has been on School Street for over 30 years. Makes one wonder where does the time go?

The present RCMP Detachment on School Street

The 1931 Fire, Milton, Nova Scotia

There's not many people still living today, who would remember the big fire in Milton in 1931. On November 8, 1931 the area known as the business block in Milton was completely destroyed. This area today has the Canoe & Camera Club, the Masonic Hall, what was Rogers Market and Walker Store, across from the Nova Veterinary Clinic. Destroyed in the fire was C.W. Hartlen's Funeral Parlour, the Masonic Hall, Morton's General Store which were just a few mentioned that were destroyed. The Post Office which was a wooden structure wasn't destroyed but was badly scorched. The corner was eventually rebuilt and those building are still there today. In the photo the old Milton Baptist Church can be seen on the far left and the tops of 2 buildings can be seen, in my younger days they were Legge's General Store. The right building became the Sportsman Restaurant. Those buildings were demolished in later years and the Baptist Church was destroyed by fire in the 1950s, but a new Church was built and is still there today!

Seamone's Bakery, Market Street, Liverpool, Nova Scotia

Those of us who are about 35 years of age and older could never forget the awesome smell coming from Seamone's Bakery on Market Street. The breads, rolls and biscuits, the pies, cakes and cookies were a true delight when walking on or near Market Street. The Bakery was located next to the Bank of Montreal and was demolished in 1983. Eventually the lot was used to build what was first the Save Easy grocery store. That new building is now the home of South Shore Opportunities,Henneberry's Barber Shop and more.
Inside the bakery things were a bit old and dated but the treats were the best. Janet Wroblewski worked there and would always give us kids a free gingerbread man cookies. The chocolate donuts were one of my favorites and after buying them and taking them in a paper bag, we'd get home only to find the donuts there but all the chocolate was attached to the bag,  we ate them anyway.

I contacted Marion Seamone who lived in Liverpool for many years to see what she knew about the bakery since her dad owned it. Marion told me the following -

....Dad opened the bakery in the fall of 1959 and the staff at that time was Mrs.Brown who lived on the corner of Main & Wolfe St.:Judy Westhaver who made the pies & Janet Wrobleski made the donuts etc;Earl Whynot helped Dad with the baking.....there were many other employees over the years .....Roxie Johnson;Bobby Hatt;Bryant Pushie to name a few.......I worked after school & on weekends in the front part which was the the store where the gingerbread men and the brown bread quickly became favorites as did the butterhorns.....other students who worked there were Nancy Jane Mott & Cheryl Snyder......the office off to the side eventually became a favorite stopping spot for many in the community especially those who worked the late night shifts. Dad was always there in the wee hours getting everything oven ready so product would be in the store early in the morning......the smell of baking would be difficult to resist for many working in the area .My brother Paul took over after Dad passed away in the early 70's...eventually the oven & bakery equipment was moved to the IGA store where Paul continued to bake the favorites......

I remember that it was a man who had a combined bake shop/bible store.....and am going to try and find out who it was.......a strange combination...apparently he sold donuts ,cookies, & Bibles.I have to look up some old references.....


......Doug Crouse was the man Dad bought the bakery from...........there was also a Doug Himmelman who worked at the bakery for a time...

Thanks to Marion for sharing her memories of the bakery. I know I'm one of many who will never forget that place!

Milton Senior Citizen's Complex, Milton, Nova Scotia

It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since the Senior Citizen's complex was constructed in Milton. It is situated on the edge of the beautiful Mersey River looking down towards the falls. I remember it being built but certainly doesnt seem like it was that long ago. I really don't remember who lived there back when it first opened but do recall Gerri, not sure what her last name was, living there. She was in a wheelchair and was a good friend of Curtis and Verna Whynot and family. They treated her like family and always seemed to have her out and about. Someone had told me there had been a house on the property that the Senior's complex was built on but I have no personal memories of a house being there. Perhaps other readers who are a little older than I might recall it.

 

The building was certainly a great addition to the village of Milton and buildings such as there are greatly needed for our aging population in Queens. Actually, more facilities such as these are needed so older folks can move from their homes but stay in their community.

Anyone remember where this was located in Liverpool?

This is part of a business card that I have of a "Guest House" that use to be in operation in Liverpool. Can anyone remember this place? I'll post the entire business card as well as a photo of the house later in the week. And just so you know, the house still exists! I'm guessing it was in business in the 50s.

 The White Elk was owned and operated by the late Pearle Winters. The Winters family lived at 156 White Point Road in Liverpool, which later became the home of my grandmother from 1972 until her death in 1988. Only one guess by Judy Francis and she was right. I believe the Winters family also had a small store located in the side sun porch. Alex Doggett is a relative of this Winters family.

Tommy Falls - Liverpool Native and Canadian Army Boxing Champion

Thomas Falls Jr.

Tommy Falls with his mom, Reta.

Up until now all of my posts have been about places and buildings in Liverpool and Queens County. Tonight I thought I'd write a little about someone I never knew. Actually he died long before I was ever born, but throughout my research I've always had a strong interest in his short life. His name was Thomas Fall and he was born in Liverpool on July 24,1916. He was the oldest of 8 children born to Tom Sr and Reta (Harper) Falls and he grew up in Liverpool. Like many young men in Liverpool back then, boxing became a passion for him. He became best friends with Terrence Warrington who became Canadian Boxing Champion in the 1930s. Tommy joined the West Nova Scotia Regiment and served overseas during the second World War. It was here he met his future wife, Rose Golden and they were married January 17,1941. While serving in the army, he won the Canadian Army Boxing Championship 1940-41. After the war ended, Tommy and his wife came back to Canada and made their home in Montreal. They had a few children including sons, Thomas, Randolph and Derrick. One day in September 1948, Tom was arrested by the Montreal Police and beaten to death, apparently by the hands of those police officers. I've read the many articles describing what happened that day and without getting into great details, I can say that some people from the Liverpool area went to Montreal to an inquest held against the Police. I believe Hugh Byrne's dad was one of those people who went to Montreal. Honestly, I don't know whatever happened to the police officers, if anything, but the sad part was that a Canadian war hero, a boxing champion, a husband, a father, brother, uncle was needlessly taken far too young. I should also make note that Tommy's father Tom Sr was in Liverpool battling cancer and he died in November of the same year.

The Liverpool Advance revealed Tommy was buried in Pte. Claire, Quebec a few days after his death.
In 2003 while vacationing in Montreal, I went to find his grave site, something that I always wanted to do. I had heard so many things about this man from his sisters, Beatrice Jarvis of Liverpool (now deceased) and Pauline Martin of Montreal. Visiting his final resting place just added to my interest in this person that I had never known. Within 10 minutes of entering Pte Claire, just like I knew where it was located, I was standing at the foot of Tommy Falls grave. He is buried in the Field of Remembrance, a military cemetery operated by the Last Post Fund. (When I find photos taken at the cemetery I will add them later)

I came across an article I had written about Tommy's life and also a few photos so thought it would be time to write about some one rather than some thing. Tommy Falls certainly deserves to be the first person to be written about on my blog.

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Our little town....Liverpool, Nova Scotia

2011 has been a challenging year for a lot of small towns and unfortunately it's been tough for my hometown - Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Several stores have closed, KFC closed, we lost the Woodpile Cafe, Memory Lane, Seams So Simple, Quinns Paint & Paper and Liverpool Value Plus just to name some. Some closed because of the economy, some closed because it was part of a larger chain, some just closed because it was time to do something else. Regardless of the reason, it was sad to see businesses close that we've all enjoyed for many years. Just when we all thought things couldn't get worse, news about the uncertain future of Bowaters appears in the news. Last Saturday White Point Lodge suffered a devastating fire leaving more people off work. Let's hope this is the end of the bad and hope things will start to get better. We've gone through tough times before back in the late 80s and early 90s when Stedmans and Peoples Department Stores closed and also a few other businesses but the town bounced back and I'm sure it will this time. We all have to think positive, being negative just adds to the problem. Even though some of us no longer live in Liverpool we still care about the town's future. One day we hope to maybe move back, retire there or maybe even work there once again. I know that I would like to and I'm sure many other people are thinking the same ......since it is our hometown!

Anyone remember when Milton Days had a crowd like this?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Anyone recognize this Queens County house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool area house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

Anyone recognize this Liverpool house?

The New Gorham School, Payzant Street, Liverpool, Nova Scotia

Sketch of what the Gorham School would look like

The new Gorham School was built on Payzant Street in the 1960s. Strangely enough it was built next to the Liverpool Jail, something today that would not be allowed...hopefully. The school was a one level building and named after the old Gorham School which was located at the top of Gorham Street and was demolished in the 1960s. I attended the Gorham School for the latter part of grade 1 which was in 1971. My teacher was Barbara Tutty. Other teachers there were Margaret Fisher and for music Terry Hurrell. I have vague memories of the school but recall a large open area, maybe an auditorium or something like that. Perhaps others who went there longer than I did can share their memories of the school. Some of the other kids in my class were Bev Eisnor (Amirault), Pat Hawkes, Gary and Larry Whynot, Everett Conway, Brian Winters and Steven Chandler to name a few. Like many of the smaller schools, the Gorham School ceased to be used as an elementary school some years ago and I believe has been used for upgrading classes. I'm sure in time it will see the wrecker's ball which seems to be the trend for these buildings.

Ted's Mart/MacNutt's Grocery/Lucky's Kwik Way, Main Street, Liverpool, N.S.

Ted Veinot owned Ted's Mart on Main Street for several years. The previous owner was Laurie Whynot who also had the small convenience store for several years. Ted and wife Mildred owned and operated the store when I was a kid in the 1970s. We'd stop for ice cream, pop, or chips..all those treats that kids like. In 1978, Janet and Merrill MacNutt bought the business and changed the name to MacNutt's Grocery. After a few years in business they demolished the building and constructed a new building with 2 sections. The left side was the modern convenience store and on the right was a take out with hamburgers,fries,etc. After a few years the lay out was changed and instead of the 2 areas it was renovated to be all one area with one entrance rather than 2. Merrill and Janet eventually sold the business. Brian Harlow bought the business but I dont think he bought it from the MacNutts, I believe there may have been another owner in there. Brian changed the name to Lucky's Kwik Way. After a few years in business he sold the store to people from Halifax who had it for a short time and it closed and has been vacant since. The last I knew, the building was still FOR SALE. Maybe some of the readers can fill in some blanks, especially from the day when Laurie Whynot owned it. I have no memories of that at all, guess it was before my time.

Tupper Park and Harry & Alice Hartlen, Milton, Nova Scotia

The area in Milton by the first bridge is one of many beautiful places in Queens County. The river is beautiful, the falls breathtaking and really one of a kind in our county. The 2 Milton Churches along the Mersey River just add to a picturesque scene. On the West side of the Mersey is Tupper Park, yet another beautiful addition to that area but Tupper Park was not always there. Some of Tupper Park was actually part of the river and was filled in. In the 1970's Milton resident Harry Hartlen was seen there regularly levelling out many loads of fill and soil to create what we have today. Harry lived just up and across the street (almost across from the Blacksmith Shop) so he spent countless hours creating what we all enjoy today and he did it all by hand with a shovel and wheelbarrow. Harry was a character to say the least. He operated a taxi business, well I'm not really sure if he had a registered taxi business but he drove it anyway.

Harry & Alice Hartlen

ALICE'S NURSING HOME
Harry' wife Alice operated Alice's Nursing Home in their home for many years. I remember walking home from school and seeing the old folks in there. One lady in particular always waited for us kids to walk by and we'd wave and she'd wave back. She always sat in the same chair right in the window to see the kids and goings on. I never knew who she was and I often wondered when we all started going to Liverpool Regional High School what her name was. I'm sure she missed us Tupper Street kids who always took the time to wave and smile.

Harry and Alice had no kids and after their deaths in the early 1990's the house was sold. George Fraser owned it for many years and in the last 2 years or so Richard Colp purchased the house. It's bright red roof is certainly noticeable when you're driving in the area.

Tupper Park is a great place to go and sit and relax. It's also a great place for family photos too. Many weddings pictures have been taken there over the years. The park has given many people lots of enjoyment since it was completed in 1980 and we owe it all to Harry Hartlen. I remember as a teenager wondering why they named it Tupper Park...I always felt it should have been named Harry Hartlen Park since it would not exist if it wasn't for him.

Harry and his mom Dec. 1974

Inside Alice's Nursing Home

Inside Alice's Nursing Home - Fanny Snow and Mrs. Dolliver....Fanny was the lady who always waved to us kids!

Help the Liverpool Fire Dept win this contest.........Please Vote Now!!!!!!!!

 Hey all of you Liverpudlians....time is running out. Liverpool Fire Fighters Association need more votes...you have to click on LIKE for the contest then click LIKE for Liverpool...if they win they will get $5000 for the Department which they certainly can use. PLEASE VOTE NOW!!

$5000 N.S. Fire Hall Facebook Contest

Liverpool Fire Fighters Association

Please Note: You need to 'Like' the AA Munr...o Fan Page first before you can 'Like' a specific picture. Also, please tag anyone you know in the photos submitted so their friends will know!See More

AA Munro is holding a contest for Fire Departments across Nova Scotia. All a Fire Department has to do is email us a group picture to FireHall@aamunro.com. The picture will be posted on our A.A. Munro Facebook Fan page and on November 10th which ever Fire Department has the most ‘Likes’ will win $5000 courtesy of A.A. Munro Insurance.

By: AA Munro Insurance

It's on Facebook go to this site -

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=601120796#!/media/set/?set=a.235004739885538.74470.214517711934241&type=3

Anyone want to make a guess who these people are? I know and will tell in a day or 2 !

Liverpool Tennis Club

Anyone want to make a guess who these people are? I know and will tell in a day or 2 !

Anyone want to make a guess who these people are? I know and will tell in a day or 2 !