Anna Swan Wedding
The wedding of Anna Haining Swan and Martin Van Buren Bates, Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, in 1871.
Beth Carruthers sourced the original newspaper page and had the image professionally framed. This speaks to the tireless effort our volunteers contribute to the museum’s collections. Once the artifact is accessioned, it will be included in the Anna Swan Museum exhibit.
Maralyn Driver - A Tribute
Did you know? The Margaret Fawcett Norrie Heritage Centre at Creamery Square is ten years old!
As we celebrate our tenth anniversary this season, we also celebrate Maralyn Driver’s steadfast contribution to the Heritage Centre over the past decade. Maralyn has been our anchor, tireless in her devotion to all aspects of the complex tasks required to operate a busy museum.
Maralyn retired from her teaching career in Southern Ontario after 31 years, working with children from grades one to six. She developed curriculum at the Board level, conducted teacher workshops and courses in language and literature in the junior grades and was seconded to the Faculty of Education at Brock University for two years.
All prepared for the life of the retiree, Maralyn moved to Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia in 2006 and volunteered with the North Shore Archives. In 2008 she joined the Heritage Centre Board, and has served there ever since. In order to upgrade her qualifications in museum studies, Maralyn completed several Association of Nova Scotia Museums workshops over the years.
For Maralyn, there is always a sense of excitement when spring rolls around and the Heritage Centre opens again for another season; just as there was the excitement of a new school year and a new group of children.
Kudos and a huge thank you, Maralyn, from the Board of Directors, volunteers and summer staff of the Heritage Centre!
Volunteer Tour Guide Orientation Day 2019
Our volunteer tour guides gather for Orientation Day 2019, to enjoy an afternoon of learning, refreshment and a good old-fashioned chat.
Anna Swan
Anna Swan's Dress
Introducing Jack and Zack
It’s us! Jack and Zack ! We did it - we went exploring. Our glass case was cleaned today and we were lifted out - but they didn’t put us back because they hadn’t finished. Sooo -after everyone had left we went to the wheelchair . You can see it in the picture. The trouble was how to sit in it - either I sat on Zack’s head or he sat on mine - neither of us fancied that….well the ‘sat on ‘ wouldn’t see much. In the end we climbed on sideways with our legs hanging over the side - that way we could both see and we could turn the wheels with out hooves. The chair is quite comfortable - I wonder if it came from the old Tatamagouche hospital? Anyway we passed an old dental chair and a bear trap, then we were going faster and faster and couldn’t stop……well we did because we hit a door saying "North Shore Archives"…and we fell off. We both bawled loudly but no-one came so we hobbled back to where we started. We had to leave the chair though…..I expect how it got there will be a bit of a mystery….Mooo
Jack and Zack (the two-headed calf) and the wheelchair.
It’s us! Jack and Zack ! We did it - we went exploring. Our glass case was cleaned today and we were lifted out - but they didn’t put us back because they hadn’t finished. Sooo -after everyone had left we went to the wheelchair . You can see it in the picture. The trouble was how to sit in it - either I sat on Zack’s head or he sat on mine - neither of us fancied that….well the ‘sat on ‘ wouldn’t see much. In the end we climbed on sideways with our legs hanging over the side - that way we could both see and we could turn the wheels with out hooves. The chair is quite comfortable - I wonder if it came from the old Tatamagouche hospital? Anyway we passed an old dental chair and a bear trap, then we were going faster and faster and couldn’t stop……well we did because we hit a door saying "North Shore Archives"…and we fell off. We both bawled loudly but no-one came so we hobbled back to where we started. We had to leave the chair though…..I expect how it got there will be a bit of a mystery….Mooo
Jack and Zack and a trip to the Farmer's Market, Grain Elevator, and Arts Centre
It's Jack here again - of course that means Zack is here as well, but he's asleep at the moment, so I can tell you about our latest trip outside. We managed the back stairs again and because it was a Saturday, if we were careful we could get into the Farmers' Market without being seen. We scurried behind the flower beds and got in through a side door. We were able to hide under a table- and saw an awful lot of legs -hairy ones, tanned ones, muscular ones ....none like ours so a bit boring really.