The Passing of an Albert County Hero – James “Jim” West, DFC June 27, 1924 – March 4, 2017

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James Watson West was born in Hopewell Hill on June 27th, 1924 the son of the late Clifford C. and Mary "May" (Archibald) West. He graduated from Riverside Consolidated School in 1941. He enlisted in Moncton in 1942 with the Royal Canadian Air Force and headed overseas in 1943. He served with the 420 Snowy Owl Squadron. In 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He returned home aboard the Ile de France in 1945. 

Jim West was a well known and valuable resource for the museum sharing his love of the history of Albert County. He was involved with the Museum since it's beginning and continued over the years to support and assist in numerous projects.

His Distinguished Flying Cross citation reads: 

Award effective 8 September 1945 as per London Gazette dated 25 September 1945 and AFRO 1768/45 dated 23 November 1945.  Home in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick; enlisted Moncton, 20 July 1942.  Trained at No.3 ITS (graduated 1 May 1943), No.4 BGS (graduated 13 November 1943) and No.4 AOS (graduated 14 January 1944.  Award sent by registered mail 28 June 1949.  No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty."  DHist file 181.009 D.1746 (PAC RG.24 Vol.20608) has recommendation dated 19 April 1945 when he had flown 29 sorties (188 hours 50 minutes); recommendation read:

"This man has proven himself a very good, resourceful and efficient bomb aimer.  His tour included the bombing of many heavily defended targets, i.e. Magdeburg, Hanover, Hamburg and Munster.  This man at all times has been a co-operative crew member and has lent his whole-hearted aid to both pilot and navigator."

 Jim flew an amazing total of 37 sorties during the war. The first 29 are as follows: 5 January 1945 - Hanover (6.00) 6 January 1945 - Hanau (7.05) 13 January 1945 - Saarbrucken (7.35) 14 January 1945 - Grevenbroich (6.35) 16 January 1945 - Magdeburg (6.30) 28 January 1945 - Stuttgart (7.00) 1 February 1945 - Mainz (7.05) 2 February 1945 - Wanne Eickel (6.10) 4 February 1945 - Bonn (6.20) 17 February 1945 - Wesel (6.35) 20 February 1945 - Monheim (6.55) 21 February 1945 - Worms (7.35) 23 February 1945 - Essen (6.05) 24 February 1945 - Kamen (6.25) 27 February 1945 - Mainz (7.15) 1 March 1945 - Mannheim (7.00) 2 March 1945 - Cologne (6.00) 5 March 1945 - Chemnitz (9.00) 7 March 1945 - Hemmingstadt (6.30) 8 March 1945 - Hamburg (6.10) 10 March 1945 - Essen (5.55) 13 March 1945 - Wuppertal (5.50) 15 March 1945 - Castrop Rauxel (6.05) 19 March 1945 - Witten (7.20) 21 March 1945 - Rheine (4.40) 24 March 1945 - Gladback (6.00) 25 March 1945 - Munster (5.35) 31 March 1945 - Hamburg (5.45) 4 April 1945 - Harburg Rhenania (5.50)

Early Photo of Vimy Ridge Cannon Discovered at Museum - The Cannon Arrived in Hopewell Cape 97 Years Ago Today

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Cannon Captured at Vimy Ridge on Display at Hopewell Cape Square Circa 1920 - Sheriff Ernest W. Lynds in photo. 

We have recently uncovered what maybe the earliest photo of the First World War Trophy Cannons located in Hopewell Cape. This cannon was captured at the Battle of Vimy Ridge - April 9, 1917 by Canadian Forces. On April 11, 1917 this cannon was turned on the enemy by the Royal Field Artillery. In the fall of 1919 this cannon was awarded to the people of Albert County for raising the highest percentage of money over their set goal for any area in the province during the Victory Loans Campaign of 1919. Their set goal was $110,000.00, and the people of Albert County raised $347,600.00. Three times the goal! (In today's dollars that is equivalent to $6.2 million. Not bad for a population of 8700 people!) The cannon arrived in Hopewell Cape on March 4, 1920 by train to Cape Station, and then by horse to Cape Square.

In the photo is Sheriff Ernest W. Lynds, and you can prominently see the plaque on the top left of the cannon stating how the cannon arrived in Albert County.  

The Albert County Museum Appoints New Manager/Curator

The Albert County Museum and RB Bennett Commemorative Centre is pleased to announce that Melody Land, MA, CPs. has joined the museum as Manager/Curator. Melody Land comes with a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector working with various organizations over the past 10 years, including agencies like Oxfam Canada, the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA) and the John Howard Society developing programming, teaching/facilitating, and working within the community to effect positive change.  During her high school and university days, she spent a number of years working as a guide, reference manager, and administrator at the William Henry Steeves House Museum, so she is no stranger to our local history. She brings a unique skill set to our mission to tell the story of the People of the Tides, the history of the people of Albert County.

Melody comments “As soon as I saw the advertisement for the position of Manager/Curator of the Albert County Museum, I immediately began working on my application. With my background in employment training and management, program development, and administration combined with my love of our home, our environment, our history, and our future, I look forward to effecting positive change here in my own backyard.” She went on to further state, “ I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen as the Storyteller at the Albert County Museum and R.B. Bennett Centre and will work diligently to provide those that live with her, and those who journey to see her, an engaging opportunity to experience, appreciate, and preserve our history for years to come.”

 Stuart Liptay, President of the Albert County Historical Society, said “Melody’s wealth of experience in the non-profit sector and previous museum experience has already made her a valuable member of the museum. We are excited about the upcoming season, and look forward to her story-telling abilities bringing the history of Albert County alive! We were very fortunate to find someone of Melody’s calibre living in Hopewell Cape. During the hiring process we were overwhelmed by the number of highly qualified applicants applying for the position, with applications from right across the country and from as far away as Egypt, and Scotland. It wasn’t an easy job narrowing the field down to one candidate, but I’m confident Melody was the right choice and will play a key role in moving the museum forward to bigger and better things.”

A big welcome to Melody! We're really looking forward to the direction she is proposing to take the museum in, and are looking forward to an amazing 2017 season!

Look What We Just Got in the Mail!

We just received this awesome sticker in the mail to put on the door of the Library/Gift Shop. It seems like yesterday, but it was 2 seasons ago that the Museum was on the Amazing Race Canada. If you missed the show look for Season 2, episode 11 "Put the Fun Back in Fundy". The episode aired on September 16, 2014 to 3 million viewers.

Lest We Forget - Albert County's First World War Honour Roll

Aftermath

This poem was written by Pte. Frank Walker just after the battle of the Somme 100 years ago in 1916 and was published in From a Stretcher Handle: The World War I Journal & Poems of Pte. Frank Walker.

The book is a first-person narrative centred around the life and times of Prince Edward Islander Frank Walker (1893-1977), during his service with the Canadian Field Ambulance, Canadian Medical Corps, from its inception in 1914 until 1919, after the Great War had come to a close.

With Desolation and the Stars
I lonely vigil keep,
Over the garner'd fields of Mars,
Watching the dead men sleep —
Huddled together, so silent there.
With bloodless faces and clotted hair, 
Wrapped in their long, long sleep!

By uptorn trees and crater rims
Along the Ridge they lie,
Sprawled in the mud, with out-spread limbs,
Wide staring at the sky.
Why to the sky do they always stare,
Questioning heaven in dumb despair?
Why don't they moan, or sigh?

Why do I rave, ‘neath the callous stars,
At their upturned faces white?
I, surely I, with my crimson scars
Slumber with them this night!
Death, with shadowy finger bare,
Beckons me on to — I know not where;
But, huddled together, and freed from care
We'll watch till the dawn of Light.

From the Somme,
1916

Lest We Forget - On this day 100 years ago Roy William Crossman was Killed in Action - 10.09.1916

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Roy William Crossman was from Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick and was born December 7, 1894. He was the son of Mr. William D. Crossman. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment on August 22, 1915. He was first wounded April 4, 1916 with a gunshot wound to the scalp. He was Killed in Action in France at the Battle of the Somme, October 9, 1916. He is remembered on the Vimy Monument and has no known grave.

 You can find his complete service record by clicking here.

You can view his internment records here. 

You can view the Royal Canadian Regiment's War Diary Entry for that day here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

LEST WE FORGET - On This Day 100 Years Ago William Harvey Bannister was Killed in Action - 09.30.1916

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William Harvey Bannister was from Forest Glen, New Brunswick and was born July 7, 1893. He was the son of Mr. William S Bannister. He was a Police Officer at the time of his enlistment. He enlisted with the 8th Battery on September 23, 1914. He was Killed in Action in France at the Somme. He is buried at the BAPAUME POST MILITARY CEMETERY, ALBERT.

 You can find his complete service record by clicking here.

You can view his internment records here. 

You can view the 2nd Canadian Field Artillery Brigade War Diary Entry for that day here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget - On this day 100 years ago Ernest Stockton Jonah was Killed in Action - 09.28.1916

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Ernest Stockton Jonah was from Elgin, New Brunswick and was born December 29, 1892. He was the son of Mr. Ezra Jonah. He enlisted November 29, 1914 in the 26th Battalion. He was killed at the Somme September 28, 1916.

 You can find his attestation papers by clicking here.

You can view his internment records here. 

You can view the 26th Battalions War Diary Entry for that day here. 

And Here.

And here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

If you missed the Antiques Roadshow you missed quite the show!

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On Sunday we held our annual Antiques Roadshow fundraiser, with a number of very unusual items appearing this year. The highlight was definitely this Canadian made Epergne dating from the 1930's. When the couple first brought the Epergne to the front table, everyone was in awe from it's beauty, and when they said it was Sterling Silver we were even more impressed. (Sterling silver means that it is at least 92.5% pure silver). One of the first things an appraiser has to do when appraising something is to check the details out carefully, and when the appraisers inspected the Epergne they found that it was not Sterling Silver but EPNS (Electroplated Nickle Silver), which means it's silver plated. What does this mean value wise? The appraiser's said that if it was sterling it's value would have been around $12500.00 but since it wasn't it was probably worth $1500-2500.00. Still quite an impressive amount for a server. 

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Mystery item - Approximately 1" (2.5cm) high. The top screws off with a tube going down the centre of the item. The top of the item has a hole which allowed something to come out of the container. 

Some other items of note were a ship's lantern, some early tin toys, jewellery,  paintings, a wonderful brass microscope, a boxing trophy and WW2 medals, dishes and cups, and this mystery item, which we couldn't identify. If you have any ideas please post them here. 

Special thanks to our appraisers: Mike and Belinda Roth of 1st Choice Antiques from Moncton, and Stuart Liptay of Liptay Auctions. 

A great piece by CTV Atlantic on the Cape Enrage Figurine presentation last night!

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In case you missed the amazing presentation by Dr. David Black of UNB last night on the Cape Enrage Figurine you can still see the piece Cami Kepke of CTV Atlantic did on the piece. Just follow this link. 

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=949023&binId=1.1145463&playlistPageNum=1

The Cape Enrage Figurine - An Enigmatic Object - A SPECIAL PRESENTATION - Saturday, September 10 @ 7:30PM

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In 1998, an unusual archaeological artifact was found at Cape Enrage, in Albert County, N.B.. This artifact, the Cape Enrage Figurine, is a small image of a stylized human-like head carved into a piece of mammal bone. 

 Come join us on Saturday, September 10 at 7:30 PM and discover what we have learned about it, and speculate about its provenance, history and cultural affiliation. With special presentation by retired UNB Professor Dr. David Black. 

If you have never heard of this amazing artefact then come and find out what makes it so special!

Entrance by free will donation. 

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Museum Celebrates 40th Annual Quilt Show and Sale - July 12- 16 9:30am-5:30pm

With the summer weather finally here, cozying up in a quilt may be the last thing on your mind, but quilts are a hot commodity at the Albert County Museum right now as one of its major fundraisers gets underway.

 The 40th annual quilt show and sale is taking place this week, beginning on July 12 and lasting until July 16 at the Hopewell Cape Community Hall at the Albert County Museum, 3940 Route 114, Hopewell Cape, NB.

 To celebrate the 40th anniversary the museum will feature a special interactive exhibit called “Stitches Through Time” where visitors will be able to try their hand at quilting.  The week will be interspersed with demonstrations as well as full workshops on Friday.

A hand quilting workshop will be offered from 10am to noon and a rug hooking workshop offered from 1pm to 3 pm.  Pre-registration for the workshops is required.  Call the museum at 734-2003 for details.

 “The quilt show is the single biggest fundraiser for us,” said museum curator Donald Alward. “We greatly appreciate the support from those who attend this event, as well as the time put in by our wonderful volunteers to organize and keep this show running.”

This year there are more than 100 unique quilts for sale by a number of local quilters. In addition to the quilts, there are quilt tops, youth, crib & lap quilts, afghans and other sewn articles available.

The show will also once again include a raffle for one of the quilts. Tickets can be purchased throughout the summer and the quilt, which features the design ‘Road to Abbey’s House’, can be shipped anywhere in North America.

Admission to the quilt show is just three dollars per person and includes access to the “Stitches Through Time” exhibit.  The Quilt Show & Sale is open each day during the museum’s regular hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.