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The Passing of an Albert County Hero – William (Bill) West 1921-2020 - 99 Years Old

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The Passing of an Albert County Hero – William (Bill) West 1921-2020 - 99 Years Old

It is with sadness that we report the passing of a true Albert County Hero and WWII Veteran William (Bill) West. Bill was highly decorated for his service as a radar operator in WWII, and received the prestigious “British Empire Medal” from King George VI. (The British Empire Medal is awarded for meritorious military service worthy of recognition by the Crown).

Bill never served as an ACHS director, but he and his wife were members for many years and they attended Museum events. The photo shows him at the 2015 Anniversary of the Sailing of the 26th Battalion on June 13, 1915. Bill always attended the Riverside-Albert Remembrance ceremonies and the Riverside Consolidated School student program, as long as his health allowed.

His Obituary follows:

The Passing of a Past President of the Albert County Historical Society - Howard Dixon

The Passing of a Past President of the Albert County Historical Society - Howard Dixon

It is with greatest sympathy to his family that we report the death of Howard Dixon. A Past President of the Society and was a director for numerous years. Howard was an avid genealogist and completed many family genealogies for Albert County families. He helped with the Quilt Show and his wife was very involved on the Quilt Committee until recent years. Their daughter Gwen Dixon Potts is still involved with the Museum quilt show and offers a workshop each year. You can read his obituary by clicking on the link.:

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Did you know an Albert County MLA and Premier of the Province tried to give women the vote 20 years before they got it?

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Did you know an Albert County MLA and Premier of the Province tried to give women the vote 20 years before they got it?

It seems fitting to talk about this interesting Albert County MLA and Premier of the Province from 1897 to 1900 on the day 91 years ago that Women were declared persons! On October 18, 1929, the British Privy Council ruled that the word “persons” in the Canadian Constitution referred to both men and women.

Henry Emmerson was first elected MLA for Albert in 1889. In 1891 he was appointed to the Legislative Council of the province and oversaw its abolition. He re-entered the House of Assembly and in October 1892 was appointed to the Executive Council, serving as Chief Commissioner of Public Works in the Liberal government of Premier Andrew George Blair.

As commissioner, Emmerson stopped the practice of building bridges out of wood and opted for more permanent, and more expensive, materials thus driving up the province's public debt. He also supported women's suffrage.

Emmerson became Premier in 1897. During his tenure, he briefly held the position of Attorney-General. His government tried to promote tourism and wheat farming and the development of natural gas and petroleum in the province. In 1899, he introduced legislation to grant women the right to vote but in a free vote, the bill was defeated.

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Beautiful Flower Garden Enjoyed!

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Beautiful Flower Garden Enjoyed!

Along with many butterflies, hummingbirds and bumble bees, we are so grateful to Sharon MacFarlane and Andree Ostiguy for their wonderful landscaping and gardening work over the 2020 season. Many guests who visited to tour the Albert County Museum, or take part in an Albert County 175 event, commented on how wonderful the gardens near the Hopewell Cape Community Hall, and nearby Friends of Fundy Pollinating Garden, looked. Thank you also to the team from United Way Day of Caring for volunteering in June to work on our landscaping, and to our employee Nathan Tingley for his hard work on grounds keeping this season. Together we are looking after flower gardens, grounds and heritage trees, many over 100 years old. New for this year is the Crimson Maple Tree, planted in honour of BR Bennett 150th Birthday!

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Remembering New Brunswick's First Female MLA and Cabinet Minister

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Remembering New Brunswick's First Female MLA and Cabinet Minister

Albert County is a place of wonder, from its beautiful scenery and our abundant natural wealth hosting such natural wonders like Cape Enrage, the Rocks Provincial Park and Fundy National Park that we often fail to celebrate the people who call Albert County home.

For Albert County has truly created trailblazers, pioneers and visionaries from such people as William Henry Steeves, a Father of Confederation; to Lt. Col Cyrus Peck, a Victoria Cross recipient; the Right Honorable Richard Bedford Bennett, 11th Prime Minster of Canada, the Honorable W.A.C. Bennett, the longest serving Premier of British Columbia and such notable people like Mary Majka, a historian and conservationist, Sir George Robert Parkin, founding secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship, and of course, Captain Molly Kool, the first female Ship’s Captain in North America.

There is another name we have been remiss in celebrating that needs to be added to that amazing list, New Brunswick’s first female MLA and Cabinet Minister, Brenda Mary Robertson, CM, ONB.

Brenda Robertson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick representing Albert County in 1967 and was re-elected again in 1970. Then, the Albert District was split and Riverview district was created out of Albert, there Brenda was elected three more times (1974, 1978, and 1982) representing the district of Riverview. In 1970, she was appointed Youth Minister. She was also Minister of Social Welfare, Minister of Social Services, Minister of Health, and Minister for Social Program Reform. She remained a Member until her appointment to the Senate on December 21, 1984 representing the senatorial division of Riverview, New Brunswick. She sat as a Progressive Conservative and a Conservative until her retirement on her 75th birthday in 2004.

She was appointed to the Order of New Brunswick in 2004 in honour of "her tremendous work ethic and commitment to serve New Brunswickers and her country." and the Order of Canada in 2008 in recognition for being a "trailblazer and role model for women in politics".

Sadly, Brenda Robinson passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. She was 91.

As a county we can be proud to have elected the first female MLA in New Brunswick history, especially during our 175th Anniversary year, and we, as a county, say a huge ” THANK YOU” to Brenda for her many years of service to Albert County and to Canada and for being such an inspiration to future generations.

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AC175 Birthday Bash - Part 2! Saturday, September 12th from 2-5:30 pm

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AC175 Birthday Bash - Part 2! Saturday, September 12th from 2-5:30 pm

Announcing the Albert County 175 Birthday Bash Part 2! Saturday, Sept 12th this Live Music event will showcase local talent including some of the best musicians in New Brunswick including: Loaded Dice, Samantha Robichaud and Chris Colepaugh! A highlight will be performances of original compositions written about Albert County! This special concert will be taking place the same weekend as the Albert County Exhibition was scheduled for 2020 - join us at this event instead!

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Albert County 175 Art Show July 25 & 26 in the Court House

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Albert County 175 Art Show July 25 & 26 in the Court House

On July 25th and 26th, the Court House is being turned into an Art Gallery, and over 20 artists will be showcased. From original paintings to sculptures, photography, wood turning, textile art and more, the featured artists include: Alan Bell, Lars Larsen, Elizabeth Tener, Karin Bach, Normand Bradford, Curtis Dionne, Bob Greenblatt, Tim Isaac, Wendy Johnston, Jim Kitts, Ruth Ann Mitchell, Kevin Snair, Brian Townsend, Trudy Wade, Sharon Wells and others – all are from, or living in, Beautiful Albert County.

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RB BENNETT 150 Birthday Celebration - We are Getting Ready!

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A Special Guest is coming to Albert County in Honour of RB Bennett’s 150th Birthday! Born on July 3rd, 1870, RB was born in Hopewell and raised in Hopewell Cape. He went on in life to become a successful lawyer, business person and political leader. He was the 11th Prime Minister of Canada, from 1930 to 1935, the only Prime Minster born in New Brunswick! The Albert County Historical Society & Museum are proud and excited to tell his story as a part of Albert County 175, leading up to and including Canada Day on July 1st, and his Birthday July 3rd. Stay tuned for details on “RB Bennett Week” June 26th to July 3rd and the Museum & RB Bennett Centre Open House on Canada Day. We are getting ready!

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Albert County Museum to Rededicate First World War Cannons – Including the Most Storied Gun In Canada!

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Albert County Museum to Rededicate First World War Cannons – Including the Most Storied Gun In Canada!

The Albert County Historical Society and Museum are proud to announce the Re-Dedication Ceremony of the First World War Field Guns taking place on Saturday, 13 June at 1:00pm at the Albert County Museum.

The two field guns are hugely symbolic to Albert County and to Canada, with the first being captured at Vimy Ridge, France, and then being won by the citizens of Albert County in the 1919 Victory Loans Competition. The second was awarded to Albert County in recognition of those who served during the Great War from Albert County, as Albert County had one of the highest enlistments per capita in Canada. This year not only marks the 100th anniversary of their arrival in Hopewell Cape, but also the symbolic end to a 5 year restoration project on the guns by the museum.  As part of the ceremony the cannons will be “fired” in salute to the citizens of Albert County who gave so much during the First World War.

The event takes place live at the Albert County Museum, and is being celebrated outside with social distancing and safety in mind. This event will be broadcast live on Facebook for those unable to attend.

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO HEALTH REGULATIONS ON SITE NUMBERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 50 (FIFTY) PEOPLE - WE HAVE ARRANGED OVERFLOW VIEWING ACROSS THE ROAD - LIMITED TO 50 (FIFTY) PEOPLE.

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Today, August 16th, is the Chipoudie Monument Unveiling in Riverside-Albert - Visit Us to Learn More about the Acadians in Albert County!

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Today, August 16th, is the Chipoudie Monument Unveiling in Riverside-Albert - Visit Us to Learn More about the Acadians in Albert County!

Today, August 16th, is the Chipoudie Monument Unveiling in Riverside-Albert.

The unveiling ceremony will be held at 10:30am Friday, August 16th during the Acadian World Congress at McClelan Park (Rte 114/King St. opposite Maple St. in Riverside-Albert). Following the ceremony, everyone is invited for a social gathering at the exhibition grounds in River-side-Albert to be entertained with live music and to enjoy various foods. Be sure to visit the museum to see the new Acadians in Albert County Exhibit!

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Our Newest Donation - Quite Possibly the Finest Toboggan in the Country

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Our Newest Donation - Quite Possibly the Finest Toboggan in the Country

Our museum is a treasure trove of weird and wonderful artefacts that have been lovingly donated to the museum to be shared and appreciated by everyone who visits. It’s a collecting ground for our shared past to protect and pass on to future generations. It truly is a wonderful place to explore and experience the past.

And it’s not everyday that we get an item that make us go “WOW!”, but today was one of those days. Today we received what might possibly be the finest toboggan in the country. (Ironically, on perhaps the hottest day of the year!). Someone even remarked that if it snowed now, they wouldn’t mind a bit.

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