Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - July 3, 2020
This photo shows the SIlver Jubilee Library in Hopewell Cape, much of the funding for the Library came from RB Bennett. An interesting fact was the boy’s club at the library’s uniforms were paid by RB, one of the many instances of Bennett giving back to Albert County. There are also a few church bells still ringing around the county paid for by Bennett. His generosity, often given on the condition of anonymity, was really without parallel.
RB Bennett Sends Special Greetings on his 150th Birthday!
We have invited a special guest to join us to celebrate the 150th birthday of New Brunswick’s treasured son - RB Bennett himself! This special video brings us back to a time when Bennett addressed Canada on CBC radio - the first politician to do so, in fact he created CBC! He shares his legacy and sends greetings to Canada as we celebrate July 1st together - apart! Thank you to actor Thomas Daley for his portrayal of RB Bennett! https://youtu.be/ag8JJ5iFW2Q
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - July 2, 2020
This photo shows the SIlver Jubilee Library in Hopewell Cape, much of the funding for the Library came from RB Bennett. An interesting fact was the boy’s club at the library uniforms were paid by RB, one of the many instances of Bennett giving back to Albert County. There are also a few church bells still ringing around the county paid for by Bennett. His generosity, often given on the condition of anonymity, was really without parallel.
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - July 1, 2020
Happy Canada Day! Happy 10th Annual RB Bennett Day and Happy 150th Birthday RB Bennett! Today at the Museum at 12 Noon Fundy Ceilidh is playing followed with ceremony welcoming new artifacts to the Bennett Collection and a special movie presentation of RB Bennett, with words of congratulations from Bennett’s nephew, William Herridge, QC.. We’re also planting a Crimson Maple in honour of the occasion!
Here is a fun bit of trivia, R.B. Bennett’s teacher for most of his years at the school in Hopewell Cape was a man named William J. Jones. One year, Mr. Jones also organized a mock parliament and selected R.B. as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservatives. The final session of the mock parliament was held at the Albert County Court House in Hopewell Cape. The final address by 'Prime Minister' Bennett held the audience spellbound and he received many compliments on his ability as an orator and suggestions that he should study law and go into politics.
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - June 30, 2020
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - June 29, 2020
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - June 28, 2020
This photo shows the birthplace of RB Bennett in Shepody, taken in 1931 by the Reid Studio in Moncton. This was the Stiles family home.
The Stiles family genealogy has been traced back through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and England. David Stiles was born in New Brunswick in 1812. He married Mary Ann Wright in 1835 and they had several children at their modest home in Hopewell Hill. David was a sea captain.
David's and Mary Ann's children were Mary Ann, John Harvey, Lucy Elizabeth, Isabella R, Henrietta (mother of RB Bennett), Ernest Albert and Sarah Alberta.
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - June 27, 2020
On this day, June 27, 1947 - 73 years ago, RB Bennett died. R.B. was buried in St. Michael's Churchyard on June 30 with a simple private service. He is one of only two former prime ministers of Canada not accorded a full state funeral. He is the only deceased Canadian prime minister not buried in Canada. A memorial service was held on July 4th at Westminster Abbey in London where many dignitaries and world government representatives, including the king and queen, paid their respects. Canada's Prime Minister King was conspicuous by his absence.
This photo is of the original Bennett Monument which sat in the Square in Hopewell Cape and is from January 1961. It is identical to the plaque which sits at Bennett’s grave site in Mickleham, England.
The Albert County MuseUm & Bennett Centre to Celebrate 150th Birthday of Canada’s 11th Prime Minster
The Albert County Museum & RB Bennett Commemorative Centre in Hopewell Cape, NB is celebrating The 150th Birthday of the 11th Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Honourable Richard Bedford Bennett, on Canada Day, July 1st. Serving as Prime Minister from 1930-1935, RB Bennett led with distinction through the darkest days of the Great Depression, and instituted some of the most progressive and important changes to Canadian culture, including the Statute of Westminster Act (1931), the establishment of the CBC, the Bank of Canada, the Canadian Wheat Board, and Employment Insurance.
Bennett’s 150th Birthday is major highlight of Albert County 175 Celebration. Join us as we mark the legacy of this remarkable national leader and proud New Brunswick native. The Albert County Historical Society, Museum and RB Bennett Commemorative Centre are proud to host this 150th Birthday event taking place on Wednesday, July 1st at an Open House at the Albert County Museum, with free admission, self-guided tours and family events taking place all day.
The Centre will be offering tribute to RB Bennett through various means, designed to share his history in a safe and respectful manner keeping social distancing in mind. During the July 1st, Canada Day Open House, 150 cupcakes will be given to the first 150 guests. Programs will be outdoors with plenty of room on the Museum’s 6 acre property. The event features the unveiling of newly acquired Bennett artefacts recently donated to the Museum, along with a special video greeting by Bennett’s nephew Mr. William Herridge, QC (the last remaining person to know Bennett on a personal level), live music outdoors featuring local group Fundy Ceilidh. The museum will also feature a special video presentation starring RB Bennett himself and a commemorative planting of a King Crimson Maple tree in honour of Bennett’s 150th Birthday.
Learn more at AC175.ca or by calling 506-734-2003 or email ac175@albertcountymuseum.com.
Celebrate RB Bennett’s 150 Birthday with us!
Albert County 175 - Photo A Day 2020 - June 26, 2020
Today we start off the week long celebration of the only Canadian Prime Minister born in New Brunswick, Canada’s 11th Prime Minister, RB Bennett who turns 150 years old on Friday, July 3, 2020.
Henry John Bennett & Henrietta Stiles were married on September 22, 1869. They took up residence in Hopewell Cape at a home on the water side of the Great Road to Moncton. Their home was located across the road from the local one room schoolhouse. On Sunday, July 3, 1870, Henrietta took the two hour long wagon ride to Hopewell Hill to attend the Methodist Church and visit her parents. She unexpectedly went into labour and her first child, Richard Bedford Bennett, was born. Mother and child remained in Hopewell Hill for a few days before returning home to Hopewell Cape.
