It is a beautiful day at the Albert County Museum. Perfect temperature for a visit and walk through the many displays ready for viewing. Including the newest exhibit: "County of Heroes - Cy Peck - VC and the Victory Cannons" that opened this weekend.
This morning, as I arrived to open the museum, I was taken by the beauty of the Shepody Bay. The sun shining like silver coins tossed on the water.
WE ARE HIRING FOR THE 2018 SUMMER SEASON
High School and University students.
Looking for a summer job that's entertaining, fun and full of local history?
Apply at the Albert County Museum and enjoy your summer with us.
E-mail your resume to:
d.ross@albertcountymuseum.com
If you pass through Hopewell Cape in the square by the cannons you will see two black granite benches which face the guns looking out over the bay. These were donated to the museum by Harold Clifton Reid. They bear the inscription, “Donated by Harold Reid, World War II (1943-44) and Korean War Veteran (1950-52), Regular reserve (1954 -57).” They grace the square where Harold spent many days playing on the guns as youth. Read more...
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)
This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic, self-motivated individual to be team leader of the Albert County Museum and RB Bennett Commemorative Centre, managing its artefact collection, offering educational outreach and leading a dedicated interpretive staff in telling the story of the People of the Tides and showcasing Albert County's native son, Hon. RB Bennett, 11th Prime Minister of Canada.
The incumbent will direct the day to day museum management functions, train and supervise the summer student staff and develop interpretive programming and exhibits. Education in business management with a strong emphasis on curatorial and museum management and/or prior experience in a museum or historical property setting is preferred. Strong organizational, supervisory, interpersonal and oral/written communication skills are mandatory, as well as strong social media skills, and speaking before small and large groups. Bilingualism is an asset but not a requirement.
This is a seasonal position. Salary to be negotiated commensurate with experience. Please submit cover letter, résumé and two reference letters.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, January 6, 2017.
Send to: achistoricalsociety1963@gmail.com or by mail The Albert County Historical Society, 3940 Route 114, Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, E4H 3J8
Further information on http://www.albertcountymuseum.com/were-hiring/
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.
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.
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
We have just confirmed that Dr. David Black will be bringing the Cape Enrage Figurine to the presentation on Saturday, September 10 at 7:30 pm at the Albert County Museum. This is a must see presentation on an amazing artefact found here in Albert County in 1998.
The Cape Enrage Figurine, is a small image of a stylized human-like head carved into a piece of mammal bone. What was it used for? Who made it? When was it made? Why was it made? How was it made? So many questions are going to be answered your head will spin with excitement.
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, all presented 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.
Saturday, May 21 is OPENING DAY at the Museum, with the start of the 2016 season. It's going be one fantastic day with the Grand Opening of the Steeves 250 years in Albert County exhibit, and its big announcement. This coupled with opening day of the Museum Market and the museum itself, it's going to be one exciting day to be in Hopewell Cape.
We're super excited about our Grand Opening of the Steeves: 250 Years in Albert County exhibit, and our huge Steeves Family announcement of a major component of the exhibit which has just been approved by Library and Archives Canada, and is to be ready in time for the Steeves Family Reunion in July. Come and hear the big news!
The “Steeves: 250 years in Albert County” exhibit is planned as a special exhibit at the Albert County Museum which coincides with the 2016 Steeves 250 Family Reunion and is scheduled for exhibit for two years. A full gallery of the museum has be dedicated to this theme and includes displays of ‘all things Steeves’. The exhibit has been carefully selected from over 700 Steeves related artefacts in the museum collection, with each artefact on the display having some special historic significance. The highlight of the exhibit is the original 18th century clock that Heinrich and Regina Stief brought from Germany.
The Market at the Museum is having its fourth season in the most unique location for a farmer's market anywhere. The market is located in Exhibition Hall surrounded by the Museum's extensive collection of antique farm implements, pioneer tools, and early home furnishings and appliances. It brings the past and the present together so people can see the tools that were once used to make the products they're buying at the market today. The Farmers and Crafters Market is a joint venture between the Albert County Museum and Foods of the Fundy Valley, a local non-profit organization whose mandate is to encourage local food awareness through education and promotion.
One of the highlights of the market is the weekly breakfast prepared by the Museum. Each week it is a different breakfast sourced from the local economy.
The museum is open 9:30am -5:30pm and the Farmers and Crafters Market hosted by Foods of the Fundy Valley is open 9am-1pm. The weekly ‘Breakfast at the Museum’ is open 9am-noon.
We hope to see everyone at the Museum on Saturday! Remember Market and breakfast start at 9am, the Museum opens at 9:30am and Grand Opening of Steeves Exhibit with its' big announcement is at 11am!
The Albert County Museum is embarking on an exciting project to bring the past to life through food, seeds and stories. We will celebrate the history of Atlantic Canada while strengthening cultural bonds for the future.
Culinary traditions are an essential part of cultural heritage. Recipes and seeds have been passed down from generation to generation. We will rejuvenate and celebrate this practice while also honouring our multicultural past and future. We will plant heirloom varieties of traditional food crops at public gardens in Albert County at Riverside Consolidated School, Albert County Museum and perhaps Forest Dale Home. By linking people's stories with the plants, we will bring the heritage alive. Also, we will save the seeds from the plants and share these with gardeners in the following years. In particular, we hope to create a more vibrant garden and seed collection to celebrate Canada's 150th year in 2017.
Do you have seeds or stories to share? If so, let us know. Contact Janet Wallace by email at janetwallace @ xplornet.com or at www.JanetWallace.ca
Learn more about the project by visiting here.
On June 11, 2016 from 10am until 4pm we are hosting a New Brunswick Battalions of the Great War Event, where we are bringing together collectors, museums and individuals to share Memories and Memorabilia of the First World War. If you have one piece or a whole collection of items from any of the New Brunswick Battalions and Batteries we encourage you to come out. Please share this with anyone who might be interested. Admission is a free-will donation to the Victory Cannon Campaign, which is restoring two WW1 German cannons that sit in the square in Hopewell Cape, NB. This event will be held in the Community Hall at the Albert County Museum, in Hopewell Cape, NB.
A Top Ten List of the 10 Most Interesting Artefacts at the Museum sounds like a easy list to make, until you ask people to submit their ideas. It turns out, when you ask 12 different people to submit their top 10 items at the museum, you're going to get almost 120 different items. Which causes a problem when 10 is what you need.
So we had a decision, narrow down the items or narrow down the people we ask. For safety sake, we narrowed down the people we asked. So, we asked our Manager/Curator Mr. Donald Alward, who pretty much lives at the museum during the summer months, what he thought were the Top Ten Most Interesting Artifacts at the Museum.
His list is quite surprising, it ranges from the spectacular to the more mundane, some items he picked because of the story behind them, others from their sheer historic significance, and others for their curiosity. Each one has their own unique place in our past and an important story to tell. If you're curious why Donald picked these, and the story behind them, then come to the museum and find out! We're open May long Weekend until Mid-September.
This is his list:
We encourage you to write in the comments some of the other artefacts you love from the museum.
