Nova Scotia - Sherbrooke

Nova Scotia - part 7

(sightseeing)

July 25, 2018 - July 28, 2018

We drove from Dartmouth to Stillwater along the north portion of the southern coast of Nova Scotia - what they refer to as their Marine Drive.  It's a pretty route but the roads leave a bit to be desired - especially if you're in a motorhome.  Our objective was to get within striking distance of the town of Sherbrooke.  In Sherbrooke is a tourist attraction called Sherbrooke Village, a collection of about 34 buildings depicting village life in the mid 1860's.  The preservation and restoration effort started in 1969 and included moving several more modern buildings out of the area where the original town had begun.  It's been going ever since and provides a good number of jobs for the community.

A look down one of the streets of  Sherbrooke Village.

In the local blacksmith shop we saw several items we'd never seen before.
There are two devices here, both of which bend metal. such as metal hoops for barrels. 
The one on the left with the large lever is adjustable to allow for different size hoops to be made.
The one on the right with the two geared wheels is not adjustable.

This device is used to make small circles of metal. 

The first time we'd ever seen someone ride one of these crazy bikes.
Not only can he ride it, he can mount it without standing on a box or ladder and he can dismount it without assistance.
These bikes were called penny farthings and were the first machines to be called bicycles.
Believe it or not, in terms of price, owning one of these in the 1870's - 1880's was equivalent to owning a Rolls Royce today.
Laura asked the rider about a picture of her grandfather, who was definitely not wealthy, posed next to a penny farthing bike and was told it would not be unlike having your picture taken next to an expensive car you admire but can't afford.

Two more penny farthing bikes.  If you look straight up from the rear wheel you'll see a loop of metal
protruding from the metal structure holding the wheel.  That is how you mount and dismount the bike. 
The man who demonstrated these two movements made it look easy (but I'm not so sure!).

We've seen printing presses before but these two came from two different churches where they were used to print whatever the church needed.  I'm sure they were not cheap so I was intrigued that a church would own such a spendy item.

Items from a tailor's shop.  The 'striped' item on the counter fits up against the tailor's body, giving him a hard surface to work from.

Tailor's notes about how the customer wants his clothing to be made.

Advertisement for men's suits in the tailor's shop.
The left suit is labeled:  No. 403   Two Button Sack
The right suit is labeled: No. 404   Four Button Double Breasted Sack.
(I think both men either have very small heads or very large suits!)

The tailor's shop had samples of fabric as well as gentleman's hats for sale.

The tailor would also need thread, buttons, snaps, hooks and eye's, etc. in order to fill his custom orders.

Additional sewing machine along with irons and sleeve boards to press the new garmet.

Special woodstove to head the irons.

Special sewing machine for leather items.

Fishing was an important part of Sherbooke as it lies right on the St. Mary's river.
These men have caught 5 large Atlantic Salmon.

Boat building was another business in town. 
These narrow, shallow draft boats are specially designed to be used on the St. Mary's river which is quite rocky.

This woodworker is making the seat for a chair such as the one on the left.

Jigs used by the carpenter to bend wood in various patterns.

Steps in making hand made wooden spoons.

This reddish orangish item was once a universal signal that medical help was available at this establishment.

The medicinal help that was available at the "drug store" was generally herbal in nature.
(I have to laugh when I see Chickweed and Tansy used for medicinal purposes.  I'm generally fighting them as weeds along with horsetail and morning glory!)

Sign in the Photography studio.
The two women who work at this studio have been doing this for over 20 years!

Some examples of ambrotype photography.

The is the liquid used in ambrotype photography, so called because of it's amber color.
The women photographers at this studio make up this liquid from scratch.

Old box camera from the 1860's.
Once the photographer removed the lens cover the subject had to sit motionless until the cover was replaced.
The amount of time the cover is off is determined by the available light at the time of the photograph.

Types of photographs through the years.

One last place we visited was a temperance hall where we discovered that the temperance movement was started by a group of men who where trying to help a friend who drank too much.  It worked and the movement spread from there.  It wasn't until much later that women were allowed to join.  The temperance pledge reads as follows:

TEMPERANCE PLEDGE

I herby promise, by the help of 

God, to abstain from the use of

all intoxicating liquors including

wine, beer and cider; from the

use of tobacco in any form

and from all profanity.

Signed: ________________________     Date:______________________

I found this interesting because I have evidence that one of my great grandfather's was involved with the temperance movement.  I thought it was just about alcohol consumption so it surprised me to see that tobacco and profanity was also included.