What a wonderful surprise!  We have received our first positive response to the articles we have been writing on the people who worked on the Shubenacadie Canal during the first construction period 1826 – 1832.  You may be surprised to learn this did not come from Dartmouth or even from Nova Scotia but from Ontario.  We had expected replies from the local area but, obviously, with the wide reach of the Internet, geography is not an obstacle.

The kind responder was Robin Smith who lives in Oakville, Ontario and his relative who worked on the Canal was James Young, one of the two workers we had featured.  James was a skilled stone mason and fortunately Robin had access to some of James’ correspondence which included a letter he had written to the Canal Company.  In it James provides a report, from the first phase of the Canal, on the Locks 9 and 10 at Porto Bello as well as Lock 12 at Grand Lake.  In the image to the right or the “Featured Image” you will see  the remains of the right wing or entry wall of Lock 9 at Porto Bello which is a part of the construction James was asked to inspect. This structure dates back to the late 1820s and it can be seen now just as it was left over 180 years ago.

James was not here in 1826 when construction of the Canal began but arrived in 1830 and he was hired to supervise the construction.   As an added bonus Robin in his response included copies of two letters which his relative James had written to the Canal Company.  In them James outlines measures he recommended to address construction problems associated with the Locks at Porto Bello and Grand Lake.

We were so pleased to receive this response and we keep hoping there may be others who will discover they also have information about a relative who worked on the Canal.  Another difficulty is that we  have very little visual information about the actual operation of the Canal.  For example we do not have a single photo or sketch of a vessel travelling on the Waterway. It is difficult to believe that during the years the Canal operated (1861 – 1871) no one captured a visual record.  Please check your attics.

You may be surprised to learn there were Teamsters involved in the building of the Shubenacadie Canal.   We have the names of two of these – Thomas Fisher and James Prentice.   As you can imagine there would frequently be the need to move heavy items and a horse and wagon would be required.

One of the essential uses of the horses was the transportation of granite stones from the quarry at Purcells Cove to the various Lock sites.  The stones would be cut from the cliffs which can still be seen there.  Next the stones would be loaded on a wagon and then transported to the Harbour where they would be loaded on a boat or barge and transported across the Harbour to be loaded on another wagon and on to one of the Lock sites.   It’s interesting to look at the granite stones in Lock 1 and imagine either or both Thomas Fisher and James Prentice on the wagon ride required to get them there.

Try to imagine it is 1827 and you are leaving Scotland on board the sailing ship, Corsair, bound for a strange land named Nova Scotia which you know nothing about.  You were recruited to work on the Shubenacadie Canal by Mr. John Kidd who was sent to Scotland to hire skilled workers.   When Mr. Kidd arrived in Glasgow you had just finished work on the Forth and Clyde Canal and you were looking for a new opportunity so you accepted his offer.

Following a long journey you are staring at the sides of a strange harbor wondering what life here will be like.  Before long you are in the community known as Dartmouth meeting with other Canal workers who take you into their small homes until you will have a chance to build your own.  Could one of these folks be a relative of yours?  We have been publishing the names of these Canal workers in the hope that someone may discover a connection with their family and let us know.  The names we are currently seeking are: James Falin (Stone Mason), Hector Elliott (Stone Mason), Timothy Carogan (Navvie) and Matty Farrell (Carpenter).

An important trade required during the construction and operation of the Shubenacadie Canal was blacksmithing.  One can imagine the many metal materials and tools which would be essential.  On Daniel Hoard’s crew list for 1830 the last Blacksmith we have listed was E. Griswold.  We know that there was a Blacksmith’s Forge along the west side of the channel between lakes Micmac and Charles and it is very likely Mr. Griswold would have worked there.  To find the remains of the Shop you walk on the west side of the waterway in Shubie Park.  It is about half way between the Camp Ground and Lake Charles.  Once you find the site you will be able to find out more about its use from the metal plaque which includes a written description as well as illustrations depicting the shop.

Do you know anyone in Dartmouth named Griswold? They may be related to a Canal worker. Let us know.