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Cape Breton Island - The Celtic Heart of North America
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Preface
It has long been felt that
an effort should be made to write a History of Inverness County. Many
wished to have it done, but none seemed prepared to undertake the work.
The almost total absence of public or private records germane to such a
project made the undertaking peculiarly difficult. At length the Municipal
Council officially lent its countenance to the enterprise, and a Board of
Editors was designated of which we happened to be an humble member.
Immediately thereafter we plunged into the actual work.
Our principal aim was to
perpetuate the names and memories of the brave, intrepid men and women to
whom we are indebted for the opening up and reclaiming from the bondage of
the wilderness of this favored region of fine and free country. The lives
of people in the woods are usually uneventful; but their noble sacrifices
have eternal life.
Matter for ordinary history
was not likely to be abundant here. What little there was could not
readily be found, because of the dearth of original records and the death
of the old people. We know that our haphazard endeavour can only be
remarkable for its pathetic failure and defects. Yet, we indulge the hope
that even our poor attempt may move abler pens to cure those defects in
days to come. For ourselves we can only say that, in the untoward
conditions, we did our little best, and "the best can do no more."
Our first formed plan was
to give the whole of the country's history in District sketches. Contact
with the actual work required us to modify that preconceived plan. We
found that many general subjects common to the whole county could not be
treated appropriately in District Sketches. For that reason we dealt with
these general subjects by themselves, and they form the major portion of
Part I, of the Book.
We would not that our friends should ever know from experience how
tedious, tiresome and perplexing was the labor involved in our venture.
Often did we fear that our weary, waning, strength was not equal to it,
nor would it, but for the splendid assistance given to us by valued
friends in different parts of the County and Province.
Hon. N. H. Meagher of
Halifax, D. S. Macintosh, Professor in Dalhousie, D. D. MacKenzie, M. P.
of North Sydney, Donald Maclennan, M. P. P., and Daniel MacLennan, K. C.,
of Port Hood, D. C. MacDonald, Inspector of Customs, Rev. D. MacDonald of
Port Hastings, D. D. MacFarlane and A. S. MacDougall of South West
Margaree and Prof. A. G. MacDonald of Antigonish are some of the friends
to whom our grateful acknowledgments are due.
J. L. MACD.
Strathlorne, N. S. January 2nd, 1922.
Contents
You can
read my Travel Journal for Cape Breton to see scenes of Today
The Barra MacNeils Cape
Breton, Nova Scotia
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The Highland Heart In
Nova Scotia (1962)
Scenics taken in and around Cape Breton Highlands National Park and a
look at the history of the Scottish settlement of the area.
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