About Me

My Photo
Louisbourg Town
The community of Louisbourg with a population of 1265 is located on the southeast coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It is easily accessible by road and air. Louisbourg's major attraction is the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. It has a facinating history and the site of 2 of Canada's major Battles,Friendly folk and Beautiful scenery raging surf and sandy beaches also await you in Louisbourg.
View my complete profile

postheadericon Main-à-Dieu Fishermen's Museum

2:40 PM | | Edit Post

Cape Breton Museums Network (CBMN)
Main-à-Dieu Fishermen's Museum
On the Marconi Trail, Cape Breton Island 
between Sydney and Louisbourg
mad-logo.jpg
Main-a-Dieu, former museum site
A museum overlooking a beautiful harbour and the scenic village called Main-à-Dieu ("Hand of God"), truly a gift from Heaven, the lobsterland of the Maritimes
Left, the former location of the museum above the village. The museum moved to the Coastal Discovery Centre in 2004.
Areas of interest:
Cultural history, ethnology, history, fisheries, 
traditional trades
mad_boats-and-museum.jpg
The 'Head' in the background, with the museum 
facing the harbour and the village.
The Museum building:
Opened: May 15, 1994 

Project coordinated by Sandy Evans, Main-à-Dieu. Initiated with financial assistance from the Fisheries Restructuring Adjustment Measures (FRAM).
Operated by:
The Main-à-Dieu Development Association
Description, purpose:
Dedicated to local history and the ongoing livelihood of the community.
mad_room2-ship.jpg
A toponym with a mysterious, ancient origin: 
The village, the bay and the passage between Cape Breton Island and Scatari Island are all called Main-à-Dieu. 

The words "Menadou", "Mendoo," or "Mundoo," also "Penadou" (Father Charlevoix), all used in the 17th and 18th century, would be approximate transcriptions from a Mi'kmaq word having to do with an evil spirit (as a reference, perhaps, to the number of shipwrecks in the area).
On a quite different note, it is worth noting there is also a word "mennadou" in the Breton language (a celtic language, like Gaelic), meaning: "resolutions, intentions, projects". Fishermen from Brittany, France, were actually fishing along the eastern coast of Cape Breton centuries ago. 

And, last but not least as a bit of information, the word "Dieu" (God) in the Basque region of France used to be pronounced "Diou" (dee-oo). And we know that Basque whalers had 'discovered' North America a century before Columbus. 

Anyway, the early written form of "Menadou" is used in all the missionary correspondence (Father Lejamtel, c. 1799; Father MacEachern, c. 1814) and by Bishop Plessis in his diary of 1815. Father MacEachern wrote "Manadou". 

"Manadieu", clearly a French-sounding name, is seen on an 1818 map by French-born A.W. Desbarres (the founder of Sydney). Perhaps at some point in history, people rescued from a shipwreck really gave this place its original name "Main-à-Dieu" - literally meaning, "Hand of God". 

"Mainadieu" is used in the official Index of Geographical Names of the Province of Nova Scotia.
More place names research:
Champlain's map of the Atlantic Provinces, 1632 
(click to enlarge)
Map (small) Cape Breton 1632.jpg
Interestingly enough our land itself, Cape Breton Island, takes its name from a small cape or promontory, Cap Breton, aparently named after the Breton fishermen who used to fish here. That cape is the most easterly point of CBI and is located just southwest of Scatari Island, not far from Main-à-Dieu. It is shown quite in evidence on ancient maps. 

Another theory is, 16th century Basque fishermen would have named this particular cape to remember another "cap Breton" located in their Pays basque (SW of France). There is actually a town named "Capbreton" in France, north of Biarritz. 
mad_capbreton-france.jpg
A bit of history - Early settlements
Shortly after the founding of Louisbourg (1713), fishermen came here. Later settlers were of Irish, Scottish and English descent. In 1753 there were 13 inhabitants at Main-à-Dieu. A report dated October 17, 1774, lists the population as 131 persons (46 Protestants, 85 Catholics). 

The oldest inhabitant of Main-à-Dieu was a Burke. 

Other family names: Campbell, Doyl, Dumphy, Evans, Farrell, Lahey, Lathigee, Ley, Martell, McDougall, Mullins, Murray, O'Nell, Skinner, Wadden, etc. Names of French origin in the area: Forgeron, Gallant, Petite (Petit). 

"Menadou", as Samuel Johannes Holland spelled it, was already a fishing settlement by 1768. Holland foresaw the possibilities and suggested to his superiors in England measures to encourage farming and further fishing. The history and economy of Main-à-Dieu have always been closely associated with fishing. John Parker, in "Cape Breton Ships and Men", writes: 

"The earliest fisheries were along this coast. All fish caught in the sea at that time had to be taken ashore to be salted and dried and shore establishments were set up to accommodate the men required for this work."
map, Scatari Island and Main-a-Dieu, 1750.jpg
Map by the Marquis de Chabert 
showing Scatari Island and the Main-a-Dieu area 
(click to enlarge)
Scatari Island (or, as we also see nowadays: Scatarie, Scattarie, Scattary, Scatori, Scaterie, Scattery) had 106 inhabitants in 1752 and it was described as an excellent place for codfishing. Its church was dedicated in honour of St. Catherine, and it was served in l734 by Father Alexis Guillan. 

Scatari Island was the first large piece of land seen by mariners after the long voyage across the Atlantic. It was described by Monsieur de Chabert in the 1750s, and by Samuel Holland in 1768. 

Scatari Island - Separated from Cape Breton Island by Menadou (Main-à-Dieu) Passage. About 2 miles east of Main-à-Dieu, NE N.S., off E Cape Breton Isl., 15 mi/24 km SE of Glace Bay; 6 mi/10 km long; 46°2'N 59°47'W.
Related Web sites:
For mariners:
On lighthouses:
On the life of fishermen:
On fishermen and mariners, and ships lost at sea:
postcard-ssbruce.jpg
The SS Bruce, "the connecting link between 
Port-aux-Basques
and North Sydney" - 
Postcard from 
a private collection. 

On the voyages of ancient explorers and fishermen:
On the history of the area:
From the Cape Breton's Magazine (Wreck Cove, Cape Breton Island), an article titled: "Remembering Life on Scatari Island"
Some genealogy sites for the area:
Local heroes and celebrities associated with the area:
Aviator Beryl Markham, whoat the end of the first solo east-to-west transatlantic flight, crash-landed on September 5, 1936 in a peat bog at Baleine. This was 21 hours and 35 minutes after take-off from Abingdon, England in the Vega, VP-KCC, dubbed "The Messenger". Author of West With the Night (1947), her autobiography (an astonishing book - Hemingway said it made him ashamed of everything he had ever written).

Surface area:
Approx. 24' x 30' (Room 1) and 24' x 25' (Room 2)
The collections / exhibits:
Many photos, newspaper clippings, maps, ship replicas and artifacts, all donated by local people. All artifacts are listed, with names of donators. 

These are now presented in the museum's two rooms. The museum's collection encompasses several themes:
1. The Museum itself - purpose and relevance to the community, founding, building and possible relocation, operation, contribution from the community, etc. (plaques, articles);
mad_wall-pictures.jpg
2. Main-à-Dieu's geographic and historic panorama - narrative and pictures (e.g. origins and various spellings of the name "Main-à-Dieu"; map of the area (incl. Baleine, Scatari Island, Cape Breton, etc.); original settlement; families names; fishing history; the Beryl Markham story; fishing plants, such as National Sea Products Ltd. and Island Fisheries; the Mullins store; the "Main-a-Dieu Senate"; the 1976 fire; etc.);
mad_senate.jpg
The Mullin's Country Store 
The old general store, formerly known as "Peter A. Mullins Provision Merchants Ltd." (est. 1933), used to be a gathering spot for local people. The Mullins Brothers run their father's business until it closed, in 1994. Up to 20-25 regulars gathered at times, and it was dubbed 'The Main-a-Dieu Senate'. 
3. Artifacts recovered from shipwrecks (brass porthole, binoculars, etc.), with historical map of Scatari Island showing wrecks; notes about the Whyport and other ships; story of the SS Bruce;
mad-ssbruce.jpg
The S.S. Bruce, a ferry boat of the Reid Rail Road, was the connecting link between Canada and Newfoundland (Nfld. joined Canada in 1949). It operated between North Sydney and Port-aux-Basques. She sank in 1911.
4. Artifacts from Scatari Island (bell, wooden shoes, etc.) + map of Scatari, pictures, explanation on: inhabitants, life for the islanders, natural environment; 

5. Domestic life in Main-a-Dieu (old Bible, lamps, trays, ice bucket, wash tub, hair clippers, shoes, carding brush, pan shovel, etc.); 

6. Boats - model replicas & pictures: types shown (e.g. schooner, fishing boats, ferry); and the people who made these model boats: Sandy Evans, William Keeping, Leonard Martell;
Main-a-Dieu ship model 2.jpg
Main-a-Dieu II, one of the ship replicas made by William Keeping
7. Navigation charts & navigation instruments (compass, parallel rules, sonar, radar deflector, Loran, ship-to-shore radio, depth sounders, etc.)
Main-a-Dieu bottomcase: fisherman.jpg
In the foreground: Gloucester fisherman and lobster fisherman, high flyer (to mark trawl); 
radar reflector, mast topsil, transducer, ship-to-shore radio, Loran and Sonar 
8. Fisherman's life: items of clothing such as South'wester, oil clothes, mitts, boots, etc.; depictions of fishermen, incl. the Gloucester Fisherman and the Lobster Fisherman; what life on fishing boats is like, or was like (weather, discomfort, etc.) 

9. Fishing gear (jiggers, hooks, traps, net twine, etc.) 
* Swordfish fishing 
* Trawl fishing 
* Lobster fishing 
* Cod, mackerel, squid, etc.
Main-a-Dieu, jiggers exhibit.jpg
Pictured here: squid and mackerel jiggers, lobster measure and lobster banner, halibut clips, cod worms, norwegian cod jiggers, small swivels, etc.
10. Boat equipment (buoys, floats, life rings, life jacket, rope, light, hoisting apparatus, tiller arms, steering wheels, fog horn, etc.; and, knot-making); 

11. Boats (heavy equipment: motors, engines, propellers, etc.). 
mad_room2-1.jpg
Along the wall, some of the floats exhibited at the museum. Each one, with a different colour and pattern, belonged to a different fisherman.
Below, another view of Room 2 in the Museum.
Main-a-Dieu, room 2.jpg
Some of the things to do in Main-à-Dieu, around the museum area and on the other side of the harbour:
After visiting the museum, one can go see the replica of a ship's wheelhouse on top of "the head" overlooking the ocean. 

Then a walk on the Moque Head Trail, 
following the ocean's shoreline, is a must to do. 
Length: 1 1/4 mi. Beaches. 

One mile across the water, one can see Scatari Island. Caution: high cliff areas.
An imposing boardwalk system (35,000 sq. ft.), skirting a sandy beach. 

Three public picnic areas. 

Boat races - last weekend in August.
Main-a-Dieu, Boat races festival.jpg
To visit Scatari Island:
By boat: ask fishermen at the wharf.
Wildlife on Scatari Island:
Staff of the Main-a-Dieu Fishermen's Museum:
Mrs. Mary Price, 902.733.2813 

Mrs. Kay Mills (pictured below), 902.733.2238
mad_kaymills.jpg
Contact information:
Mrs. Kay Mills at the Museum
The Main-a-Dieu Fishermen's Museum 
c/o Coastal Discovery Centre 
2886 Louis-Main-à-Dieu Road 
Main-à-Dieu, Cape Breton, NS 
Canada B1C 1X5 

Phone: 902.733.2749 or 1.866.803.2876 
Fax: 902.733.2763
General information:
Museum open from June to Sept., 
11:00 - 4:00 (hours may vary). 

Admission: free, donations welcome. 

Ample parking space available.
Other museums / heritage sites 
in the vicinity:
The whole area has a lot of history: Baleine and Gooseberry Cove (about 5 miles south of Main-a-Dieu), Louisbourg, Catalone, Cow Bay (now Port Morien), Bateston, Big Lorraine, 
Little Lorraine, Mira Gut.
How to get to Main-a-Dieu:
Main-a-Dieu road map.jpg
From Sydney, take the Louisbourg highway until the Main-à-Dieu turnoff after 25 km. Keeping right, drive through Bateston 5 km later and reaching Main-à-Dieu 7 km after Bateston. Turning right at stop sign in Main-à-Dieu, drive to the Coastal Discovery Centre.
For information about local history, accommodations, attractions, etc.:
Main-à-Dieu Credit Union 
2365 Main-à-Dieu Road 
Main-à-Dieu, NS B1C 1X2 
Tel: 902.733.2555 || Fax: 902.733.2555

Labels:

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Blogger Template created with Artisteer.