Page 3 - Wilfred Creighton & the Expropriations: Clearing Land for the National Park, 1936

ISSUE : Issue 69

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1995/8/1

a little French. I'd worked in Que? bec. I knew all the bad French. When they called me names in French I could understand it. But I hired a man that was bilingual to come with me. T. C. LeBlanc--and he was a veteran of the 25th Battalion in the First War. He was from the north end of Cheticamp. And he came around with me. (Could you explain the procedure to me?) The properties had (already) been expropriated. The properties were now the possession of His Ma? jesty the King and the right of this Province of Nova Scotia. People were still living on them. (And they were offered a certain amount?) Well, they had filed, most of them had filed. Some of them at least had written in stating what they would settle for. So I approached them. Some of them spoke English. I didn't know anything, I went in green. I had no experience with that. And I was dealing with the Acadians in Cheticamp, the Highland Scottish people at Pleasant Bay and Cape North, The Big Intervale, and near Dingwall. Then I got to North Ingon? ish where there were largely Anglicans, a few Presbyterians. The Highland Scottish people, or Highlanders. There were New? foundlanders there that were Anglican. There were no homes (expropriated) in North Ingonish but the properties extended back and it was little bits of the back end of properties. And there were only a few, there weren't very many homes at South In? gonish. The Syrian peddler that was there-- took part of his property. He was the most savage man that I ran into at South Ingon? ish. But he was really cross because the park didn't take all his land. He was get? ting a good price for it. I had a young lawyer. Smith Maclver, for a while helping me search titles and (this peddler) met Maclver on the road and mistook Maclver for (me). Oh, he was swearing, and he scolded. And then he stopped for breath and then he turned to Maclver and he said, "Now, when's that antichrist Maclver coming down here? I'd like to meet him." Maclver says, "I think he'll be down next week!..." (Were most of the people you dealt with il? literate?) No, no. A few were. But the ma- Assessing a home at Cap Rouge jority were literate. The one case that I found most interesting was James Donovan, or Jimmy Donovan as the people called him, who had been illiterate until the age of 70. He had learned to read and write and he became quite a prolific writer. I found him a fine old gentleman. He was the one who wouldn't settle for what I of? fered him. The court gave him $200 less than I had offered. I was sorry for him, I tried my best to get at least what I (offered) him. I think I had offered him $1,200 and the court allowed him $1,000 or something like that. A dollar was worth some? thing then. But looking • SYDNEY'S FAVOURITE BAR & GRILL • • SYDNEY'S SUNNIEST OUTDOOR PATIO • OPEN 11 am - 2 am / SUNDAY Noon - 2 am LIVE MATINEE EVERY FRI. & SAT. Authentic 50'S & 60'S ROCK and ROLL CLUB JIVE THE NIGHT AWAY WITH THE CLASSIC DANCERS THURS. • FRI. • SAT.: 5 pm - 2 am 2 GREAT ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES UNDER 1 ROOF! 456 CHARLOTTE STREET. SYDNEY DANIEL'S 562-8586 • CLASSICS 564-9234 bral(e service drums & rotors resurfaced DISCO TIRE 2 &4 wheel alignment including 1-ton trucks and motor homes computerized engine analysis tune up and air conditioning GOODYEAR CERTIFIED AUTO SERVICE 95 Disco St. SYDNEY 539-4070

Cape Breton's Magazine