Ned Harris' Letters from Mahone Bay 1884-1889

Editor: Robert Tuck

In March 1884 a newly ordained deacon. the Reverend Ned Harris, arrived in Mahone Bay from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, via King's College in Windsor, Nova Scotia, as curate to the Reverend W. H. Snyder, who had been Rector of Mahone Bay since 1858. 

Every few days Ned wrote a letter home describing his adventures. The letters are full of tales of his horse, Jet and his dog, Col (both Prince Edward Islanders, like himself) and his encounters with all manner of folk, ranging from Bishop Hibbert Binney, the Rector and Mrs. Snyder and his fellow clergy, to the Ernsts, Grays, Knauts, Zwickers, Maders, Keddys. Hyssons, Slauenwhites, Inglises, Langilles, Venoits, DeMones, Oiekles and others who were his parishioners living in Mahone Bay, Block house, Clearland, Fauxhurg, Maitland, Swedeland, Northfield, Newburn, Woodstock, New Germany, Martin's River, and Indian Point.

Central to the story he tells is the building of St. James's Church. Mahone Bay, designed by his brother William, which stands today as one of the landmark buildings of Nova Scotia. In the mid 1880's St. James's Church was the subject of sharp controversy, the story or which has never been told until now.

Letters From Mahone Bay has been put together by Ned Harris' grandson. Canon Robert Tuck. with assistance from his great granddaughter, Dr. Elizabeth Eayrs, and his great grandson, Graham Tuck. It is lavishly illustrated with early Mahone Bay photographs and sketches, many or them made by Ned Harris himself, and includes reproductions in colour of portraits - and some local landscapes - painted by his brother, Robert Harris, PRCA, CMG, Canada's "Confederation Painter".

Every lover of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg County will enjoy this book and the insights that it offers into what life was like in the community on Nova Scotia's South Shore in the 1880's

Book condition:  This is a new book.  however the covers have some shelf-wear as is evident in the photos.  Please check them closely before purchasing.  This is our last copy.

Details:

236 Pages
6 X 9" inches
Softcover - paperback
Published by Maplewood Books, 2001
ISBN: 9780968249239