Day 47 - Thursday, July 17 - Clan Tartans

Rain, wind and possible thunder showers today.  We are off to New Glasgow Highland Mall for a pedi - no Dan is not getting one, only me!  The feet are overdue for some attention and it costs about half as much as at home! 

That done we are going to find the sites in New Glasgow.  It seems this is the centre of Pictou County - the mall is very large and they have many services here, as well as Auto and RV sales and service.  The head office and distribution centre for Sobeys is here as well.  

We went to the War Memorial Park at the River front.  There is a war memorial there that is dedicated to the highlanders that fought from 1914 to 1918 and to those that lost their lives. 

A very pretty park.  There is also a Kiosk honouring the soldiers from the various wars.

We then walked over the bridge to the downtown portion looking for the museum and the Celtic Circle.  

As we were down by the River we had to walk up hill for quite a few long blocks but worth the effort.  Very old buildings in this little town.  New Glasgow has a population of between 5000 and 10,000 people - so comparable to the size of Merriitt, but because it serves so many surrounding communities it compares in size to Kamloops.  

As we were climbing our way to the museum we passed many churches - the first was huge - a block long and almost as wide, stretching into the shy.  Red bricks and grey/black stone enhanced the First Presbyterian exterior.  

Right next door is the Trinity United Church - same name as our church in Merritt, but much, much larger.  They were having a luncheon today and there were many people streaming into the church annex for lunch - similar to the Soup Kitchen in Merritt. 

Not quite as elaborate as the church next door but almost as big! 

We found the Celtic Circle a few blocks over and after another church.  Dan thinks I am obsessed with churches, but the architecture of the day was amazing, so maybe I am.  We passed this house on our way to find the Celtic Circle.  Huge and stately! 

The Celtic Circle was once a First United Baptist Church until 2009 when it became a community centre available for weddings, concerts, etc.  We wanted to inside but when we went there the doors were locked so no events were scheduled. 

We wound our way back up the hills and a few streets over through Peace Park to find the Carmichael - Stewart House Museum.  Just across the street from the museum is another beautiful house, standing so majestically!  

I would love to tour the rooms in this jewel! 

The Carmichael Museum is the actual house built by James Carmichael shopkeeper, shipbuilder and founder of the town of New Glasgow.  He built this house for James Junior as a wedding gift.  James Junior became involved in politics and was the County's fourth senator, and of course a very wealthy man.  James Senior built the first and only steel sailing vessel in Canada.  

The wooden staircase in the house led to the second floor where there were three beautful stained glass windows adorned the landing. 

The house was fully furnished with period furnishings and mannequins dressed in clothing of the time.  One thing I found very interesting was the notes on how the clan tartans came to be.   

So now we Scots know how our Clan Tartans came to be!

Well as usual it is well past lunch time.  We are terrible we always seem to have a lunch or snack between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.  Today we are running right on time - gives us something to laugh about.  We are usually up around 6:00 am so I don't know why we continuously miss noon!   Any way we have quite a walk ahead of us, down the streets and over the bridge to where we parked.  On the way we pass a cute pub.  "The Dock" - sign says "Food, Spirits, Ales & Friends".  Looks like it used to be part of the Armoury Buildings that we came across earlier in the day.  

We go down to the dock under the bridge for lunch at the seafood truck called "Crabby J's".  We sat at the colourful tables along the dock munching on a snack.  

We took the walkway under the bridge and took a few pictures. 

So now we are back at the Geo and we managed to be rain free today - that's because Dan carried the umbrella all day.  

Now we are off to the Museum of Industry.  Should be interesting.  

Dan is standing in front of a refurbished steam engine.  

This is "The Victorian" - the first steam wagon (Horseless Carriage) built in the Maritimes and run by a 2 cylinder gas engine.  Top speed 5 miles per hour on the flat but had difficulty climbing hills.

1912 McKay Touring car, seats 7.  The car sold for about $2,300 - approximately 4 times that of a "Ford Model T".  175 cars were built before the company dissolved.  They were definetly for the rich as a miner in that era made $1 for working a 12 hour day.  

Ladies - how would you like to have your hair permed by one of these perming machines?  Gauges were watched carefully to ensure not too much heat was applied to the the hair in the steel curlers, or the result would be burnt hair.  Hmmm, not for me.  

This was a very interesting museum, but I am sure Dan is getting tired of museums!  The end of our day today.  We were hoping for a fire, but it is still too windy and drizzly, so hot dogs and veggies with dip will have to suffice.  

We are already half way through our journey and it seems like we have just started.