Local Knowledge Keepers (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)  (Map Location)

 

These pages rely on local knowledge as told to us by Charlie and Kenton Teasdale, Bernie MacIsaac (for the Rear Georgeville area) and John Haley (for the Merland area). Joe MacDonald, who found the map online, joined the project in 2016 and did professional-quality genealogical work for us.

 

Figure 1 – Charlie Teasdale, 2018

Charlie (Charles D. Teasdale) was my number one collaborator on this project. It would never have happened without him. The many, many hours of labour involved in putting together this digital archive are largely devoted to him. He loves people and, regardless of who they are or where they are from, is always curious to learn about their lives. He is known far and wide in Antigonish County and beyond. I rarely meet a person here who is not aware of the good reputation of Charlie Teasdale.

 

Charlie is a forester & retired sawyer/owner of Teasdale’s Pulp & Lumber. He has always loved world travel and outdoor adventure including hiking, skating & four-wheeling. He is a passionate amateur historian and tradition keeper, often called upon to help families find the homesteads of their ancestors. He believes the sharing of stories keeps his large family close and strong.

 

He was a member of the Woodlot Owners Association and Christmas Tree Board and was an early pioneer or sustainable forestry practices. He helped found the 4 Valleys Fire Department and Meals on Wheels and he is still an active volunteer in the church community and Knights of Columbus.

 

His current (2024) project is converting his former lumber mill into a venue for concerts and cultural events.

 

Figure 3 – Charlie and Bernie MacIsaac, 2006

Bernie (Archibald Bernard MacISAAC) showed us some of the history of Rear Georgeville.

 

Bernie died in 2023, and I quote here from his obituary published in Saltwire:

 

"Bernie was born on July 14, 1928, to Archie and Eunice MacIsaac of Georgeville, Antigonish Co., NS. Bernie (if you knew him from “Home”) grew up roaming the woods and streams of Georgeville. He started his career in Goose Bay, Labrador and then moved to Toronto where he worked as a surveyor for the city until he retired in 1990. His hobbies included shooting, reading, and collecting records but his true passion was travel. He travelled the world, from Argentina to Kenya; Mongolia to Hawaii; and all points in between."

Figure 4 – John Haley with Charlie, 2008
John is showing Charlie how pupils at the Merland school would go to the stream to find stones to write on their slates with

At the age of 92, John took Charlie and me into the woods to show us the house where he was born and tell us some of the history of the Merland community.

 

John died in 2023, at the age of 102. Here is some of what was said about him in his obituary:

 

"Born May 2, 1916, in Merland NS, [John Lauchie "John L" Haley] was the son of the late William and Eva (MacNeil) Haley. He maintained close ties to the Merland community."

 

"In his early life, he worked in the woods, sawmills, and on farms in Antigonish County. Later, he was a sheet metal worker in the Halifax Shipyards where they built Naval Vessels during the war years. He returned to Antigonish and worked for two plumbing and heating companies. He later opened his own business, J L Haley Plumbing and Heating Ltd., which continues to operate today as a family business. He was one of the first Maytag dealers in Nova Scotia. He went on to become Maintenance Supervisor at the Antigonish County School Board until his retirement at age 66."

 

"John L was thoughtful and generous to others, both through his community involvement and on an individual basis. ...He was a storyteller with a good sense of humor."