8-17-19 Springhill and Museum of Industry

Springhill is our first destination of the day.  Tom had read that at the Anne Murray Centre you can record yourself singing a duet with Anne Murray, so we set off for Tom’s new career as a recording star.

• 

• 

I feel very fortunate that when Tom becomes rich and famous I shall be able to say that I knew he when he was a mere brilliant engineer 😊

The town of Springhill also has a mining museum that is on the site of some of the biggest mining disasters in Nova Scotia.

In 1956 mine number 4 exploded, 13 men were instantly killed and 113 were trapped 3000 feet below ground.  All 113 were eventually rescued alive.  Then two years later, there was a “bump” (underground earthquake) that caused mine number 2 to collapse – 75 men were killed and 100 were eventually rescued over a series of days.  The disaster ruined the Springhill economy and touched the lives of everyone in this small town.  The museum has the words to a sad ballad displayed on the wall.

The museum shows the railroad cars that would carry coal to the surface and carry miners to and from the surface.  We were also allowed to go down the mine about 300’. 

• 

• 

I am not claustrophobic or superstitious, but I could not wait to get out of that mine.  Something about being in an underground mine that’s the scene of such tragedy creeped me out. Not to mention that the mine is dark, wet, and cold.

We left the mine and headed for the Museum of Industry in Stellarton.  It was a great museum – for both adults and children.

Tom was particularly excited he was able to see a demonstration of the operational metal-working machines in the machine shop.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Samson, the first steam locomotive in Nova Scotia was also on display.  He was made in Britain in 1838 and imported to Canada.  He had quite an audience on his first run of hauling coal, but was eventually retired and subsequently restored.

In the evening we had dinner at the Briny Bar Café near our campsite.  We are now regulars since we have been there 2 days in a row.  The owner and our waitress were all chatting with us.  What wonderful, friendly people we have met in Nova Scotia.