Historic Guysborough

Clint MacNeil teaches history, geography, and world religion at St.
Charles College in Sudbury.

Who would suspect that an unassuming town having no apparent
significance could in fact harbour a rich and interesting past? Grant
writes affectionately about a community that deserves greater
recognition.

The introduction provides a brief history of Guysborough from the
period of Viking exploration to the mid-1950s. Employing a thematic
approach, Grant examines Guysborough through its travel, business,
recreation, war effort, and day-to-day activities.

Named after Sir Guy Carleton and situated along Nova Scotia’s
Chedabucto Bay, Guysborough was endowed with a safe harbour, fertile
soil, abundant fish, and a healthy influx of Loyalists in 1783. Although
Guysborough, along with Acadia, changed between French and British
hands, it never lost its commercial value and continued as a
“flourishing seaport town.”

Although Grant’s work would have benefited from the inclusion of more
anecdotes, he does provide some interesting trivia. Guysborough was a
quiet community where bike clubs and temperance were popular activities.
Christmas trees were a major export by ship since there was “no train
[from] Guysborough.” Motor vehicles were authorized to be used only on
public streets on Tuesdays and Fridays. Residents witnessed the Spirit
of St. Louis sail in the skies above in 1927. The HMCS Guysborough
served during D-Day operations. Bank tellers at one time carried .38
calibre revolvers. Even Joseph Howe upon visiting could not help but
comment on Guysborough’s beauty.

Numerous black-and-white photos and a generous balance between primary
and secondary sources add interest and credibility to Historic
Guysborough. Grant provides his readers with a wonderful glimpse of a
Maritime community whom many hope to visit, but only a few of whom are
fortunate to call home.