Boats to Build, Boats to Launch
Sherbrooke Village will be the place to be for boat builders and those with a passion for river lore on Sunday, Aug. 6.
Local boat builder Keith Horton will share his knowledge of the traditions of life on the St. Mary's River at the Sherbrooke Village boat shop. Mr. Horton will demonstrate how to build a St. Mary's River punt, the vessel of choice for anglers who came from all over the world to fish the salmon pools of the river. The demonstration begins at 1 p.m.
At 2 p.m., a model of the S.S. Dufferin will be presented to Sherbrooke Village by Michael Concannon, a member of the Maritime Ship Modelers Guild. The S.S. Dufferin was the vessel of choice for travel to and from Sherbrooke for many years. It sailed from the Halifax Plant Wharf every Thursday at 10 p.m., calling at Port Dufferin, Moser River, Ecum Secum, Marie Joseph, Liscomb, and Sonora. The schedule was set to coincide with Thursday arrivals of the Intercolonial Railroad.
"This model will be a valued addition to our collection," said Robert Jordan-Robichaud, manager of collections at Sherbrooke Village. "It represents an important historical transportation link between Sherbrooke and Halifax and also showcases the exceptional talents of Michael Concannon."
The S.S. Dufferin was built in 1904 and launched on Nov. 29, 1905 in Shelburne. It was owned by Capt. William Murdoch, whose home is located on the hill next to the Temperance Hall in Sherbrooke Village. The vessel operated on the Eastern Shore of the province until 1932, when it was sold, stripped and beached in the Herring Cove area. The S.S. Dufferin was about 34 metres long, had a beam of 7.5 metres, and was operated by a 42 horsepower, wood-powered steam engine.
Mr. Concannon had to create the drawings from copies of old photographs mainly supplied by the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, as no original drawings of the original ship exist. The model is the result of five years of research and construction and was built from scratch between 1995 and 2000.
The hull of the model was built with plywood framing, clear white pine planking covered with glass cloth, and mahogany decking. The superstructure is constructed of plywood and the lifeboats are molded fiberglass. Mr. Concannon built the engine, which is powered by a small propane cylinder and is remote controlled, in the 1970s.
After the model is officially unveiled, it will be taken by wagon to the lower end of Sherbrooke Village to the restored wharf on the St. Mary's River, known as Dufferin Landing, and will be launched for a remote controlled cruise. The model will later go on permanent display at the Sherbrooke Exhibit Centre.