Museum Executive members and volunteers Sandra Dunn, Charlie Neville, Mary Dunn, George Dunn, and Helen Carroll.

The 2011 summer season has come and gone, and with it we enter our busiest time of year as we prepare to welcome cruise ship passengers from all over throughout September and October.

Also in October, we will celebrate the grand opening of the Whitney Pier Community Heritage Trail. We are currently finalizing plans for this event, and will keep you posted on all of the details!

Though we must close our doors for the off-season, we are always happy to accommodate visitors by appointment. If you’re in the Pier from September through to May 2012, and wish to stop by the Museum, please contact Sandra Dunn @ (902) 562-8454, or Simon Gillis @ (902) 564-4248.

We thank you for your support this year, and look forward to seeing you again in June 2012!

Aerial view of Whitney Pier. Photo credit George Hunter.

Given the central role that steel production has played in the history of Whitney Pier, we thought it only appropriate to highlight a few photos from our industrial past. Some of us grew up with the Steel Plant; lived nearby and worked there. Others remember it only through stories and memories shared by older generations. Though the steelmaking tradition in Cape Breton has ceased, we continue to honour the thousands of labourers who dedicated their working lives to the industry in the Pier, and remember their vast contributions to our community throughout the years.

Early workers during the construction of the Sydney Steel Plant.

Building the Plant.

Construction of the Sydney Steel Plant.

Dominion Iron and Steel Co. Machine Shop workers, 1950. Front row, left to right: Monty Mortimer, Alfred Evans, Berkley Evans, Howard MacDonald, Bill Fedora. Back row, left to right: Harry Tobin, Ron Adams, Ernie Yates, Rice Gaudet, Jim MacKillop, Albert Hennick, Gerard MacNeil, Ed Hubley, L.J. (Lem) Evans.

Group of workers tapping the No. 6 Furnace.

Joseph Sobol, Melter Foreman at the Open Hearth Furnace.

Sign promoting Plant safety.

No. 1 Blast Furnace ca. 1954.

Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation Headquarters, 1951.

Lightweight Boxing Champion Joseph Sylvester (right) of Whitney Pier poses with an opponent.

Since sports have played a key role in the lives of many Pier people, today we’re highlighting a few photos of various teams from different kinds of activities from years past. These traditions continue today, and remain an integral part of the community and its numerous athletic organizations. Here’s a taste of what can be seen in the Museum. Enjoy!

An early Whitney Pier hockey team.

Whitney Pier Athletics Baseball Club ca. 1937. Front row, pictured left to right: Joker LeBlanc, John Gallagher, Herman Timmons, Father M. M. MacDonald, Ray Murray, Danny Gallivan, Jerry Kehoe, Nat Gallivan, Mascot Jimmy MacDougall. Second row, left to right: Bam Melnick, Lon Hartigan, John Willie Mombourquette, Les Topshee, Cecil Clarke, Mickey Gillis.

Broadway Aces Soccer Team ca. 1935-1940.

Women’s Basketball Team. Date and names unknown.

Members of the Steel Plant Bowlers having fun while competing.

Newman’s Hardware on Victoria Road.

Throughout the history of the Pier, numerous businesses have come and gone. Victoria Road and its adjoining streets have been home to most of these establishments, some small and others large. Though almost all of the businesses pictured here are no longer in operation, we remember them fondly for their many years of dedicated service to our community.

Archie Nathanson’s on Victoria Road.

Whitney Pier Deli on Victoria Road.

Bernie’s Bakery on Meadow Street.

Feder’s Jewelry Store on Victoria Road.

Whitney Pier Meat Market on Victoria Road.

Group from St. James Presbyterian Church gathered at a picnic.

Summer is the perfect time for a picnic, especially when groups are reunited and friends and family come home for a visit. These images highlight two separate picnics from the past in the Pier, and they show just how fun these get-togethers can be. Whether people gather to enjoy a little sun, a little laughter, or some great food and company, a picnic in the Pier is sure to be a good time! Enjoy the photos. Now, if only this dreary weather would improve!

St. James Presbyterian Church Picnic at John S. MacLennan’s Field, date unknown. Amongst those in the photograph are Reverend John MacIntosh and Angus MacInnis, both seated.

S.S. Picnic, 1915.

Left to Right: Hughie Savoy, Bill Wareham, Johnny King, Frank Ambrose (back left), and John MacDonald (back right) on a Laurier Street stoop ca. 1940.

It’s not unusual to see Cape Bretoners gathered on a local stoop, sharing stories and exchanging laughter. These boys had the right idea on Laurier Street in the 1940s, and judging by the smiles on their faces, they had a great time just hanging around with friends in good ol’ Whitney Pier!

Spectators gathered at the Whitney Pier Ball Field off Catherine Street, July 16, 1951.

Sports have played an important role in our community since its early beginnings. Pier residents are no strangers to fun at the rink, the gym, the ring, the track or the field. Events like the one pictured above brought people together on a regular basis for lots of entertainment and excitement. In the spirit of tradition, these gatherings continue today for everyone to enjoy!

William Crosman gives advice to children behind the Sydney Steel Plant.

Over the years, many people have donated albums to our Museum housing old family photographs, obituaries, celebrations, gatherings, and the like. Amongst these interesting materials is the Crosman Album, in which several stunning photos capturing the life activities of William Crosman and his family in the Pier can be found.

Containing a collection of photographs taken by Louis Jacques to accompany an article printed for the Montreal Standard weekly newspaper in the summer of 1946, this album relates the story of the Crosmans, as written by Kate Aitken for the paper’s “Meet Mr. and Mrs. Canada” series. In an effort to highlight these wonderful images, here are a few more for you to enjoy:

Steam Fitter in the Dosco Steel Plant, William Crosman, 49, talks about conditions with Angus Tobin (left) and Danny Curry.

Mrs. Crosman hangs out the washing at her home in Whitney Pier. 

Willam  and Jennie Crosman’s daughters Norma, Anna, Frances, and Helen go swimming at the local beach.

Throughout the summer we’ve been exploring our collection of photographs for some of our favourite images to share. In the following weeks, we’ll be highlighting photographs that capture great moments of life in our community, past and present. We hope you enjoy reminiscing with us!

The photograph posted above is one such example of some of the wonderful images found at the Museum. Located in one of our unidentified vintage albums, the people in this photo and the circumstances surrounding its capture remain a mystery. Are these faces familiar to you?

Though we don’t know who they are, one thing is certain: the young boy and the gentleman in this photo shared, at one time, a special moment in a special place called Whitney Pier.