Day 45 - North Sydney, Nova Scotia

We were off bright and early in the rain this Saturday morning, July l4th.  The folks here were happy to see the rain but for us, it didn't make much difference as we headed l/2 an hour down the road to tour the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.  None of us had any idea how brilliant this man was.  The invention of the telephone was only a small portion of his legacy.  Then it took him l8 years to prove that it was his invention. 

The museum is in Baddeck, a great facility and very well done.  On the sign it states the "Birthplace of Canadian Aviaton" - that is something else that Bell was involved in.  We were inside the building listening to our enterpretuer when we saw two Eagles fly by. We went outside and got these pictures.  The Eagle on the post is drying off because she went into the water and picked up a duck but it was too heavy so she really got wet.  The lighthouse is in the bay in front of the museum.

This all started because his Mom was deaf and while teaching in Boston, he met his future wife, who was also deaf. 

 

I don't know about anybody else, but I sure didn't know all that Bell was involved in especially with elocution and speech correction.  He also worked with Helen Keller to help her w/her speech. 

He had l8 patents in his name and 12 with other people.  He was inventing things at the age of 12 in Edinburgh, Scotland where he was born.  He came to the States and later moved to Beddeck because of health reasons.  The air was much fresher and cleaner. 

Mabel Bell painted this picture of an owl for her husband because he worked late into the night all the time.  In later years, Bell and Baldwin turned to experiments with hydrofoil craft that culminated in the development of the HD-4 which set a world speed record in l9l9.  There are numerous other projects that he worked on himself as well as with others such as metal jackets to assist patients with lung problems and audiometer to test a persons hearing.

Mabel played a vital role in her husband's career, providing him with both financial and moral support to pursue his diverse interests. She also managed the Beinn Bhreagh (summer house in Beddeck).  This is where much of his scientific work was pursued.  His imagination and wide-ranging curiosity led him into such areas as sound transmission, medicine, aeronautics, marine engineering and space-frame construction.

We took a ride down by the harbor where this statue is and when I looked up to the Peninsula across the water, I got a glimpse of their summer home. It isn't a very clear picture because of the extended zoom, but this will give you a bit of an idea how big it is.  The family still owns the house and grounds.  No one lives in it but it is still used.  We all thought that it should be toured and they could make money for restoration purposes.  I heard that the entire first floor is closed off for repair work.

In the museum there were a lot of pictures of him with his wife, two daughters and their many grandchildren - very much a family man.

While driving around North Sydney, we saw some fisherman loading up containers of crab so Rod went over to talk to them and see if he couldn't buy one.  Nice people that they are here, gave him one so he cooked it up and him and Wendy cleaned it and even I ate some.  Actually I ate quite a bit on crackers w/shrimp sauce.

Our Staff supplied us with another dinner - salad and pizza's.  We gathered in a very nice renovated barn where I took these pictures of Joyce playing the piano.  Joyce and Terrance Melberg are from Hermitage, TN.  Unfortunately, they will be leaving our caravan on Monday when we take a Ferry to New Foundland.  Their plan was to only take half the trip.  We keep trying to keep them with us but they have plans to go home.  They will be missed.

Another day has come and gone.  Hope you all had a great day.