Friday, July 11. Lunenburg.

Today was the Longard Family Reunion in Lunenburg. I wasn't able to take many pictures, as it was pouring rain most of the day, but did get one shot of the Central United Church where the reunion took place.

This reunion was one of several taking place this week to honor the descendants of the "Foreign Protestants" who settled Lunenburg in 1753. Some, like Ulrich Lankert, were Swiss. Others, like the Boutiliers, were Francophone Lutherans from Montbeliard. Still others were Protestants leaving Catholic Bavaria. Many came on board a single boat, the "Betty." All came because the British, concerned about the growing French population and the recently constructed fortress at Louisburg, were determined to have both a strong military presence in Nova Scotia (Halifax) and a substantial population base. The "final solution" to the problem would come two years later, with the expulsion of the Acadians.

I had corresponded with one of the organizers, Nancy Longard Hood, about Longard genealogy, and it was a pleasure to meet her at last. I was surprised when one of the other attendees complimented me on my webpage. This day was more significant to my mother-in-law, but my wife met a number of people she hadn't seen for years, and others that she had only heard about. Some folks brought genealogy charts, others brought examples of arts and crafts they did. There was a musical program, with solos (Joy sang a couple) and accordion playing and piano and harp.

The organizers had encouraged the attendees to come in costume, and provided patterns and suggestions. Only a few folks (including my wife and kids) went along with the fun.

During a lull in the activities, before the rain started coming down in torrents, I went for a walk. The town of Lunenburg is built on an incredibly steep incline. We entered the parish hall from the rear on one street. The front door is on the next street up the hill, and goes into the sanctuary, a floor above the hall. The church faces a park, on the same steep grade. At a far corner of the park stands St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a beautiful structure with dark wood beams. The Presbyterians joined in celebrating the occasion by putting together exhibits from the parish archives. A couple blocks further up the hill was the Catholic Church, a non-descript building whose interior looked like it had been remodeled in the '70s. I wanted to visit the Lutheran and Anglican churches, but that's when the rain came down, and I ran back to the United Church.

My kids wanted to see the sanctuary, so I took them upstairs; on our return, the church secretary greeted us. The kids went back to the reunion, and she and I talked for awhile about the church and the town. She gave me a quick tour of the education wing, which I hadn't seen. Her husband is a scallop fisherman, who goes out to the Grand Banks for ten days at a time, five days in between trips, with a boat that rakes the bottom for the scallops. Another year or two, and he'll be able to retire, and she won't have to worry when he heads to work in uncertain weather.

I rejoined the family downstairs as people began to gather their children and belongings. The day ended with the singing of "Farewell to Nova Scotia" (the background music for this page), and we bid our good-byes to the Longards, if not to Nova Scotia.

Continue to July 12.