Sly Fox

           When most people think of livestock they picture cows, pigs, and perhaps chickens, but not many people would consider foxes. This is likely because in recent years fox farms have not been nearly as popular as they were in the early 1900s. People have varying points of view on fox farms because the foxes were mainly bred for their fur for use in the fashion industry. It still is a part of our history, though, and so today we would like to share a bit about fox farming in the New Brunswick area with you.

            Discovered in our vault yesterday was a Canadian National Live Stock Records book that contains records for a fox farm in Millstream, New Brunswick from 1926 to 1930. It seems that the owner of the fox farm was John A. Northrup. Having seen horse and dog registration certificates, pedigree charts and sale papers, it was very surprising to find that these individual foxes had very similar papers to accompany their birth and sale.

            The first page in the book is an ‘Agreement Re Marking Foxes’ signed by Mr. Northrup on August 16^th, 1930 in Millstream, NB. The paper is addressed to the Accountant, Canadian National Live Stock Records in Ottawa, Ontario. The agreement contains details regarding the registration regulations, tattooing of foxes, and not holding certain groups responsible for any damage or loss during the marking or inspection of his ranch. The last sentence in the document, “At present my ranch contains 6 adult foxes and 10 puppies.”

            Most of the pages in the book are Ranch Records for a specific year that contain information about the puppies born and the parents. For example, a yellow 1929 page states that his female fox, Teakles, was mated on February 22^nd, 1929 with his male fox, Northrup, and their litter was born on April 15^th, 1929. The litter consisted of three male pups. Two were dark silver and their dispositions were described as “Susp”, the third was medium silver with an “OK” disposition. One was pelted, one was sold, and there is nothing listed for the third.

            It isn’t the coolest artifact in our collection to look at, but it certainly tells us a bit about the history of our area. When this book was discovered we did some searching to find more information about this time period in rural New Brunswick, and we included the link to a website that goes into the details about fox farming in the Salisbury area.

http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/Products/V/Village-of-Salisbury.aspx

Happy Canada Day!

             Today’s post is a little bit different, but in light of the Canada Day celebrations taking place today we thought it fitting to share with you a piece from our collection with details of Confederation. As stated within the first few pages of the book titled ‘Confederation’, “This book was compiled from reproductions of actual newspapers of the day for the Rolland Paper Company Limited as its contribution to the celebration of Canada’s 100^th birthday.” Most already know the facts and dates of Confederation, so we wanted to share a few excerpts from newspaper articles that may be of interest. Since none of us were around to grab the daily paper in 1867, we thought it might be neat to highlight some lines from different papers.

            

          Toronto, Monday, July 1, 1867 – The Globe, “With the first dawn of this gladsome midsummer morn, we hail the birthday of a new nationality, A united British America, with its four millions of people, takes its place this day among the nations of the world. Stamped with a familiar name, which in the past has borne a record sufficiently honourable to entitle it to be perpetuated with a more comprehensive import, the DOMINION OF CANADA, on this First day of July, in the year of grace, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, enters on a new career of national existence. Old things have passed away. The history of old Canada, with its contracted bounds, and limited divisions of Upper and Lower, East and West, has been completed, and this day a new volume is opened, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia uniting with Ontario and Quebec to make the history of a greater Canada, already extending from the ocean to the head waters to the great lakes, and destined ere long to embrace the larger half of this North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific.”

          

             Halifax, July 1, 1867 – Morning Chronicle, “DIED. Last night, at twelve o’clock, the free and enlightened Province of Nova Scotia. Deceased was the offspring of old English stock, and promised to have proved an honour and support to her parents in their declining years. Her death was occasioned by unnatural treatment received at the hands of some of her ungrateful sons, who, taking advantage of the position she had afforded them, betrayed her to the enemy. Funeral will take place from the Grand Parade this day, Monday, at 9 o’clock. Friends are requested not to attend, as her enemies, with becoming scorn, intend to insult the occasion with rejoicing.”

            Friday, July 12, 1867 – The Ottawa Citizen, “Confederation Day appears to have been generally well-observed throughout the Dominion. But in Nova Scotia, in the strongholds of Anti-Unionism, the day passed over without jubilation. This, of course, is no more than we might have predicted, for, weeks ago, Mr. Howe and the anti-Confederate journals recommended that the day should be devoted to fastings and humiliations. The recommendation of Mr. Howe was followed by at least one Quebec Rouge – a Mr. Laberge – who, as mayor of Dorchester, withheld his sanction and authority for the holding of a celebration. When asked to convene a public meeting to take into consideration the celebration of the day he refused to do so on the ground that he believed Confederation to be a public misfortune, and that , before rejoicing, the people should wait at least one year to see how the Union should work.”

            Montréal, Samedi, 6 Juillette 1867 – La Guêpe, “L’Évènement de la Confédération est signalé par les signes les plus étranges, les choses les plus inouïes et les monstruosités les plus étonnantes.”

            As most know, Confederation Day wasn’t all smiles– there were many different emotions on this day 149 years ago. Some happy, some not so happy, and in Montreal, some just in awe at what was happening!

           

             We will be open until 4pm today if you want to stop and visit the Old Jail or our new Steamship Exhibit! We hope you enjoy a wonderful Canada Day, though, wherever you may be celebrating!