Latest rural kiosk unveiled

From left, Avondale resident Catherine Anderson, District I municipal councillor Kelly McVicar and former school teacher Nova Bannerman view a panel under the kiosk that was officially dedicated beside the school house where Bannerman once taught. (Goodwin photo)

BARNEY’S RIVER STATION – The most recent dedication of a rural historical kiosk has been officially unveiled beside a museum that was once a school in Barney’s River Station.
The unveiling took place Sunday to coincide with the celebration of Canadian Culture Days.
It’s the 11th community kiosk to be developed and dedicated in Pictou County since 2007.
They feature interpretative panels that explain each area’s history using text, graphics and photos and reflect the development of communities after the arrival of the Ship Hector in 1773, when most emigrants from Scotland settled the rural areas of Pictou County, including the Barney’s River area.
Bridgeville resident John Ashton, who helped design the kiosks’ panels, said it was appropriate during Canadian Cultural Days to conduct the dedication.
“Anywhere in Canada, we owe everything to our culture and heritage,” he said.
The interpretive panels present the communities, stories, industries and cultural history from the first land grants to present day and are the product of exhaustive research over several years for each kiosk.
All the communities underwent a process of research, retrieval and choice of historical information that was to appear on the interpretive panels.
The Barney’s River kiosk includes information about the famous Bard John MacLean who lived in the area and wrote poems and lamented of the new emigrant’s life.
Some of the information presented also explains the rich industrial heritage when the Barney’s River area boasted furniture factories, grist mills, saw mills, railway stations, schools, churches, hotels, merchants and shops.
Previous historical kiosk unveilings in Pictou County have occurred in the communities of River John, Durham, Churchville, Blue Mountain, Sunny Brae, Lismore, Eureka, Merigomish, Hopewell and Kenzieville.
Funding was provided by Atlantic Canada Opportunities, Dept of Economic, Rural Development and Tourism, Municipality of Pictou County and the volunteers from the communities involved.