Hi Betty: The book definitely tells how the people of Boston and the U.S. rushed to offer aid. The books said that the U.S. Government donated Nov Five Million Dollars to the disaster relief fund. They sent a field hospital and ships with construction equipment, etc. This, in spite of some of the anti-American feelings prevalent amongst the upper class in Nova Scotia at the time. The people of our two nations have close ties in ancestory and we view many things the same. So many of have ancestors from both countries and the same places in Europe. Generally think we are pretty good neighbours to one another. Lauraine > > From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> > Date: 2009/07/02 Thu AM 06:59:01 CDT > To: <can-usa-migration@rootsweb.com> > Subject: Re: [CAN-USA-MIG] 1917 Halifax Explosion > > Hi Lauraine, > > Many in MA/US know about that explosion. Every year the people of Nova > Scotia send a "Christmas tree" down to Boston. That is a "thank you" for > all the people who "rushed to the aid" of the victims of the explosion. > If I'm remembering the story correctly, people on the MA shore, or people on > the ships in Boston Harbor, could "see" the explosion ! > > Notes: Yes, it was the first World War when "hemlines" changed. Again, > if I'm remembering correctly, that is when many women had to "go out to > work" - while their husband "went off to War." And the women could not > work in the factories, or in hospitals, etc., with their dresses / skirts > touching the floor. And, with my grandmother's story, I wish I could > find a "book author" who would be willing to write her story into an > "historic novel." She was the grandmother who was twice-orphaned, or so > the story goes. And was told many "lies" by her adoptive parents, who I > believe were her grandparents. Except for her 10? years as a very young > child in Melrose, MA, just outside of Boston, she spent her 2nd 10 years in > "Downtown Boston" in "homes." > > Also, one of the wives on my KIDDER family tree out of Princeton, Maine, was > a Clara McKEIL. I've often wondered how that name got mixed up with the > McNEIL / MacNEIL name in written records. I think Clara was from a New > Brunswick family, and she married Clinton KIDDER and lived in Princeton, > except for a few years in Berlin, NH, where he had a serious Stroke. > > Writing from "RAINY" Boston ! :o( > > Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <syrnick@mts.net> > To: <can-usa-migration@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:04 PM > Subject: [CAN-USA-MIG] 1917 Halifax Explosion > > > > One of the worst disasters in Canadian History was the Halifax Explosion. > > There have been many books written about it in documentary and history > > styles. > > > > Presently reading a novel about this era by Robert MacNeil of > > "MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour on PBS. Robert MacNeil was born in Halifax. > > > > The novel is called BURDEN OF DESIRE and gives many insites to the life, > > customs and class structures at that time. A book I recommend to those > > who like to read history in a novel form vs text or documentary. Some of > > the writing shows the antagonism between the U.S. and Canada in 1917 and > > it might bother some, but I found it quite funny. The story really points > > out just how much our societies have changed. In 1917, women's skirt > > hemlines were starting to rise. > > > > Lauraine > > > > > > > > When you want to respond to a query or comment posted on this List, I find it MUCH easier to post a new message -- remembering to include the SUBJECT from the post you are responding to !! Please make sure there is a SURNAME or place-name in the Subject. > > To search the archives: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/search?path=CAN-USA-MIGRATION > The information page is: > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Immigration/CAN-USA-MIGRATION.html > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CAN-USA-MIGRATION-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >