Pictou Bee Press

07/19/2025

From The Pictou Bee Press TIME CAPSULE:

"The sounds of Hector Week 1923."

This selection of music, “H-E-C-T-O-R spells ‘Hector’” (listen to recording: https://soundcloud.com/john-blackwell-474776319/hector), was composed in 1923 by Montreal musicians Rene Kennedy Morton and Louis MacNeil to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the ship Hector in Pictou, Nova Scotia, with early Scottish immigrants.

It was hailed by The Eastern Chronicle as the first ever “Scotch foxtrot”.

Described as “catchy, full of pep and go,” this song made its debut at New Glasgow’s Roseland. It was also sung via a Magnavox amplifier at the Highland Ball, and featured as the “leading number” at community singalongs in Pictou County.

We are deeply appreciative to Ken Bezanson and Kory Bayer for making this piece of music come alive after 100 years (listen to recording: https://soundcloud.com/john-blackwell-474776319/hector).

The credits are as follows:
Piano - Ken Bezanson
Recording, mixing, mastering – Kory Bayer

A copy of the original score and lyrics for “H-E-C-T-O-R” is available on the HAGGIS portal, courtesy of The McCulloch House Museum & Genealogy Centre:

http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/1130

http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/1131

http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/1132

Note: For historical photographs, video and audio recordings, documents, and artifacts from the 150th (1923) and 200th (1973) ship "Hector" celebrations, visit the TIME CAPSULE postings from The Pictou Bee Press at www.pictoubeepress.com.

07/18/2025

07/17/2025

From The Pictou Bee Press TIME CAPSULE:

In 1923, New Glasgow’s famous rug-hooking company, Garrett’s, printed a special pattern for the 150th Hector Celebration. It featured an image of the ship Hector encircled by thistles.

Note: For historical photographs, video and audio recordings, documents, and artifacts from the 150th (1923) and 200th (1973) ship "Hector" celebrations, visit the TIME CAPSULE postings from The Pictou Bee Press at www.pictoubeepress.com.

The McCulloch House Museum & Genealogy Centre
Pictou Historical Photograph Society
Ship Hector Passenger Descendants
Pictou 2023
Special Sale
Municipality of Pictou County
HECTOR 250--Commemorating the arrival of the Ship Hector in 1773
The Ship Hector Foundation
Pictou County Roots Society
Carmichael-Stewart House Museum
Museum of Industry
Highland Village Museum
Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College

07/14/2025

07/13/2025

07/11/2025

"Scotland Farewell: Emigration from Scotland to Nova Scotia, 1770 to 1870",
with Dr. Malcolm Bangor-Jones (drop-in & online via ZOOM)

Friday, July 11, 1:00 – 2:00pm (followed by a reception from 2-3pm)
Pictou Library, 99 Water St, Pictou, NS

All are welcome to drop by and join us (in-person or online) for a research presentation and discussion, with historian, Dr. Malcolm Bangor-Jones. A reception to follow, from 2-3pm. This program is co-hosted by the McCulloch House Museum, Pictou County Roots Society, and the Provincial Library, Province of Nova Scotia. For more information, please call the Pictou Library at (902) 485-5021 or email, [email protected].

To join us online by ZOOM:

Topic: Author presentation with Dr. Malcolm Bangor-Jones,
Time: Jul 11, 2025 12:30 PM Halifax
Join Zoom Meeting
https://buff.ly/nFQ13ym

Meeting ID: 844 7840 0145
Passcode: 295843
---

About the Presenter:
Malcolm Bangor-Jones is a historian with a particular interest in the Scottish Highlands. He lives in Scotland but has been visiting Canada for over 20 years and is moving towards finishing a major project on the migration of people from Sutherland in the north of Scotland to Canada.

Dr. Bangor-Jones’s work has appeared in academic journals, collections of essays, and local publications.

As a historical consultant he has undertaken research for several organizations, is an expert on Scottish family history, and has assisted with a number of episodes in various countries of Who Do You Think You Are?