After reading an article in the June 18 issue of the Nova Scotian (part of the Monday issue of the Chronicle Herald), entitled “N.S. Cemeteries Have Plenty of Stories to Tell”, I decided to tell a unique Cumberland County story which is commemorated in a cemetery in Pugwash.
I found the article interesting, particularly because it also featured “Gravestone Guru” Deborah Trask, who I have met several times and who has helped many people in Cumberland County to better look after and preserve monuments and gravestones and the grounds upon which they are located. She did that as a guest lecturer at two cemetery workshops which the W.B. Wells Heritage Foundation sponsored, now many years ago.
This Foundation, made possible by the late William Black Wells (“The Blueberry King”) through a very generous bequest in his Will, has existed and operated since 1985. In addition to helping hundreds of cemeteries throughout Cumberland County for over 30 years, it has sponsored a cemetery workshop every five years. These functions are attended free of charge by representatives of cemetery associations and societies in order to learn not only how to access funds from the Wells Foundation, but also acquire more knowledge about all aspects of cemetery care from a variety of experts on many topics. Deborah Trask’s expertise and advice has made a big difference to the care of cemeteries and burial grounds in Cumberland County.
The article referred to above makes mention of several noteworthy cemeteries, but in my opinion, it should have included a very special one near us, because of the unique monument it contains. I am referring to the St. Thomas Moore Catholic cemetery in Pugwash. It contains the first public monument erected for a Canadian born female, Mary Elizabeth Crowley. Why?
In 1841 a man by the name of Cornelius Crowley arrived in Saint John, N.B. from Ireland, along with his father John Crowley. They walked the 200 miles to Streets Ridge, Cumberland County, to take up adjacent land grants. Cornelius was only 17 at the time. Soon he married a local girl, Ann Patriquin and together they had 10 children. The third oldest of them, Mary Elizabeth, was born in 1858.
Cornelius was an enterprising fellow. In addition to his farm he operated a tannery and blacksmith business. One day, while he was in Pugwash on business, a fire broke out at the family home. Three of the boys slept in the barn loft and were not exposed to the flames. One child each was rescued by the mother and the grandfather.
What happened next?
Mary Elizabeth, upon waking to the screams of her mother, woke up her nine-year-old bother, Gus, and managed to get him to jump out the window. She then turned to her seven-year-old sister, Catherine; however the little girl fought her. She finally managed to pick her up and drop her to the family below, and then she jumped herself. Sadly, both girls died hours later from the burns sustained in the fire. "(From the Crowley Clan Newsletter).
The doctor who tried to save the two girls was so impressed by the heroism of this 11-year-old that he reported the event to the public news. He also spoke to the government of the day. Such was the general public’s appreciation of Mary Crowley’s unselfish act that the Nova Scotia Legislature had no difficulty voting unanimously to erect a monument to the young heroine, all at public expense.
That monument was erected in the aforesaid cemetery on the east side of the village wedged between the waters of the harbour and the provincial highway to Wallace and Pictou. In addition to the provincial white limestone marker, large enough to tell the heroic story briefly, the government surrounded it with an elaborate cast iron enclosure.
The monument still stands to be viewed today, with its engraving somewhat worn. The cast iron fence deteriorated and has recently been removed. The renovations were assisted with funding by the W.B. Wells Heritage Foundation. A large interpretative plaque has been erected which tells the story of Mary and of the monument. It also shows a photo of what the gravesite looked like before the cast iron fence was removed. It is worth a visit. The highway shoulder opposite the cemetery is wide enough to park a vehicle.
The memory of the young heroine lives on. You are invited to share in it.
Morris Haugg is a retired Amherst lawyer and longtime member of the Amherst Rotary Club. He is a member of the Community Editorial Panel.
