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ROOTS OF A NATION The idea that Louisbourg might contribute to
contemporary society has its roots in the period that followed
Confederation. Once British North
American colonies united to become a nation in 1867, they began the difficult
process of nation building. One critical component was economic development. As a
confederation, Canada presented a secure profile to British capitalists. Enthusiastic in their promotion of
technological advancement, the same investors -- and the industrialists who won
their confidence -- keenly seized opportunities to develop natural resources
with proven value. Coal was one of
these resources. British interest in coal yanked Cape Breton out of
obscurity in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. By 1873, the Cape
Breton Coal & Development Co. had built a railway from Sydney to Louisbourg
to develop Louisbourg's ice free winter harbour. While this operation ran with
varying success over the succeeding decades, it did draw some progressive
"men of vision" into Louisbourg's orbit. Industrialists all, these men believed that technology provided
an opportunity to improve the quality of life.
Because they recognized change as fundamental to society, they
acknowledged past accomplishments as steps towards present achievement. These men of action were the first to
attempt to preserve Louisbourg's heritage value. In 1882 J.S.
McLellan, a young Cape Breton Coal employee from Montreal, wrote the first
article calling for construction of an historical monument at Louisbourg. His boss, D.J. Kennelly, was fascinated with
the site. When he could not raise other
interest, Kennelly acquired Louisbourg's most critical townsite property himself
and began to rebuild the most visible relic, the King's Casemates, as a personal
hobby. Once Louisbourg was under
Kennelly's protection, looting stopped. Visitors were interested in the
project, but there was little thought of public action. Canada acquired Banff, its first national
park, in 1885. At the time, Banff was
the second national park in the world.
The thought of preserving special resources was rare. Even when it was considered, no one knew
whether the task was one for private philathropists or for public resources.
In the meantime, Canadians began to realize they had a
heritage -- a British heritage that united existing residents threatened by the
extent of European immigration. At the
turn of the century, links with Great Britain confirmed membership in the
greatest Empire in the world. It
offered security, access to the world's best manufactured goods and largest
markets. Canadians interested in their
heritage extolled Queenston Heights and the Plains of Abraham, sites that
lauded the triumph of Queen and Empire. It was, therefore, with some astonishment that the
Canadian government learned in 1895 that the American Society of Colonial
Wars intended to erect a monument to
the triumph of New England forces at Louisbourg. With some consternation, government officials realized they could
do nothing to stop this commemoration.
Louisbourg was a private resource situated on private property. Hastily, the government assembled a
delegation to ensure representation at the ceremony. This incident ensured that Louisbourg achieved notice.
In the decade that followed, Canadians made a big splash reviewing the
Louisbourg site. Governor General Earl Grey and Prime Minister Sir Wilfred
Laurier visited. Senator Pascal Poirier
explored the possibility that the Royal Society of Canada might commemorate
Louisbourg as a representation of the French settlement of North America. J.S. McLennan published a book prefaced
with the suggestion, "Should not some memorial be raised which would show
that Canadians ... are still mindful of the great deeds done on Canadian
soil? There could be no fitter sight
than ... Louisbourg, where French and English dust commingles in
peace...."** New Englanders were of no mind to see their triumph at
Louisbourg fade into obscurity.
Respected American historian Francis Parkman wrote, "If Pepperell's
siege of Louisbourg had been in ancient China or Greece, it would have been a
classic of the world for all times."[1]
It was clear that, one way or another, Louisbourg required commemoration and
interpretation. Kennelly quite rightly regarded this attention as an
opportunity to further his pet project.
He organized the Louisbourg Memorial Fund in 1903 and acquired enough
subscriptions in Britain, the United States and Canada[2]
to demonstrate a broad base of interest.
Kennelly died in 1907, willing
his Louisbourg properties to the custodianship of the people of Nova
Scotia. Before his estate was resolved,
World War I began, erting public attention to weighty matters of survival.
Chronology Items
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Illustrations
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