Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

Fred Mosher, his ‘nana’, father, and two sisters, Juanita and Helen, lived in
what is now no. 131 Fairmont Street, ‘in the home on top of the third hill up
from Mader’s Wharf.’ Fred was just nine years old when the school opened.
He was to graduate in 1922 from grade 11, and leave for New York to seek
[and find] his fortune. He put his memories of the birthplace he loved in a
series of letters, one hundred and forty two pages worth, he wrote to local
historian, Joan Foran, in 1994-5. His sharp intelligence, knowing curiosity
and incredible memory have left a record that research has found to be accurate
in the extreme. What follows, in italics, is in Fred’s words, [except for
bracketed inserts by this writer]. The spelling and grammar are Fred’s. His
tour begins at the east end of main and concludes at the bridge. Then follow
his more general comments.
The map (page 2) was developed, after this writer’s research, that included
Fred Mosher’s letters and a number of old maps, by staff at Lighthouse Publishing.
It is not drawn to scale: the result of doing so would have been too
crowded.
The map has been drawn to clearly show locations and names used at that
time. Again, to avoid cluttering, not all commercial and domestic establishments
are shown. Buildings are represented symbolically: representations
are not architectural drawings.
Fred’s Hill: Courtesy Settlers Museum
Fred’s Mahone Bay
‘Everyone in town, in winter, came to the top of our hill to sleigh ride [Fred says
‘sleigh’ not ‘sled’-the distinction in those days was with a “drawn” [by pony
or horsehorse] sleigh and the man-child powered sleigh]] from our house down
to Mader’s wharf without stopping. No cars in 1914. What fun!…. The harbour
generally has 20-30 large Bank Fishing Vessels -22 men each...as years went on
that number shrank until only one ..Capt. Winn Wentzell…was anchored thru the
winter.’
Name-Calling
“Horned Cattle” …That was the Mahone name applied to the Indian Pointers. And
the town folk called us, up on the hill, “The Stove Pipers.” And we replied by naming
the Main Streeters “The Wharf Rats”
Obed Hamm’s
• ‘The first place we see is Obed Hamm’s shipyard in front of his beautiful home [now
number 794 Main St. Obed also played the violin with distinction] He had two
daughters….the younger one Dorothy [Doddie].
• The shipyard had only one “ways” and it was for the smaller size vessels.
Mr. Hamm’s[ note Fred’s use of double ‘m’] big business was his fancy yachts and
deluxe motorboats. A very fine citizen.’ [In the 1920s, he became a school board
member and wrote a fine letter of reference for Clara Quinlan: chapter 5]
Photo below: Courtesy Settlers Museum. Obed watched over his empire from his office on top
of the building.
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