1

Painting Rescued from St. Nicholas Italian Church
1943
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

2

In the beginning, collecting old photos and artifacts was a process whereby the community gave and members of Friends of the Pier stored- in their basements, spare rooms, sheds and front rooms!

3

The Whitney Pier Historical Society Is Incorporated
1988
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

4

With the incorporation of the Whitney Pier Historical Society on February 29, 1988, the opening of a museum and the adoption of the Nova Scotia Museum standard gift agreement, the donation process has changed over time.

5

The unfailing generosity of the Whitney Pier community has resulted in an eclectic mix of material culture. The Whitney Pier Historical Museum now houses approximately 5000 items. This includes artifacts, photographs, books, documents, and a variety of other memorabilia.

Here is a sample of the extensive collection housed at the museum, including some facts (and even some theories!) as to how these different items may have once fit into our community………..

6

Casino Theatre Movie Projector
1914
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

7

The Casino Theater opened its doors on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Victoria Road in 1914. When it closed in the 1970s it was the end of an era in Whitney Pier.

In 1990, before demolition of the old building could begin, a fire ravaged the structure. The day before the fire, however, 3 volunteers with the Whitney Pier Historical Museum rescued this MOVIE PROJECTOR. Amongst them was a former projectionist with the Casino Theatre, Charlie Roberts, who once operated this very machine.

Century Projector Corporation of New York manufactured the camera while the Ashcraft Suprex projection lamp was made by C.S. Ashcraft Manufacturing Company, Long Island, New York. The projection lamp created enough heat to warrant a 6 inch stack opening at the top of the light chamber for ventilation.

8

Moonshine Stil found at Inglis Lake, Whitney Pier
1930
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

9

The STILL seen here, was once used to boil mash to make moonshine in Whitney Pier. It was found by a passerby near Inglis Lake, a once popular swimming and recreation spot in Whitney Pier.

Although illegal, moonshine has always been a part of Cape Breton culture. Known locally as "Cape Breton Silver", this potent brew often appeared when a gathering was well underway. One local method of testing its quality has been to pour a small amount of moonshine onto a spoon and light it on fire. The bluer the flame the better the moonshine!

Historically, the sale of moonshine has been part of the underground economy and a living strategy by working-class people attempting to supplement an otherwise low income.

10

Tools of the Domestic Trade
1920
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

11

Working-class women in Whitney Pier homes, as with the majority of communities, laboured heavily to complete a long list of domestic chores. Seen here is the old WOODEN WRINGER used in washing the family clothes and linens.

A METAL WASHTUB (on the right) rests on a wooden structure that easily folded for storage. The hand-operated wringer is fastened on top of the unit by steel plants with decorative butterfly bolts. Two additional bolts on top of the wringer were used to regulate the pressure between the two rubber rollers. Excess water was then squeezed from clothes as they were eased through these rollers.

Women placed a washtub on either side of the wringer. The first tub was used to wash the clothes, either by hand or by using a SCRUB BOARD (seen here in the wash tub) while the second tub held the clothes after they had been rolled through the ringer.

12

Melting Pot and Ladle
1920
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

13

MELTING POTS were once used to liquify lead by emitting a flame at their base. The flame was produced and controlled by slowly releasing fuel and air from a pressurized tank using a small lever at the base of the flame.

14

Old Style Mail Box
1895
Whitney Pier, Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia