Museum of Industry

Because we often cannot get WIFI, my posts are usually not sent on the day of the event.   Please forgive the delays.  Jackie

07.31.12 Stellarton Museum of Industry

We just spent a delightful afternoon in the town of Stellarton, NS.  First we visited the Museum of Industry—per my request.  It has been a long-standing agreement between Royce and me that I will visit all his mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, historical places, if he will let me tour a factory now and then.  Although this was not a factory, it did deal with many of the mechanisms or products of factories. 

We found the museum to be both child and adult friendly.  The written explanations were concise and easily understood.  Surprisingly, we were escorted by our own tour guide who was quite informative and interesting.  We learned that hydro power could be accomplished via a variety of methods and were allowed to work the models making it much clearer than someone simply  lecturing us.

I was especially intrigued by a mobile shop classroom that went into the rural areas and picked up the students who were heading to the field of technology for a day’s lesson before moving on to the next rural area.  Inside the bus there were several machines such as a drill press, a small lathe, a gig saw, etc. The tour guide told us the story of finding a very old bus which was refurbished as a project by students.  It was then furnished with the machines.  Once the bus got to the final school of the day, they would plug into the school’s electrical power and have a lesson. Only one problem; there was no motor for the bus built sometime in the 1940’s.  So they wrote to Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan—my hometown—and asked for help in locating a motor.  Several weeks later they got a call telling them that a motor had been found in a warehouse of old parts and was being shipped to them at no cost.  I was glad to hear that my hometown showed compassion.  Another reason why I buy American made automobiles.

            After the tour we went for soup and sandwich to a shop recommended by an employee of the museum.  It was a great recommendation.  We’re on the road again heading to Cape Bretton where we have been told by many that we will be thrilled with the scenery.  No more factories, for a while, I guess.