“When Emile left Canada in September of 1895, his health was completely restored and full of enthusiasm, he was busy planning the future of new France. .. The children who had remained in France, three girls and the four boys, were told of the plans to move to the New World. Departure was projected for March of 1896.”

“Crossing the Atlantic in the winter time is always a test of intestinal fortitude, even for the most seasoned travellers. Although the Bretagne was the last word in comfort, stability and speed, seasickness was the common lot of the children and their mother. She suffered terribly and was unable to take hardly any food. She vowed by all the saints that she would never set foot on a ship again. The father experienced no ill effects and enjoyed the trip…

“There was nothing much to do aboard the ship in those days, a few games on deck and an orchestra at night in the grand salon. The most important event of the day was reading the latest news received by wireless and pinned onto a notice board in the main hall.” (p.124)

After seven days of tossing about in a rough sea, they arrived in New York, America. From there they traveled by train to Boston, where they were met by Jean, and where they stayed for a few days before catching the boat to Yarmouth.

“The trip on the Yarmouth was terribly rough, taking twenty-four hours instead of the usual twelve.  All night the old ship rolled and pitched in the storm. The engines had to be stopped for hours to pump the ship.”

They caught a train to Weymouth, where they stayed the night.

“Early the next morning the family got aboard three sleighs and started on the last leg of their long journey to New France, their new home. It was a nice cold early March day.” “The trees were covered with snow and the braches of the dark spruce hung low under its weight. The sun was shining brightly, and the effect on the snow was dazzling.” “On the way again, by midafternoon of that beautiful day, the convoy glided slowly into the clearing weith its new buildins in grey and maroon, neatly ranged on either side of the square and the big house at the bottom, securely seated in the snow, which looked so big, so warm and inviting with wood scented smoke curling gently from its chimneys” (p.128)

The above excerpts tell only part of the story of the Stehelin family and Electric City. These only reach half way through the book. Its a fascinating read, covering the adventures and exploits of this remarkable family. It touches on how people lived, worked, were paid, as well as places and events in Weymouth and Nova Scotia, politics and world events at the time.

A railway line was built in 1897 from Weymouth to Electric City. “The rails were logs twenty to thirty feet long. They were squared on three sides and laid with the remaining rounded side up. The finished rails ere eight inches on three sides with the rounded top side on which fitted the concave wheels of the rolling stock. “

“On September 3, 1897, also by D.A.R. freight, arrived at Weymouth, the locomotive built by Robb Engineering Ltd. Laden on an open flat car, it had passed through Digby the day before and as it had remained there for several hours, a large number of people from the town came to the station to see it. It took eight yokes of oxen and two days to haul it to Riverdale and set it on the track. It had a brass bell and a brass oil lantern in front of the smoke stack, as well as a whistle. In yellow letters, on the sides of the drivers compartment, was painted the name “Marie Theresa”. There was a fuel tender behind the locomotive, all black metal, with the inscription, also in yellow letters, W.& N.F. Ry.”

“So many people had visited the colony, so many others had worked there, side by side with people they would never have known or understood otherwise. The Acadians, the English and the Blacks worked together and came to know and respect one another, living harmoniously, each making his contribution happily, according to his or her capabilities. There was contentment and happiness living in such a small community. In after years, the memories that lingered in the minds of old men who had worked there, were of pleasant happenings and experiences, those that had brought them joy, laughter and even sadness. To one old man, it was the recollection of being down and out of work, arriving at New France late on a fall night after a long walk from the Corner, bursting out onto a lighted and cheerful looking village and being given dry clothing, food and a job. To others, it was the memory of hunting trips and the tall stories about bears and moose. Yet to others it was the recollection of the hospitality at the Big House. be he tramp or Governor, he found the hospitailty that warmed his spirit.”