L'Ardoise, Cape Breton Photos

The Strangers in the Box
By Pam Harazim

Come, look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen.
At the pictures, black and white,
Faces proud, still and serene.

I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box.
Their names and all their memories,
Are lost among the socks.

I wonder what their lives were like,
How did they spend their days.
What about their special times,
I'll never know their ways.

If only someone had taken time
To tell who, what and when.
Those faces of my heritage
Would come to life again.

Could this become the fate
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces and the memories
Someday to be tossed away.

Make time to save your pictures.
Seize the opportunity when it knocks.
Or someday you and yours could be
The strangers in the box.

The photos found on the following pages will I trust re-kindle memories of people, places and things that were, and are, dear to our hearts. Though "they" may be gone, the pages that follow attest to the fact "they" are not forgotten.

I thank you, one and all, for sharing your precious photos. If anyone should recognize an un-named person, in one of the following photos, please forward his or her name. My address is found on the main page of this site.

Click on the photo to see a full sized version of the photo.

	Pictured left is Holy Guardian Angels' Parish Church which is located at L'Ardoise, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia [NS]. This Church building was consecrated in 1888 by the Bishop, of that time, Rev. John Cameron. This magnificent structure was tragically destroyed by fire on 20 Apr. 1972. Church photo left is courtesy of Miss Sally Anne Mombourquette of L'Ardoise, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Circa 1958

	Interior of Holy Guardian Angels' Parish Church. Church photo left is courtesy of Miss Sally Anne Mombourquette of L'Ardoise, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Circa 1958

	Left is a treasured copy of an 1880's photo of Céleste Mombourquette. Céleste born at L'Ardoise on 18 Jan. 1840 was the son of Patient Mombourquette and Hélène Howley. On 13 Jan. 1862, at L'Ardoise, Céleste married my grt. grandaunt Sarah Anne Burke. This photo of Céleste is courtesy of Miss Sally Anne Mombourquette of L'Ardoise
Circa 1883

	Pictured left is Marie Cécile Berthier b. 28 Aug. 1840 at L'Ardoise to Pierre Berthier and Agnes Petitpas. At St. Lukes Anglican Cathedral in Halifax, NS on 03 Nov. 1867 Cécile Berthier married William Cox of Halifax. Cécile died on 23 Feb. 1913 at Halifax. Photo left is courtesy of Mrs. Rosemary McLean of D'Escousse, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Circa 1905

	Photo of Frank & Mary "Minnie" (Landry) Pate taken at their home in L'Ardoise. If you can name the others in this photo please contact me with their names. Photo courtesy of Della Rose "Keating" Greeno
Circa 1958

	The school photo left was sent to me by Pam Kelly in the hope that names could be found that correspond to those in the picture. Bk. row - all unknown at present Frt. row - last girl far right is Mary T. "Mae" Joyce Can you help us name the others?
Circa 1920

	Elizabeth (Petitpas) Poirier, with daughter Angelique "Minnie" following at a distance....Elizabeth is the daughter of Vital Petitpas and Caroline Burke. She was born in D'Escousse. The church baptismal records show her as being christened on Oct. 5, 1857 as Caroline Elizabeth Petitpas. Elizabeth died Jan. 8, 1936. Photo courtesy of Pam Kelly
Circa 1935

	Isidore (Josse) Joyce b. 12 Nov. 1881 at D'Escousse d. circa 1908. Isidore was the son of Thomas Isidore Josse and Adelaide Boudrot, who lived in Poulamond, Ile Madame, NS. Isidore was a school teacher who is known to have taught in Poirierville. Photo courtesy of his grand-daughter Pam Kelly
Circa 1900

	This is Thomas Isidore Josse and Adelaide Boudrot..... Thomas was born Nov. 2, 1845 at Cape Auget (source Notre Dame de l'Assomption church records,Arichat) d. April 4, 1932 (source, St. Hyacinth cemetery gravestone) Adelaide was born abt. 1850 in Arichat (source,St. Hyacinth Parish, D'Escousse, Nova Scotia, church marriage records) d. Nov. 23, 1931 (source, St. Hyacinth cemetery gravestone) Photo courtesy of Pam Kelly
Circa 1930

	Pictured here is Herbert Etienne Berthier b. Dec 26, 1896 (s/o Joseph Berthier and Annie Pate) and his daughter Elizabeth Mary Berthier. Photo was taken in May of 1961. Photo courtesy of Mary Berthier and Greg Mitchell.
1961