The Beaton Institute, and its predecessor Cape Bretoniana, has served as the regional archives for Cape Breton Island/Unama’ki for over six decades. The Beaton Institute collects and preserves the social, economic, political, and cultural history of…

"At last the big egg opened. ‘Pip! pip!’ said the young one, scrambling out; he was very big and ugly." – Hans Christian Andersen, The Ugly Duckling When I mention that I work at the Sutherland Steam Mill invariably, I get a blank look. Then I…

The jail was built in 1862 and used until 1969. The jailer and his family lived on one side of the house, both upstairs and down. On the other side of the house were five jail cells – three downstairs and two upstairs. The cells were lined with…

Sherbrooke Court House was built in 1858 on land purchased from the John and Samuel Cumminger, who owned Cumminger Brothers’ General Store. The courthouse was designed in the Greek Revival style with large fluted columns at the front, much like many…

Like other parts of Cape Breton, Glace Bay has a strong legacy in mining. According to the Cape Breton Miners’ Museum, by 1873 there were eight coal companies operating in Cape Breton. To operate the mines, many companies enlisted labourers from…

The Schoolhouse in Sherbrooke Village was built in 1867 according to plans issued by a report by the Provincial Superintendent of Education. Before the schoolhouse opened, students were taught from people’s homes. The first teacher in Sherbrooke was…

Greenwood Cottage was completed in the early 1870s for John and Sarah Cumminger who moved there from Renova Cottage. John Cumminger (1827-1892) was part owner of a lumber mill and had shares in goldmining. He and his brother Samuel (1838-1879) owned…

Renova Cottage was built in the 1850’s for John Cumminger (1827-1892), who then sold it to his brother, Samuel (1838-1879), in 1871. In 1905, the house was sold to Dr. Lambert Densmore (1878-1968), who lived there with his family until 1919. Dr.…

Donald McDonald was the son of a Scottish settler, who came to Nova Scotia in 1802 and settled on interval lands at Sunnybrae, Pictou County. In 1847 at the age of 18, Donald McDonald came to Sherbrooke and opened a tailor shop, which he ran from…

Established in the 1860s, Cumminger Brothers’ General Store was owned and operated by John Cumminger (1827-1892) and his brother Samuel Cumminger (1838-1879). John was also a ship builder and master mariner and had shares in lumbering and gold…