History of Baddeck facts for kids
Baddeck, Nova Scotia is a village with a rich history, officially founded in 1908. Its story goes back to the early settlements of the Mi'kmaq people, followed by French and British arrivals. Baddeck was also the home of famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell. It was here that the first powered flight in the British Commonwealth happened, thanks to Bell's amazing aircraft, the Silver Dart.
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Baddeck's Early History
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The name "Baddeck" likely comes from a Mi'kmaq word. One idea is that it means "a portion of food set aside for someone" or "a sultry place." Another theory suggests it means "place with an island near."
Europeans first explored the inland part of Cape Breton Island in the 1600s. Jesuit missionaries from France set up a settlement nearby in 1629. Later, in the 1700s, British settlers arrived after France gave the territory to Britain.
The Island Settlement
In 1819, a naval officer named Lt. James Duffus made his home on what is now Kidston Island. Back then, it was called Mutton Island. Duffus renamed it Duke of Kent's Island to honor his supporter.
He ran a trading business from the island, serving people from the surrounding areas. Customers would travel by canoe to reach him. In 1820, Duffus became a magistrate, a type of local official. He was granted land on the mainland in 1826. After Duffus passed away in 1833, his business was eventually taken over by William Kidston in 1836.
How Baddeck Grew
Becoming a Shire Town
Before 1851, Baddeck was known as Little Baddeck and was part of Cape Breton County. William Kidston worked hard to have Baddeck become its own county. His efforts paid off in 1851 when Victoria County was created, splitting off from Cape Breton County. Baddeck then got its current name.
Kidston also pushed for Baddeck to be the new county's main town, or "shire town." This meant it would have the county's jail and courthouse. When Baddeck became the shire town, it formed a local council, and Murdoch MacAskill became the village's chief official. The Victoria County Court House was finally built in 1889.
Baddeck, And That Sort of Thing
Baddeck became famous in 1874 because of a book called Baddeck, And That Sort of Thing. It was written by American author Charles Dudley Warner, who was friends with Mark Twain. Warner visited Baddeck in 1873 and wrote about his trip.
He stayed at the Telegraph House, a hotel built in 1861 that is still open today. Warner described Baddeck as a "clean-looking village of white wooden houses." He said it had about 700 to 800 people. Warner also visited Knox Church, a Presbyterian church built in 1857. He thought it looked like a church from New England.
Warner also saw the county jail, which at the time held only one prisoner. This prisoner was a carpenter who was allowed to have a workbench and read newspapers. Warner also noted that Baddeck had "very good schools," as good as those in Boston. Other travel books later featured Baddeck, including one in 1885 that mentioned many people in Baddeck spoke only Gaelic.
The Alexander Graham Bell Era
In 1885, Alexander Graham Bell, his wife Mabel, and their two young daughters arrived in Baddeck by boat. They loved the area so much that they built two homes on their estate, which they called "Beinn Bhreagh" (meaning 'Beautiful Mountain' in Gaelic). They also built another laboratory there, similar to the famous Bell Labs.
Dr. Bell and his family helped the village of Baddeck grow in many ways. Alec Bell, who was Scottish and could speak Gaelic, truly cared for the people of Baddeck. Their home became a gathering place for the community. Alec and Mabel encouraged culture, social events, science, and new industries among the villagers.
At his new lab in Beinn Bhreagh, across the bay from Baddeck, Alec Bell carried out many experiments. He built huge kites, airplanes, hydrofoil boats, and even lifeboats for the Royal Canadian Navy during World War I. The Bells provided steady jobs for many people in the village. Mabel Bell also helped local crafts, like the hooking of rugs, which the village of Chéticamp is now famous for.
Aviation Milestones
Bell experimented with tetrahedral kites at his lab in Baddeck. On December 6, 1907, Thomas Etholen Selfridge flew Bell's AEA Cygnet. It was pulled into the air by a motorboat and reached a height of 51 meters (168 feet). This was the first recorded flight of a heavier-than-air craft in Canada.
These experiments later led to Baddeck becoming the site of the first controlled powered aircraft flight in Canada and the British Empire. Bell's aircraft, called the Silver Dart, first flew from the ice of Baddeck Bay on February 23, 1909. It was piloted by Bell's friend, J.A.D. McCurdy.
After the Silver Dart flight, Bell's friends Casey Baldwin and McCurdy started the Canadian Aerodrome Company in Baddeck. Bell provided the money for it. This was the first commercial aircraft maker in the British Empire. In 1909, they built the first Canadian-designed and built aircraft, the Baddeck No. 1, and a copy called the Baddeck No. 2. They also made the Hubbard Monoplane in 1910, which was the first Canadian plane built for export. The Canadian Aerodrome Company stopped operating in 1910.
Hydrofoil Innovations
Another one of Bell's experimental crafts was the hydrofoil HD-4. This boat, once piloted by Mabel Bell herself, set a world watercraft speed record in 1917. It traveled at 71 miles per hour across Baddeck Bay, which is part of Bras d'Or Lake. This speed record lasted for 20 years! In 1968, the Canadian Forces named a new experimental hydrofoil patrol ship HMCS Bras d'Or to honor these early experiments.
Alexander Graham Bell Museum
The Alexander Graham Bell Museum was built in Baddeck to keep Bell's amazing work and inventions alive. The museum shows off his many creations and how he helped science and technology. Visitors can learn about the life of this famous inventor, including his important work in aviation and how we communicate.
Celebrating the Silver Dart Flight
In 2009, Baddeck celebrated 100 years since the Silver Dart first flew. This was a very important moment in aviation history. The celebrations included many events and displays, honoring Alexander Graham Bell's pioneering work in flight. People from all over the world came to Baddeck to remember this historic flight, showing how the village is still connected to aviation innovation.
Baddeck's Recent History
In recent years, Baddeck has continued to be an important place for culture and history in Nova Scotia. Its beautiful scenery, historic sites, and connection to Alexander Graham Bell make it a popular spot for tourists and history fans. The village also celebrates its natural beauty, with activities like sailing and hiking attracting people who love the outdoors.
