MUSIC

Operating from the U.N.I.A. Hall were two bands: a West Indian band and a marching band, whose activities included dances and moonlight excursions. Mr. Peter Crawford and Mr. P. Tull were members. N.B. Crawford and A. Coward taught music to the youth of the community. Two musicians, piano players, who later went on to prominence were Alf Coward and Horatio Sargents. The late Alex Cadogan was another up and coming musician; he mastered the piano and performed locally. Berry Scantlebury was and still is an excellent singer and guitar player. He is well known throughout the Cape Breton area.

Olga Skeete has also contributed to the music scene, entertaining both on the organ and the piano, and always in demand. Her son Darcy is also pursuing a career in music with the trumpet; he is now attending St. F.X. University.

The train picnic sponsored by the Menelik Hall and St. Philip's Church, was not complete without the great music of the Desmonds, Frank and Buzzie both on the train and the picnic grounds.

The All Stars, featuring Sinclair Granumn, Johnny Green, Cub Sheppard, Evelyn Braithwaite, Billy Campbell and Donovan Coward, entertained in the community, on local radio and throughout the island of Cape Breton. Ethel Miller was the feature vocalist. The Late 5O's saw the emerging of such local groups as the Cousins; Kathy, Teddy and Delores Bryan, and Peggy and Vonnie Dorrington. The Edsels were another group, composed of Ed Parris, David Cadogan Ches Boucher, Irving Campbell, Len Gregory, Alvin Gibson and Campy Crawford. Piano player David Cadogan stayed in music and is currently a music teacher in Toronto.


SPORTS

Cricket was enjoyed by the men in the 40's and 50's. The men wore beautiful blue blazers and white flannel pants.

Bill Lucas thrilled the city in the annual May 24th road races, which he dominated for years.

Somers Spooner and Dowling Streete organized and promoted boxing in the Menelik Hall, competing against other boxing clubs on the island. Some of the boys who participated at that time were Seibert Innis, Berry Scantlebury, Hilton Smith, Gerald Marsh and Joe Cambridge.

In Sr. Baseball there was Oscar Seale, Mickey Jones, and Tom Miller. Mickey covered third base like a blanket, Tom was a steady catcher, and Oscar played left field and hit with power. Oscar, an outstanding player, continued for some years later.

Gerald Forde became coach of the Junior Elks at 21 years of age, barely out of Junior baseball himself.

Jerome Moe and Laurence Streete were making names for themselves with the Sydney Academy track and field team, Moe in the dashes, And Streete in the shot put.
Other track and field stars were George Crawford, Berkley Connel, Ethelston Lucas, Danny Alleyne, Gordon Lewis and Gordon 'Cut' Walcott. In the women's division, Naomi Lucas and Lynora Moe were making their mark.

Cy Hunt was playing hockey with the best in the city; Bunty Forde starred in hockey and baseball. Norman 'Bizz' Crawford was dazzling the opposition with his stick handling at Sydney Academy brothers Percy 'Spider' Crawford and George 'Crow' Crawford were scoring goals in their divisions also. In fact, George had so much natural ability, many people saw him as a prospect for the N.H.L.

Milton Hunt, Artie Arthur, Malcolm Streete and Jerome Moe all played on championship teams in their division. Irving Campbell and James Toussaint were also standouts.

Lawrence Streete and Bunty Forde were making a name for them-selves in college football; Lawrence at St. F.X., and Bunty at Acadia.

Garvan Herbert took responsibility for a group of boys from the community at Bantam age, and entered in the Playground League at the Pier. Coach, as the name stuck even today, successfully coached these teams called the 'Subway Tigers' to many Champion-ships. Coach was patient, and kept accurate statistics - batting averages, etc., for many years. Later, Coach could give any batting average when approached by former players. Some of the players were Leroy Cadogan, George Crawford, Percy Crawford, Jerome Moe, Artie Arthur, Milton Hunt, Midge Daniels, Charlie Carter, Walter Myrosh, Ed Mrazek and Malcolm Streete.

Joe Worral and Campy Crawford played both Junior and Senior for many years, and again were standouts. Curtis Coward was a standout baseball pitcher and was a Major Baseball prospect until bad arm trouble developed.

Probably the greatest following of any local team was the Little Baseball team called the Seymour Senators. The team, coached by Maurice Streete, provided many hours of entertainment and excitement for our community. These Little Baseball players dominated the little Baseball League for many seasons. Chess Crawford, playing junior baseball, excited fans and his team by hitting the ball with only one hand. Could he hit ! Imagine if he used both hands

THE WAR YEARS, 1939-1945

The Second World War saw many of the community's youth doing their patriotic duty, defending their homeland, believing in democracy and taking up the fight. One observer, a mere child at that time, describes the beautiful uniforms of the boys returning home on leave. At the end of the war, he recalls being part of the welcoming committee that greeted the boys at the C.N.R. station. He also remembers the banquet and dance at the Menelik Hall, and he wished he had been old enough to enjoy being welcomed as a hero.


THE COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE


Many young girls experienced problems gaining employment when graduating from high school, and decided to leave home. Clerical work in offices and stores was not yet available to blacks, so the only option available was to be a housekeeper or cleaning lady. They left for places like Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and parts of the United States. Many young men and families chose the same exit.

The war now over, several young men decided to join the R.C.A.F. Gerald Forde, Sept Etteine, and Gordon Walcott decided to enlist, and later chose not to return home, taking up roots in other areas of North America. The late Dr. Rannie Headley stayed in the army, rising to the rank of Major and later practicing dentistry.

James Phills obtained his medical degree and started a practice in Montreal. This migration of young people still exists today, and in most major cities you will find Ex-Cape Bretonners living and raising their families. One observer calls this migration pattern the 'Brain Drain'. One might wonder, if there had been more opportunities what would the city and community be like today? Would these talented people have left?

In 1956, Tom Miller sr. was elected Alderman, the first black to hold this position in the Atlantic Provinces. Ed Parris was elected in 1970, and continues to represent the people of the community today.

In 1964, Carl 'Campy' Crawford became the first black policeman in the entire Maritimes.

Winston Ruck was elected President of Local 1064, and has grown to his present position of Staff Representative for the province of Nova Scotia - quite a feat I The Federal Government has appointed him to the Cape Breton Advisory Board, a board that deals with tax incentives to encourage more industry to locate in Cape t3reton.

The community has changed dramatically; the population has now spread throughout the city, old landmarks and homes have now been replaced with new modern homes; some streets where homes used to be have been torn down and are now vacant lots. The West Indian Cricket Club, started by Leonard Arthur, is now larger, stretching from Tupper Street to Victoria Road. It is now being operated by Artie Arthur and formerly by his older brother, Louie, who has since passed away. The Kabana Club on 1-lankard Street is now operated by Kenneth 'Boysie' Myers.

Lem Skeete, an excellent mechanic, operates a garage on Victoria Road, specializing in alignments. Phyllis Arthur and Catherine Best, proven educators and teachers, have chosen to stay in the community instead of going abroad. Clotilda Yakimchuk returned home and is presently a supervisor of nursing at the Cape Breton Hospital. Delores Chase is president of the local Cape Breton Nurses Union. David Jones, John Skeete and Curtis Hunt are all members of the R.C.M.P.

By the way, do you remember Reg MacLean, back on Page 2, who was our first 'home grown' lawyer? We can proudly boast of two more - Kenneth Crawford and this year, Val Miller. Ken has practiced law for some time now in Halifax, and Val has just started to article for a law firm also in Halifax.

This small black community, although isolated from the rest of Nova Scotia until the Canso Causeway was built, can look back proudly to its humble beginning in the early 1900's. We can be proud of our contributions to the Canadian Mosaic for a period of 85 years. Our early West Indian pioneers built a strong foundation in their search for richness; they will not be disappointed. We must never become trapped or seek refuge in the history of our founding people; Canada is multicultural - we are part of it!

This has merely been a brief history of our home, where we have come from, and what we have done.


Excerpt taken from Sydney Reunion Association Scrapbook 1985