THE BECK BULLETIN



Number 28 October 1, 2003



REUNIONS THEN AND NOW

Some comparisons and comments from a man who has attended every Reunion
and played a central role in all of them.

By Jim Beck

All of the Vere Beck Family Reunions have been wonderful experiences for me and my family, but this one had a number of distinguishing features including more activities and more publications available.
In the earlier Reunions the main activity was a Saturday afternoon program much like the one that we had this year.
The first Reunion was held on the original Vere Beck farm in Guernsey Cove, and later ones were held on adjoining farms. Some Saturday afternoon programs included entertainment and others featured picnics at Fantasyland and other places. I remember one Reunion in which we had an informal sing-song, entertainment and refreshments in the basement of the Murray Harbour Presbyterian Church on a Friday evening. It was wonderful but the large number of people attending this year's caleidh could not be accommodated in that manner.
We didn't have an open house in those days. The first open house was in 1998 in our room at the Harbour Motel. This year we had a very successful open house at the Murray Harbour Community Centre, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday July 11. It attracted relatives from England, California, Ontario, Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, Texas, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Michigan and other places. In addition to socializing and sharing information, registration was held, books and CDs were sold, pictures were taken and tours arranged from there. John Marfleet, a beloved relative from England, gave an entertaining talk and Murray White presented an impromptu slide show of the 1973 Reunion that was much appreciated.
This year was the first time that guided tours were planned and held. They originated at the Centre, and offered a visit to the Murray Harbour Cemetery, a tour of the Vere Beck home which is now part of the Brehaut home at Guernsey Cove, and a tour of the Beach Point Wharf.
Three other unique features of this Reunion were the lobster supper on Thursday evening at New Glasgow, the potluck dinner on Saturday evening and the Sunday morning service, both at the arena in Murray River. The caleidh on Friday evening was a great success and was a continuation of several which had been held at previous Reunions.
The Vere Beck Family Committee would appreciate any comments regarding the 2003 Reunion and suggestions for changes in the next programs planned for 2008. We also welcome assistance in any future Reunions. Thank you for your support of the Vere Beck Family Reunions.

THE BIOGRAPHY BONANZA

One of the main benefits of a family reunion is that it gives family members an opportunity to share information. The early Beck reunions gathered the raw material for the listings as individuals supplied information on their own family line. After that it was just a matter of filling in the gaps and continuing to update the information as new generations came along.
When the listings were under control it was decided to branch out and start collecting biographical information on individuals so that future generations would have some knowledge of their ancestors and have a record of what they did.
Jim Beck felt we should make the most of our reunion this year and gather as much information as we could. So he asked his daughter, Sharon, who now lives in California, and Anne Brooks of New Brunswick to undertake to collect as much information as possible. In the months leading up to the reunion, Sharon and Anne carried out their planning by email and kept the internet lines humming coast to coast. They produced two drafts before settling on the final form for what they dubbed, the Beck Family Biography Bonanza. Jim described Sharon and Anne as, "A very good team."
Each person who registered at the reunion got a copy of the form to fill out. When the forms were completed, the information was collected for the Beck family files and the names of the contributors were entered into a drawing for a prize.
Michelle Beck, Jim's eight-year-old granddaughter, drew the winning entry as one of the final events of the Saturday afternoon program. The winner was June Nicolle of Murray Harbour. She received a gift basket of Island food products selected and gift wrapped by Sharon Beck. There were about 50 entries returned and all contained information to expand our knowledge of the family. There were some corrections to information we already had, as well as names of new family members. There were biographical notes on a number of family members, and Tammy MacLeod provided a complete biography of her father, Chet Irving. The forms also contained a number of E-mail addresses, and as a result our mailing list for the Beck bulletin increased by about 25, and now totals 175 people. Jim, Sharon, and Anne felt that the effort was a success and say the Biography Bonanza will continue in the future.

JOUSTING AT A GERMAN CASTLE

A Canadian Military Family experiences a taste of life from the Middle Ages

By Janice MacPherson Murdoch (1.6A.4,6.1,1.1)

"In days of old, when knights were bold…"
Such was the setting at Burg Satzvey, an old castle dating from 1396 in the Eifel region of western Germany, where we were transported back to the year 1220 and treated to an authentic medieval experience.
Wandering minstrels, jesters, fair maidens and gallant knights roamed the grounds and gave us a taste of daily living in the Middle Ages. A colourful market offered a variety of goods - such as jewellery, leather, pewter - and different food and beverages, including the very refreshing kirsch bier, or cherry beer.
The highlight of the day was the jousting tournament. (Jousting is the sport of using a lance to knock an opponent off his horse.) Even though the dialogue was in German, the story was obvious: after many years away from his Castle, the Count returns to find his once-peaceful home overtaken by outlaws. His lady love and faithful villagers are doomed unless the Count can reclaim his property. The battle is waged through a series of jousting events that are performed with amazing precision. Professional stuntmen on beautiful horses gallop through fire and wield weapons with unerring accuracy, leaving us gasping in anticipation then cheering wildly when the "good guys" are victorious. When the battle is over, the outlaws are vanquished and the Count makes a triumphant return to his Castle and Lady Agnes -- much to the delight of the crowd!
Our visit to Burg Satzvey was the first of what we hope will be many European adventures! Over the next four years, we will share some of our travels with you.

Janice MacPherson Murdoch (1.6A.4,6.1,1.1) is married to Peter Murdoch, a member of the Canadian Forces, and they are currently posted to the NATO Air Base at Geilenkirchen, Germany.

WEST NILE VIRUS CAUSING CONCERN

Horse owners on Prince Edward Island have been taking steps to protect their animals from the West Nile Virus. Many have had their horses vaccinated even though it can be quite expensive. The virus is spread by mosquitoes and causes inflammation of the central nervous system of the horse.
Ralph Annear (1.11.6,4.1.) of Montague says you can't take any chances because once the horses get the disease they're done and you lose everything. He has eight race horses in his stables and has taken steps to protect them all.
"I wasn't going to take any chances," he told The Eastern Graphic. "It would be too much for me to lose."
He spent almost $500 to vaccinate his horses. It can cost $100 for each horse if a veterinarian gives the shot, or about $60 if you do it yourself.
So far there have been no cases of West Nile detected on the Island, but there have been three confirmed cases of the virus in New Brunswick, and one in Nova Scotia.
It's understandable that Ralph would be concerned about his horses. Some of them have been performing very well. Maple Leaf Hawk, which is co-owned with Bill Hicken of Lower Montague, set a new track record of 1:59.1 in Charlottetown on August 2. The three-year-old trotter also holds two track records at the Summerside Raceway.

HOCKEY RESUMES

The hockey season is underway again, and there are many changes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this year. The Halifax Mooseheads are a much different team with many of the veterans, like Thatcher Bell, out of the lineup because of age. Others have been traded away and it's a much younger team. But there's another Beck descendant in the lineup this year. Justin Bowers (1.4.6.5,10,1,2.) of Fredericton made the team and is getting a taste of the big time. Perhaps his biggest thrill to date was the home opener on Sept. 18.
"I've never played in front of 8,000 to 10,000 people before," Justin told The Daily News. He was expecting more than 20 friends and family members in the stands. "It's going to be exciting for me, knowing all my family is there watching and supporting me."
Justin, who is 18, said "My grandparents, their brothers and sisters are coming and their kids, and their kids' kids." In addition, his mother flew in from Fredericton.
The Mooseheads have a lot of rebuilding to do. Last year they were on top of the heap and came within one game of winning the league championship. So far this year they are in the cellar.
Jason's cousin, Danny Stewart, (1.4.6.5,1.2A,2.1.) of Murray Harbour could tell him what that's like. Danny plays for Rimouski and last year the team was at the bottom in the standings, but this year they are off to a strong start. Danny played in front of lots of friends and family members on Friday, Sept. 26th, when Rimouski played its first game ever in Charlottetown and won. Danny scored a goal to go with the eight assists he'd already racked up this year.
The significance of getting that goal in his native province wasn't lost on the Montreal Canadiens draft pick.
"It couldn't have worked out any better," Danny said of the goal. "I was pushing pretty hard for the past couple of games. I figured it would be in this trip but everybody wanted it tonight and it was good to deliver."

50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Preston Jackson (1.4.3B.6,4.) and Shirley (Lavers) Jackson of Peter's Road celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, August 2, 2003. An "Open House" was held at the Public Hall in Sturgeon for family and friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. followed by entertainment.

DEATHS

HERRING: John Carman Herring (1.4.2.6,7A &7B.) of Charlottetown died in hospital on Sept. 5, 2003, at the age of 83. He was a native of Murray River and served in the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War. He is survived by his wife, Ethel (Fraser) and children David (Sheila), John B. (Valerie), Kathi (Bernard) Savoury, Carolyn (Obby) Mayes, Allan (Lilia), Elizabeth (Marc) Cameron, and stepchildren Errol (Diane) Robertson and Alanna (Paul) Vreeland. He is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, as well as brothers, Hubert and Clifford, and sisters, Joy and Margaret. He was predeceased by his first wife, Mabel (Hayne), a son, Robert, four brothers and three sisters. The funeral service was held from the Sherwood Church of Christ with interment in the Murray River Cemetery.

HUME: Jane (Beck) Hume (1.6B.6.4A,) of Murray River died at the Kings County Hospital in Montague on Sept. 6, 2003, at the age of 97. She is survived by a sister, Mabel Alley of Murray River and a brother, Leith Beck, at Shady Rest Home in Lower Montague, and by grandchildren Cheryl(Carver)Joyce, Shelley (Carver) Ryall, Jane (Carver)Gamble and Merrill Carver Jr., and by niece Shirley Scott and nephews Ronald Alley, Barry Beck, Vernon Rumley and Floyd, Garnet and Carl Buell.
She was predeceased by two husbands: Willard Carver and William Hume, a son, Merrill Carver, and by sisters Florence Rumley, Annie Buell, Prudence and Lillian Beck and by brothers Samuel and David Beck. The funeral service was held Wednesday, September 10, from the Southern Kings and Queens funeral home chapel in Murray River with interment in the Murray River Cemetery.

HICKEN: William Neil Hicken of Alliston died on Sept. 11, 2003, in the Montague Hospital at the age of 66. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Penny) (1.5,2.2B.5.1,) and five children: Allen (Linda) of Pinnette, Stephen (Marilyn) of Alliston, Robbie (Brenda) Commercial Road, Terry (Wendy) of Georgetown, Ont., and Tanya (Harold) White of Murray Harbour.
He is also survived by his mother, Laura Hicken, Riverview Manor, Montague, and by sisters, Shirley (Murray) White of Charlottetown and Anne (Bill) Stewart of Murray Harbour.
The funeral service was held from the Southern Kings & Queens Funeral Home chapel on Sept. 14th with interment in the Peters Road Cemetery.

Biography

Julia Gillis Jordan (1.4.9,9,) was born at Cape Bear on July 30, 1902, the 9th child of Martin Luther Jordan and Ada Margaret Beck. Her daughters, Ada and Edith, agreed to talk about their parents during the Beck Reunion in July, 2003. They said Julia loved music and started taking music lessons before she was old enough to go to school. Ada said two of her mother's older sisters were taking music lessons from Phosie Jordan and Phosie said, "You have a younger sister at home, don't you? Bring her along and I'll give her lessons for free."
Julia was about four when she started and it was a long walk for a child of that age from the Cape Bear Light House to Murray Harbour, but she stuck with it. Ada said, "Mom was the only one in the family who made anything of her training. The other two girls didn't do much but Mom kept it up."
The Jordans had an organ in their home so Julia was able to practice to her heart's content. She became an accomplished organist and played in the Baptist church at Murray Harbour for a number of years, sharing the task with Mrs Wally White.
Julia married Albert MacNeill of Beach Point and they lived near the wharf in that community. They had three children, Ada, Edith, and a son, Roy, who died as an infant.
Edith said their mother was a great cook and and worked for a few seasons as the cook at the Co-op factory in Beach Point. "She was really well thought of there," Edith said. "When she decided to quit she was replaced by a person who wasn't a very good cook, and the manager persuaded Mom to come back and bail them out."
The MacNeill home was only about 100 yards from the factory cookhouse, and Julia would get up early and hurry over in time to make breakfast for the workers. She prepared three meals a day for them and always left lots of food so the workers could get a lunch for themselves at night. Ada said that there were about 40 to 45 people eating there in the summer when they were canning hake, but not quite so many during the spring lobster season. Julia developed heart trouble in her 60s and died of heart failure at the age of 66 and is buried in the Beach Point Cemetery.

SELKIRK SETTLERS REMEMBERED

About 5,000 people attended ceremonies in PEI in August marking the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Selkirk Settlers in the province. The four-day festival at the Lord Selkirk Provincial Park in Eldon ran from Aug. 7-10. The organizers had been expecting about 7,000, but heavy rain reduced the turnout.
Linda Jean Nicholson MacKenzie, the event co-ordinator, said that in view of the weather, they were pleased with the attendance.
In 1803, Thomas Douglas, the Earl of Selkirk, brought 800 Highland Scots to the Orwell, and Point Prim area of Prince Edward Island. Many of them were from the Scottish Islands of Skye and Rassay and made the trip aboard the ship, Polly.
The event got underway on the morning of Aug. 7 with a re-enactment of the landing of the first settlers. Dancers and drama students rowed ashore from a boat in Orwell Bay much as the original settlers probably did.
Throughout the weekend, many other activities took place, including genealogy workshops and lectures, displays and exhibits, concerts, highland games, and highland dance competitions.
The celebrants included the descendants of Beatons, Buchanans, Campbells, Gillises, Morrisons, MacAulays, MacDonalds, MacInnises, MacKenzies, MacRaes, Murchisons, Nicholsons, Stewarts and many others.

MONTAGUE WATERFRONT BOOMING

If tourism was down in Prince Edward Island this summer, you'd never guess it on the Montague waterfront.
Jock Beck, the general manager of the waterfront, says there has been an increase in visitors to the marina and more activity in all boating categories. The marina has space for 40 local boats and five larger berths set aside for visiting yachts.
Jock told The Eastern Graphic that the marina is so busy they are looking at expanding next year. He said this would likely include additional berths to meet the demand.
Jock added that the facilities and services provided on the waterfront are doing a lot to attract tourists. Cruise Manada Seal Tours operates two cruise boats out of the waterfront from May to September.
Jock said, "Services like Cruise Manada work very well in the harbourfront scheme of things because it fits very well into the profile of marine and aquatic ecology."

THE BECK BULLETIN HAS A NEW HOME

As most of you know, this newsletter has been residing in Roy Beck's living room for the past year-and-a-half. Roy is a computer technician and had been working in Charlottetown. He was running an internet server as a hobby from his home and offered to provide space for The Beck Bulletin and we were glad to get it. However, Roy changed jobs earlier this year and he and his family moved back to Montague. He now works for Montague Computer, a company owned and operated by Debby Beck. She kindly offered us space on one of her company servers and we jumped at the opportunity. So now we're located in the offices of Montague Computer, and Roy is available to help with any technical problems. Our thanks to Debby and to Roy.
Of course none of this affects you in any way when you want to check on the latest newsletter. The Beck Bulletin is the Beck Bulletin and no change is required to your bookmark despite the move.

THE LATEST BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE

Copies of The Vere Beck Family Listings, and The Vere Beck Family Biographies, are still available. However, the CDs have all been sold, and are no longer available. A book would make a great Christmas gift for one of your hard-to-buy-for Beck relatives. It's something they'll turn to often to check on family members. American orders should go to Jim Beck, and Canadian orders can be sent to me, Ivan Munn. The price includes shipping and is $25 each with Americans paying in US funds and Canadians in Canadian funds.

The Vere Beck Family Home Page

The Marfleet Home Page

Ivan Munn's Home Page

We're always looking for news of Beck family members. If you know of any significant events drop me a line with the information.

imunn@accesswave.ca

That's it for this edition .. please share it with relatives who aren't on line. The next edition will be out on December 1st.