These photos, all taken by Art Sheppard, were shared by his son, Robert. Art Sheppard was a minister for the Tancook Baptist Church during the years from 1956-1958, residing here with his wife, Neicey, and children, Carol and Robert. Robert recalls that his Dad always had his camera by his side his entire life, which was no doubt instrumental in Robert’s chosen career as a photographer in advertising. Many thanks to Robert for sharing these photos, and to his Dad, who passed away in 2015, for his love of photography and for capturing these images. We have quoted some of the memories and remarks that Robert has shared with us along with the pictures.
“I don’t know who this is Dad caught running from the crashing waves on the wharf, but it looks like he’s in good shape.”Unidentified men raking up the hay with the church in the background.Art Sheppard, Robert and his sister, Carol. Notice that Carol also had a camera of her own. “Dad would have set this up on a tripod. He was always doing that.”This photo was shared previously on Tancook Community News as a “Who Is It?” The young lad sitting on the stairs is Robert. Back row: Neicey Sheppard (Robert’s mother), Sheila Cross Rodenhiser, Lillian Cross, Faith Cross Blinn, Eleanor Baker MacKenzie, Diann Cross Cunningham. Front: Shirley Cross Baker, Nancy Cross Stevens.“Some men shoveling the snow off our parsonage. I seem to remember Terry saying that one of these was his Dad, but I could be mistaken.” Looks like they were also shoveling the snow from the road, which is how the roads were cleared years ago.“All the kids from church. Quite a turnout. I think I’m the one in the front with the light grey coat and little grey hat.” We can recognize some of the adults in the back of the children. How many can you name?“This is the corner of our parsonage. See the guy crouching on the left? He’s blasting to create a well for the house. You can see the dirt flying in the centre of the shot.” It’s amazing to see how the landscape has changed from this time when there were fields with fences and hardly a tree in sight.. “In front of the parsonage. You can see the Young’s laundry drying in the background.” Look at that pretty, white picket fence! Does anyone know who the boy and the man could be?“This would have been around 1964 when I was 10 and my family revisited the island. I got to steer the ferry for a bit and obviously was enjoying myself.” There is no mistaking the identity of Captain James Clothier.. “Me on the left with Terry Young enjoying rather large bottles of something. Terry is 9 months younger than me. My Dad loved telling the story about when Terry would get mad at me about something, he’d walk right into our house, stomp up the stairs to the front right bedroom that Dad used as a study. He’d walk in on Dad and in a deep voice say ‘Bobby bad’. Then he’d turn and leave…mission accomplished. Reuniting with Terry June of 2018 was such a pleasure. He toured us around the island all day and we shared stories. What a great guy.” We think so, too!. “I’m not sure where on the island this is, but way back then what you did on garbage day was carry it to this place and throw it in the ocean. So weird to think of doing that now, but maybe that’s why so much sea glass can be found out there to this day.” We’re glad that is one thing that has changed about the island – regular garbage pickup. Can anyone identify this spot?. “In front of the parsonage. Someone from the church, no doubt, pulled up so Dad could get a photo of me standing on the wagon. Nice hat that probably my Mom made.”. “The parsonage again. My Dad on the left (I can’t believe how skinny he is here) and a visiting friend. He might have been a minister also and here for special services. That’s what I remember being told I believe. I don’t know his name.”. “I’ve always loved this picture of my Mom, Carol and me. The light is so beautiful. Beautiful light fixture over the door too.”Doubling up on the swing set. “The swingset in our front yard that Dad made. My sister and me.”The T. I. Service looks like it had a full load on this day. “Hauling firewood and ministers.I seem to remember hearing that the two guys on the far left were minister friends of my Dads who came for visit. They look the part at least.”“Nothing is sacred, not even bathtime when your Dad always has his camera out. I seem to remember that the reason for this was that we didn’t have indoor plumbing when we first moved in and my parents got to decide which upstairs bedroom would become the bathroom. I know for sure we had an outhouse as my Dad was fond of telling the story about how he’d head out to the outhouse while I was playing the yard with Terry and I’d yell…’Hey Dad…where you going?’ (like there were many options).”“Me, my Mom and her Mom (Margaret Moore) who came a few times to visit us from Saint John. On her first visit she brought a full set of dishes as a gift. This set had service for 8 and serving platters…the whole bit. I don’t know how she got it there safely, but they became our everyday dishes during my whole life. When we visited Tancook in 2018, I brought two of the dessert dishes with me and gave them to John who now owns the house. I told him the dishes were returning to where they started their journey. I hope they’re being used.”. “My Dad in his study in our house. The top right bedroom. It was nice to visit this room three years ago.”This is how vehicles were transported to the island years ago. We wonder whose truck this was or if anyone can identify any of the people in the photo.. “I’m not sure what occasion this would be. Sunday School kids or Vacation Bible School?” We recall hearing stories about the wonderful church picnics held on the island in various locations surrounding the church. Perhaps this gathering could be from one of these occasions.Robert is alone on the swing, while his mother, Neicey pushes Terry Young on the other swing.. “In front of the parsonage. My Mom, Neicey, taking my sister, Carol to school on her first day. Me in the foreground crying my head off because I didn’t get to go. I recall Terry telling me in 2018 that the shape of this road changed over time. That’s the Young driveway Mom is just approaching. The very first memory of my life is walking by myself down Terry’s driveway to play with him and spotting a snake in a dried up mud puddle. Everyone came running when they heard me screaming. I still hate snakes.”“Dad performing a marriage ceremony in our house. I have no idea who these people were.” Can anyone from our online community identify the couple who are getting married?. Carol, Robert and two of their cousins who were visiting from Saint John. Perhaps they were picking blueberries, for this was a great field to find berries growing.A wonderful picture of the parsonage with Neicey Sheppard standing in the doorway. Could the truck in Terry’s driveway be the one we saw transported on the T. I. Service?For the final photo, the sun sets on the horizon behind the Tancook Island Baptist Church.
The last of the island sauerkraut has been packed off for this year so it seemed a fitting time to post some photos from the family of one of Tancook’s past kraut makers, Percy Langille. We thank Percy’s grandson, Robyn Langille, for sharing these photos with us.
Percy Langille and his Tancook cabbage.
Percy tends to his cabbage. Note how the island shoreline has changed.
Percy shows his cabbage.
Percy in the field.
Home of Percy and Evelyn Langille.
Wilfred Langille (Percy’s brother).
Charles and Marilyn Belong, Evelyn and Percy Langille.
Percy and Earl Baker.
Percy Langille.
Percy Langille with son, Jerry.
Hilda and Harvey Cross
Three generations of women: Avis Baker, Hilda Cross, Sadie Rodenhiser.
Albert & Naomi Mason (parents of Ferdinand Mason).
Darleen McInnis with son, Robyn Langille.
Ervin Langille with son, Percy.
Harvey Cross with grandchildren Allen Wilson and Avis Baker.
Photos shared by Kelly Mosher Crooks from the collection of Violet Crooks. We have done our best to try to identify the people. If you know the ones unidentified or feel we have incorrectly labelled any, please let us know.
Gary Levy
Ena Cross, Justin Cross, Louisa (Weezy) Alinard Cross
Elroy Crooks. The boat is the Dart belonging to Perley Cross.
Donna Baker, Audrey Rodenhiser, Goldie Mason, Wayne Cross, Michael Baker
Deanna Cross Archibald
David Crooks with his oxen
Gursharan Singh and family 1965. Mr. Singh taught in NE Cove School and Mrs. Singh taught in SE Cove School.
Missionary Society. Front Row: Maude Cross, Stella Mason, Violet Crooks, Myra Crooks. Back Row: Oda Heisler, Idella Stevens, Evelyn Hutt, Bertha Baker, Teresa Baker.
Violet Crooks and ????
Violet Crooks and Elroy Crooks
Verlin Crooks Dogra, Jerry Langille, Carolyn Cross
Darrell Rodenhiser
Unknown with the scratched-up face, Judy Cross Crooks, Sheila Cross Rodenhiser
Unknown, Joan Young, Betty Wilson, Shirley Wilson, Verna Stevens
WELCOME to the Christmas Concert – Southeast Cove School – Back Row: Lillian Cross, Diane Cross, Sheila Cross Rodenhiser, Gordon Wilson (?), Bud Wilson. Front Row: Sharon Cross, Verlin Crooks, Barbara Mason (?), Darleen McInnis, Carolyn Cross, Audrey Rodenhiser. Little girl in front – Janet Wilson.
The “Judy C” fished by Percy (Nick) Cross and Clyde Cross
Sydney and Bessie Cross
Southeast Cove School
Alexander (Sip) Wilson, Stan Mason, Roland Stevens, Morris Heisler
Southeast Cove Christmas Concert. Front Row – Unknown, Audrey Cross, Janet Wilson, Earl Cross, Debbie Mason, Marilyn Cross, Neil Cross, Judy Cross, unknown. Second Row – Donna Cross, Michael Baker, Darleen Cross, Sharon Cross, Barbara Mason, Neva Cross, Verlin Crooks, Carolyn Cross, unknown. Back Row – Jerry Langille, unknown, Shirley Cross, Eleanor Baker, Kendell Mason, Donald Wilson, Nancy Cross.
Violet Crooks is in the scary Santa suit. Dana Stevens on her knee.
Rendell Wilson, Elroy Crooks, Gordon Wilson, Darleen McInnis
Northwest Cove School 1953 – Front row: Sandra Wilneff (?), Paul Frigolettie, Carl Baker. Second Row: Carol Ann Wilneff, Melanie Wilson, Peggy Langille. Third row: Lillian Jollymore behind Peggy. Fourth Row: Dale Baker behind Lillian. Remaining unidentified.
Cecil Cross (brother of Violet Cross Crooks)
Carol Cross
Nancy and Deanna Cross (daughters of Ervin and Dora Cross)
Millicent Wilneff, Gloria Hirtle back on. Baptist Church and Parsonage in view.
Maude Crooks Heisler
Marjorie Clothier Levy
Marilyn Baker, Debbie Mason, Neil Cross, Earl Cross, Donald Wilson
Marie Cross
Brent Crooks
Leslie (Johnny) Crooks – dated August 20, 2000
Leslie (Johnny) Crooks and Elroy Crooks
Leander Cross.
Launching a boat along the shore below Neil Cross’s.
Harvey Crooks
Gordon Wilson, Kenneth Rodenhiser, Nancy Cross, Faith Cross Blinn. Neil Cross in the back.
Bobby (Robert) Clouston
Blake Clothier
Belinda Mason
Gary Stevens
Barry Cross
Alice Wilneff
Southeast Cove School around 1927. 1. Howard Mason, 2. Ernest Wilson, 3. Oda Wilson, 4. Melda Cross, 5. Carrie Mason, 6. Ena Cross, 7. Mary Mason (Baker), 8. Clark Cross, 9. Dave Mason, 10. Bob (Denzil) Cross, 11. Warren Wilson, 12. Joe Mason. Remaining were unknown.
Tancook Island tram service? In this photo, the light colored house mid photo is believed to have belonged to George Daniel Baker. This house stood above the Stedman Wilneff homestead now owned by Richard Johnson. The house along the far right of the photo belonged to Mary and Percy Baker (now their granddaughter, Laura).
Southeast Cove School: Front row: Jerry Langille, Theodore Stevens, Gordon Wilson. Back row: Kendell Mason, Kenneth (Bud) Wilson, Garnet Mason.
Southeast Cove School: Front: Neva Cross Baker, Marilyn Cross Baker, Debbie Mason. Second row between Marilyn and Debbie is Donna Cross Baker. Eleanor Baker in back right. Others unknown.
Northwest Cove School: Front row: Cynthia Baker, Peggy Heisler Langille, Sheila Cross Rodenhiser, Grace Cross Henneberry, Carol Ann Wilneff, Lillian Cross, Leona Mason, Unknown person cut off. Back row: Eldon Heisler, Dale Baker, Diane Cross, Maxine Langille, Elaine Stevens Cross, Lee Cross, Garnet Mason.
Diane Crooks makes friends with Dandy’s (Willis Cross) calf. The pigsty in back was given to Gurney Wilson (Angela Connoly’s) and still stands on that property.
Ruby Heisler Cox, Carrie (Heisler) & Bruce Levy, Douglas Levy at Bruce and Carrie’s wedding. The flower girl is believed to be one of Melda’s daughters, Jackie.
Leander and Jessie Cross (parents of Percy “Nick” Cross)
You can see the “Old Maid’s House” still stands in this photo. Lady in photo is Pamela Geddes, a friend of Diane Crooks.
In this photo of the “Little Green House”, you can see a house up on the hill that used to belong to William Cross, who was the father of Gilbert “Gippy” Cross.
This is in Northwest Cove in front of Earl Baker’s house. In the photo are children of Mabel & Willis Crooks. The lobster factory is on the right in the background.
Dorothy Wilson stands on the Tancook wharf.
Willis Crooks and Willis Cross
Bentie Heisler, Dorothy Wilson, Ruby Heisler – making music.
Melissa & Hibbert Baker’s house in 1956 (now Earl Baker’s). You can see the old Orange Hall up the hill.
Taken from Hibbert & Melissa’s back yard (now Earl Baker’s house). You can see the Baptist Church.
Picture of the Old Maid’s house before it was moved up from the shore.
Southeast Cove taken from Crooks’s Hill – probably taken mid-1940’s.
Nick Cross and Laurie Levy
Angela Crooks in the middle, with daughters Hattie and Ada.
Will Day, Gilbert Cross and Willis Crooks probably all dressed up for church.
David Crooks with his last team of oxen.
David Wilson, Perley Levy, Sadie Crooks, Willis Crooks and Unknown. The child is Denzil (Bob) Cross.
A busy harbour at Tancook.
South East Cove. The South East Cove school house looks new and notice how flat the beach area is!
Back row, Ivan Wilson, Keith Baker, Donald Wilson, Gerald Crooks, Richard Levy, Bernard Heisler, Roy Wilson, Arthur Smeltzer, Gordon Baker, Cecil Pearl,
Front row: Unknown, Leslie Pearl, Carroll Crooks, Peter Hutt, Clarence Baker, LeRoy Langille, Morris Blinn, Richard Pearl, Harley Wilson
Richard Levy, Norma Hirtle Baker, Delphine Crooks Boscoe, and Gerald Crooks. Background is Ella and Percy Young’s house and Hibbert Baker’s barn.
Velma Wilson Dauphinee taken on oil barrels at Stan Mason’s Shop. Note the Mason Boat Shop in the background.
Chester wharf many years ago, probably around 1930-40.
The Crooks family on the back deck of the Shoreham, in the days before safety was an issue. Mabel, Joan, David, Willis, Gerald, Scott and Laurie.
Estelle Cross with Nancy & Beverly Crooks and Sheila Rodenhiser, and Estelle’s boys, Wayne, Earl and Gary, on their way to Sunday School.
Carroll, Delphine, Rodney and Gerald Crooks. Gerald is dressed up in his “warden” outfit. His job on Tancook during the war was to make sure the blackout was observed so the German subs couldn’t land an invasion force on Tancook. The house in the picture was Gabe Levy’s, now where Vincent Baker lives.
On a road trip – Wilfred & Velma Heisler with Bradley in front, Margaret & Douglas Levy with Susan in front
PTE. Douglas Levy in the 1940’s
Wedding of Douglas and Margaret Levy – August 4, 1945 with parents Basil & Iona Levy and Blanche & Colin Heisler
– Siblings Wilfred Heisler and Margaret Levy as teenagers
– Wedding of Lindsay and Sadie Heisler. Standing for them are Douglas and Joan Young (Lindsay and Sadie also stood for Douglas and Joan when they got married.)
Lindsay Heisler
Wilfred Heisler
Douglas Levy
Margaret Heisler Levy, Basil Levy, Carrie Heisler Levy
Douglas Levy, Basil Levy, Bruce Levy
Wilfred Heisler on a Tancook beach
Carrie Levy and Margaret Levy
Carrie and Bruce Levy
Charles Jollymore and Margaret Levy
Bentie Heisler, unknown girl
Carrie and Bruce Levy
Ruby Heisler Cox – unknown children
Sherry Heisler, Bradley Heisler, Margaret Levy
Wilfred Heisler, unconfirmed, Douglas Levy, Charles Jollymore
Thank you to Peggy Langille for sharing these photos with us.
Elsie Stevens (wife of Vincent Stevens)
The swordfishing fleet at Louisburg. Many boats from Tancook travelled to Louisbourg to swordfish.
Evelyn Hutt and Oda Stevens
Warren Pearl – taken May 6, 1935 (father of Beverly)
George & Minnie Heisler, Vernie and baby Bentie Belle
Borden, George & Arthur Hutt with Florence Young at the Hutt house at Lynches Cove, Tancook Island
Eva Heisler marketing vegetables in Chester – 1935. Eva was Howard Heisler’s mother
Hutt swordfishing boat
Arthur Hutt, Borden Hutt, child in back is Peter Hutt, Obed Wilneff, Gordon Hutt in cap, Bob Hutt and Virginia Hutt behind him
Inez Langille, Vera Stevens, Essie Langille, Oda Heisler with the cake, Pearl Stevens
Howard Heisler’s and Hovey Slaunwhite’s boat “Ramona”
Daniel Levy on the left, unknown on right
Leah Heisler (daughter of George & Minnie)
Fred Slaunwhite and Cecil Hutt
Viola Young, Leah Heisler, Alice, Roy and Andrew (Alice and Andrew were children of Viola & Herbert Young, unsure about Roy). Picture was taken at the Tancook Baptist Church.
Tancook shoreline
The “White Birch” owned by Clemence and Hovey Slaunwhite
Wilfred and Meretha Wilson (parents of Verna Stevens)
Robert Langille, Lloyd Baker, Howard Rodenhiser, Dewitt Baker, Buddy Mason in front
Mabel Cross, Elsie Stevens, Geraldine Cross
Suzette and Kathy Cross
Millie Wilson Sellers
Milton Baker
Carroll & Monique Baker (Carroll is Earl’s brother)
Rudolph Stevens & Cynthia Baker
Stella Stevens (mother of Douglas Stevens), Sharon Cross (back on), Faith Cross Blinn, unknown back on, Carol Ann Wilneff. Picture taken outside the Tancook Baptist Church at the wedding of Robert & Peggy Langille.
Bernice Levy (daughter of Olive & Howard Levy)
Maude Cross
Pauline Heisler Levy
Thelma Stevens Mason (daughter of Willie and Idella Stevens)
Cynthia Baker & Grace Cross Henneberry in back, Colleen Cross Levy & Veronica Baker in front. Grace’s wedding day in 1960.
Enjoy this walk down memory lane. These old photos of people and places of Big Tancook Island have been collected from present and past islanders.
T. I. Service 1955 newspaper photograph
Hibbert and Melissa Baker taken about 1962 on their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married on Jan.2, 1902.
Little Tancook Sunday School – teacher is Vera Levy Publicover. First child is unknown, then Delphine Crooks, Sherman (Buddy) Hirtle, Norma Hirtle Baker.
Isaac Baker, David Baker Sr., David Baker Jr., Harvey Baker, Hibbert Baker, Frank Baker, Alfred Baker,
Maude Baker, May Baker, Lemuel Baker ,(children of Obed Baker)
Tancook Northwest Cove with the lobster cannery in the back right.
David Wilson,Perley Levy, Sadie Crooks, Willis Crooks and mystery guy. The child is Denzil (Bob) Cross.
Ethel Baker, Marie Mason, Peggy Langille.
Blanche May Levy
Blanche May Levy Heisler
Blanche and Colin Heisler
Leslie and David Mason
Douglas and Margarent Levy. Photo shared by Susan Levy.
Wilfred Heisler, Arthur Levy, Lindsay Heisler. Photo shared by Susan Levy.
The Heisler Family. Back row: Lindsay, Bentie, Blanche, Melda, Wilfred. Front row: Jean, Ruby, Carrie, Margaret. Photo shared by Susan Levy.
The Hutt Homestead on the right and the Wilneff Homestead on the left. This area of the island was referred to as Lynches Cove. The Wilneff home is now owned by Richard Johnson – last house on the way to the Devil’s Footprints.
Violet Cross Crooks.
Heisler swordfishing boat, the “Sylvia Pauline”, in 1935. On the boat are the Heisler men – Howard, Avery, William, Morris and Collin.
One of the island boats built by the Wilneff’s, taken back on the shore by the Wilneff homestead.
The girls enjoying a Green Island picnic are Belinda Mason in the back, Pam Mason, Christine Stevens, and Gayle Heisler in the front.
Oda Heisler leads the cattle while Elaine Heisler Wilson and Paul Frigolette romp in the hay.
JoAnn Hutt and her niece, Lynette Hutt
Evelyn Hutt – 1935.
he Tancook Baptist Church Choir on a visit to Mill Cove. Front row – Sadie Heisler, Mary Baker, Bertha Baker. Centre row – Oda Heisler, Maude Cross, Evelyn Hutt, Maude Heisler. Back row – Arthur Stevens, Roland Stevens, Howard Heisler, Wilfred Heisler. August 6, 1967.
Calvin Hutt and Alvah (Tip) Langley
Rebecca Cross on the right, with Sunday School students at the Baptist Church. The taller three in the back are Elsie Stevens, Velma Wilson, and Oda Heisler. The two boys in the middle row closest to Rebecca are Carroll Baker and Bev Pearl. Some of the children in the front row are Elaine Cross, Kendell Mason, and Goldie Mason. Elaine Wilson is there with sister, Peggy Langille behind her. Paul Frigolette is one of the boys in the front row (second from right).
Flo Heisler in the white dress, Howard Heisler, unknown. The house on the left was the Heisler home that stood where our Post Office now stands. The scene looks down towards School Road.
First girl could be Bertha Hudson or Mabel Crooks (perhaps someone could tell us). Others are Oda Hutt Heisler, Obed Wilneff, and Ivan Hutt.
Calvin Hutt and Maurice Levy
Ralph Baker and Calvin Hutt
Verna, Dewitt and Mary Baker
Southeast Cove taken from Crooks Hill.
Southeast Cove – the “Old Maids House” on the left.
House of Melissa and Hibbert Baker (now Earl Baker’s) 1956. The Gideon Hall is in the back.
Dorothy Wilson on the Tancook wharf.
Bentie Heisler, Dorothy Wilson, Ruby Heisler – sure looks like they are having fun!
Willis Crooks and Willis Cross
Family of Diane Crooks on their way to Elmer’s store. Eric and Estelle’s house in the back.
60th wedding anniversary of Verna (Baker) and Ernest Young at Mulgrave Park Baptist. Lloyd and Hilda (Baker) Wilson sit on either side of them.
Family of Howard and Dora Baker. Back row: Sterling, Dale, Howard, Dora, Hosie, Elmith, Keith, Neil. Front: Stedman, Faye, Shirley, Verta. Carl is missing from photo.
Wedding Day for Neil and Norma Baker in 1954. From left: Faye Baker Girardin, Norma Hirtle Baker, Neil Baker and Gerald Baker
Douglas and Joan Young
Baptist Church
Northwest Cove school on Tancook. Picture believed to be from 1940’s, but identities unknown. Anyone know any of these people?
Tancook harbour
Tancook harbour frozen over.
T. I Service docking at Tancook wharf
Rev. Allen Gibson and Lic. Ed Stackhouse 1955 baptism
Ralph Hirtle (brother of Herbert Hirtle)
Haying on Tancook (people unknown)
Gilbert Cross, Harvey Crooks, Leander Cross, Ferdinand Mason
