Europeans had known about Sable Island since the 1500s. Their maps show the island as much larger than it really is. Early mapmakers relied on explorers' accounts. The size of the dreaded island may have over exaggerated because of the shipwrecks.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Sable Island Preservation Trust, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic,
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001 All Rights Reserved.
Abandoned, the convicts sheltered in wrecked ships. Only 11 were still alive when a ship rescued them 5 years later.
In 1738, Reverend Andrew Le Mercier of Boston sent people and livestock to Sable (remember the horses?) but refused to pay the rent to Nova Scotia He was very angry when fisherman stole his cattle, and he tried to sell the island, which he did not own. No one bought it.
Abandoned, the convicts sheltered in wrecked ships. Only 11 were still alive when a ship rescued them 5 years later.
In 1738, Reverend Andrew Le Mercier of Boston sent people and livestock to Sable (remember the horses?) but refused to pay the rent to Nova Scotia He was very angry when fisherman stole his cattle, and he tried to sell the island, which he did not own. No one bought it.
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
Abandoned convicts.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
Trixie's House in 1890.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001 All Rights Reserved.
Without constant maintenance, buildings are soon destroyed by the wind, sand and salt spray. Trixie went back to the island in 1967 and found her home deserted.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
By 1987 it was a ruin.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Sable Island Preservation Trust, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic,
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
These corroded and broken pieces were all that remained of the old main lifesaving station.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Sable Island Preservation Trust, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic,
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
Notice the Roman numerals an the post and planks. Since there are no trees on Sable, all the timber for buildings had to be shipped from the mainland. The wood was precut and marked for easy assembly.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
Top left to bottom right: Axe top, Plate, Cup handle, Spoon, Bottle, Pipe, Plate
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Sable Island Preservation Trust, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic,
© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives
The learner will:- Identify the first inhabitants of Sable Island
- Describe what has happened to the dwellings on Sable Island without maintenance
