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Monica Graham

“A fascinating look at the misery of unexplained events and other people’s reactions to the events visited on a seemingly happy family. ” —The New Glasgow News

Just below the Antigonish-Guysborough County line, there is an overgrown spot, nearly impossible to find without a guide, where the cursed MacDonald farm once stood. Though no physical trace remains, the legend of the mysterious events that once took place lives on.

In the newest addition to the Stories of Our Past series, Monica Graham exposes the fascinating history behind the fire-spook of Caledonia Mills, Nova Scotia, a true story that spread as quickly and uncontrollably as the flames that started it all. But were these spontaneous fires and sinister sightings the work of a poltergeist, or of a troubled young woman?

“A very good book to purchase if you want to read about the case, case notes, and view photos of the family and all of the investigators that took part in trying to unravel the mystery that the family was going through. ” —Paranormal Investigations Nova Scotia

“Graham deftly tries her hand at explaining the unexplainable … compelling, eyewitness accounts of the fires that plagued the family are recounted by Graham … [an] entertaining, well-written book. ” —The New Glasgow News

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Stories of Our Past

Fire Spook: The Mysterious Nova Scotia Haunting

Dan Soucoup

A riveting account of the collision of two ships—and the worst human-caused explosion in history before Hiroshima—with dozens of photos and illustrations.

In late 1917, one of the greatest natural harbors in the world was humming with excitement. Halifax Harbor was filled with naval convoys and merchant vessels while factories worked overtime in support of the Allied war effort in Europe. But on December 6, Canada’s worst disaster struck, as two ships—one carrying high explosives—collided. The resulting blast killed and injured thousands, razing the city’s North End and destroying nearly everything in its path.

This history is an account of tremendous human suffering and devastation, yet also of human bravery and survival against all odds. Chaos and confusion reigned that day in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but what followed was a massive relief effort involving charitable assistance from all over the globe—especially Massachusetts.

Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917 includes a detailed account of the event, chronicling many remarkable human tragedies, rescue and relief efforts, attempts to place blame for the collision, and the reconstruction program that created Canada’s first government-assisted housing program. Also included are 60 full-color images as well as sidebars on many monuments and commemorations that pay tribute to this catastrophic event.

“Begins with a history of Halifax and its harbor and how important it was for the war effort in Europe…while there were countless acts of heroism, Soucoup writes there were also acts of looting and profiteering. ” —The Star

Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917

Allison Lawlor

A true story of hundreds of Jewish refugees and the sea journey they hoped would save them. 

On May 13, 1939, the eve of the Second World War, the MS St. Louis left port in Hamburg, Germany, headed for Havana, Cuba. Among the ship’s passengers were more than six hundred Jews attempting to escape Nazi rule. But most of the visas the passengers had purchased turned out to be fake, and after several days in limbo in Havana’s harbor, the ship’s captain turned back for Europe. Canadian and American activists petitioned their governments to accept the refugees on humanitarian grounds, but to no avail. On its return, the ship would distribute its passengers among European countries, and over the course of the war, an estimated 250 would die in Nazi concentration camps.

This volume in the Stories of our Past series is illustrated with photos and sidebar features on the voyage, glimpses into the lives of passengers, a look at Canada’s postwar refugee policy, and memorials dedicated to preserving the story of this tragic event in Canadian immigration history.

"The Saddest Ship Afloat": The Tragedy of the MS St. Louis