Sorting through my papers, I found this article that I wrote for the Chronicle Herald, titled:
Sustaining on Traditional Valley Values
“Paul Colville and his wife, Ruth, immigrated (sic) to Nova Scotia in the early ‘70s. They farmed the land on Delusion Road and over the years developed ColdSpring Farm – a certified organic vegetable/free range poultry operation. They were year-round vendors at the Halifax Farmers’ market for over twenty years.”
Paul and Ruth have lived on North Mountain overlooking the Bay of Fundy, and above the town of Middleton for more than 40 years. Over that period, as he farmed the land and fixed up the buildings, Paul wondered about the original owners of the property.
Paul has recreated dialogue between the settlers, Joseph and Jane Bent.
“Not me, I want to be independent. I want to be on the land. My land. I want to build a farm and provide for myself and my family.
I don’t mind working the forge. Or picking apples or whatever it takes to earn hard money. My father used to say ‘When you hear opportunity knock, be ready with hard money to unlock the door.”
(That sounds like Paul’s credo)
The events described in the book cover the decade 1860-70. Events include the 1864 election, the birth of the Windsor-Annapolis-Royal Railway, the Confederation of Canada, and the Saxby Gale. Paul’s research under the mentorship of historian Barry Moody covers these events and their impact on Joseph and Jane Bent. Paul also benefited from conversations with Linda Bent, who has maintained the family history of the Bent and Mosher families.
His Settlers Story is enhanced by the Foreword from Barry Moody and the Afterword from Linda Bent.
This creative work of fiction shows that each of us occupies a ‘place in space’. To use a term from author Gary Snyder’s “A Place in Space: Ethics, Aesthetics and Watersheds, New and Selected Prose”, it also illustrates a ‘place in time’. “The View from Delusion Road” uncovers the stories behind Delusion Road, the term Bluenosers, and details about the different settler groups — the Baptists, the Irish Catholics.
We can step forward in time and ask questions about the back-to-the-land in the 1970’s or the Buddhists in Nova Scotia.
Paul has made a contribution to our understanding of the local history and geography. He also offers an approach that marries fiction and non-fiction. As a geographer, I wanted to see a map of Port George, Moshers Corner and beyond. But later, I realized that a modern map would not be as effective as Paul’s story map.
The next challenge for Paul is to write the recent history with his own View from Delusion Road. Certainly, I recall living in Clarence when Paul was the local chimney sweep. Our conversations were about the survey school in Lawrencetown and its impact on the local communities and the residents.
Ernest Blair Experiment 