1

Line drawing of the MacDonald House and its view of Lake Ainslie by Barrie Fraser.
1989
East Lake Ainslie

2

From the beginning, the community of East Lake Ainslie has been preserving its stories. In the distant past, the oral tradition was to pass on our stories from family to family, from neighbors to friends. They sat around the fireplace in the candle light. They talked in the lamplight beside the kitchen stove. More recently, believing the stories were in danger of being lost, they gathered themselves more formaly. They organized the Lake Ainslie Historical Society in 1979. Others became well-versed and trained in genealogy, while others just seemed to have a natural interest and talent for remembering the past, preserving it and passing it on.

3

Lake Ainslie Historical Society honouring a local fiddler.
1980
East Lake Ainslie

4

Today, methods of recording the past have progressed from speaking, to writing, to recording. The computer and the Internet have become recognized tools. The interest of governments through such programs as this one, The Virtual Museums of Canada, of which Community Museums is one part, is a positive step in the progression of our story keepers.

5

Opening ceremonies for the Lake Ainslie Heritage Festival in 1988.
1988
East Lake Ainslie

6

One of the goals of The Lake Ainslie Historical Society is " to support research and increase
members' knowledge, as well as that of the general public, toward local history." As well as our other goals of collecting and preserving artifacts, sharing information with the general public and preserving local history and the customs of the pioneers, we would share with you through this visual medium, some of those who stand out among us as our "Story Keepers".

7

Archie Neil Chisholm and John Archie MacKenzie having dinner at the Heritage Festival.
1989
Scotsville, Nova Scotia

8

The community of East Lake Ainslie is indebted to those members of our society who finished
their stories. They have left us a rich legacy. These Story Keepers are Archie Neil Chisholm, John Angus Collins, Dolena Mac Innis, Edward A. Campbell, Patricia Spicer, Florence Campbell, Ida Mac Kinnon, John M. Mac Lean, and Peter Mac Millan.

9

John and Marion MacLean, Lake Ainslie, Nova Scotia.
1990
East Lake Ainslie

10

Oral story tellers were among the first Story Keepers and one of the best was John M. Mac Lean.

11

Peter MacMillan
1990
unknown

12

L to R: Edward Campbell, Margaret Anne Campbell, Cathy Campbell MacLean.
1988
East Lake Ainslie

13

Peter Mac Millan and Edward Campbell have left us a rich written record of genealogy and story from which we draw much knowledge.

14

A Heritage Festival at MacDonald House Museum in Lake Ainslie, Nova Scotia.
1990
East Lake Ainslie