Cape Breton Miner's Museum

So it was another rainy day and Don's birthday, what to do? We decided to go to the Cape Breton Miners Museum near Sydney and we were so glad we did. coal mining was the main industry here from the 1800s to 1991. It stopped due to the expense of drilling under the ocean and due to numerous accidents and deaths. the museum is a small mine which is coordinated by retired miners. Our tour guide worked in the mines for 35 years. It was an hour tour showing a replica of the mine set up of the way it used to be in the 1800s, when many died from coal dust, gases and explosions.

It was so hard to hear the stories and actually feel the conditions: it was dark,damp, dirty and narrow. The ceilings went from about 5 feet + to 4.3 feet. both of us came out with hurting backs and knees from crouching most of the time. I can't believe in Africa and other 3rd world countries they still have those conditions, still with child labor...just like here. glacé Bay really was a Company Town...no money was given as pay but "checks" towards rent, groceries and other supplies all owned by the company town... hey never got ahead, but really " owed their souls to the Company Town".

 

 

 

 

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