Thorburn is getting ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2022
The Thorburn 150 Historical Kiosk Society has been struck and plans are in the works for a kiosk to be built near Union Presbyterian Church that will house interpretive panels detailing Thorburn’s rich history in coal mining, community, and sports.
Gail Jordan, a member of the Thorburn 150 Historical Kiosk Society, said following the success of previous anniversary celebrations, society members with a keen interest in history came together to create something special and long-lasting for the 150th milestone.
The first panel will display some of Thorburn’s earliest history with such graphics as maps, land grants first settlers as well as highlighting community life and industries. The second will be focused on the early 1900s with information about industries, schools, churches as well as sports and clubs. The third panel will highlight Thorburn’s newer history, including the evolution of Thorburn and surrounding areas as well as leaders in the community who made helped make changes.
The panels are being designed by John Ashton and will be like 13 other historical community kiosks in rural Pictou County.
Ashton said immigration played a large role in the coal mining industry and many people came from Europe to work in local mines.
“The mines started in 1872 and that is when immigration started,” he said. “Before this time, it was farmland.”
The society has accumulated some artifacts, old photos, and newspaper clippings, but it needs more information. It is encouraging anyone with information about Thorburn to contact Jordan.
The society will be determining what is going on in the panels and it knows that it will have a lot of information to choose from, but it must keep its focus on events and people who helped make Thorburn the community it is today.
“This project is very important for our community. The chance to showcase our community’s history will bring back memories for many and educate others. We are fortunate to have this group of volunteers who have gathered an impressive amount of information and have worked hard on this project. I am looking forward to seeing this all come together with the help of John Ashton and the unveiling of the kiosk this summer,” said Municipality of Pictou County District 10 Coun. Randy Palmer.
Jordan said there is an opportunity for people to have their family acknowledged at the kiosk site by purchasing an ancestral acknowledgment plaque that lists ancestors who settled in the Thorburn area.
The ancestral acknowledgment plaques are also a fundraiser for the society which needs to raise $30,000 to construct the kiosk and panels. It is applying for government grants to help with the project, but it also hopes to receive donations from the community.
The society’s goal is to have the kiosk and panels completed this summer and 150th-anniversary celebrations to take place in August. Jordan said if other people want to host other events to coincide with the unveiling of the kiosks, they are welcome to do so, but the society is solely focused on the kiosk and panels.
Anyone who wants to donate money to the kiosk project or has information to share about the history of Thorburn is welcome to email Gail Jordan at gailjordan38@gmail.com.