Sunday August 21, 2016 from Gander to Eastport, NL

Glovertown Museum

 After leaving Gander, it finally happened-two moose, a cow and calf, crossed the highway in front of us! We couldn't get the cameras out fast enough before they disappeared into the tall weeds, but we now know there really are moose here! We continued on towards our destination, and with time to kill Becky spotted a small sign towards the Glovertown Museum.  We decided to explore the town. This visit, like so many others wasn’t planned and is why we enjoy RVing so much-the unexpected treasures that one comes across.The Museum is fairly small, with the main building similar in size to the Hendricks Hill Museum's main building. So many interesting treasures within, though! There were two docents on duty, a mother and daughter, who were friendly and helpful. 

Information board at entrance to Museum

Glovertown was once a central town in the area where the government was trying to get citizens to relocate to and populate the area, including moving their homes from other locations. 

Glovertown settlement area

 Glovertown was a central fishing hub for the area, with many small islands dependent on it for services and supplies. The Museum has displays on fishing, logging, and many of the tools used in the various work occupations. The town was originally called Bloody Bay, supposedly referring to a massacre of a family of 11 by Beothuk Indians living in the area. It was changed to Alexander Bay, and finally to Glovertown in the late 1890's after the Colonial Governor Sir John Hawley Glover, who served as the Governor of Newfoundland under Queen Victoria from 1876-1881 and 1883-1885. Inside, there is also a wall honoring all Veterans from the town, both living and deceased, illustrated with photos of each.

The Sherman Zwicker

 Our biggest surprise, however, came when we rounded a corner and there was a photograph of the Sherman Zwicker! For those readers not from the Boothbay Region, the Sherman Zwicker was a fishing schooner that became a floating museum and spent a lot of time in Boothbay Harbor before moving to the Maritime Museum in Bath. Recently, however, it became too expensive to maintain and it now resides in New York. OK, you might ask, what is the connection to Glovertown? The boat was constructed in Lunenburg, NS in 1942 as a composite ship utilizing a schooner hull (a twin to the famous schooner "Blue Nose"), but without all the sails and with a diesel engine. It served as a fishing vessel there for 20 years, then moved on to Glovertown where it continued as a fishing vessel until 1968.   It was saved from the graveyard by George McAvoy from Boothbay. George was accompanied on this visit to purchase the ship by our neighbor, Bob Raudenbush! It's a small world!

     We finally got to our campground, the Harold W. Duffett Shriners RV park. Not much to talk about, basically another "weekenders" park with trailers that are left here all summer or longer.  The Shriner manning the desk and checking folks in was neither friendly nor helpful.  It will not be on our list of recommended RV parks!