Minas Basin: its birth, life and death.

On Sunday I bought a copy of We Wanted It To Last Forever which details the birth, life and death of Minas Basin Paperboard Mill in Hantsport. Former employee Beth Caldwell's words became the book's title.

The book contains photographs of several large machines key to production and of the plant's exterior with steam rising from its chimneys. But the photographs of and interviews with many employees illustrate the personal connection and commitment they had to Minas Basin. Some workers saw the closure as inevitable. Others were dumbfounded.

George Bishop's essay, Dick Groot's interviews with various employees and their photographs, and former employees' contributions are featured in the book. They illustrate the mutual respect and loyalty the Jodreys, the employees and the community shared. The book's jacket appropriately uses the image of linerboard produced in the Hantsport paperboard mill from 100% recycled paper.

In his endorsements on the back cover, CBC Radio's Don Connelly reflected that Bathurst Pulp and Paper closed overnight after 100 years of production. Nothing remains. He added, "Would that all of us had such a book about the mills that sustained our hometowns."

South of the River Publishing in Gaspereau published the book. Gaspereau Press in Kentville set the type. R.A. Jodrey would have appreciate the connections to his former community,

In 2015 the book was launched privately at the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre in Hantsport. The Box of Delights in Wolfville hosted a public book launch. It is currently for sale there for $45.

I intend to post excerpts from the book from time to time on my blog. How appropriate that that I wrote this on Nova Scotia's Heritage Day.

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