Former mayor shares Yarmouth South memories at museum Feb. 4

Former mayor Charles Crosby has strong emotions about the place he called home for many years – Yarmouth South or south end. “It was a way of life down there,” he said of the camaraderie. “They were neighbours. It rarely happens now. There are some people in Yarmouth that still do that, but it’s not as prevalent as when I was growing up. That’s an art that’s lost.”

As a young boy growing up on Moody’s Row, Crosby credits several families, especially the Bisharas, for his survival.

He remembers almost passing out at school from hunger and shaking the snow off his bed in the morning when he got up. “The windows didn’t fit. You shook the coats off; you didn’t have blankets,” he said. “I would have starved to death if it hadn’t of been for the Bisharas,” he said. “They fed me and Mrs. (Ethyl, also known as Nannie) Bishara taught me manners.”

Crosby worked at taking kiln wood and coal in for the stove and took out the ashes in the morning. He worked his way up until he knew the prices in the family store and helped tend it. A restaurant, Little Lebanon, is now located where the former homestead/store was at 100 Main St.

He rattles off the names of those from generations past: The Bisharas - Louise, Mac, Victor, Doug, Muzzie (Dave), Wilfred, and Minnie Allen. “Minnie used to get us out there (on the steps) as kids and sing. She always had a pocket full of candy for us. She was the love of everyone’s life, a beautiful lady, who sung like an angel. “Louise was a saint in herself. She was the only girl in that family. She was the cook, the bottle washer, she looked after everything,” he said.

Everyone was welcome in the Bishara household. The table overflowed with plates of mishi, kibbe, cabbage rolls, and thoya. Federal and provincial politicians stopped in for a cup of tea. It was considered an insult not to do so. Police and firemen came to the house for the best hamburgers in town. The family owned a meat market and shared freely. “If it hadn’t of been for the Bishara’s there’s a lot of people in Yarmouth South that would never have made it through the war years,” said Crosby.

Where the Yarmouth South Red & White now stands, 16 families once lived in Moody’s Row. When Crosby’s mother became sick, the community stepped in and shared for the caring of the nine children. Neighbours would take loaves of bread to those who didn’t have enough.

At one time, Yarmouth South WAS Yarmouth, he declared. Argyle Street was the main road into town. There were 12 stores from Church Hill to Commercial Street including fish markets, grocery stores, two meat markets, barbershops, and a furniture store.

The former mayor foresees change for the better in the area with the completion of the new justice centre and waterfront improvements. “I can visualize a nice big restaurant going up down there,” he said.

Crosby will be sharing other memories of Yarmouth South at the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in connection with the Yarmouth South exhibit on display during February downstairs in the education wing.