The soul of Cape Breton comes from its people. This soul lives on in the community of Cape Bretoners who have made their home in the Detroit and Windsor area. As still happens today, many Cape Bretoners have had to leave the Island usually in search of work. At least since the turn of the century, native Capers have moved to Detroit and Windsor. As they had in Cape Breton, these people continued t
o keep strong ties with other Cape Bretoners (usually living in same neighborhoods) through organized activities that lent support to one another, provide social outlets and allowed them to maintain their traditions such as Gaelic singing, Scottish Cape Breton music, story-telling, stepdancing, music sessions and dances. The soul of Cape Breton is alive and well near the Detroit River, as these traditions continue through these transplanted Cape Bretoners and their sons and daughters. Cape Breton Scottish music has long been alive in the Motor City and Windsor since at least the turn of the century. There were many individual native Cape Bretoners who sponsored dances, organized concerts and had music sessions in their homes through the years and including today. Most prominent in memory is Bernie Mac Neil (Big Pond), Johnny Archie Mac Donald (Judique) and John Willie Mac Kinnon (Harborview). Cape Bretoners also organized their efforts through participation in clubs. In 1936, the Nova Scotia Club of Detroit was formed. Its first president was Frank Mac Rae (Margaree). In those days, Frank Mac Rae, Jim Dan Mac Donald (Margaree) and Duncan Mac Phee (Mabou) were very active for many years organizing dances, picnics and benefit concerts. Leo Mac Donald (Glengarry, Ontario) and Little Jack Mac Donald (Judique) usually played for the dances back then. Ann Mac Neil (Sydney), wife of Bernie Mac Neil (Big Pond) often offered her talents at the piano. During music sessions and concerts, Johnnie Archie Mac Donald, Allan Mac Donald (Foot Cape), and Bernie Mac Neil could also be heard. In the late 1940s and fifties, Frank Gillis (Inverness) was a very active promoter of club activities especially as President. Mac Donald (Judique),Hughie MacDonald (West Mabou), Allan Mac Donald (Foot Cape), Little Bernie Mac Donald (Eskasoni), Leo Mac Donald , Little Jack and Ambrose Beaton ( ) Johnnie Archie Mac Donald, Bernie Mac Neil and Bob Mac Neil would have been the main fiddlers for the music events. Marion (Mac Donald) Mac Dougall (Foot Cape), Ann Mac Neil (Sydney), Dorothy Mac Donald (wife of Johnny Archie) and Joan (Mac Donald) Boes (Foot Cape) accompanied the fiddlers then. During the late fifties and sixties, the club itself was inactive but that certainly didn't stop the Cape Bretoners from continuing their music sessions, concerts and dances. Johnnie Archie Mac Donald (Judique) and John Willie Mac Kinnon (Harborview) and Bernie Mac Neil (Big Pond) were great promoters of the music as the dances, concerts and music sessions continued. Johnnie Archie and John Willie were the first to begin asking fiddlers living in Cape Breton to play at the Detroit dances. Most commonly, Buddy Mac Master, Sandy Mac Intyre, Kinnon Beaton, John Campbell, Cameron Chisolm, Donald Campbell, Wayne Cote and Willie Kennedy were the ones warming the stage. The piano players were Barbara (Mac Donald) Magone, Kay (Campbell) White (Glenora Falls), Jessie Ann (Cameron) Beaton (Glencoe), Joan (Mac Donald) Boes (Foot Cape), Marguerite (Mac Neil) Parker (Mabou) and “Red” Mary (Mac Donald) Beaton (Mabou). During this era, Johnnie Archie Mac Donald formed the group known as the “Five Mac Donald Fiddlers” (Joan Mac Donald Boes accompanied on the piano). In 1972, the Nova Scotia Club was started up again through the efforts of Hughie Ferguson (Inverness), Andrew MacLellan (Glenview), Margaret (Muggsie Mac Dougall) Parker (Detroit), Hughie Jr Mac Dougall (Judique), Bob Mac Neil (Detroit) and Bob Willis (Saskatchwan). This group put forth a very successful Scottish concert that included pipers, singers, highland dancers, step dancers, fiddlers Buddy Mac Master, John Campbell and Sandy Mac Intyre, local entertainers and a dance that followed. This was the beginning of 40 more years of the Club’s involvement in promoting Cape Breton dances, benefit concerts and annual gatherings such as summer picnics and Christmas parties. The Club continued to fly in fiddlers from down home, but we also enjoyed our local talent such as Allan Mac Donald (Foot Cape), Bob Mac Neil (Detroit), Morgan Mac Quarrie (Kenloch), Jimmy Mac Neil (Dearborn) and Kenneth Mac Leod (Windsor). Our prominent piano players have been Jessie Ann (Cameron Beaton) Day (Glencoe), Kay (Campbell) White (Glenora Falls), Joan (Mac Donald) Boes (Foot Cape), Tommy Mac Neil (Dearborn) and Marion Mac Leod (Windsor). These traditions continue on today and we are also seeing another generation of musicians. We honor and miss our Detroit icons, Joan (Mac Donald) Boes (Foot Cape), Allan Mac Donald (Foot Cape), Kay (Campbell) White (Glenora Falls) and Bob Mac Neil (Detroit) that have recently passed on. Jessie Ann (Cameron Beaton) Daye has moved back to CB but we still enjoy her visits. Today the Club continues to fly in fiddlers from down home, but we love our local fiddlers Kenneth Mac Leod (Windsor), Jimmy Mac Neil (Dearborn), Morgan Mac Quarrie (Kenloch) and Sarah Rankin (Windsor). Our prominent piano players are Marion Mac Leod (Windsor), Tommy Mac Neil (Dearborn) and Cameron Rankin (Windsor). Lately, our main venue has been afternoon Ceilidhs showcasing all our local talent. Kenneth MacLeod and Marion MacLeod often organize their own music sessions in Windsor. We have lots of musicians of this generation ready to keep our traditions such as singing, step-dancing, Ceilidhs and dances. We also continued long-favorite traditions of gathering yearly for a Christmas Party, a Summer Picnic as well as an annual Cribbage Tournament. As happened in the late 1950s through the 1960s, our club is now inactive as of 2014. As it seems history is repeating itself, we are hopeful in the future there will be another group of individuals interested in organizing events (as occurred in 1972) that help us folks near the Detroit River maintain our ties with other Cape Bretoners and continue our great traditions. The Nova Scotia Club has a long history here in the Motor City. The soul of Cape Breton is alive here. Our love of all that the club has offered each of us through the years will remain in our hearts and gives us hope for the future. We keep up this page and email contacts so that we can advertise any events or Ceilidhs individuals may be promoting. Please feel free to email the club ([email protected]) or message us on FB to contact any of the recent officers with questions.
