July 14-15, 2016
On a drive-around afternoon, we stumbled upon what looked like a naval vessel, listing in the Lehave River in Bridgewater. It turns out the ship was built as an Italian fishing trawler in 1965. It was converted to a Royal Canadian Navy dive tender, the HMCS Cormorant, in 1975 and served until 1997. It was the first ship in Canadian forces to have women assigned to its crew. In 1994 is was instrumental in the recovery of the ship’s bell from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior. In 2000, it was bought by US owners and has been docked in Bridgeport since. It developed a list, began to sink and was sitting on the bottom in 2015. Based on information we could find, it is expected to be salvaged–a year ago.
On the same drive-around, in the opposite direction, we found ourselves close to Oak Island, 140 acres in Mahone Bay.
Oak Island may be the subject of the world’s longest-running and most famous treasure hunt. Among the theories of what is buried there: Captain Kidd’s treasure of 2 million pounds. Spanish naval treasure. Marie Antoinette’s jewels. Shakespearean manuscripts. The Holy Grail. The Ark of the Covenant. A viking ship.
Excavations began as early as 1857 and have fascinated many people including actor Errol Flynn, President Franklin Roosevelt, and Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Over 50 books have been written and a television show, The Curse of Oak Island, is expected to air its fourth season beginning late this year.
The island is privately-owned and is accessed by a private causeway. Tours are given, but, sadly, not while we were nearby.
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