Entry Island, Magdalen Islands, Quebec

The Magdalen Islands are some of the prettiest islands I have ever seen.  They have a beauty that is far from commercial yet holds old traditions.  They have interesting history and many stories from the olden times.  I was there in 1995 to do a family tree visit.  Many of the folks I interviewed are gone now, but their legacy lives on, through their families and stories.  I love learning and researching my tree.  I love history in all its forms, which is why I love to travel and to see places.  I picture the history that has gone on before my time.  How they lived and worked and died.

Entry Island has one interesting story about a horse name Farmer.  His owner sold him to people (English) Amherst, which is located the furthest down the Magdalen main Island.  Farmer the horse didn't want to stay where his new home was, he wanted his old barn where he use to live.  He liked is old barn and life.  One day the farmer on Entry woke up to find Farmer the horse back in the barn.  The horse swam the entire way back to Entry Island, which was beyond anything anyone ever heard of.  The horse Farmer was determined to return home, he swam in some of the most dangerous waters.  it is on the St Lawrence and it sees many dangerous storms.  Farmer remained in his own barn until he died.  There are books on Farmer and his history making swim in both French and English, but it is difficult to get a copy now.

The beauty of the Magdalen Islands is so exquisite!  Sand dunes attach each part of the main island but Entry Island is by itself and is English speaking.  The Islanders are hardy and friendly people.  They work hard and love family.  There is no such thing as a elder fending on their own.  Many live off the island now but go back once or twice a year.  Once the winter freezes the ice between the two islands, you can only reach Entry by plane.

One elder, Bain Chennell who I was lucky enough to interview in 1995 said to me, "It was the prettiest little island you ever did see, but women and drink ruined it".  I was shocked and he meant it.  He was 91 at the time.  He lived for a few more years.  He was in WWI & II.  What a soldier he was.  He remembered my own grandmother Elizabeth (Lizzie) back when she was just a young girl running across the fields with the horses, whom she loved so much.  She had black raven hair in a pony tail.  It was nice to hear of Nan when she was young and carefree.  Oh the stories he told me.

I am attaching Entry Island pictures first then more of the main island.  I have too many to post here but I hope you come back for more.  Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.

Big Hill is in the background.  

Big Hill has a sheer drop of and many a goat and cattle fell to their deaths.  I even heard some
tourist also died because they didn't listen and got too close.

Here is a wild horse on top of the Hill

Some homes on Entry Island

The Light House where is now stands.  It use to be on the other side of the Island.

This is where the lighthouse use to be and where my grandmother grew up.  The old Dickson house
was moved to the other side of the island and until the last ten years, it still stood as a reminder where so many were born and grew up.

This is where the lighthouse use to be

Old Dickson house use to be near here.

The clinic for the nurse was the small attachment.  Sick people would come here to see the nurse.

You can see the other part of the Magdalen Islands across the water.

This use to be Entry Island's nurse's home.