The Orangedale Station Museum is maintained by volunteers who want to keep telling the story of the once vital landmark.
-by Beverley Phillips
For 37 years, the Orangedale Railway Station Museum has been telling the story of a bygone era.
Built in 1886 by the Intercolonial Railway, the Orangedale station was a stopping point for passengers until 1990. In its heyday, from the 1930s to 1950s, up to 20 freight trains and six passenger trains would stop at the train station in the small community on the Bras d’Or Lake.
As passenger train travel declined, CN made plans to demolish the large Victorian-era building in the 1980s. But “Friends of the Station” became a group dedicated to preserving the landmark structure, and in 1986, the Orangedale Station Association (OSA) was incorporated and bought the building for $1.00. From there, community volunteers and railway enthusiasts worked tirelessly to restore the building to its former glory.
On Labour Day weekend in 1989, the museum held its grand opening. On the ground floor, visitors can see where the station master worked, and where the men and women waited for the train in separate rooms. The museum’s summer student guide explained the men did not wait alongside the women because the men smoked. Upstairs is the small two-bedroom apartment where the station master lived with his family. The space has been restored and furnished with antiques and photographs of all the former station masters.
Since then, the museum has added to its historic collection. It has a 1911 caboose, a 1949 snowplow, a locomotive, a boxcar, and a safety inspection car fondly named “Speedy.” In recent years, the station has received donations of a variety of artifacts and memorabilia that can be explored in the outbuilding that houses the gift shop.
Over the years, thousands of visitors from around the world have stopped in to see this former hub of activity. However, Eleanor Blue Morrison, president of the OSA, noted the loss of the visitor information centre in Port Hastings has meant that fewer people are finding them this year.
“We have been self-sustaining for the last ten years,” said Blue Morrison. “Donations, fundraising, and the gift shop have covered our expenses. The only funding we get is for summer students.”
They have three summer students this year to guide visitors through the buildings, explaining this piece of history.
The station itself has been kept up, but time and weather have not been as kind to the rail cars. “We would like to be able to fix them up,” said Blue Morrison. “We had planned to build a roof over them, but the gentleman who was going to do the work got sick, and it was never done.”
To visit the Orangedale Railway Station Museum, whose whistle will always blow, it is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Kenneth Mackenzie
-by April MacDonald
We are living in increasingly challenging times and it appears no one is safe from the pressures of this current economic environment.
In a social media post, vice-president of Beinn Mhàbu, Kenneth MacKenzie stated that, “after more than seven years, my employment with Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College, including my role leading Beinn Mhàbu, came to an end last week, on July 24th, 2026.”
“Beinn Mhàbu has been far more than a job to me. I am deeply proud of what we built together, and especially grateful to the staff, students, instructors, artists, partners, community members, contractors, board members, and supporters who believed in Beinn Mhàbu and contributed so much to its development,” explained MacKenzie.
He went on to say that the circumstances of his departure are “being addressed through the appropriate channels.”
Also, that he would not comment further on them publicly at this time.
“I remain deeply committed to our local community and to the wider Gaelic language, cultural, educational, and artistic community. I look forward to everything that comes next. Taing mhòr!” he closed.
The shear amount of comments supporting MacKenzie on his post speaks volumes to how appreciated he is by his peers and members of the Gaelic cultural community.
One person went so far to say, “In your role at the Gaelic College, then Beinn Mhàbu and Taigh Sgoile, you breathed new life into a tiring Gaelic community and into dreams that seemed to be fading for the Gaelic community…at what will most certainly be looked back upon as the most critical time in our history as Gaels in Nova Scotia.”
Taigh Sgoile is pre-school Gaelic immersion program in which MacKenzie was integral in the formation of that school.
The Oran reached out to the Gaelic College board and president asking about Kenneth MacKenzie's departure from his role at the Gaelic College and leading role at Beinn Mhabu as it sent shockwaves through Inverness County.
We sought an official statement concerning the circumstances of how this decision was made and if it was a board decision. With the amount of public interest involved we asked what the main issue surrounding the termination was, whether it was financial, misconduct, or performance.
We received this response:
“As you can appreciate, we do not comment on individual employees.
‘Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College, like many organizations and post-secondary institutions, has had to make – and continues to make – difficult decisions that impact employees and positions within our organization.
‘The reality is that Colaisde na Gàidhlig and our Mabou campus, Beinn Mhàbu, are facing reduced funding support from multiple levels of government. The Province of Nova Scotia, through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH), has reduced our operational funding by 20 per cent for the 2026-27 fiscal year. In addition, the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has informed us that funding for KitchenFest will be eliminated, resulting in a loss of $75,000 beginning in January 2027. This follows a 40 per cent reduction in ACOA funding two years ago. From 2014 to 2024, annual ACOA support for KitchenFest was $140,000.
‘These funding reductions come at a time when organizations across the country continue to face increasing operating costs. As a not-for-profit charitable organization, our priority is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the College while protecting the core programs and experiences we provide for our students, visitors, and community.
‘Unfortunately, enrolment in the Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies (BACS) program at Beinn Mhàbu did not reach the minimum required to proceed for September 2026.
‘As a result, the College made the difficult decision in June not to offer the program this academic year.
‘The impact extends beyond tuition revenue. Every student who lives on campus also contributes to accommodation and meal revenue, all of which supports the College's overall operations. To put this into perspective, the loss of just nine students living and studying at Beinn Mhàbu represents more than $160,000 in lost revenue through tuition, accommodations, and meal plans.
‘The BACS program will return in 2027. Over the coming months, we will undertake a focused recruitment effort throughout the fall, winter, and spring of 2026-27. In partnership with Cape Breton University, we will offer first-year entry into both the Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies and the new Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management program.
‘Looking ahead, Beinn Mhàbu will also introduce several new programs during 2026-27 that will strengthen our offerings and benefit the broader community. These initiatives, focused on Gaelic language, music, and dance, will be announced in the coming weeks.
‘In addition, we will continue to offer our successful online Gaelic language programming, which serves up to 200 students annually from September through April. The College will also continue to provide community services and facilities, including pub nights, meeting and training space rentals, office rentals, accommodations, and other community programming.
‘The Shannon Artist-in-Residence Program will continue as well, welcoming its next cohort of artists in the spring of 2027.
‘While these decisions have been difficult, they are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of Colaisde na Gàidhlig and our ability to continue serving our students, community, and supporters for generations to come.
‘With respect, Rodney MacDonald, President Colaisde na Gàidhlig, Beinn Mhàbu.”
One of the many supporters of MacKenzie thought it prudent to share an email address, “as a means to express the collective sense of disbelief and heartbreak we are experiencing for Kenneth and his family but also our communities.”
The address is [email protected].
Port Hood Blue Jays catcher Reid Anstey gets the out call on this play at the plate, where Inverness Ravens’ base runner Alistair MacLeod’s foot went wide as he slid into home in last Tuesday’s U15 Bluenose League game in Inverness.
-by Bill Dunphy
Two weeks after the Port Hood Blue Jays schooled the Inverness Ravens in a 13-3 win at Judique, the Ravens scored five fourth-inning runs on Tuesday of last week to beat the Jays 10-7 in U15 Bluenose League baseball action.
Both teams are ramping up their games for the Aug. 21-23 provincial tournament that the Jays are hosting at the Leo A. MacDonell field in Judique.
Last Tuesday’s win was a confidence builder for the Ravens.
“It was a well played game,” said Ravens assistant coach Dan MacLeod, noting it’s important to get games in before provincial weekend.
“Ryder (MacLean), Colton (MacIsaac), and Alistair (MacLeod) all pitched well and we came up with a couple more hits than we did than when we were playing them in Judique.”
Port Hood coach Ardell Hawley said the game showed the Jays what they have to improve on while there’s still time.
“Inverness are scrappy and no lead is safe against them,” Hawley said.
“We hit and pitched very well but some uncharacteristic errors in the field led to two big innings that proved to be the difference.”
He added, “We have a couple of weeks to tidy those things up. I have a lot of confidence in this group and look forward to the next few weeks of tune-up as we prepare to host provincials.”
The Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead at the top of the first in last Tuesday’s game at the Ned MacDonald Memorial field.
Reid Anstey walked and scored on a passed ball and Colin MacDougall came home on a balk by Ravens starting pitcher Ryder MacLean.
The Ravens got one run back in their half of the first, with Colton MacIsaac reaching on an error, getting a safe call on a close steal of third, and scoring on an RBI single by Alistair MacLeod.
MacLeod made a try for home from third, running on a throw from Jays starter Malcolm MacInnis to third baseman Carter DeCoste who made a quick relay to the catcher where Anstey slapped the tag on him for the out.
Luke Calder restored Port Hood’s two-run lead in the top of the second on a base hit by Evran Beaton. The Jays then jumped to a 6-1 lead with three runs in the top of the third.
MacDougall and Ashton Hawley each singled and scored while Bentley Cameron walked and scored on a fielder’s choice by MacInnis.
The Inverness bats came alive in the bottom half of the third, sparked by a one-out single by Danny MacDonald who scored on a two-out hit by Alex Dan MacDonnell.
MacIsaac and MacLeod each took a base on balls and a three-run triple by MacLean brought the Ravens to within a run, trailing 6-5.
MacIsaac took the mound for Inverness in a scoreless fourth inning and allowed a run in the fifth as Port Hood went up 7-5.
But once again the top of the Ravens order came through with a four-run inning which began with a one-out single by Brett MacGillivray followed by MacIsaac, MacDonnell and MacLeod each crossing the plate to take a 9-7 lead.
MacIsaac shut the Jays down in the sixth and MacLeod closed out the win in the seventh.
Mac MacLellan scored a run in the sixth for the Ravens to make it a 10-7 final.
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- 70 runners race the rain at 45th Alfred Reynolds Memorial
- 63 Runners navigate Course de l'Escaouette
- The Orangedale Railway Museum is still chugging along
- County farms reshape the future of recycling plastic
- A defining moment in the history of the Acadian people
- Fabulously fun at Festival de l'Escaouette
- Keep an eye out for migratory shore birds on the move
- Council approves rezoning requests
- RCMP charge man with driving while impaired and possession of drugs
- Sold-out Little Lorraine builds momentum for upcoming film festival
- ICCA announces new exhibition by artist Hermine Ford
- Province commemorates Emancipation Day
- Glencoe Station Hall receives funding for repairs
- Mackenzie's role at Gaelic College comes to an end
The Inverness Oran is a locally owned and operated newspaper publication with offices located in the county of Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada. Printed 52 times per year, The Inverness Oran caters to residents of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia as well as national and international readers.
Readers can take advantage of a flexible subscription package available for 3-months, 6-months or 12-months periods, available in a Print Version, a Digital Version, or both. First published in 1976, The Inverness Oran continues to serve and reflect residents and communities of Inverness County.