HISTORY OF THE SONG

"The Chezzetcook Song", developed as the result of a visit to Halifax in 1886 or 1887 by the late Gilmore Brown, C. E., a bridge building engineer. On his return to Fredericton, he entertained at a meeting of the literary club with an account of his visit to the "Farmers Market" in Halifax. He told of his conversation with a Mr. Bellefontaine from Chezzetcook Bay, having come to market that day with a load of brick and sand. He explained that on occasions he brought cord wood and home products of rough carpentry, clams, mussels, berries of all kinds and some of his wife's handiwork, such as mitts, socks and Guernseys (frocks).

This account inspired Bliss Carman and his cousin Fred St. John Bliss, a barrister from Fredericton, to write lyrics of "The Chezzetcook Song". Prof. F.C.D. Bristowe, organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, set the lyrics to music. So it was that a group of people in Fredericton were responsible for "The Chezzetcook Song". The literary club became known as "The Bellefontaine Club".

Information about the origin of "The Chezzetcook Song"" came from Mr. J.J.T. Winslow, a barrister in Fredericton. Singing this song was for many years an important part of the Christmas celebration in the Winslow home. It was well known and often sung around Dartmouth.
Our thanks to Dr.Helen Creighton for this information.

Typed by myself from the pamphlet that my sister sent me.
Beer (Adrien)