‘Lots more history to uncover’
Hockin history hidden in a house
Taylor Fancey and Christopher Boylan and their three children, who last month moved into a historic home in Berwick, unknowingly got a lot more than just a house.
Upon completing some renovations, Fancey says they found a treasure trove of historical artifacts throughout.
Fancey surmises the Main Street house was built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. She says she is more familiar with the recent history of the house, having grown up across the street. They are just starting to delve into the history, thanks to all they found.
“We are doing some small renovations and have found loose items just about everywhere - in the attic, in the basement and in the walls,” she says.
Some of these items were certainly left on purpose, says Fancey, such as the boot and a coin found in the walls. According to folk lore, boots and coins were often left in the walls of the houses by carpenters or house owners as a symbol of good luck, or to ward off evil spirits.
Other items were left behind accidently during a move and some literally fell between the cracks, she says.
“We’ve found pottery, letters, cards, magazines, Bible-type books, things I’d consider to be artifacts,” says Fancey. “It’s been a huge mix of items, things from the 1950s right back to items dated in the 1800s. In a house of this age you expect to find some things, but we have only taken on a very small renovation and have found a lot already.”
They did not expect to find the papers in such good condition. Many of which are cards and letters written by assumed former residents, the Hockins.
To learn more, self-proclaimed history nerd Fancey, who was once pursuing a degree in the subject, turned to Google to do some research.
“I’ve read scholarly papers, researched the Hockin family online and connected with very distant family members in the States, which has been amazing,” she says.
Fancy also plans on connecting with the Museum Society in Berwick, and reading some history books about the area, that is, once she has more time. Moving this month with three kids, completing a renovation and now all of this has been busy to say the least, she says.
The letters, dated between 1905 and 1907, are postmarked in Bridgewater. Already, Fancy has learned that Rev. Arthur Hockin, author of some of the letters, was born in 1851 in Cornwall, England. He immigrated to Canada between 1855-1877 when he married Annie Boehner. He was a Methodist minister who founded many of the Methodist churches around Nova Scotia. He passed away in Berwick in 1932.
His wife Annie was born in 1852 and together they had seven children. She passed away in 1929 in Berwick. From what she can find, the family would have moved to Berwick around 1917 as Arthur was the minister for Cornwallis West at that time, she says.
To chronicle her finds, Fancey has turned to Facebook where she has been sharing pictures of the artifacts, along with the historical information she has unearthed, with an audience she hopes will appreciate it as much as she does. The reaction has been outstanding, with lots of likes, shares and comments. Fancey still hopes to be able to use it as a way of getting concreted leads on family members with whom she can share the information.
When asked what her favourite find has been, Fancey says it’s a question often debating in their household.
Fancey’s personal favourite is a letter written by Rev Arthur Hockin to his wife in 1907, mainly because it has such typical husband-wife banter. Boylan’s favourite, however, is an ink bottle that still has the cork in it.
With further renovations, and more time spent in the house, it is exciting to think about what will be unearthed next.
For now, Fancey says they have a display case in their home where they are planning on keeping the artifacts.
“We have lots more history to uncover, I’m sure of it … it’s fascinating to think that 140 years later these things are still here!”