WHO WERE THE ROBERTSONS?

The Robertsons were a very prominent family in the 1800s, with several generations serving as MPs and MLAs. In fact, at one time, Barrington Passage was known as Robertson Town.

The Robertson family were instrumental in starting the Barrington and Cape Island Steam Ferry Company in 1889, providing safe passage from the mainland to Cape Sable Island, and in bringing railway service to the area with the formation of the Coast Railway Company. They also established the Cape Sable Advertiser newspaper, although it only lasted three years.

According to a plaque in the building, the Robertson building was built on the site of the first blacksmith shop established in Barrington Passage. It was built as a bank building and was officially opened for business on Feb. 11, 1909.

William Robertson, a member of the influential Robertson family of the village, became a director of the bank on April 23, 1890, vicepresident on March 14, 1894 and president on March 12, 1898. He was instrumental in having the bank establish an agency or a branch in Barrington Passage in 1896, which led to the eventual building of the Robertson building.

The Robertson House, also known as the Herbert R. Banks House, also still stands in Barrington Passage. Read more about that history on our website www.thecoastguard.ca.