Land of the giants

Today’s giants gather in Englishtown for reality TV

A powerful quartet of four of the world’s strongest men was in Cape Breton Island to learn about Giant Macaskill and to challenge the legend’s feats of accomplishment.

e family of Angus (Giant) Macaskill is hoping a new television reality show will help strengthen the storied gure’s legacy and attract more people to the small Cape Breton community he called home.

Earlier this week, a Los Angeles-based lm crew found its way to Englishtown, an historic shing village located 30 km east of Baddeck, known as both the home of the seven-foot-nine, 19th-century giant and as the site of the cable ferry that carries Cabot Trail tra c across St. Ann’s Bay.

“ is is good for us and good for Cape Breton tourism – we feel the Giant has kind of been forgotten over the years,” said Kennie Macaskill, a retired MLA and lifelong Englishtown resident who also speaks Gaelic and happens to be a grandnephew of his oversized ancestor.

e production team was accompanied by four of the world’s strongest men, who, as the heavyweight stars of the reality show, are travelling around North America learning about and trying to equal or exceed the great physical displays of strength performed by famous predecessors like Giant Macaskill, who is known as the tallest non-pathological giant in recorded history.

“We have to keep his memory alive – years ago it seemed that everybody knew who he was, but now he’s become somewhat forgotten ...”

The arrival of the film crew led to an impromptu family gathering at the Giant Macaskill Museum that is located on the Giant’s former property on a hillside overlooking the expansive St. Ann’s harbour.

And where there is a gathering in Cape Breton, there tends to be storytelling.

e visitors, especially those from away who were not as familiar with the Giant, were privileged to hear Kennie share some of the stories, that he claims may or may not be true, about his famous relative who died at the age of 38 in 1863.

“It’s said that a big American sea captain challenged the Giant to a ght after seeing how big he was. Well, the Giant was a gentle soul and had no desire to hurt anybody, so he tried to decline. But the American would have none of that, so the Giant shook his hand and squeezed it so hard that they say blood began to spurt out of the ends of the American’s ngers – he backed down pretty quick after that,” he said with a chuckle.

e museum, which is only open in July and August, although it can also be accessed by appointment this month, houses Angus’s bed, clothing, personal e ects and other interesting artifacts, including a lifesized statue of the Giant and a replica of the anchor he used to lift during his public displays of strength.

It was those legendary feats, including anchor-lifting and water barrel-carrying, that caught the attention of Hollywood producers Rob Worso and Brian Wendel who, through their underpants Entertainment company, are lming several segments of their strongman series for e History Channel, in hopes the popular network picks up the pilot that may be called “ e Strongest Man in History.”

e rst competition featured the challengers lifting water- lled barrels and then carrying them up a hill just as Giant Macaskill is alleged to have done during his time operating a store on the nearby shore.

So, did they accomplish the feat of transporting the heavy barrels, weighing close to 300-pounds, up the hill? While this scribe knows the answer, the producers asked Saltwire Network to keep the results quiet as they hope the episode will soon air on e History Channel.

While in the area, the strongmen also took on the tasks of lifting a dory half- lled with water and lifting an anchor similar to what the Giant is said to have picked up. At one point, they were also each o ered a 20-pound hip of beef that was slow-cooked over a re.

Although the producers are unsure if e History Channel will pick up the pilot, the publicity arising from the shoot is welcomed by the Macaskill family that oversees the Englishtown museum.

“Giant Macaskill is a Cape Breton legend and we feel it’s important that his legacy and memory be kept alive,” said Kennie.

Angus (Giant) Macaskill, who moved to Cape Breton at the age of six from his native Scotland, is buried in the Auld Cemetery in Englishtown, just across the road from the cable ferry.