Exploring local history

My search for more about the history of McNutt's Island took me to The Shelburne County Archives and Genealogical Society. It's above the fire station and the offices of the Shelburne Town Hall, on Water Street.Inside is a large and comfortable space, with plenty of room to work. During the summer the archive is open all week, but after that it's only open on Wednesdays.
It is a repository of primary and secondary sources. It would take many Wednesdays to become familiar with all that is here.

The SCA & GS has published a veritable library of excellent local history resources, which can be ordered through its online bookstore. Most recent publications include the transcription of Captain William Booth's Remarks and Rough Memorandums, a fascinating, often snarky, diary of life in the tumultuous days of Shelburne's beginnings; and Founders of Shelburne, an impressive summary of what's known about more than two hundred early Shelburnians who remained here after the Loyalist tsunami receded.
Kim Robertson Walker is the genealogical society's archivist, and encourager in chief. One Wednesday when Kim was in Halifax I was helped by two knowledgable and dedicated volunteers, Wally Buchanan and Laura Nicoll. On another Wednesday Kim took phone calls from people all over Canada and the U.S. who were seeking information about their ancestors.

As Wally explained to me, when ten thousand people pass through a place in a brief time, it means that two centuries later there are lots of far-flung descendants curious about that chapter in their ancestors' lives.