Visit Canada - Windsor Nova Scotia
Home of Thomas Chandler Haliburton and Sam Slick
This geographical accident is possibly the only thing that might mark Windsor out from the many other pleasant villages and towns in this part of Canada. However, a character was ‘born’ in Windsor whose witty comments are known all over the English-speaking world.
Windsor, Nova Scotia - Yankee Trader Sam Slick
His name was Sam Slick and he was created by Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton in his book 'The Clock Maker'. Haliburton was a Canadian judge and writer in the mid nineteenth-century and from his pen sprang a wily Yankee peddler who travelled all over Nova Scotia selling clocks and dispensing wisdom to whoever would listen.
Nova Scotia - First Written History of Nova Scotia
Through his writing, Haliburton succeeded in drawing the attention of the people and the government to the needs of the town and province, as he saw them. Haliburton also wrote the first History of Nova Scotia in 1829 when he was 33 years of age.
Expressions still much used today sprang from Sam’s lips. Judge Haliburton used satire to comment on the social and political concerns of the day and Sam’s mocking wit was often directed at the British who ruled the Colony at the time.
Nova Scotia - Slick Sayings from Nova Scotia
Maxims such as "It's Raining Cats and Dogs", "The Early Bird Gets the Worm", "Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels", "A Stitch in Time Saves Nine" and "Quick as a Wink" sprinkled the columns of the Judge’s regular contributions to the ‘Nova Scotian’ newspaper.
In all, he wrote thirty-three sketches which were published as a book in 1836. Called ‘The Clockmaker,’ it became Canada’s first international bestseller and popular not only in Nova Scotia but also in the United States and Britain. It is still in print today and it established Judge Haliburton as one of the founders of North American humour. In 1840-42 The Clockmaker was translated into German.
Windsor, Nova Scotia - Explore Windsor Today
Judge Haliburton moved to England in 1856. He auctioned off his belongings and the house is now a museum. Successive owners changed various aspects to suit their tastes but the Judge’s fine mahogany desk is still there and the house is worth a visit. It is set in a forty acre estate with walking trails winding between tall trees and an old apple orchard.
At one time Windsor was the only British stronghold in a centre of French power and Nova Scotia is proud of its sarcastic, cheeky Yankee who was outspoken out about the mores of the day. Judge Haliburton does not rate a special celebration to himself but his creation, Sam Slick, does and every year the first weekend in August is Sam Slick day with a big parade, fireworks, street dancing and all the fun of the fair.
Pocket History of Atlantic Canada
Windsor - Nova Scotia - Haliburton House
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