Violet Marian (Currie) Fry (1902-1991), housewife, mother of four, and a survivor of the Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917, was born August 2, 1902 in Halifax, Nova Scotia to James McLean Currie (1869-1941) and Prudence (Sharpe) Currie (1875-1954). At the time of the Explosion, Violet was 15 years old, living with her parents and seven siblings at 90 North Kline Street where her father owned a dairy and delivered milk by horse and wagon. Violet survived the north end disaster as did her family, and their house became a shelter for many who were homeless. In April 1922 Violet married Wilfred A. “Mick” Fry (1901-1972), a machinist, and they had four children: Douglas, Wallace, Marion and Joyce. Violet died on April 23, 1991 in Halifax.

David Earle Lewis (1919-1975), short story author and teacher, was born November 15, 1919 in Melvern Square, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia to Earl Gordon Lewis (1893-1964) and Isabel Jean (Laing) Lewis (b.1891). David E. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1940 from Acadia University in Wolfville, NS. He worked in the Treasury Branch of the Department of National Defence (Navy) in St. John’s, Newfoundland (1943-1946) before returning to Acadia University to earn his Bachelor of Education in 1950. He received a teaching license for high school in 1951 and was hired by the newly constructed Bridgetown Regional High School in 1954. By 1957 he was living in Montreal, Quebec running his own bookstore, “David Lewis Books”. He returned to Bridgetown, NS and resumed teaching high school Latin and English in 1963, until retirement in 1972. He wrote regular columns for the Bridgetown Monitor newspaper, under titles “Here and There” (1967-1974) and “Bridgetown Scene,” had some short stories published in Maclean’s Magazine (1972), and published a book of humorous short stories titled “A Lover Needs a Guitar” (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1973). David E. Lewis died at home in Bridgetown on October 13, 1975 at age 56.

Jean Hazel (Nickerson) Crook (1920-2011) was born 14 August 1920 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She studied piano and organ at Maritime Academy of Music in Halifax from 1935 to 1941 and began teaching piano at age 16. She was a founding member of the Dartmouth Chapter of the NS Registered Music Teachers Association, was a member of staff at the Academy of Music 1943-1944, organist and choir director for St. Albans Anglican Church in Dartmouth, NS during the 1940s, then for Emmanuel Anglican Church from the 1970s until retirement. She married George W. Crook on 4 September 1948 and had 3 children. She continued to teach piano lessons in her home until the 1990s. She died 21 June 2011, in Dartmouth, NS.

Robert Allen Benjamin (1920-2014), professional photographer, was born 3 November 1920 in Brookfield, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada to Stairs Benjamin (1891-1936) and Helen Francis (Titus) Benjamin (1910-1950). Shortly after his birth, the family moved to 49 Lyle Street in Dartmouth, NS. He studied photography in New York City, then in 1940 opened a photographic business Industrial Commercial Portraits which became Benjamin Studio in 1947, located in the Bell Building in Dartmouth, NS. The business lasted until 1970. He died in Deland, Florida, United States on 25 July 2014.

Charles Balish was born 15 January 1896 in Beirut, Lebanon. He emigrated to Nova Scotia, settling in Lockeport and married Eva May Knickerson (born 11 November 1900 and died 11 November 1980) of Cape Sable Island. The Balishes ran a general store which may be seen on the 1938 Lockeport Lockout film. Mr. Balish documented events which were important to the growth of his family, his community and his province. Charles Balish died in February 1986.