Table of Contents

Preface

Illustrations

Introduction

Prologue: Lunenburg and “Crouse town Mills,” 1753-1844

Chapter I: Young Man on the Rise

Chapter II: John Will Crouse’s Village, 1871-1884

Chapter III: The Family and Its World, 1880-1900

Chapter IV: John Will Crouse’s Autumn-time, 1898-1914

Chapter V: Descendants-the Eikle Family and Harold, 1909-1943

Chapter VI: A Family's End, 1943-1977

Epilogue: Crousetown, 2007

Appendices

Note on Sources

Chapter Notes

Acknowledgements

Illustration Credits

Index

Promotional Information

"Until now, there has been a dearth of studies of nineteenth-century rural Nova Scotian communities and none of Atlantic Canadian male diarists and correspondence. Testimonies and Secrets fills these gaps by providing a valuable and interesting blend of scholarly family history and an academic community study. It will appeal to social, economic, community, rural, Maritime, and LGBT historians - and, with its approachable writing style, to those with a general interest in Nova Scotia and Lunenberg County history." -- Daniel C. Goodwin, Department of History, Crandall University

About the Author

Robert M. Mennel is emeritus professor of History at the University of New Hampshire.

Reviews

‘Testimonies and secrets. Plenty of both in this valuable and rare snapshot of life in rural Nova Scotia. An important contribution to the field of “life writing”, accessible to general readers and local history buffs.’ - Gerald Hallowell (Canadian Historical Review, vol 95:02:2014) ‘Mennel successfully turned the treasure trove of the Crouse/Eikle family papers into an exploration of past lives that is highly compelling.’ - Christine Moreland (Active History February 2015)