Introduction . . .This community is situated north-east of Souris in
Lot 46. It is named for a rock offshore, now washed away, and for Barra in the Outer Hebrides. Tradition has that a first settler, a Mr. MacIsaac, exclaimed to others that "
you might as well be on the rock of Barra" in reference to the barrenness of the land. The school district was established ca. 1851. There was a post office here from 1879 until 1914.
A brief history . . .
Donald MacIsaac of Rock Barra advertised on June 11, 1833, his 15 3/4 hand high stallion, Wellington, to stand at stud for the season. Wellington was silver gray and four years old.
The feature film
Ballad of Jack and Rose, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener and Camilla Belle, and directed by Rebecca Miller was shot here in the summer of 2003. It was released on March 25, 2005.
Connections to our area . . .
A Hard Side Shore Waldron H. LeardFroth and white roar
on Rock Barra's shore
still the softer wand
leaves the blue in Big Pond.The run ebbs and flows
fresh meets salt in rows.
The cliffs seaward slide
with every changing tide. Rust and tan in the sand
contrasts with the greens of the land.
Clouds rock and roll along
defying one to create a song. Some are mere white and fluff,
others look black and rough,
offering the reminder of thunder's roar
on a large day at Rock Barra's shore. |  |
 - Waldron H. Leard, was born in Souris. He is a historian, freelance writer and storyteller. He resides in Kingsboro. |
Copyright
Waldron H. Leard
