Backyard History

The controversial American poet Allen Ginsberg arrives in New Brunswick for the only Canadian date on his legendary sold out 1967 tour reading his historic epic poem: Howl. The reaction to his Easter reading of that poem in a Saint John church was, shall we say ... mixed!   backyardhistory.ca

The true story of a Moncton innkeeper's mysterious disappearance, unsolved murder, and miscarriage of justice. This special episode, featuring 13 voice actresses and actors voicing historical quotes to bring the story alive, digs deep into the archives to piece together what really happened to Timothy McCarthy and who almost certainly murdered him.   This story appears in the book ' Backyard Histo...

A quiet Cape Breton day is broken by a plane crash, which soon attracts the attention of the entire world. The second part of a two-part series on famous, pioneering aviator Beryl Markham's historic transatlantic flight that ended up in a Cape Breton bog.   This is the cover story of the third Backyard History book, 'Rebellious Women In The Maritimes.' Find it at backyardhistory.ca/books

The incredible story of Beryl Markham's legendary Atlantic crossing, an implausible story involving everything from royal affairs to Kenyan lions, which unceremoniously ended up in a Cape Breton bog.    Part one of two!   This is the cover story of the book 'Backyard History: Rebellious Women in the Maritimes,' available at backyardhistory.ca/books

A gold watch was given to Captain Milne as a reward for his clever ruse that turned the tables on the men who captured his ship...

Declared dead in the Second World War, Atlantic Canadian pilot Allan Spear escaped captivity, survived behind enemy lines, and returned home for an unexpected Christmas reunion.   Buy the books at backyardhistory.ca/books

The story of Fredericton's very friendly ghost!

A Maritimes movie is suppressed by Hollywood as it tries to kill off the Canadian film industry ... featuring a surprising appearance by a young Joey Smallwood!   This story appears in the new book 'Backyard History: Mysterious Stories From Atlantic Canada's Past' which is available at backyardhistory.ca

Canada and the U.S. went to war — but St. Stephen and Calais wouldn’t play along.

Little Pictou Island, Nova Scotia, gets its first ever play in the most unusual of circumstances ... after a winter ferry from PEI gets stuck in the ice and drifts over to the island!   Get the Backyard History books at backyardhistory.ca

A special LIVE podcast of "Only Men May Vote!" starring special guests Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers, Green Party Leader and MLA David Coon, Poet Laureate Fawn Parker, Minister of Opportunities New Brunswick Luke Randall and City Councillor Cassandra LeBlanc!   Recorded in front of a crowd of a hundred people at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre in Fredericton on March 7th, 2025.

A mysterious Englishman sailed to New Brunswick in the 1850s. His name and his fate are unknown. All that remains of him is his diary, which recounts an incredible adventure.   Buy the Backyard History books at backyardhistory.ca

A long-lost interview in the forest sheds light on the man behind the Maritimes most famous so-called ghost...   Buy the three Backyard History books at backyardhistory.ca/books

A young girl keeps a secret diary to solve a mystery as she is growing up on an island where new immigrants to Canada are quarantined.   backyardhistory.ca

A dark murder mystery on Christmas in the old garrison city of Halifax changed the Maritimes.

100 years ago, a tragedy led to two crosses being painted on Sugarloaf in Campbellton. This is the story of what happened.

A Victorian aristocrat moves to PEI and encounters a ghost in her new house: the biggest mansion on the Island called Binstead Manor. She decided to investigate the haunting herself...   This story appears in the new book 'Backyard History: Rebellious Women In The Maritimes'! Order your copy at backyardhistory.ca

Causing riots wherever he went, this Maritimer became a leader in the KKK, making a fortune spreading hate and division all over the United States! (He wasn't as popular in the Maritimes, where locals tried to throw him off a cliff!)   Buy the book 'Backyard History: Forgotten Stories From Atlantic Canada's Past' at backyardhistory.ca

When alcohol was banned in Nova Scotia during Prohibition, reluctant liquor control inspector Clifford Rose encountered a charismatic woman leading a gang selling illegal booze. Her name was Amy Mason but everyone knew her as "The Queen of the Bootleggers."

A small-town boy from the Maritimes becomes obscenely wealthy and ridiculously famous in America for dentist circuses...   This story appears in the brand new SECOND Backyard History book! Order a signed copy at backyardhistory.ca/book

A trip to the Yukon Gold Rush leads to a series of completely unexpected twists, with a young Maritimer becoming the Speaker of Parliament ... and ending up sent to a lunatic asylum!

Detective William Carr (who appeared in the Joe Walnut episodes) goes for a relaxing trip into the forest to learn to hunt and fish, but ends up being hunted by rogue trappers...   Order the Backyard History book at backyardhistory.ca/books

When a Wolastoqiyik man wasn’t allowed on a stagecoach, he vowed to race it to its destination, and won!   Buy the book: backyardhistory.ca/book

The dramatic grand finale of the rum running boat The Liberty in part three of the Liberty On The Rocks trilogy.   Order a signed copy of the Backyard History book at backyardhistory.ca/book