The Story of Churchill Mansion Inn

High upon a hill, overlooking two lovely emerald green lakes, and the broad reaches of the Bay of Fundy, stands a stately old house. One could rightly call it a "Darling House" for it is located at Darling's Lake on the main highway route No.1 nine miles from the old seaport town of Yarmouth.

The place name "Darling's Lake" is derived from Colonel Michael Ashley Darling who in the latter part of 1700's was sent from Annapolis to Yarmouth to inspect the newly formed militia. When but a few miles from his destination he stopped to rest and gave water to his horse from a lake. The young colonel was so impressed with the beauty and peacefulness of the spot that he named it Darling's Lake.

Almost two centuries were to roll by before another discovered this lovely haven of peace and beauty - and rightly did this second person deserve this spot of tranquility. He was a hero, this man. Had he not at the tender age of sixteen, performed a deed that thrilled a Maritime Nation, brought him world-wide recognition, praise, a gift of money, etc., none of which he wanted, let alone thanks. He had, he said, merely performed an act that was expected of him. It was the code of the sea.

Before we enter the private family cemetery to visit the grave wherein lies the remains of our Nova Scotia hero, sealed in a bronze outer casket, let us journey into the past and have him live over again his remarkable performance at sea. Let us call his story the "Voyage of Indomitable Resolution," for that's certainly what it was.

The ship "Research," 1459 tons, was built on the shore of Yarmouth's waterfront in 1861 for Thomas Killiam. She was a fine ship and was the largest built and owned in Yarmouth at that time. On November 10, 1866, she was commanded by Captain George William Churchill of Yarmouth. Captain Churchill, when but a mere lad, has sailed with the famous Yankee skipper William Samuels, in the equally famous American packet ship "Dreadnought."

On this voyage with "The Research," he had with him his nephew, Aaron Flint Churchill who had just passed his sixteenth birthday, as 'The Ship Boy', the hero of this story. She sailed from Quebec, lumber-laden for the Scottish port of Greenock. After a stormy passage through the Straits of Belle Isle she ran into a vicious nor'-west gale and a heavy sea struck the rudder, parting the chains and breaking it just below the case. Here it was that the ingenuity of the Bluenose sailor of old came to the fore. Captain Churchill rigged a jury rudder but who would volunteer to go over the stern to place it? "I will," said young Aaron. Stripped nearly naked in freezing winter weather, a howling gale, with a ship at times almost on her beam-ends, and with rope about his waist, over the stern was lowered young Aaron. He managed to rig the jury rudder and was pulled to the deck half-frozen.

However, the gear soon parted and was lost. Captain Churchill, this time using a spare topmast with deals bolted to it made a steering ore which was placed over the stern with tackles to operate it. This did not work and still another jury rudder was made, and over the stern again went young Aaron. Again this was lost and still another was made. Eight times did Aaron go over the stern. With a determination shown by Nova Scotia skippers and their crews another was made and it worked. The weather moderated and the good ship "Research" was brought to the entrance of the Firth of Clyde after a passage of 88 days from Quebec.

In recognition of the determination and courage of the skipper, young Aaron and the crew, the famed House of Lloyds of London awarded vellum certificates to both the officers and crew. Captain Churchill received a good watch and chain, a solid silver saiver, and a substantial sum in ready money. The mate, young Aaron, received a silver chronometer watch with a suitable inscription and two thousand dollars in cash. This voyage was christened "The Voyage of Many Rudders," and Captain William Churchill became known as 'Rudder Churchill' for the several jury rudders he made that his heroic nephew went over the side to rig.

Aaron followed the sea for eight more years after his heroic feat, having at the age of 21 risen to the rank of Captain. However he was to become famous again, not in his native Nova Scotia, but in the United States. After quitting the sea, he at the age of twenty-four went to Savannah Georgia where he opened a stevedoring business which he operated most successfully and profitably for the next fourteen years. From there he moved to Brunswick, Georgia and established the Churchill Line of steamers which he shifted operations back to Savannah. It was while in Savannah that he invented (one of his many inventions) a cotton baling press that saved that vast industry many millions of dollars yearly.

He became one of the most prominent and widely known businessmen of the United States. He became a director of the Savannah Bank and Trust Company and owner of Churchill Compress Company, with headquarters in Memphis Tennessee. So widely known was he that he was invited to dine with the then President of the United States, The Honorable William Howard Taft.

Aaron was descended from a long line of Distinguished personages that included the late Sir Winston Churchill. His family history is one of intense interest that goes back to Roger de Courcil, of England who was the eldest son of Wandril de Leon Lord of Council in France. Roger de Courcil followed William the Conqueror to England in 1066. Aaron's forebears had a full share of the English craving for lands and the early Churchills in Yarmouth secured goodly estates.

Though Aaron reached to top of the ladder of success, he never forgot his native Nova Scotia. During the First Great War, he helped to the tune of several thousands of dollars towards the Canadian Patriotic Fund. At the dawn of this present century, he came back to Yarmouth and had built the beautiful home which over the years has been admired and talked about by many hundreds of people. Here at the spot he named the "Anchorage" or as one old time sailor called it "Snug Harbor," came each summer Aaron Churchill and wife to relax in this lovely haven of peace and quiet. After an illness of two years, he passed away at his residence 102 West Hall Street, Savannah on June 10, 1920. His remains were brought home and buried in the private family cemetery.

Written in 1920

Next... The story of Bob and the Churchill Mansion

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