Purcell Family Archives

Written by Carole-Anne Mosher - History Committee Chair, 2021

My first introduction to Mr. John Newton was when he reached out to our website of the KCA when I asked if anyone had pictures of the fish stores on Kingsburg Beach to share with our history committee. I was given the email he sent and responded to him directly.

I was told by Mr. Newton that he was the son-in-law of my good friends, the world renowned artists from the Lunenburg area, Joseph and Tela Purcell.  Many many years ago when I walked the Kingsburg Beach on a regular basis, I would see the Purcells drawing or taking pictures and always stopped to chat with them. They knew our family as we belonged to the same church in Lunenburg of St. Norbert’s where we were all regular Sunday participants. I have very fond memories of Tela’s artistic talents, for on special occasions she would decorate our church for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas etc.

A Purcell family storefront on Lincoln Street in Lunenburg still exists today.

I continued reaching out to John Newton and he provided me with the Purcell Family collection of early Kingsburg vintage pictures of which we are forever grateful for permission to use on our website.