Acadian Roots: Images of the St. John Valley

ACADIAN ROOTS: Images of the St. John Valley blends the beauty of farms, forests, and communities of the Upper St. John River Valley with a unique genealogical perspective of its history and heritage. A series of photographs by Paul Cyr is introduced by a short story documenting the seventeenth-century arrival and achievements of his Acadian ancestors in the New World. It follows the Sire's epic survival of the 1755 expulsion of Acadians from Nova Scotia to their settlement in the Madawaska Territory three decades later. Paul’s photographs provide a stunning virtual tour of the Valley, through twenty-seven towns on both sides of the St. John River. From aerial views of Main Streets, to farming and forestry scenes, to nature and wildlife, cultural landmarks and more, Paul distinctly captures the beauty of the Valley throughout all four seasons. ACADIAN ROOTS also contains short cultural essays and anecdotes of the Valley by Lise Pelletier, director of the Acadian Archives acadiennes at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Lise's cultural inserts, along with traditional Acadian recipes, and other treasures are woven throughout the messages of over 90 sponsors. Our goal is to help readers enjoy a glimpse of life in the Valley as it is today, and provide a keepsake for years to come.