Neil Austen MacDonald

From Glengarryceltic

Neil Austen R. MacDonald spanned the by-ways of old Glengarry, his violin under his arm. I first knew “Neil Austen” as he was known when he came to visit my parental home near Bridge End when I was a child. Neil was known as an outstanding acrobat. I remember my father chatting with his pals, remarking how Neil left his footprints on a nine foot ceiling in the hotel at Dalhousie. My own admiration was for his violin, his music new to me.

At that time Neil lived on the fifth concession of Lancaster Township, but moved later to Glen Nevis where he operated a small store. His customers were the nearby neighbors and Maryvale Abbey High School students including myself. He didn’t get very fat on the enterprise.

Not a man to be easily discouraged, Neil decided that if the customers didn’t come to him he would go to them. So a traveling salesman he became, his route circling the county with his horse and buggy. The new entrepreneur packed his vehicle with cartons of non perishable items from Rawleighs, Watkins, and Rundles to taste spices like cinnamon and savoury, seasonings like vanilla and almond and medicated ointment and liniment. His line of goods went over well. Neil bought a car and went on and on like the Duracell battery rabbit.

The 1930s, 40s, and 50s, which he mostly traveled, were “slower times” and folks of that era were willing to stop their tasks for a visit with this well-dressed, polite and friendly fellow. Neil fit into the situation well. He soon had knowledge of all the families along the way and became a sort of "Glengarry News", keeping everyone up to date with goings-on and of course, his violin tunes.

Many an evening he helped to “wile the hours away” before TV arrived to fill the evening with his popular violin. He was the only salesman that I ever heard of who was invited to stay for dinner and supper or perhaps even the night! After all, traveling home on cold winter nights was sometimes too challenging.

Although happy with his success as a salesman, Neil’s heart was forever with his violin. He played at concerts, social gatherings and weddings all over the county, but was happiest at the good old house parties where he would team up with another fiddler or violinist. He tried hard to encourage the young folk to keep up the old traditions and treasure them.

In the early fifties, Father John MacPhail organized a band of violinists in the area (about thirty I would guess) and they played at concerts in the Alexander Hall. Neil was in his glory playing in the group. Katherine McDonell of Glen Nevis commented “he was a humble man. In his later days at Glen Nevis he would offer to do any little thing to help out at the parish social. He would sell tickets on the draw and quilt. He did his best”.

After a short illness Neil died on July 11th 1972. Mass of Christian Burial took place in St.Margaret of Scotland Parish, Glen Nevis and burial was in the parish cemetery.