Hank Snow- Museum

Liverpool Nova Scotia

I have stopped at the Hank Snow Museum three times. It was closed all three of my visits. I stopped in back in 2012, I was taking a fitness course in Liverpool unfortunately It was off season and it was closed. My second time was in 2020 right after the COVID rules were relaxed. I stopped in the parking lot, took a few photos of the outside. I could see two young ladies inside through the window so I walked up the ramp. I tried the door and it was open so I walked in. I was immediately halted and scolded. “We are closed, it’s by appointment only.” I said “Oh forgive me, but, I’m right here, can I make an appointment for now?” I was told a definitive “NO.” it was COVID policy – times were weird, the province had just opened up and everyone was still scared. I backed out of the room and all I got was a picture of his statue and the outside of the museum.

The third time was not the charm. Last summer when I got there it was closed due to the Extreme Rain Event. So I have very little to tell you about what is inside the museum. I do know that Hank was born on May 9th, 1914 in Brooklyn, Queens County, Nova Scotia. He became a Grand Old Opry member in 1950, the same year he achieved his first number one hit song, I’m Moving On. He was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in Merritt British Columbia in 1979 and ten years later he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. He sold over 80 million albums, released 46 albums and 89 singles, 85 of which were Billboard hit songs, 24 of them were top ten hits, and 7 went to number 1. His career spanned six decades. His song Ninety Miles an Hour Down A Dead End Street was nominated for a Grammy Award. He died December 20th, 1999 on his ranch and is buried in Springhill Cemetery in Nashville.

Here are my points of life reference related to Hank Snow.

1. You all know I born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Just Like Anne Murray, from Springhill, Nova Scotia. Clarence Eugene ( Hank) Snow was born in a small community called Brooklyn, just a short distance from Liverpool, Nova Scotia.

2. My uncle Bill, my mom and one of my dad’s friends, Sid, all played guitars and sang Hank Snow songs while I was growing up. I’m pretty sure those lyrics about travel and having seen everywhere are partially responsible for my own need to wander. I too have been everywhere.

3. Before I became a Jockey, I was a thoroughbred exercise rider and I galloped a horse named Dan McGrew. Dangerous Dan McGrew was the title of one of Hank Snow’s songs. I didn’t put it together back then, but knowing I was a Bluenoser was probably the reason the trainer gave me that horse to exercise.

4. My dad once told me his brother Bob spent a night in jail with Hank Snow before Hank was famous. I don’t know why they were in jail, but I’m thinking it was the drunk tank. Dad told me Hank used to sell pencils on the side of the road, so it could have been vagrancy. I have found tidbits of information that Hank Snow did work as a lumberjack and labourer, drove a carriage hauling loads of cod or passengers and luggage, but nothing about being a salesman. As such I have to go with my what my father told me. I have proven him to be correct enough times. I can assure you my uncle Bob did drink and there was prohibition in Nova Scotia up till 1930. Hank’s first gig was his own radio show on Halifax FM radio station CHNS in 1933 so he still lived in the area and I consider it believable.

5. I saw the Elvis movie. Up till that moment, I had no idea Elvis Presley was an opening act for Hank Snow or that he introduced Elvis to that scoundrel of an agent, Colonel Tom Parker.

The Hank Snow Museum preservation community is looking for musicians for the Hank Snow Tribute Festival held annually. This year it takes place August 15th to the 18th, 2024. You can apply online if you think you got the chops to be on stage and preform his music. Application are due March 31st 2024. I would love to get tickets to this event – in the audience not as a performer.

If you want to visit the Hank Snow Museum or get tickets to the festival here are the details:

Hank Snow Home Town Museum;

148 Bristol Ave, Liverpool NS B0T1K0

info@hanksnow.com

Phone 1(902) 354-4675

Opening hours:

June to September Mon to Friday 10 am- 4:30 pm

Closed October to May or open by chance. ( As I found out)

Happy travels from Maritimemac.