The Lady in the Lighthouse is a one-woman show of storytelling and singing written and performed by Cindy Campbell-Stone.
Who is Catherine Gallagher?
In a lighthouse at the edge of a cliff at Chebucto Head, lived a woman, Catherine Gallagher. A former teacher, she was ready to settle down and raise a family when a house fire, an explosion and two world wars turned her life upside down. Catherine, also known as Mrs. Edward Gallagher, was one of the main informants for folklorist, Dr. Helen Creighton.
This show contains various stories from her life and seven of the forty songs that she sung for Helen.
Catherine Marion Scott Gallagher was born in 1887 and raised on a farm in Enfield,N.S. She was one of 9 children. Her father, Donald Scott, was a farmer and a railway man. It was mostly her mother, Sophia Horne Scott, that taught Catherine many songs, ballads and broadsides.
Catherine’s niece, Marion, once described Catherine as a lovely person and everyone thought she was “a real lady.” This is why the show is called “Lady in the Lighthouse.”
Cindy talks about her research:
I first heard Catherine Gallagher sing on the ‘Songs of the Sea’ CD produced by the Helen Creighton Folklore Society. Her sweet voice captivated me as she sang ‘The Broken Ring’ song aka
‘Seven Long Years’. When I decided to do a show about her, I discovered that she had a surviving son, Max, who was in his eighties. I interviewed Max several times and found him a delightful man who told me many stories about his mother and father and about living in a lighthouse. Sadly, Max passed away in September, 2024.
I also found stories in Catherine’s unpublished manuscript at the Nova Scotia Archives. I found more stories from Chris Mills who interviewed another son, Don Gallagher, 20 years ago. I spoke with Don’s wife, Elaine and Catherine’s niece, Marion.
I feel honoured to present Catherine’s life in story and in song as I greatly admire her perseverance and fortitude in life, and especially her singing.
What’s in this show?
Setting: July 1945, Chebucto Head Lighthouse
Song: I’m Going to Get Married (partial)
Catherine is Excited!
Song: Seven Long Years aka Broken Ring Song
Farm Life
Song: Well Sold the Cow
Newlyweds
Children and Teaching
Song: The Cobbler
Meeting Ed
Halifax Explosion
Song: Young Riley
Disruptions!
Song: Bonnie House O’Airlie
Changes!
Old Comrades
Song: Come All My Old Comrades (partial)
Farewell
Song: Lady in the Lighthouse by Cindy Campbell- Stone, (tune: Young Hunting by Catherine Gallagher)
Cindy Campbell-Stone as Catherine Gallagher, 2024
Catherine Gallagher singing for Helen Creighton who is recording her at Chebucto Head Lighthouse, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photo credit: Nova Scotia Archives.