Jay Underwood, a former Guardian staff member and a graduate from Holland College's Journalism program, was on hand in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia recently to sign copies of his latest book, Built for War: Canada's Intercolonial Railway.
Built for War is a military history of the building of the railway line. Conventional history suggests that the railway was something "given" to the Maritime Provinces as a condition of Confederation to improve the region's economy. Instead, Underwood argues that the railway was a military necessity for defending central Canada from any invasion by the United States during the winter months.
"Anyone who's travelled on the transcontinental railway between Halifax and Montreal might wonder why the original route of the Intercolonial Railway took such a round-about course through northern New Brunswick," Underwood said in a recent interview.
"The answer lies in the fear nineteenth century Canadian and British politicians had that the Americans might attempt to seize control of British North America in a winter attack."
Built for War is published by Railfare/DC Books of Toronto, a partnership between Railfare Enterprises, Canada's leading publisher of railway-related titles, and DC Books, a leader in the new technology of on-demand publishing. Built for War is available through retail outlets, including Chapters/Indigo and Barnes & Noble.
Underwood graduated from the Journalism Program at Holland College in 1979. Following graduation, he worked as a night shift proofreader for the Guardian-Patriot newspaper in Charlottetown, leaving to join the staff of his hometown paper, the New Glasgow Evening News. He was subsequently city editor of the Truro, Nova Scotia, Daily News, and served for several years as the information officer for 1st battalion, the Nova Scotia Highlanders (North) Canada's largest militia infantry battalion.
After serving briefly as city editor at the Timmins, Ontario Daily Press in the early 80s, Jay returned to Nova Scotia where he worked as editor and publisher of the Springhill-Parrsboro Record and the Enfield Weekly Press. He received several awards during his time with both papers. He then joined the Halifax Daily News as senior copy editor and a member of the editorial board.
Forced to leave his position at the Halifax Daily News in 1992 due to health problems, Underwood has spent the past 13 years researching railway history. His first book, Ketchum's Folly (Lancelot Press 1995), a history of the fabled Chignecto Ship Railway in Cumberland County was a regional best seller.
He followed that with Full Steam Ahead (Lancelot Press, 1996), a biography of Nova Scotia born Alexander Mitchell, the designer of the 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam locomotive that went on to become one of the leading designs of the steam era.
Underwood is currently president of the Nova Scotia Railway Heritage Society, and is a contributor to Canadian Rails, the journal of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association. His article Fruit of a Poisoned Tree, an examination of the adoption of standard gauge on Canadian railways, won the association's award for best article in 2002.
For more information about this release, please contact: Sara Underwood, Media and Communications Officer Tel: 902-566-9695
Date: Tuesday, November 08, 2005
