Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!
Introducing Squire, CountyCrier.com
by Kellie Underhill

An interesting character arrived on the Miramichi in April 2003. His name is Squire and he calls CountyCrier.com home.

This fellow, Squire has some unusual characteristics. He’s attracted to crowds and flocks anywhere people congregate like festivals, parties and shows. In particular, he’s known for greeting tourists at the Rodd-Miramichi Hotel.

Squire stands out from the rest of the crowd. He’s not much for modern fashion instead preferring to dress in garb from the past — all white ruffles beneath a bright red coat. His curly white mane shows he doesn’t pay much attention to current fads and style trends.

Children especially love Squire’s curious look and enjoy being around him. While secretly some believe he is a pirate, he is quick to tell them he is not in his oddly formal manner.

Rather, he is the Crier for the county.

Past and present collide in the character of Squire created by Dirk Stewart, proprietor of CountyCrier.com a unique new cultural business. Dirk, who is a singer/songwriter, historian, folklorist and storyteller, says he based Squire’s personality on a combination of historical and modern character traits.

"Squire’s memory is actually based on my RD RAM computer memory module and Internet search capabilities of finding the past within online archives," Dirk says. "Squire’s character is based on past tradition while being controlled and scribed by me with computer programs and the World Wide Web."

Squire attends formal or informal functions in colonial costume. He rings his Crier’s bell then reads announcements aloud from parchment that he carries in a scroll. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, bus tour greetings, dapper doorman or just for fun, Squire makes himself available at everything from trade shows to tourist attractions for a small fee. His regal appearance and historical knowledge provide a unique experience and formal voice for any occasion.

"The use of the costumed character to present documents, business cards and flyers during such an event has proved a wonderful way to approach networking," Dirk says.

"Having the services of a Crier for any function adds a piece of history and a formality that is enjoying a world-wide comeback," he adds. "World Town Crier Registry has grown in leaps and bounds since it’s inception in 1999. Several new Criers are added each month representing cities from around the globe. Squire is a member in this Registry and is actively seeking employment as an official Bellman and Crier."

The Squire character began to form in Dirk’s mind after his grandfather, George Perley Stewart, passed away.

"After the death of my grandfather, I received access to his quite impressive archives of local, provincial and federal documents along with many personal letters, first draft published stories, original Michael Whalen publication, photo’s and more," Dirk says.

"All correspondence from my grandfather was signed as ‘Esquire’ followed by ‘your obedient servant.’ I found this quite fascinating, so I did some study on Esquire. Thus creating Squire, the character. Initially not a crier just Squire a colonial based character to replace Sebastian, an Acadian character I am also working on. Squire and Sebastian are multicultural representations of myself."

Sebastian was Dirk’s pen name in the early 1970’s.

"He was a lost soul and wanderer, heartbroken after his expulsion from the land he loved, he lived a solitary and nomadic life, never to find his place within this new society and culture so foreign to him," Dirk remembers. "Sebastian is now semi-retired as a nom de plume but very much alive as a character. Acadian Roots are also in my blood as my Mother is Acadian and formally of Rosaireville her maiden name was Aucoin or Wedge."

Dirk’s grandfather left him many letters and documents from the intriguing life he led. GP or Perley as he was known to most, worked with the New Brunswick Forestry Preventative Service, as a New Brunswick Prohibition Officer, Customs Inspector, and RCMP Officer.

He served as Alderman twice voted in the Town of Chatham, and on the Board of Directors New Brunswick Protestant Orphanage in Saint John. He was a member of the Royal Orange Lodge, a Life Member and past President of the Royal Canadian Legion and Provincial Command, a Veteran of both World Wars, Notary Public and Commissioner of Oaths, and a prolific writer of words and public opinion.

He also did personal surveillance and worked as a Private Eye for many individuals.

"So, as you can see, I am in possession of some very important historical documents dating back to the turn of the century," Dirk says.

Reading stories of Prohibition in New Brunswick, murder cases his grandfather worked on and wrote about, and all types of notes taken as a police officer or from his private investigating increased Dirk’s thirst for knowledge about the stories from the past.

"I felt a need to find more local archived information to possibly add to the story," he says. "The Internet has provided me with the information for so many stories and access to historical photos. While employed at a local community computer access centre I used all of my spare free time to search and build my database of local history pages and archives."

The resulting cultural website, CountyCrier.com has been years in the making. In the beginning Dirk was a bit intimidated at the thought of using computers.

"Having no previous computer experience or training under my belt, put me in the rookie ranks of technology," he recalls. "In September 1999 I did not know any more about computers than, they were supposed to be able to do all I wanted to do."

He ordered his first computer.

"When all the boxes arrived I was like a kid in a candy store," he laughs. "My better half, spent the better half of a day setting up and configuring the new system. Another hour or so setting up my Internet connection and then said, ‘There you go, I’m going to bed’ and she did."

"I did not have one iota of what I was actually doing but I was in the Blue Nowhere zone of the WWW," he chuckles. "My first crash happened just about then and my first of many calls down the hall, ‘Honey, how do you get out of here, can you fix this?’"

Through trial, error and determination Dirk honed his computer skills and started working toward starting the business he had always wanted. In April 2003 County Crier began operation with the assistance of the Federal Self-Employment Benefit Program through Human Resources Development Canada and the New Brunswick Business Development Bank.

Since then, business has been positive and progressive. The Rodd Miramichi Hotel hired Squire as bus tour Bellman and Ambassador for the tourist season. Squire personally greeted over 600 visitors to the area. Many people posed for photos with the colonial character. But Dirk promises, more is on the way.

"For next season I plan to be twice as visible as 2003 and hopefully will be able to work much more within the Festivals and community events," he says.

He also plans to self-publish fiction and non-fiction books he’s writing and CDs filled with his original songs and music. These stories, songs and lore will be for sale on the CountyCrier.com website.

Dirk’s website also has space for sale for businesses wishing to advertise.

"By keeping my site very cultural and artistic in it’s content I am only seeking advertising that would be appropriate to that interest," he says

For more information about this business or to inquire about booking the Squire for your event contact the County Crier’s Office. Mention you read this article in Bread ‘n Molasses and receive a 10% discount on Squire’s services. The CountyCrier.com office is located at 58 Hill Street in Miramichi. Telephone (506)625-0046. Visit www.countycrier.com or email the Squire squire@countycrier.com