BEULAH THOMAS BURMAN
April 1, 1915-September 4, 1997
“She wanted to do things right for the world”
Beulah Thomas was born in the small village of Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia on April 1, 1915. Her parents were Chesley Thomas and Ina Knowles Thomas. Her father was a fisherman and lobsterman, her mother, a schoolteacher and music teacher. Beulah had only one older sister, Louise. During the summers, the family lived on Seal Island where Chesley could be closer to his fishing grounds. As a youngster, Beulah attended school in Barrington Passage; after she graduated from high school, and while still a teenager, she moved to New Brunswick where she studied nursing at the Saint John General Hospital and obtained her RN degree.
Beulah moved to New York City to practice nursing and it was there she met and married Charles Burman. Charles was in the US Navy, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The couple lived a military life, moving from New York to France, Germany and Japan, which was their longest posting and where they remained for five years. We get a glimpse of Beulah’s adventurous spirit knowing that she climbed Mount Fuji in Japan! The couple moved back to the US in the 1950s and lived in Monterey, California, where they eventually divorced. They had no children.
Beulah returned to Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia, in the early sixties in order to care for her ailing mother who was now widowed. Her return trip must have been exciting as she drove her well-loved convertible all the way from California, making the trip with only with her cat for company and her little revolver inside her purse for safety!
Beulah then settled back into life in Nova Scotia, never working again as a nurse, but instead taking on a job at Wilson’s Hardware. Having also studied journalism, she enjoyed writing stories, mostly about local history and animals. She was a passionate reader and was instrumental in starting up the library in Barrington. She was very involved in local history and was a member of the Historical Society.
Beulah was a most interesting and progressive woman and certainly was unusually independent for her time. She lived her remaining years alone, never remarrying. Beulah’s life was full of contrasts. She adamantly refused to have in her house any modern appliances such as a washing machine, electric stove or television. On the other hand, the house was decorated and furnished with a crystal chandelier from France, a white carpet and a beautiful wooden writing desk from Germany. She seems to have made the most of her travels, learning much about the cultures in which she was immersed. For example, she learned to speak Japanese and Japanese floral arrangements could be seen in her house. She became an avid shopper at Frenchy’s, where she only bought clothes made from natural fibers such as wool, but she also had some beautiful silk kimonos from Japan! She ordered her special perfume from Monterey, California, put her hair up no matter what and loved to wear lipstick in pretty colours.
Beulah only ever owned one car, her beloved convertible. Once, after the car had been left unused for a while, mice had gotten into it and chewed the seats. Nothing but the original upholstery would do for Beulah’s car and she ordered custom-made replacements from the U.S.!
Beulah loved the outdoors and went on daily hikes. One of her relatives still has her walking stick on which Beulah carved notches to mark how far she had walked. She was quite self-sufficient and used to cut her own Christmas trees. Beulah loved Seal Island and returned to spend weeks at a time there every summer, even as she was getting older.
Beulah held strong opinions ”about everything!” She was almost a vegetarian and a pioneer recycler and environmentalist. She loved animals, but was “no bleeding heart”. She was compassionate and kind and believed that “animals get a bum rap”. Nevertheless, she was quite pragmatic and never had many animals at a time. When married to Charles, the couple had a little cocker spaniel. Later on, she had the cross-country traveling cat, and later still, she rescued a litter of kittens abandoned on a beach, only keeping one she named Mikka. Mikka is described as a “wild coon cat” who never was very well domesticated. After Beulah’s death, relatives looked after Mikka, and, apparently, this was quite a challenge!!!
Beulah died at home on September 4, 1997. She had been ill for a while, suffering from back pain. Ahead of her time in death as in life, her final wishes were for no funeral service. Her ashes are buried at her beloved Seal Island and a plaque bearing her name can be seen on the back of her parents’ gravestone at Forest Hill cemetery in Barrington.
Beulah Thomas Burman left most of her assets for the care of homeless and abandoned animals in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia. This is indeed a memorable legacy, and the Beulah Burman Memorial Animal Shelter Society is honoured to be the custodian of such a remarkable woman’s generous gift.
Approved by Beulah Thomas Burman’s cousin, Heather O’Connell