The Essence of Bob Chaulk
Energetic ~ Curious ~ Moody
Obsessive ~ Self-confident ~ Articulate
Those who know me would agree with those words. But, as only I know, my overriding characteristic is the rate at which thoughts race through my brain. I never stop thinking. It often gets tiring—and I often become tiring!
Holding a porthole from Halifax Harbour
I met Bob while I was on a road trip as a photographer for my son, who was playing with a band, The Rowdy Men, in Halifax. I was also on a mission to see Natalie Corbett and complete her Profile for the Passion and Purpose book. I stayed with Natalie’s parents, John and Sue Corbett, our long-time friends and neighbours.
John Corbett, a serious history buff in general and an enthusiast of the SS Atlantic specifically, is passionate about all things Nova Scotia-related. It was not much of a surprise that he wanted to attend a local author’s book launch. I knew in advance he would be doing that. I knew that someone who would be publishing a book about the area had to be passionate about the subject matter. When I found out that the author, Bob Chaulk, a scuba diver, had written seven books in total, all history-related, I knew I had to meet him. I asked if John could arrange an introduction and see if Bob would consider being included as one of my subjects in the book.
We met Bob at the book launch for his seventh book, about the Halifax rail cut – called “Railroaded”. The next day, John took me on a private tour of the SS Atlantic Heritage Park and centre. John and several local people maintain the centre there and are passionate about preserving the history for all to learn. Bob had written extensively about the wreck and was considered the leading expert on the sinking.
Bob is holding four of his seven books.
I am more interested in photography than in the minutiae of any subject. Whether I like it or not, I am simply not built to take history that way. After a certain number of explanations from the guide, I tire and want to wander. To his credit, as painful as it was for him, John knew this in advance and did not share the minutiae of everything SS Atlantic at the visitor’s site.
The visit to Bob’s home two days after the book launch was incredible. I pride myself on being a student of history, but, as I have explained, my studies only go so deep into any subject. Not Bob. He was the polar opposite of me. He made over fifty deep-water dives at the wreck of the SS Atlantic. Numerous artifacts in the centre were donated by Bob. I didn’t know what to expect, but given my concentration issues, I was still interested in seeing the collection of bottles and other artifacts that John spoke so highly of at Bob’s house.
Significant enough to be on the main floor shelf.
At his home, Bob told me he has been known to bar the exit to anyone who wants to leave early, until he was finished with his stories. I started to worry.
I was polite and followed him down the stairs to his basement. At first glance, it looked like most basements, somewhat finished, but it had a workshop feel. It wasn’t anything bad, but it gave me no advance notice of what was around the corner. I followed Bob around the corner, where a couple of shelving units held a serious number of bottles on display. I walked around that corner, and an entryway opened into a room that wasn’t much bigger than 12’ by 12’. The reader needs to keep in mind that I had been in Egypt two weeks earlier and had walked from room to room in temples and tombs where some of the world’s most famous artifacts and carvings were on display. It would take something special that day to impress me.
Highlighted by the window.
I am not equating the two, but my surprise at what I saw would suggest otherwise. I had just passed through an innocuous entryway to find one of the most serious bottle collections I have seen in a private collection. The bottles were displayed by period, style, colour, and type of glass. The pictures will do it more justice than my explanation. Needless to say, we stayed there quite a while, as I am sure Bob realized how gobsmacked I was, and how surprised and fascinated.
I learned about the different types of glass, how it looked when it was first removed from the seabed, and how painstakingly time-consuming the cleaning process was. He didn’t have to block the doorway; I didn’t need to escape. I could have stayed there much longer and listened to more stories from this dedicated historian.
Bob gifted me a bottle from a Halifax dairy, which is waiting for a short story to be written about it.
This was a passionate man about this and other subjects. This was one man I, for one, was grateful would answer my questions and be featured in my book. Meet Bob Chaulk.
What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
Around age 60, my wife convinced me to see a psychiatrist. Yep, I have ADHD, what most women think their husbands have. That explained a few things. He gave me a prescription that he said would change my life. But I thought my life was okay. The idea of being on meds until I died did not sit well with me. Neither did being diagnosed with a “disorder”; I felt I had a personality, not a disorder. I was a successful family man, happily married, with good kids, financially successful, and with lots of friends. I got along with customers, bosses and subordinates.
I tore up the prescription.
But I needed a few workarounds, the biggest being the recognition that I have to be challenged and stimulated, and always occupied, so busy that I often complain that I have too much on my plate and that I’m going to change and take life easy. But when I have nothing to do, I’m insufferable. So, I try to stay occupied.
At some time, you reached a fork in the road. At that time, it didn’t feel like it, but looking back, you realize it was a big moment. One that changed your life. Describe yours.
I spent my adult life in the business world, from sales rep to business owner. About halfway along that path, my partner and I sold our computer business and I was at a crossroads, looking for something different. I became a trainer, teaching people how to use software, an activity I greatly enjoyed and from which I got lots of positive feedback. That morphed into creating on-line courseware. That I really took to. With my technical background, my English and Journalism degrees, and my ability to communicate, it was a perfect fit. By the time I retired, I was in charge of several development teams doing work around the world.
That opened the door to what I really wanted to do—write a book, just one. I overshot, and as of now, I have seven published with three more written, something very gratifying that I never, ever expected would happen.
What “Gem” would you share with a younger version of yourself?
Don’t let your occupation define you. If you do, you will wither in retirement and your partner will be relieved to see you off when your time comes.
And, finally, there is an old adage: that what does not kill us makes us stronger. A bit overstated perhaps, but it contains a kernel of truth. Trials are part of our human existence. After much huffing and puffing when things didn’t go my way, I have concluded that, at least for me, if something is not difficult, neither is it interesting. It is through our challenges that we learn about ourselves and grow.
So, don’t let your fears limit you, and absolutely don’t give up.
You may be able to purchase Bob’s books online at more than one place, but here are some of the books I found listed on Amazon, available in different formats from other book sellers.
Atlantic’s Last Stop: Courage, Folly, and Lies in the White Star Line’s Worst Disaster Before the Titanic
SS Atlantic: The white Star Line’s First Disaster at Sea
Railroaded: The Untold History of Halifax’s Rail Cut
The Dangerous Harbour: Revealing the Unknown Ships and Wrecks of the Halifax Explosion
Time in a Bottle: Historic Halifax Harbour from the Bottom Up
The Race to the Bottom: How Scuba Diving in Nova Scotia Saved My Life
The Chain Locker