We would like to welcome Danny Hennigar to The Oak Island Compendium. Danny is a long time Oak Island researcher. He has written many articles about Oak Island for magazines and newspapers, participated in on-air interviews and conducted presentations in both Canada and the US. He was an executive member of the Oak Island Tourism Society and currently is the curator of the ‘Explore Oak Island Display’ in Chester, Nova Scotia. Without further ado, here’s Danny:
1. We understand that your grandfather worked for Gilbert Hedden in the 1930’s on Oak Island. Tell us about the work he did and what did he tell you about the island?
A: His name was Wilfred “Billy” Lohnes, and he was a hard rock miner in gold mines around Hebb’s Cross and in Chester Basin. During a gold mining lull in the late 1930s he worked for Gilbert Heddon helping to drive shafts and tunnels. His specialty was drilling and during some miner’s games/contest in Hebb’s Cross, he won an award for being a fast driller. Unfortunately, I never met the man, he died before I was born.
2. You were a long-term tour guide on Oak Island, please tell us about that experience and what that was like for you? How much did you know about Oak Island before you started?
A. Being an Oak Island guide was the best job I ever had, with the worse pay. I started in 1973 while still in high school and ended in 1975 when I had to find full-time work. I worked for the Provincial Department of Tourism back then, led by a great supervisor and a team of fellow guides, some of whom I still have personal relationships with today. When I started in 1973, I knew very little about Oak Island but as the years flew by, I caught the research bug and my knowledge level exploded. I did tours once again from 2005 – 2009 for the Oak Island Tourism Society. I met some of the nicest and some of the most quirky people over the years and enjoyed them all, some more than others. Being a tour guide taught me patience, gave me knowledge, gave me confidence and I learned the dreaded art of public speaking.
3. Tell us about the old "Explore Oak Island Days" festival, what was that like and do you miss it?
A: I miss Explore Oak Island Days a lot. It was a heady experience and an enormous amount of planning and work. We had the cooperation of Dan Blankenship, David Tobias, The Oak Island Resort, the Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, and the Chester Municipality. Interest was high and all tours were full. Personally, I also had the cooperation and valuable assistance of my wife Yvonne who stood shoulder to shoulder with me with the planning, Society, and tours. Over the years, the public enjoyed tours of course, pirate games and costuming, a really odd book was written, sea shanties, excellent top shelf guest speakers, a dinner theater, music, Geo Cache event, a moderated debate between skeptics and believers, and a ton of fellowship, some of which remains to this very day.
4. Tell us about your “Explore Oak Island Display”, at the Chester train station. Erwin Hamilton’s tea pot is there, how did you acquire it? What do you think of his theory of French involvement with Oak Island?
A: When the Oak Island Tourism Society folded in 2009, we had collected lot of OI memorabilia, artifacts, photos, stories, and a nice nest egg of money. As our Society was registered with federal charities directorate, the law dictated we donate our collection to a “like minded” group, so, the Chester Municipal Heritage Society got the nod. I approached CMHS, explained the details and they accepted my pitch to create an Oak Island Display at the Train Station at 20 Smith Road. I hired local artists and trades people with the OITS money and built what we feel is a very informative and well accepted Display. Hamilton’s tea pot was given to me by treasure hunter Dan Henskee. Dan and I were friends when I worked on the Island back in the 70s, he recognized the importance of maintaining this history. Come and visit and I’ll show you more that Dan donated, truly some interesting items. The French first settled Nova Scotia in 1605 and they had a very strong presence. Old timers from the Village of Chester inform me “French fisherman” were here and established before the settling of Chester in 1759. So, Hamilton had some real history to consider. I think all theories are worth consideration and study, even the outlandish ones.
5. Tell us about some of the other work you have done. We understand that you were a former Federal Fisheries Officer. What was that experience like and was there anything interesting you noticed? Did you do work in Mahone Bay?
A: Yes, I was a Federal Fisheries Officer stationed out of Lunenburg patrolling both offshore and inshore fisheries, but also worked a lot out of Chester and inland enforcement on the rivers, brooks, and lakes. I served as a police officer in The Town of Mahone Bay and ended my career as a Fisheries Inspector. Those experiences molded and shaped me into a man who appreciates facts, history, fish quality, adherence to rules and a good story. I can tell you; I’ve heard a LOT of stories over the years. It was a very enriching career.
6. Who was John Chataway, and what do you think he would say about Oak Island today?
A: I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the late John Chataway. John was our Member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly (MLA). He was the initial driving force behind the creation of the Oak Island Tourism Society and a mentor of mine. I think if John could see what has become of OI, he would be very impressed. Lots of jobs, high international profile for our municipality and some of the OITS wishes and desire he crafted as a mandate have come to pass.
7. It’s been reported that you were terrified that the Oak Island lot owners would sell their lots to a real estate developer some time ago. Tell us about that situation and how close do you believe this came to happening?
A: This is a fear I have, rational or irrational. It almost happened before the Lagina brothers and partners arrived on scene when OI was almost sold as just another Island in the Bay when Blankenship and Tobias were at odds with each other and they had to liquidate the assets of the company, the only asset they had was, Oak Island. Concern was great back in those days over a real estate venture and high-end homes. I’d like to believe that will never happen to Oak Island with the current ownership, but life is full of curve balls, and it is after all, private land, no guarantees, no public ownership. If it does happen, I’ll be the first guy to throw myself before the bulldozer.
8. We learned that you co-wrote a book called ‘The Oak Island Code. An Almost True Story’. Please tell us about the book and please provide some information on where it can be purchased.
A: Sure did, and I got to co-write it with famous Oak Island author and gadfly D’Arcy O’Connor, a man I can call friend. It started off on an Oak Island forum owned and operated by another buddy of mine, Jo Atherton from England. It started off as playful bantering back and forth between me and D’Arcy, good natured teasing. Someone suggested we should continue to write and create a book, a book like no other ever written about the famous Island. So, as a fund raiser for the Oak Island Tourism Society, we crafted a book using characters associated with Jo’s forum, real treasure hunters and so much more. The book is no longer in print, and they are quite rare. It is 100% comical fiction…. Or is it?
9. Several years ago, you asked residents of Colchester County to search their
scrapbooks, historical files, photos, and other memorabilia for any long-lost information on Oak Island. Did anyone come forward? There was mention of an Italian documentary crew coming to the area at that time. Did that transpire and is that documentary available for viewing?
A: Yes, some ancestors of the original families who treasure hunted at Oak Island in the early years came forward. Back in those days, community newspapers picked up stories of upcoming events and people in the Truro area read of my impending Oak Island Presentation (I do a lot of these still) and came forward to hear the story at the historical society in Truro. Much of that information ended up in the Provincial Archives in Halifax and some of it was anecdotal stories I did not write down. However, years later, researchers from the Curse of OI did look up some of these people.
That Italian documentary is a bit of a thorn in my paw. I participated in it in 2009, was promised a copy (standard practice) but never did get one. I tried on many occasions but never saw it. Such is life, but forewarned is forearmed for the next one. It remains the only documentary I was involved with that I got skunked.
10. Can you tell us the story about a man from Florida contacting you about knowing a McGinnis in the Armed Forces and involved with Oak Island?
A: Yes, it was a convoluted story rife with men in black, spies, CIA, and conspiracies and an oft repeated story of the “three boys” finding a treasure in 1795 and splitting it amongst themselves. I followed up on the story and made personal contact with relatives who parroted the story, but I never felt it was all that credible, bear in mind, mine is but one man’s opinion. Great story though.
11. Can you tell us about your experience working for a crew led by George Young some years ago and discovering a chamber on the mainland?
A: George Young was the engineer who oversaw a brand-new sewer installation/construction project for the community of Western Shore. When I left OI in 1975, that is where I got a job as a lateral installation labourer, fancy title for sewer guy. One day, while we were installing a pumping station and associated works, the bulldozer operator, Bubbles, hooked a previously unknown gaping hole with the ripper or claw attached to the back of his dozer. We all stood around looking at the large hole or chamber wondering what we had found. It appeared to be rounded at the top and very dark and murky. In a moment of carelessness, I offered to go home and get my scuba gear and dive into the hole to see what it was, George wisely declined the offer. Dan Blankenship was called in for a look and if I recall correctly, he declared it to be a “limestone sink hole.” I recall us using over a hundred tandem loads of class A stone to fill it in. This site is near the marina at the Oak Island Resort. George later wrote a book with this story in it.
12. How do you feel about Hollywood’s version of the Oak Island Story? Do you every cringe at some of the details?
A: I have a deep respect for what the producers and staff of the Curse of Oak Island have crafted. Of course, there are times when I “cringe” a bit they have exposed OI to the entire planet, something no one else could do. It is also a very detailed story with an amazing history interlaced with theories that go from the ridiculous to the sublime.
13. Tell us about your experiences when you were a member of The Oak Island Treasure Forum under the name of Tank? What was it like interacting with all the great researchers at that time?
A: What great days those were and I miss them a great deal, but, like many things, it ran its course. Because of it I met authors, researchers, kooks, legends, fans, theorists, professionals, and forged friendships that last to this very day, I am so much richer for it. Many of us chose a nickname so we could be anonymous but before long, everyone knew who everyone was. I used the word “fellowship” before but that is exactly what it was. My deepest respect goes out to Jo Atherton who set it up and administered it, not an easy job. “Tank,” was a nickname I was given when I was a young teenager, and it stuck with me to this day. I even had schoolteachers who called me Tank. When I think of those who posted on Jo’s forum who are now gone before us, it breaks my heart they did not get to see what OI has morphed into. It wasn’t always sunshine and roses, but the good times far outweighed the bad.
14. We understand that you don’t believe that treasure was buried on Oak Island. What makes you come to that conclusion? Can you tell us your theory about what happened on the Island? Has that changed through the years?
A: When I conduct my public and private presentation, I often get asked that question, what do you believe? My standard answer is “I’m not convinced there is a treasure buried under OI, I’ve never seen any. But I am convinced someone was on and under OI long before popular European contact. For what reason? We simply don’t know…. yet.”
I have no pet theory. The problem with theories is, all of them are easily shot down. I can’t tell you how many times someone has declared, “I know the secret.” To date, no one has. I remain cautiously optimistic that someday, someone will come forth with an iron clad theory that results in a recovery. I’d be pleased to be proven wrong.
Even in the fifty years I have been associated with OI, it has changed significantly. Erosion, storms and climate change have given it a hard time and the new effort has changed its look a lot, but, under it all it is still mysterious Oak Island with a fabulous history.
The Oak Island Compendium would like to thank Danny for kindly answering our questions.
When in Chester please visit Danny’s exhibit, “Explore Oak Island Display”, at the Chester train station. There is no admission fee, but donations are kindly accepted. You can also view information on the exhibit at https://chester-municipal-heritage-society.ca/ Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed it. Look for another interview coming soon.
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