Showing posts with label Champney's West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Champney's West. Show all posts
Friday, February 2, 2018
Living Heritage Podcast Ep099 The Story of the Spar - The Wreck of the Hazel Pearl
Outside the Ella Freeman Heritage House in Champney’s West sits a curious artefact. Passersby might think it only an old piece of wood, but locals know it was the spar of the wrecked vessel Hazel Pearl. This spar was accidentally brought ashore by fisherman Wayne Freeman when it became tangled in his capelin seine several summers back. Documentary producer Rebecca Nolan presents a special episode which tells the full story of the Hazel Pearl - where the ship came from, and how it ended up at the bottom of Trinity Bay.
Rebecca Nolan graduated from Department of Folklore at Memorial University in May 2017. She has been doing radio for two years and has held radio internships with both NPR in the United States and CBC in St. John's. Photo of Li Xingpei measuring spar in Champney's West by Michael Philpott.
Monday, May 22, 2017
#CollectiveMemories Monday - Making and Reloading Shotgun Shells with Albert Hiscock
On July 13, 2016, as part of the Collective Memories project, I interviewed Albert Hiscock of Champney’s West. In this short interview Sarah describes growing up in Champney’s West, memories of the Hazel Pearl and Saladin shipwrecks, and gives an explanation of how to make and reload shotgun shells.
Listen to Albert's full interview here on the Memorial University’s Digital Archives.
And enjoy this short video of Albert demonstrating how to make and reload shotgun shells.
~Terra Barrett
Listen to Albert's full interview here on the Memorial University’s Digital Archives.
And enjoy this short video of Albert demonstrating how to make and reload shotgun shells.
~Terra Barrett
Monday, April 24, 2017
#CollectiveMemories Monday - Preparing Turrs with Sarah Hiscock
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Sarah Hiscock of Champney's West. |
Listen to Sarah’s full interview here on the Memorial University’s Digital Archives.
~Terra Barrett
Friday, November 18, 2016
#CollectiveMemories Booklet Launch - The Story of the Spar: An Oral History of the Hazel Pearl
Left to Right: Roy Hiscock, Ben Hiscock, Minnie Hiscock, Albert Hiscock, and Sarah Hiscock. |
The Story of the Spar: An Oral History of the Hazel Pearl is the second booklet in the Collective Memories Series produced by the Heritage Foundation. This booklet focuses on the Hazel Pearl shipwreck and includes archival research, field recording measurements of the spar, and oral history interview transcripts. The interviews were completed by Terra Barrett and Dale Jarvis, the measurements and drawing of the spar by Michael Philpott and Li Xingpei, background research by Sarah Hannon, and the booklet was edited by Heather Elliott.
As stated in The Sailor’s Word-Book:
Li Xingpei measuring the spar in July 2016. |
The spar which sits outside the Heritage House was once a part of the Hazel Pearl. This spar was part what sparked the interest in the story of the Hazel Pearl and was accidentally brought ashore by fisherman Wayne Freeman when it became tangled in his capelin seine several summers back.
If you want to learn more about the spar or the Hazel Pearl you can head to collections.mun.ca to hear the full interviews or you can check out PDF version of the booklet here!
The Hazel Pearl booklet is part of the foundation’s Collective Memories Project. This project is an initiative of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, with funding provided by the Department of Children, Seniors, and Social Development. The Collective Memories Project invites seniors to record their stories and memories for sharing.
~Terra Barrett
Reviewing old photographs in the Heritage House. |
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Booklet Launch - The Story of the Spar: An Oral History of the Hazel Pearl
The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Champney's West Heritage Group Inc. invite you to the official public launch of our new booklet:
The Story of the Spar: An Oral History of the Hazel Pearl
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016
3:00 pm
Free Admission
Ella Freeman Heritage House, Champney's West, Bonavista Peninsula
“The Story of the Spar: An Oral History of the Hazel Pearl” is the second booklet in the Collective Memories Series produced by the Heritage Foundation. This booklet focuses on the history of the Hazel Pearl and the memories of several community members about the wreck of the boat and the rescue of the spar.
“We saw the Hazel Pearl coming in around, coming in here on their full sail, fully rigged,” recalls Ben Hiscock. “She come on in and she hit the hard ice and and he holed her up, holed her upward and the water started pouring in.”
Hiscock was one of several residents of Champney’s West who was interviewed as part of the oral history project completed by the Foundation. The booklet which developed out of the interviews was edited by Heather Elliott with research conducted by Terra Barrett and Sarah Hannon.
“The booklet focuses on the story surrounding the shipwreck of the Hazel Pearl and the spar (a mast off the boat) which was retrieved by local fisherman Wayne Freeman and is displayed outside the Heritage House,” says Barrett, a researcher with the Intangible Cultural Heritage office of the Heritage Foundation of NL. “The booklet contains transcribed excerpts and portraits of community members, background research, memories of the wreck as well as a detailed drawing of the spar.”
The Hazel Pearl booklet is part of the foundation’s Collective Memories Project. This project is an initiative of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, with funding provided by the Department of Children, Seniors, and Social Development. The Collective Memories Project invites seniors to record their stories and memories for sharing.
The booklet launch is open to the public and will include tea and light refreshments. There will be printed copies of the booklet available at the launch and a PDF version will be placed online.
For more information please go to www.collectivememories.ca, call Terra Barrett at 1-888-739-1892 ext. 5 or email terra@heritagefoundation.ca
Li Xingpei measuring the spar outside the Ella Freeman Heritage House in Champney's West. |
Friday, July 29, 2016
#CollectiveMemories: Champney's West and the Hazel Pearl
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Pei measuring the spar in front of the Heritage House, Champney's West. |
Today I wanted to share two short video clips about the
sinking of the Hazel Pearl in Champney’s West on the Bonavista Peninsula in
Trinity Bay, NL. The boat was previously
known as the Coronet and was wrecked at least once before in Bonavista Bay in
the 1930s. The Coronet was salvaged from
the initial wreck in the thirties, resold and renamed the Hazel Pearl. It was used as a freighter before finally
meeting its end on March 1st, 1945.
While the boat was lost in a winter storm local fishermen managed to salvage several barrels of cod oil from the vessel and were able to sell the oil again. Although the boat was wrecked in the ocean the tops of the spars (also known as masts) of the ship which were painted white were visible in the sea water for years and years following the wreck. In the recent years one of the spars from the Hazel Pearl was dragged up by two local fishermen who were cleaning a seine net. The spar became tangled in the net and the two brought the spar ashore. It currently sits outside the Heritage House in Champney’s West and is the source of many local stories and memories about shipwrecks in the area.
During our work trip to the Bonavista Peninsula we measured the spar and did a couple of interviews with people who remembered the sinking of the Hazel Pearl. The following videos showcase two locals’ memories of the sinking of the Hazel Pearl near Champney’s West in the 1940s. Both Sarah Hiscock and Albert Hiscock grew up in Champney’s West and have personal memories of the sinking of the Hazel Pearl.
The short videos below showcase some of their memories and can also be accessed on our YouTube channel. I would highly recommend headphones when listening to the clips in order to hear the stories better!
If you know anything about the Hazel Pearl please feel free to contact the ICH office at 739-1892 ex. 2 (Dale Jarvis) or 5 (Terra Barrett) or email ich@heritagefoundation.ca
~Terra Barrett
While the boat was lost in a winter storm local fishermen managed to salvage several barrels of cod oil from the vessel and were able to sell the oil again. Although the boat was wrecked in the ocean the tops of the spars (also known as masts) of the ship which were painted white were visible in the sea water for years and years following the wreck. In the recent years one of the spars from the Hazel Pearl was dragged up by two local fishermen who were cleaning a seine net. The spar became tangled in the net and the two brought the spar ashore. It currently sits outside the Heritage House in Champney’s West and is the source of many local stories and memories about shipwrecks in the area.
During our work trip to the Bonavista Peninsula we measured the spar and did a couple of interviews with people who remembered the sinking of the Hazel Pearl. The following videos showcase two locals’ memories of the sinking of the Hazel Pearl near Champney’s West in the 1940s. Both Sarah Hiscock and Albert Hiscock grew up in Champney’s West and have personal memories of the sinking of the Hazel Pearl.
The short videos below showcase some of their memories and can also be accessed on our YouTube channel. I would highly recommend headphones when listening to the clips in order to hear the stories better!
If you know anything about the Hazel Pearl please feel free to contact the ICH office at 739-1892 ex. 2 (Dale Jarvis) or 5 (Terra Barrett) or email ich@heritagefoundation.ca
~Terra Barrett
Friday, July 22, 2016
#CollectiveMemories Roadtrip: Bonavista Peninsula
Pei and Michael measuring and drawing the inside of the Salvation Army Citadel. |
Sign inside the Salvation Army Citadel. |
The Salvation Army Citadel which was recently designated. |
Mortuary Chapel, Trinity, NL. |
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Pei and I turnipped in Champney's West. |
Sarah Hiscock who was interview about the sinking of the Hazel Pearl. |
The Hookey house which was framed and finished in the 1930s. |
Details of Alonzo's work. |
Pile of Amy's quilts. |
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View from St. Paul's Anglican School in Trinity, NL. |
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The designation of the Loop is confined to the railroad tracks but it is pretty amazing to explore the abandoned park. |
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Michael and Pei on our Fox Island hike. |
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Port Union Heritage District. |
Michael and Pei measuring the Salvation Army Citadel. |
Alexander Mortuary Chapel of All Souls. |
One of the many designated homes in Bonavista. |
Stay tuned for some short video clips of Sarah Hiscock and Albert Hiscock's interviews!
~Terra Barrett
Monday, August 3, 2015
Ben Hiscock of Champney's West - Unity
This video clip is from an interview with Ben Hiscock of Champey’s West which is located on the Bonavista Peninsula in Trinity Bay, NL. Last week I posted a video of Ben and one of his brother Roy both of whom grew up in Champney’s West and had great memories of growing up in the community, ship wrecks and rescues, square dancing, old graves, and local characters.
During a trip to Port Union and Champney’s West doing some workshops on asset mapping and oral history Dale and I had the opportunity to interview Ben and Roy Hiscock. Ben and Roy’s family has been in the community for generations. Both brothers had great stories and I would like to showcase a couple of their stories on the blog.
In this short video Ben describes the unity found in the community of Champney’s West when he was a young boy. He describes how everyone helped everyone and the community pulled together to take care of one another. I thought this was a beautiful clip which showcased the spirit found in the community of Champney’s West and I hope you enjoy the video!
If you are in the area during August 7th-9th, 2015 make sure to stop in for the Champney's West days including their cardboard boat race on Sunday!
-Terra
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Roy Hiscock of Champney's West - Weekly Meal Pattern
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Snelgrove, Eric and Olive. Vegetable storage in their historic Quidi Vidi home. LaDuke, John. Photo courtesy of Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. |
Today I have a short video clip of Roy Hiscock of Champey’s West which is located on the Bonavista Peninsula in Trinity Bay, NL. If you saw the video earlier in the week of Ben Hiscock, Roy is Ben’s older brother. During a trip to Port Union and Champney’s West doing some workshops Dale and I interviewed these two older members of the community.
Ben and Roy Hiscock are brothers whose families have been in the community for generations. They had great memories of growing up in the community, ship wrecks and rescues, square dancing, old graves, and local characters. Both brothers had great stories and I would like to showcase a couple of their stories on the blog.
In the short video Roy describes the meals the family would eat during the week. I did a quick search on Memorial University’s DAI and came across a thesis on traditional Newfoundland foodways written by Pamela Gray in 1977. I included two pictures below of Gray’s work with examples of weekly meal pattern. I’ve seen the tradition of the weekly meal pattern mentioned in other articles but it isn’t something my family followed growing up.
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-Terra
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Ben Hiscock of Champney's West - Earliest Memory
Fishing stage in Champney's West |
I posted some pictures of the trip in mid-June. I included pictures of the asset mapping workshop, the coffee house with mummers and a trip into Elliston. I also mentioned that Dale and I interviewed two older members of the community, Ben and Roy Hiscock.
Ben and Roy Hiscock are brothers whose families have been in the community for generations. They had great memories of growing up in the community, ship wrecks and rescues, square dancing, old graves, and local characters. Both brothers had great stories and I would like to showcase a couple of their stories on the blog.
Today’s story comes from Ben Hiscock who describes growing up in the community and the lack of money found in the community. He tells the story of being given a penny with a hole in it and hammering the penny until the hole closed and he was able to buy candy. Check out the video below or click here to watch it on YouTube.
-Terra
Friday, June 19, 2015
Johnny Poker - A Boat Hauling Song
I’m currently typing the notes from the Asset Mapping
workshop Dale led in Champney’s West and I came across the song Johnny
Poker. It is noted as a traditional song
that people would sing when they pulled boats up. Sometimes people would pull back on the boat
so they could hear the Johnny Poker song.
The version which is written in the notes is:
“To my jolly poker
We will start this heavy joker
Haul boy haul” [everybody pulls]
The notes say there are 4-5 versions of the song. I did a quick search and came across a version by Stuffed Squid set to music. I’ve added the video here and you can check out the page with the lyrics and some background information here.
The version which is written in the notes is:
“To my jolly poker
We will start this heavy joker
Haul boy haul” [everybody pulls]
The notes say there are 4-5 versions of the song. I did a quick search and came across a version by Stuffed Squid set to music. I’ve added the video here and you can check out the page with the lyrics and some background information here.
Do you know a version of Johnny Poker? Let us know in the comments or send an email to terra@heritagefoundation.ca
-Terra
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Discovering the Discovery Trail
Asset mapping in Champney's West |
Ready to map the living treasures of the community |
Discussing the community's cultural assets |
Checking out the map of Champney West's living treasures |
After the community brainstormed the important cultural assets of the community
the residents received a recipe card and were asked to think of a living
treasure in the community. Living
treasure just means someone in the community who is knowledgeable about a
particular topic or skill and why they are important. The residents then mapped these local
treasures on a map of Champney’s West.
After the map was completed everyone enjoyed a little lunch and cup of
tea before heading home for the evening.
Friday morning and afternoon Dale and I interviewed two older residents of the community brothers Ben and Roy Hiscock. Both brothers were great storytellers and told stories about growing up in the community, local shipwrecks, memories from the Second World War, and jokes from local characters. Be on the lookout for clips of these two interviews!
Friday morning and afternoon Dale and I interviewed two older residents of the community brothers Ben and Roy Hiscock. Both brothers were great storytellers and told stories about growing up in the community, local shipwrecks, memories from the Second World War, and jokes from local characters. Be on the lookout for clips of these two interviews!
Checking out Elliston, the root cellar capital of the world! |
Don Johnson and I outside one of Ellison's many root cellars |
Between the interviews with Ben and Roy we also headed out to Elliston to talk
with Don Johnson from Tourism Elliston to do a short interview on root cellars
in the root cellar capital of the world.
Don showed us a couple of cellars and explained their importance to the
community in the past and to the present community. He explained their upcoming festivals and
took us out to see the puffin site and the new sealers memorial.
The Sealers Memorial in Elliston |
Puffin site in Elliston |
After a lovely supper at the Bonavista Social Club we were back in Champney’s
West for the first coffee house of the season.
It was a great evening with live music, jokes, stories and another small
lunch. After lunch we were in for a
special treat as local characters Martha and Bertha put on a skit. They discussed the “h’asset mapping” and the ‘eritage
of the community. They even mentioned
the out of town folklorist who wrote a book on mummering. This is when it got interesting as Bertha bet
Martha he couldn't even mummer. Let’s
just say a nice bit of dress up and dancing ensued! Check out the pictures below!
Local fiddler |
Martha, Dale Jarvis and Bertha |
Plankin er down! |
Thanks to Champney’s West for a great two days!
Today we've got a couple more interviews and an oral history workshop in
Port Union.
-Terra
-Terra
Thursday, May 28, 2015
What, and where, is our heritage? Help map Champney’s West heritage.
7pm – 9 pm
Recreation Hall, Jack’s Hill
Champney’s West
This June, residents of Champney’s West will start to map out what their heritage means to them, with a little help from folklorist Dale Jarvis.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, our living heritage is rich and diverse. It includes ballad singing, snowshoe-making, accordion playing, knitting, Christmas mummering, berry picking, boat building, and much more. We tell stories, make clothes, shear sheep, and spin yarn. We have a complex knowledge of place, the seasons, and the movements and patterns of animals from moose to cod fish. If we lose these important parts of our living heritage (what we call Intangible Cultural Heritage or ICH), we will also lose important resources that can keep our communities going culturally, economically and socially. But where do we start?
Communities decide which traditions are important to document. Sometimes these traditions are threatened; sometimes particular elders or tradition-bearers will be highlighted. Other communities may record important traditions of everyday life. One first step is "asset mapping" - the process of collecting, recording, and analyzing local information in order to describe the cultural resources, networks, links and patterns of the community. Cultural asset mapping provides an inventory of key cultural resources that can be utilized for future development in the community.
Dale Jarvis, the ICH Development Officer with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, will be leading a community conversation about historic places, trails, old stories, place names, traditions, and local knowledge. Come for a cup of tea, and tell us what matters to you in Champney’s West. It will be a free and fun community workshop, sponsored by the Champney's West Heritage Group Inc.
For more info, contact:
Shelly Blackmore, Heritage Coordinator
Champney's West Heritage Group
Ph (709)464-2173 Email - cwcdo@bellaliant.com
Website - www.champneysisland.net
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