Living Heritage Podcast Ep137 Armistice100 On Air

On Tuesday, November 13th, 2018, Heritage NL folklorist Dale Jarvis interviewed special guests Darlene Redmond and Michael Pretty at the Annex, Admiralty House Communications Museum, as part of a live audience recording of the Living Heritage radio show and podcast to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.

Darlene Redmond is an artist who has always had a keen interest in history and war. She admires the care and dedication given by the people of this province in preserving the history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and created the series to contribute to a proud legacy. She lives with her husband and children in Mount Pearl. Darlene's work will be featured in Admiralty House's new exhibit "Armistice 100."

Michael Pretty is the founder of The Trail of the Caribou Research Group Inc. (TCRG). TCRG is a not-for-profit volunteer organization and a registered charity. Their mission is to raise awareness of the accomplishments and sacrifices of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in military conflicts and peacekeeping missions over the past 100 years. All TCRG initiatives are founded on values of fellowship, inclusion and respect.

The Armistice 100 exhibit at Admiralty House runs until Nov 30, 2018

Download the mp3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Carbonear - Putting Heritage to Work Followup Meeting

On Monday, 5 November 2018, Heritage NL facilitated a workshop in partnership with the Town of Carbonear to discuss a multi-faceted approach to revitalizing the downtown core and waterfront with a particular focus on utilizing the community’s cultural assets.

The workshop comprised two parts: I) a vision session where people identified what they would like to see in the Carbonear heritage district of the future; and II) a session to explore what is needed to develop local heritage and business assets. Participants were in agreement they would like to see more business development, and more economic growth in the community.

You can look at the preliminary report here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_k2ExS3tphXAlS732yurVLQH_X7K8qE5kWAHt5X6mGA/edit?usp=sharing

Participants noted that any plan needs buy-in/commitment from community. Therefore, a follow-up meeting will be held at the Princess Sheila Seniors Club Building, Water Street, Carbonear, on Wednesday, December 5th, at 6pm.

The goals of the follow up meeting will be to:

• Communicate/share ideas collected at the last meeting
• Prioritize opportunities
• Identify local leadership -> who will take the ball and run with it?

This event is free, and open to anyone who is interested in the heritage and business development of Carbonear. Tea/coffee will be available!

Register online at:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/carbonear-putting-heritage-to-work-followup-meeting-tickets-53098066747


For more information, contact:
Kerri Abbott
Economic Development & Tourism Officer
Town of Carbonear
P.O. Box 999, 256 Water Street
Carbonear, NL A1Y 1C5
Tel: (709)596-3831 Ext. 235
Fax: (709)596-5021
Email: kerriabbott@nf.aibn.com


photo: 1911. Commemorating the coronation of King George V, present Queen's grandfather. Photo compliments of Tracy Oates/Carbonear Heritage Society Facebook page.

The Funeral Procession. #FolklorePhoto

A funeral procession on Church Hill, Spaniard's Bay, approximately 1930s or 1940s. Note the flag at half mast on the right half of the photo. Any automobile enthusiasts who can give us a date for the car, let us know!

Photo courtesy Daphne Robinson. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

"A well proportioned and Church-like building" - Alexander Mortuary Chapel of All Souls, Bonavista

The Alexander Mortuary Chapel of All Souls was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1989 (the chapel and surrounding graveyard were designated by the Town of Bonavista in 2006). It is one of two surviving mortuary chapels in the province, the other being in nearby Trinity. I've written about the Chapel's lych gate before, and recently came across this note, printed in the Trinity section of the Evening Telegram 1922-07-22 (p9):

At the invitation of Canon Bayly who has gone as Chaplain to the Bishop during his Labrador visitation, I went to Bonavista on Wednesday (July 12th) to officiate at the marriage of two of his parishioners. Before the hour appointed for the wedding, however, I was called upon to bury a little child —Marjorie Templeman— This gave me an opportunity to spend an hour in the cemetery and the Mortuary Chapel. The cemetery is beautifully situated, uniformly laid off in lots, with fairly well kept paths all through it. The graves show indications of loving care, and the majority of them are marked by a well proportioned marble cross, thus giving the cemetery a distinctively Christian appearance. A beautiful Lych-gate of which there are so few in Newfoundland guards and admits to the cemetery. The Mortuary Chapel is a well proportioned and Church-like building. It is fitted with an Altar, a Lectern, and a few seats, and the roof and walls are neatly finished with wood in natural colours. This is one of the three Mortuary Chapels in the Diocese (St. John's, Bonavista and Trinity) and if it were fully fitted with seats, the windows filled with stained glass memorials, and the exterior given a fresh coat of paint, it would constitute an easy first of the three. Under the shadow of the east end of the bulging lie the bodies of the father and mother of Canon Bayly, whose names bring back a flood of happy, holy memories to those who were privileged to know them in the parish and in their home. Grant them Lord Eternal rest.

Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Photo Scanning Party, Dec 4th.

Photo Scanning Party
Town of PCSP Public Library
Tuesday, Dec 4th, 10am

Do you have an old photo album that might include images from Portugal Cove-St. Philip's? The Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Family History Club is hosting a scanning party, to help preserve and share old photos for all to see.

The society is looking for old photos of the community, from the 1880s to the 1980s, including anything showing old buildings, garden parties, family reunions, or cars decorated for weddings. The event will be hosted in partnership with the intangible cultural heritage office of Heritage NL.

“We want to see those snapshots Nan kept in the old biscuit tin in the closet,” says folklorist Dale Jarvis with Heritage NL. “Sometimes photos from the 1970s and ‘80s include buildings or structures that have been torn down, so even if they aren’t ancient photographs, they can still help us document changes to the community.”

Heritage NL staff will be on site to scan the photographs and ask questions about who or what is in the photo. If you bring your own USB flash drive, you can take home a digital copy as well as your original photographs.

The digital copies will be used by the town for a future old photos night during Heritage Week in February. Photos will also be shared on Facebook with the owner’s permission, and a copy will be uploaded to Memorial University’s Digital Archives Initiative, which is indexed and archived for history buffs everywhere.

So go ahead and dig out those old photos, and come out on Tuesday, Dec 4th, 10am, at the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Public Library, located at the back entrance to the town hall, 1119 Thorburn Road.

Free event, register online at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/photo-scanning-party-portugal-cove-st-philips-tickets-52614362976

Photo courtesy Ruth Bugden, who was one of our
participants in the Portugal Cove Memory Mug Up. 

Want a scanning party in your community?
Email dale@heritagenl.ca

Memories of the Earnest Harmon American Air Force Base - Stephenville Theatre Festival wants to hear your stories

STEPHENVILLE THEATRE FESTIVAL: NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT

We are interested in exploring how Stephenville and its surrounding areas on the west coast of Newfoundland were culturally affected by the establishment of the Earnest Harmon American Air Force Base. Historically, the infusion of American culture that occurred with the introduction of the base occurred at a time of cultural, political, and socio economic shift for the Dominion of Newfoundland. By 1949, the island would become a part of Canada, and in the years that followed, resettlement created an irreversible shift in identity and livelihood.

We want to speak to as many people as possible who have stories to share about those who left as young women and later returned, as well as those who remember life in the base’s heyday, Anyone who can share their own experiences or the experiences of the family and friends is encouraged to reach out to us, so that we may accurately illuminate the stories of these women, their families and of Stephenville itself.

In 2018/2019 the Stephenville Theatre Festival (STF), will embark upon this exciting new project with the support of ACOA and The Canada Council for the Arts. We have a strong desire to create a work of theatre that will represent this region and it’s unique cultural heritage. We understand that our audience of local residents have a strong desire to feel their voices and experiences reflected in the theatre that they attend.

STF’s Artistic Director, Heather Braaten and award winning NL playwright, Meghan Greeley will be conducting research and holding interviews with anyone who is interested in sharing their stories about this time in our history. Specifically, many local young women who lived in the area during the operational years of the base, met and married American soldiers who were stationed at the base. When the base closed in 1966, many of these women left Stephenville, moving to the United States with their husbands and young children. We are interested in exploring the story of Stephenville’s Americanization and the outmigration of these war brides in parallel context with resettlement, as well as its struggle to reinvent itself under Canadian jurisdiction.

APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SCHEDULED BETWEEN DECEMBER 2nd and DECEMBER 11

(Daytime, evening and weekend appointments will be available as to suit every participants schedule.)

PLEASE CONTACT US TO EXPRESS INTEREST AND SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW EMAIL: stfgeneralmanager@gmail.com

Living Heritage Podcast Ep136 Nancy Brace of the Green's Harbour Heritage Society on the Importance of Our Heritage Buildings

Nancy Brace is the president of the Green’s Harbour Heritage Society in Green’s Harbour, Newfoundland. The Society formed in 2009 and its original mission was to preserve one the few heritage buildings in the community, the former Orange Lodge (now the ARCH Center). In this episode, Nancy talks about the Society's current project, preserving the St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, which was built in 1880 and deconsecrated in 2016, and her personal connection to the heritage buildings in her community.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Digital Storytelling: My Grandparents' House with Ruth Bugden

Digital storytelling is a short form of digital media production that allows everyday people to share aspects of their own family and community history. Many people have stories about family members and local places that often go untold. Digital storytelling helps interpret and make community history accessible.

Ruth Bugden tells the story of her grandparents' house.

Or click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Photos and audio courtesy of Ruth Bugden. Photos collected as part of the Digital Storytelling workshop held Tuesday, October 16th, 2018 in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. If this video elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a digital storytelling workshop for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

All aboard! Newfoundland Railway, 1950s. #FolklorePhoto

This photo shows men posing on the Newfoundland Railway boxcar number 1228, close to the old Spaniard's Bay railway station off New Harbour Road in the1950s. What looks like a speeder car can be seen in the distance off to the right.


Photo courtesy Daphne Robinson. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Economy Case Study: Exploring Folklore Through Craft with Janet Peter

Heritage NL is pleased to present the first of its Living Heritage Economy Case Studies, which focuses on fibre artist Janet Peter, and how she uses elements of local folklore such as mummers, Old Hags, and other supernatural creatures in her craft business.

Visual artist, maker, and arts educator Janet Peter has been making marks on paper since she was old enough to hold a pencil. After high school, Janet briefly studied animation, but it was after graduating with a Visual Arts diploma that she began a line of papier-mâché mummer figurines. She possesses a great interest in local traditions and lore, and these themes recur in much of her work.

One of the recommendations that came out of the Forum on Adapting NL’s Intangible Cultural Heritage held last October was that the ICH Office engage in further work to support “Living Traditions in Sustainable Communities.” The ICH Committee met and decided to move forward with a series of “Living Heritage Economy Case Studies” looking at building cultural businesses based on aspects of our intangible cultural heritage. ICH-based businesses might focus on food products, publications, experiential tourism, or learning vacations.

The document was prepared by Dale Jarvis, Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Officer for Heritage NL, as part of a series of case studies examining the links between living heritage, traditionality, entrepreneurism, and community economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Download the case study as a pdf here.

The second case study, now in production, will look at how Christine Legrow of Spindrift Handknits is producing knitting patterns based on traditional designs.

If you would like to suggest a tradition-inspired local business for a possible future case study, or for information on documenting and safeguarding local traditions, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca. For more information on the Craft Council of NL, mentioned in the case study, visit https://craftcouncil.nl.ca/

Invite to Harbour Grace Heritage Opportunities & Priorities Session Nov 28

Invite to Harbour Grace Heritage Follow-up Session

Wednesday, November 28, 2018
1:30 p.m.
Firemen's Social Building,
Bannerman Street, Harbour Grace

A “People, Places & Culture “Workshop was facilitated by Heritage NL in Harbour Grace 10 November 2018. The workshop comprised two parts: I) a cultural mapping activity that considered the community’s tangible and intangible cultural assets; and II) a session to explore opportunities for protecting, safeguarding and developing these assets. The latter activity involved identifying themes and clusters of cultural assets that emerged from the mapping session. This meeting involved local heritage enthusiasts, residents, town staff, and representatives from the Town of Harbour Grace, Conception Bay Museum, and the Heritage and Redevelopment Committee.

15 themes emerged from the discussion, written notes, and mapping exercise. The next step will be to prioritize these and set some actionable items with some recommendations from Heritage NL.

You can view the preliminary report and the list of themes and sub topics here.


The follow-up session is set for Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. in the Firemen's Social Building, Bannerman Street, Harbour Grace, and is open to everyone. If you're interested in heritage and development, come along! We'll be going over the preliminary report, and setting some priorities for future heritage work in Harbour Grace.

You can register for the workshop online.


For more information contact:
Matthew Gerard McCarthy
Economic Development Officer
Town of Harbour Grace

T: (709) 596-3042
C: (709) 222-9320
F: (709) 596-1991

P.O. Box 310
112 Water Street
Harbour Grace, NL
A0A 2M0

www.hrgrace.ca
matthewmccarthy@hrgrace.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep135 When Folklore Meets Pop Culture

What do Superman, Santa Claus, and Krampus all have in common? They're some of the research interests of Dr. Daniel Peretti, a new faculty member with Memorial University’s Folklore Department. Dr. Peretti grew up in Algonac, Michigan and studied film at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He went to Indiana University to study Folklore and began studying holiday celebrations and history. He moved onto researching mythology and and narrative, and focused his dissertation on Greek mythology in the United States, which included a lot of popular culture. In this episode, Dr. Peretti talks about his book, Superman in Myth and Folklore, and his newest project on the history and folklore of Santa Claus.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Folklore Studies Association of Canada Call for Papers - Newfoundland 2019

FSAC/ACEF Conference 2019 - Call for Papers
The Folklore Studies Association of Canada/Association canadienne d’ethnologie et de folklore is pleased to announce that its 2019 conference will be held May 31 – June 2, in the Department of Folklore at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

This year, as the Department of Folklore marks its 50th anniversary together with the Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive, we invite participants to present research around the theme of “home.” We invite proposals for papers on all aspects of the literal and symbolic construction of home and its manifestation in folklore and folklife. Possible topics include housework, family custom (or rites of passage), food, music, material culture, narrative, home-sickness, loss of home, living unhoused, experiences of homelessness, returning home, and so on. Proposals for special panels, discussion sessions and other subjects related to ethnology and folklore are welcome. Presentations will be 20 minutes with an additional 10 minutes for discussion.

Please send abstracts (in English or French) of 150 words to Dr. Holly Everett (hjeverett@mun.ca), chair of the conference organizing committee, by February 1, 2018.

Conference registration and membership in FSAC/ACEF: All presenters and speakers must register for the FSAC/ACEF conference, and must be members of FSAC/ACEF before their submissions can be accepted for inclusion in the conference program. Annual dues are $60 CAD for regular members, and $30 CAD for part-time faculty, students, independent scholars, and retired persons. Membership may be purchased online at:<https://www.acef-fsac.ulaval.ca/en/join > or by mail: Folklore Studies Association of Canada, c/o Dr. Ian Hayes, 213 av. Du Grand-Calumet, Gatineau, Québec, J9J 1L4.

Photo: Marysvale, NL, date unknown. The gentleman on the right is Mr. Michael Ryan, the girl in the middle is his grand-daughter Maxine; the man on the left is James “Jim” Ryan. Photo courtesy Bride Power, from Marysvale Memories: The Stories of Bride Power.  

The St. Augustine's Anglican Church Lych-gate, New Perlican

Long-time followers of the ICH Blog will have read here about the largely-vanished tradition of lych-gates in Newfoundland (you can read our occasional paper on lych-gates here).

A lych-gate, succinctly, is a “covered wooden gateway with open sides at the entrance to a churchyard, providing a resting place for a coffin” (Fleming et al. 277). In Newfoundland, they seem to have been exclusively used by Anglican congregations, and in our earlier research, we found three: one restored in Bonavista, one original in Corner Brook, and one demolished at the Anglican Cemetery on Forest Road in St. John's (you can see a picture of that one here).

An 1922 article in the Evening Telegram describes lych-gates thusly:

H.T. asks why the gate at the Church of England Cemetery at Bonavista is called the Lych Gate. The word Lych or Lich is Anglo-Saxon, and means a corpse. Hence a Lych Gate is a churchyard gate, with a roof over it, under which, on the occasion of a funeral, the corpse and its bearers may await the coming of the officiating minister. A properly equipped Lych Gate has a long seat on each side, on which the bearers may sit, and a stone called the Lych-Stone in the middle of the path, under the roof, on which the coffin may be placed. If the person has died of an infectious disease, and the body is not to be taken into the church, a part of the Burial Service is sometimes said at the Lych-Gate.

We are much indebted to Eileen Matthews of Heritage New Perlican for sending us the photo above, which shows the original St. Augustine's Anglican Church in New Perlican. The photo shows St. Augustine's Church prior to a fire in the early 1900s. Take note of the small, steeply gabled structure to the right of the church.  The building was dedicated by the Bishop in 1886, and the Evening Telegram of the day noted the following:

Built about three hundred yards from the main road, and approached by a good broad road near by—the free labor of the people—its position is seen to be most excellent. As the visitor leaves the main road for the church he passes beneath a lichgate, bearing the inscription, '« Holiness to the Lord," put there to remind him of the reverence due to the place where it has vouchsafed the Lord to place His name. On St. Peter's Day from each of the four corners of the tower floated a flag in honor of the birthday of the church, and as a welcome to His Lordship the Bishop, whilst for the same reason the lichgate formed the base of a triumphal arch, made of the fir and spruce.

There you have it, another lych gate, the fourth identified for the province. This structure no longer exists, and was possibly removed when the church was rebuilt.

If you have a photo of one of these gates, or know of another location where there may have been a covered gate of this type, email dale@heritagenl.ca

Sources:

"Answers to Correspondents." Evening Telegram (St. John's, N.L.), 1922-08-05. P8.

Fleming, John, Hugh Honour, and Nikolaus Pevsner. The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture. Fourth Edition. London: Penguin, 1991.

"The Lord Bishop of Newfoundland at Heart's Content."  Evening Telegram (St. John's, N.L.), 1886-07-07. P4.

More Newfoundland church bells - The All Saints’ Anglican Church bell in Dildo

Last week, we had a post on the naming and christening of bells, and I included a request for more information about other church bells in the province. You can also read an earlier post about the 1845 Whitechapel Bell at St. George's Anglican Church, Petty Harbour. 

Today, Andrew Pretty wrote me and sent me some information about the All Saints’ Anglican Church bell. He writes,

The original All Saints’ Anglican church was built in 1878. The first bell was purchased in 1904 for the sum of 44£. From the time that the church opened until 1904, the raising of a flag alerted the congregation of services. However, this bell only appears to have been used for just a few years. It appears that there was some dissatisfaction with the bell. It was a cast iron bell as opposed to cast bronze bell which is said to produce a better tone. The bell appears to have been passed along to another church in the New Harbour mission (possibly Norman’s Cove Church) and Rev’d Caldwell subsequently wrote in a church ledger in 1906: “Never have anything to do with iron bells! Warning!” A flag continued to be used until 1956 when a new cast bronze bell was purchased from the John Taylor & Co. Bell Foundry in Loughborough England. The bell was purchased by the C.E.A.A. at the cost of 296£. It rings in the key of “E”, 28” in diameter and was transported across the Atlantic Ocean on the SS Nova Scotia. Since the original All Saints’ Church didn’t have a tower or steeple, a freestanding tower had to be built to house it. Later in 1964, the original All Saints’ Church was replaced by a new building and the old one demolished. The freestanding tower remained (although it was situated over 100ft from the new church) and the bell continued to be used regularly until 1982 when it was replaced with a set of electronic chimes. The tower built in 1956 was demolished in 1992 and the bell sat in the basement of the church until it was hung in a replacement tower in 2010. Even though the church still uses electronic chimes the bell is still rung on special occasions.

Do you have photos, stories, or memories about church bells? Send them my way! Email dale@heritagenl.ca

Photos courtesy Andrew Pretty. 

Meet the newlywed Filliers - Married in Spaniard's Bay, 1925. #FolklorePhoto

Chesley and Winnifred Fillier, married at Spaniard’s Bay United Church, June 2, 1925. Behind the couple, you can see the doors to the church, currently a Registered Heritage Structure, looking pretty much as they do today!


Photo courtesy Daphne Robinson. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Heritage photo: Dedication of the Bauline War Memorial. #Armistice100

This photo (exact date unconfirmed as of yet) shows the dedication of the then-new Great War Memorial in Bauline, Conception Bay, Newfoundland. Photo courtesy Town of Bauline.

The memorial has been moved twice since this photo was taken. It was first moved to a spot just outside the Bauline United Church, and then more recently, it was moved to the Memorial Park at the new Bauline Community Centre.

If you have more information on this photo, or know any of the people or houses depicted in it, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

The Bells of Peace - the folklore of ringing, blessing, and naming of bells

This Sunday, November 11th, bells in communities across Canada will chime 100 times as the sun slips under the horizon to mark each year since the armistice. You can read more about that initiative here.

The ringing and use of bells has a long heritage here in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and one of the intriguing parts of our bell history was the naming and christening of bells used in churches.

According to Sheila MacKenzie Brown’s 1981 Folklore MA thesis “The Church Bell Tradition in Newfoundland: A Reflection of Culture Change,”:

...when bells were first placed in the tower they were blessed before being used liturgically, the term 'baptised' also being used for the ceremony in the Christian religion. In his book "Questions Asked by Protestants Briefly Answered" Rev. M. Phillips describes the ceremony in the following manner:

Amid beautiful prayers the bells are washed with holy water, that they may become a pure agency in the worship of God. They are anointed with oil for the sick in the form of a cross, then seven times outwardly with the same oil, and seven times inwardly with holy chrism. The sevenfold unction with oil and chrism signify the fountains of grace flowing through the seven sacraments to which the bells call us. Thymia, incense and myrrh are burned under the bell. This fumigation symbolises the fragrance of prayer to which the bells call us. The gospel of Mary and Martha is read because the bells call us to the one thing necessary: the hearing of God's word. A name is then given to the consecrated bell, because by their respective names the bells are distinguished from one another and are placed under the protection of a patron saint.

In 1984, Cape Broyle resident Alphonsus O'Brien wrote down his remembrances of the local church bell, and gave a copy to the Rev. F. A. Coady. Here it is, as written by Mr. O'Brien:

Cape Broyle Church Bell 

This Bell came to Cape Broyle in August 1907. Its weight was 500 pounds.
It was blessed and baptized on September 25th 1907. The sponsors were James and Bridget Coady my grandfather and grandmother. The bell was named Lawrence in honour of our parish priest Rev Lawrence Vercker. It was blessed by Archbishop Howley. This bell was erected for use in May 1908. It was erected about fifty ft from the church which is now the parish community centre. It was erected on poles 20 ft high set in concrete foundations. The bell at that time gave great sound on a fair day it could be heard for about 4 miles. It remained in this place from 1908 to 1922. Then a new foundation to replace the old one on a concrete foundation only about 10 feet high. The sound of the bell on the new foundation was not as loud as before the movement was issued by Rev Father Maher.

In 1927 the Bell was put in the tower of the church. It was set up by James Rice issued by Fr William Ryan. The bell remained in the old church tower from 1927 to 1947 when the new church was built. Then Rev Fr M Kennedy had it moved in Oct’ 1947. John Hoyles the carpenter who built the new church set it up North of the road to the Priests House. The ringing of the Bell brought Joy to all the People and reminded them to come to mass. 

The bell served Cape Broyle for over 70 years and is no longer in use.
Alphonsus L O’Brien 78 years old

Andrea O'Brien in our office notes that the top photo here shows the "old" church he refers to circa 1950s. (photo courtesy Ronald J O'Brien). The photo below shows the present day church with bell to the right between the Sacred Heart and Blessed Virgin statues.

Do you know of a historic bell still ringing in your community? Let me know a bit about it, or send me a photo, and we'll showcase it in a future post! dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep134 Maritime History Archive

Heather Wareham began working as an archivist at the Maritime History Archive in 1977, and has served as the director for many years. Her research interest is Newfoundland Maritime History, especially marine disasters, women in the fishery, and resettled communities. Heather is also a founding member of the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives. In 2013 she received the President’s Award for Exemplary Service. In this episode, Heather talks about the Archive's Digital Exhibits, stories of women in the fishery, and current research projects being done at the Archive.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Building Heritage Together: Heart’s Content to Hant’s Harbour Heritage Area

Public event in Winterton.

On Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 Dale, Jerry, and I traveled to Winterton to host a workshop on regional corporation.  We also had several students from Memorial University's Folklore Department who came out and took notes for the session. There were over 40 people in attendance from various museums, heritage committees, town councilor, and residents from Heart's Content, New Perlican, Winterton, and Hant's Harbour. The communities are interested in working together to promote their heritage.

Folklorist Dale Jarvis listening to the conversation at one of the tables.

We discussed the success factors which come from working together and listed some of the resources the differing groups would be able to share. The different groups also listed some of the heritage assets in their communities which ranged from museums to fishing stages, from cemeteries to trails. It also included traditional skills such as rug hooking, dancing, knitting, blacksmithing, fishing, sawmilling, etc. The towns decided to form a regional committee and will meet before Christmas. Stay tuned for a report from the meeting. 

Katie presents her table's thoughts on how the communities should move forward.

If you are interested to in setting up a heritage workshop in your community reach out to Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca or call 1-888-739-1892 ex. 2.

Digital Storytelling: Grandfather's House by Palma Mercer

Digital storytelling is a short form of digital media production that allows everyday people to share aspects of their own family and community history. Many people have stories about family members and local places that often go untold. Digital storytelling helps interpret and make community history accessible.

Palma Mercer tells the story of her grandfather's house.

Or click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Photos and audio courtesy of Palma Mercer. Photos collected as part of the Digital Storytelling workshop held Tuesday, October 16th, 2018 in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. If this video elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a digital storytelling workshop for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

The Harbour Grace People, Places & Culture Workshop - Nov 10th

Saturday, 10 November 2018
9:30-12:30

Multipurpose Room,
Danny Cleary Harbour Grace Community Centre,
Harbour Grace

Every community in Newfoundland & Labrador has its own heritage resources, stories that make it unique. So what are Harbour Grace's cultural assets, how can they be developed for the town's benefit, and what needs protection for future generations? This free workshop consists of a heritage "asset mapping" exercise and creating the preliminary steps for a development road map moving forward. Facilitated by Heritage NL, this session is open to anyone with an interest in Harbour Grace's history, heritage, and its future.

Facebook event listing here.

Snowed in, Thule, Greenland, 1950s. #FolklorePhoto

Cecil Clarke, working as an airplane mechanic, standing in a bunker under ice, in Thule, Greenland at an airforce base in the 1950s. Thule Air Base is the US Armed Forces' northernmost installation and was started in 1940s.

Photo courtesy Graham Clarke. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Armistice 100 On Air: A Living Heritage Podcast Live Recording

"Armistice 100" On Air:
A “Living Heritage Podcast” Live Recording

On Tuesday, November 13th, 2018, join Heritage NL folklorist Dale Jarvis and special guests Darlene Redmond and Michael Pretty at the Annex, beside Admiralty House Communications Museum, for a live audience recording of the Living Heritage radio show and podcast to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice. 

Darlene Redmond is an artist who has always had a keen interest in history and war. She admires the care and dedication given by the people of this province in preserving the history of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and created the series to contribute to a proud legacy. She lives with her husband and children in Mount Pearl. Darlene's work will be featured in Admiralty House's new exhibit "Armistice 100."

Michael Pretty is the founder of The Trail of the Caribou Research Group Inc. (TCRG). TCRG is a not-for-profit volunteer organization and a registered charity. Their mission is to raise awareness of the accomplishments and sacrifices of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in military conflicts and peacekeeping missions over the past 100 years. All TCRG initiatives are founded on values of fellowship, inclusion and respect.

This event is included in the cost of admission to the Annex.

Admiralty House Museum Annex
365 Old Placentia Rd, 

Mount Pearl, 

NL A1N 0G7

Tuesday, November 13th, 2018

7pm

Link for tickets: https://squareup.com/store/admiralty-house/item/armistice-on-air-1

Living Heritage Podcast Ep133 Kevin Massey of the Old Dublin Bakery

Kevin Massey, owner of The Old Dublin Bakery, moved to St. John's in 2004 and has been delighting our province with incredible pastry ever since. A graduate of the world's first ever BA degree program for Culinary Arts in Dublin, his professional pedigree still barely keeps up with his unrelenting talent to turn butter, sugar and flour into a life changing experience. Three kids and a few cats later, he took on the challenge of starting his own business. The Old Dublin Bakery might be traditional in name, but there is nothing old school about his flavours. The Bakery has since become a favorite at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market. In this episode, Kevin talks about experimenting in the kitchen with local ingredients and the key to great cinnamon buns. You can find The Old Dublin Bakery every Saturday the St. John's Farmer's Market, or on Facebook and Instagram.

This episode is part of a series showcasing the people and stories of the St. John’s Farmer’s Market, from farmers, to craft and food vendors, and more.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

A cook on the Labrador - Cecil Clarke in Hawkes Harbour. #FolklorePhoto

Cecil Clarke and friend. Cecil worked as a cook for a whaling crew in Hawkes Harbour, Labrador in the spring, summer, and fall. Photo taken circa early 1940s. If you have any idea who the man on the right is, let us know!

Photo courtesy Graham Clarke. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep132 Fatima's Indian Food Cooks Up Something New

In this episode, Fatima Haseen Khan, the owner and operator of Fatima’s Indian Food, and her employee Chad Coombs talk about incorporating local ingredients into their dishes, moving to the new Market location, and the sense of community they have with customers. You can find Fatima's Indian Food at the St. John's Farmer's Market every Wednesday and Saturday, or on Facebook and Instagram.

Originally from India, Fatima has been living in St. John’s with her family since 1990 and has been involved with the St. John’s Farmer’s Market since 2008. She loves to meet new people and learn about their values and culture. She always tries to introduce new dishes, and uses produce from local farmers as much as she can. Fatima believes her small Indian food outlet has made a substantial contribution to the diversity of multicultural foods of St. John's. Fatima also volunteers with a number of organizations, including the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Multicultural Women’s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

This episode is part of a series showcasing the people and stories of the St. John’s Farmer’s Market, from farmers, to craft and food vendors, and more.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Bauline Memory Mug Up

Bauline Memory Mug Up. 2018.

 On Sunday, October 21, 2018 Dale and I headed to Bauline to host a Memory Mug Up at their History and Heritage Fair. The event was organized by the town's heritage committee and including several themed displays, an ugly stick demonstration, photo identification, and the screening of several videos focused on the community and filmed in the 1950s and 1960s.

Model of the United Church in Bauline by Alton King.

30 residents came together to share stories and memories of growing up in the community. One of the first things we were told was the difference between under the hill and on top of the hill, and who was a gully rat. There were several stories about the dangerous fun people had as children including scaling cliffs, and sliding on dogsleds, canvas, and car bonnets. There were stories about a pair of mischievous boys who would often play tricks and were known for stuffing the chimney of the schoolhouse so they could have the day off school.

I also learned a new Newfoundland word when some of the women discussed keeping their quoit from year to year. I learned that a quoit is flat rock used for playing hopscotch. If you found a great rock you would keep it and use it for each game you played.

There were memories of jannying during the holidays, attending the watchnight service on New Year's Eve, and shooting off guns to ring in the New Year. Several people were able to sing the songs that local singer Edgar would sing to start and end the dance that followed the Orangemen's parade.

At the end of the day we were take to two of the local cemeteries including one where the stones are no longer visible above the ground. It was a great heritage event and we look forward to working with the heritage committee on some of their future heritage projects.

United Church Cemetery.

Did you grow up in Bauline? Do you have any memories to add? Let us know in the comments!

~Terra Barrett

The House on the Highway - Spaniard's Bay 1965 #FolklorePhoto

Graham Clarke’s childhood home, Conception Bay Highway, Spaniard’s Bay, circa 1965.

Photo courtesy Graham Clarke. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep131 Nasir Muhammed of Curry Delight Shares his Passion

Nasir Muhammad owns Curry Delight with his wife, Afiya Altaf. The couple has been serving up Pakistani and Indian cuisine at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market for the past four years and has become a favorite stop at the Market for many visitors. In this episode, Nasir talks about starting his own business while working full time, learning to cook from his mom, and the unexpected similarities between his engineering background and cooking great food. You can find Curry Delight at the St. John's Farmers' Market every Wednesday and Saturday, or on their website and Facebook.

This episode is part of a series showcasing the people and stories of the St. John’s Farmer’s Market, from farmers, to craft and food vendors, and more.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Putting Heritage to Work: Exploring Development Opportunities in Heritage Districts

The Town of Carbonear is continuing with work to revitalize its historic business district. In this half-day session, business owners, heritage enthusiasts, students, and local citizens will network to discuss opportunities and needs for developing business and bringing new life to the heritage area. What are local assets and how can they best be utilized? Local entrepreneurs will give insight into their inspirations and plans for building art, craft, culinary, and tourism businesses that are heritage-friendly. 

Event facilitated by Heritage NL in cooperation with the Town of Carbonear.
Monday, November 5th 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Princess Sheila Seniors Club Building
163 Water Street, Carbonear

Free event, but registration required.

That '70s Wedding! Harbour Grace 1976 #FolklorePhoto

Here is a blast from the past for you! Check out that wallpaper!  Wedding photo, Pike’s Hotel, Harbour Grace. 1976.

Front row: Cecil Clarke, Violet Clarke.

Back row left to right: Norma (Clarke) Churchill, Hedley Clarke, Elsie (Clarke) Parsons, George Clarke, Sadie Mercer, Graham Clarke, Jean (Clarke) Peddle, Mildred (Clarke) Smith.

Photo courtesy Graham Clarke. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep130 Zainab Jarrett on Cooking and Kindness

Zainab Jarrett (center) with three employees of the Multi Ethnic Food Kitchen at the St. John's Farmer's Market.

Zainab Jarrett is the owner and operator of the Multi Ethnic Food Kitchen. She sells multi ethnic food at the St. John's Farmers Market, including African food, Caribbean food, Indian food, Middle Eastern food and Asian food. She is also Coordinator of the new St. John's International Bazaar held monthly at the Farmers Market location, which supports new vendors and teaches entrepreneurial skills to recent immigrants. In this episode, Zainab also talks about her work with the We Care Foundation Newfoundland and Labrador and their most recent project; filling a school bus with books, school supplies, toys, and clothes for people displaced by Boko Harem.

This episode is part of a series showcasing the people and stories of the St. John’s Farmer’s Market, from farmers, to craft and food vendors, and more.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

A mystery in the attic! Adventures in built heritage.

Last week, I got an email from a local acquaintance doing renovation work on their old house in St. John's. The email subject: "Mystery in my attic!" That is the surefire way to get my attention. They wrote:

"The opening to the attic is a small port, 20 inches square, but the only thing up there is a very large wooden box that is bigger than the opening; 69" long, 29" wide, and 20" deep. It seems to be lead lined, and has two long bolts attached on the outside short end. There doesn't seem to be a lid for it but the wood throughout is quite thick, so is likely very heavy."

I dropped by today, got a tour of the house, and then climbed the ladder up into the very short attic space, to try and photograph the very coffin-like mystery box. It turned out not to be lead-lined, but it did have a remnant strip of lead or zinc along one edge, so perhaps it was lined at one point. At the bottom of the box were a number of holes, which look like they were covered with some sort of flange or gasket, possibly to fit a pipe. Due to the confined space and angle, it was hard to get good photos, but this will give you an idea of the box:

My theory was that it was part of a cistern or water basin, possibly to power a gravity-fed flush toilet or shower. The use of the reinforcing rods might support this theory, if the box was meant to hold a heavy quantity of water. 

I came back to the office and did some searching, and while I can't say exactly where the box came from, it is very similar to two boxes I found in old catalogues, digitized as part of the rather fascinating Building Technology Heritage Library (BTHL), which is primarily a collection of American and Canadian, pre-1964 architectural trade catalogs, house plan books and technical building guides. If you are a buildings nerd, don't go there unless you have some time to kill!

The first example is from the circa 1912 Wood Tanks catalogue of the New England Tank & Tower Co, made of cypress. Note the rods:

The second is a slightly later example, from the  1937 "Wood Tanks Catalog No. 37" by the National Tank and Pipe Co out of Portland, Oregon:

Mystery solved (with no corpse to dispose of).

Argentia Naval Station #FolklorePhoto

Photo from Helen Griffin, Jerseyside, Placentia collection.

This week's #FolklorePhoto is of the naval station in Argentia. This was a naval base for the United States Army from 1941-1994. At the time, this was the tallest building in Newfoundland.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep129 Jams, Mustard, and Chutneys, Oh My!

This week, Natalie talks with Steve Curtis, owner of Condiments by Steve Curtis. Steve launched his condiments business is 2012 at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market. He had decided to take a break from the restaurant industry and began making chutneys, jams and mustard at home as gifts for friends and family. Now, Steve drives a Metrobus and spends his days cooking up condiments for his booth at the Market. In this episode, we chat about some mouthwatering food podcasts, local ingredients (including jams made with Newfoundland Distillery Company spirits), and what Steve is cooking up in the kitchen. You can find Steve at the St. John's Farmer's Market every Saturday.

This episode is part of a series showcasing the people and stories of the St. John’s Farmer’s Market, from farmers, to craft and food vendors, and more.

Download MP3

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.