Tuesday's #FolklorePhoto: Hard Bread and Hand-knit Sweaters

A sweater made by Doris Norman, Roddickton. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

Today's Folklore Photos come from the Roddickton collection on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. Roddickton is a community located between Main Brook and Englee on the eastern side of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula.

This community got its start with help from the Grenfell Mission when in 1906, when they built a sawmill operation in the region. Setting up this land-based industry was a direct attempt to address the uncertainties of the fishing industry. Previous to this development, the Main Brook area was known as Easter Brook and was mostly used by residents of Englee as hunting and fishing grounds. The name Roddickton was given to the new settlement in honor of a Grenfell Mission supporter named Thomas G. Roddick. The town was officially incorporated under the name of Roddickton in 1953.

The sawmill history of Roddickton is one riddled with contrasting times of growth and decline. The original sawmill only lasted until the early 1920s-a closure that saw most of the residents evacuated. This economic slump was temporary, however, as within four years, the Bowater Company moved into Roddickton to establish new mill operations. This industry motivated consistent growth for the community until the 1970s when Bowater too, was forced to shut down. Roddickton now operates as a service center for the greater region, helping to sustain the local population.

The Roddickton inventory is part of a founding collection for the Great Northern Peninsula Textiles Archive and Learning Center. This project, based in Conche, NL, is an on-going initiative to document and preserve the textile-based crafts that are being created on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula. The items in this collection were gathered between May and July of 2010 and include photographs of textile craft objects such as the Newfoundland Quilt, patch work quilts, and knitted items. This inventory also includes audio clips of craftspeople discussing their particular textile-based skills and practices.

If you want to learn more about this collection click here and if you want to listen to an interview with Doris Norman about quilting, and tole painting click here.

A country themed patchwork quilt made by Doris Norman, Roddickton. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

An applique Purity bag from a Newfoundland quilt made by Doris Norman, Roddickton. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

Living Heritage Podcast Ep126 Designate a Person, Event, or Site in Your Community

Dr. Shannon Lewis-Simpson is the Newfoundland and Labrador representative for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Board declares and commemorates sites, events and people of national significance. In this episode, Dr. Lewis-Simpson explains how you can nominate a person, place, or thing for designation (write a letter to the Board!). She also shares some of the Board's recent designations and projects, including reviewing plaques across the province, recognizing the shore crews in the Grand Banks, and the designation of Indian Point, Newfoundland as a cultural landscape.

Dr. Lewis-Simpson is also a Coordinator, Community Engaged Learning, Student Life, and Adjunct Professor of Archaeology at Memorial University. Her research interests are in the medieval and early modern North Atlantic, naval history, and the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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.

Frances and Willie Cadigan #FolklorePhoto

This week's #FolklorePhoto comes from the Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Museum's collection. Pictured are Frances and Willie Cadigan on Marine Drive in Logy Bay.

What's happening in the ICH Office? Let us tell you!

We've said goodbye to our fabulous Conservation Corp Heritage Broadcast Intern, Natalie Dignam, but you haven't heard the last of her. She worked on a score of new Living Heritage podcast recordings, which will be coming to you each week, including a series of podcasts featuring the St. John's Community Market.

Terra Barrett is working away feverishly on our Virtual Museums of Canada exhibit on the merchant life of Main Street, Windsor. We're still a bit away from our launch date (after Christmas, hopefully) but we'll soon have everything ready to send for French translation.

Dale Jarvis is hosting an event this coming Monday, in partnership with the Georgestown Neighbourhood Association and the Memorial  University Folklore Fieldschool. At 7pm, Monday, Sept 10th, we'll be at The Lantern (35 Barnes Road) with a crowd of people sharing stories and memories of growing up in the neighbourhood. It promises to be a very entertaining evening, and you'll get a chance to meet all the new folklore grad students who are studying and working in Georgestown for the first three weeks of September.

If you grew up in the Georgestown area of St. John's, and would be interested in sharing your stories and/or being part of an oral history interview, you can email Dale at dale@heritagenl.ca

Sangro, the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment Monkey. #monkeylore

Here is your slice of offbeat Newfoundland history for the week, courtesy of the Newfoundland Quarterly (Spring Number 1945), all about a monkey and the 166th Royal Artillery:

A pet monkey that thrives on a diet of peanuts, roast potatoes, bully beef, milk and vermouth has been mascot of the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment, R. A. for the past year.  

Named "Sangro " because she was found in an enemy gun position during the Sangro River crossing near Ortona last year, the monkey has long since been taken on strength for discipline, rations and quarters. Lance-bombardier Tasker Cook of Woodland Farm, St. John's East, who owns the monk, claims "she's as cool as any gunner in the battery. I hope I can bring her home with me."  

Before the war Bdr. Cook worked at dairy farming and though he admits he had many kinds of pets, a monkey is something new to him.  

Gnr. Jack Hayworth of St. John's and Gnr. Avalon Frampton of 5 Long Street, St. John's also bunk in with Cook and Sangro. Gnr. Frampton is one of the Monk's best friends- "She's a very clean monkey, and she has never had a flea since we got her."  

Before the war, Gnr. Frampton was a dry goods clerk at James Baird, Ltd., Water Street. He is a transport driver now with the regiment. His brother, Ralph, is in the Canadian Merchant Navy.

If you have a Newfoundland monkey story (maybe a memory of the Bowring Park monkeys?) I'd love to hear it!  dale@heritagenl.ca 

Photo: Royal Artillery Trainees, May 1940.  Fifteen signal trainees with nine officers outside Redford Barracks at Bollington. Archives and Special Collections (Coll. 217 3.04.001), Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep125 The Music and Travels of Andy Irvine

Andy Irvine is a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians. Although an integral part of the finest Irish bands of our time, including Sweeney's Men in the mid 60s, Planxty in the 70s, his duo with Paul Brady in the later 70s, as well as Patrick Street, Mozaik, LAPD and Usher’s Island, Andy Irvine continues along the path he set for himself so long ago - a vibrant career as a solo artist in the old style, a teller of tales and maker of music. In this episode, Andy talks about his upcoming Woody Guthrie album, his travels, and his music. Andy performed at the 2018 St. John’s Folk Festival.

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.

An Evening of Georgestown Memories, Sept 10th. You're invited!

An Evening of Georgestown Memories. 

Monday, September 10th, at 7:00 p.m.

The Lantern, 35 Barnes Road

Georgestown resident and folklorist Dale Jarvis will facilitate a staged oral history event with past and current residents to discuss the neighbourhood they call home. Plus, refreshments!

In partnership with the Georgestown Neighbourhood Association, Heritage NL, and the Memorial University Folklore Fieldschool.

Facebook Event listing:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1880079538747418/

Photo credit: An exterior view of the store at Monkstown and Military Rds circa 1940s.

1.08.004, Memorial University

Arranged and Described by Linda White and Claire Jamieson

Archives and Special Collections Division, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Tuesday's #FolklorePhoto: Embroidery, and Knitting with Mary Bussey

Close-up of an embroidered panel for a quilt, St. Lunaire-Griquet. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

Today's Folklore Photos come from St. Lunaire-Griquet collection on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. St. Lunaire-Griquet is scenic community located about twenty minutes north of St. Anthony on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula. It is a community of approximately 1000 residents, spread across a region that was once two distinct communities. During the 1950s, sudden development in the area precipitated the conjoining of St. Lunaire and Griquet into one incorporated town-site. Unlike the vast majority of GNP communities, St.-Lunaire-Griquet has always seen a continual rise in population rather than a decline, with exception to the cod moratorium years, which invariable saw many people leave their homes to pursue work elsewhere. It is often said that the local post office marks the spot where the two communities come together.

The French began visiting this region as early as the 16th century, in order to exploit the renowned cod fishery. Despite the early arrival of these seasonal fishermen, the vicinity was not officially mapped until 1784, when the infamous French sailor Liberge de Granchain pursued the undertaking. He is still remembered for his work in the area, by an island near St. Lunaire Bay that bears his name. Granchain Island still holds evidence of the French presence, by the archaeological remains of French bread ovens that can be observed on the site.

The St. Lunaire-Griquet inventory is part of a founding collection for the Great Northern Peninsula Textiles Archive and Learning Center. This project, based in Conche, NL, is an on-going initiative to document and preserve the textile-based crafts that are being created on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula. The items in this collection were gathered between May and July of 2010 and include photographs of textile craft objects such as embroidered and pieced quilts, knitted items, and Grenfell-style coats. This inventory also includes audio clips of craftspeople discussing their particular textile-based skills and practices.

If you want to learn more about this collection click here and if you want to listen to an interview with Mary Bussey about textiles click here or to hear about changes to the Northern Peninsula click here.

Crochet pillow made by Mary Bussey's mother, St. Lunaire-Griquet. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

A pair of slippers knitted by Mary Bussey, St. Lunaire-Griquet. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

Grand Falls-Windsor Memories Mug Up - Bryan Blackmore

Storytellers on stage.

On Friday, July 13, as part of the celebrations for Salmon Festival the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society hosted their second annual Memories Mug Up at the Classic Theatre on High Street. About a hundred audience members came out to listen to the six storytellers share their memories of growing up in Grand Falls-Windsor. The session was moderated by Mary Kelly, a recently retired teacher and member of the heritage society.

There were stories about growing up in during the Second World War, the newspaper industry, memories of High Street and Main Street, and stories about the paper mill. Today's story comes from Bryan Blackmore:

View of the Classic Theatre.