Living Heritage Podcast Ep226 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Weaving with Megan Samms and Jane Walker

Megan Samms and Jane Walker making a warp. Photo courtesy of Megan and Jane.

In this episode we talk with mentor Megan Samms, and apprentice Jane Walker who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. 

Megan Samms has worked with textiles since she was a child but her main focus over the last ten years has been hand weaving. Over her career she has attended artist residencies and dedicated full time studio hours which has allowed her to finetune her craft. Each piece of her work is unique, and Megan uses plant dyes that she grows or forages locally to colour the yarns she uses in her textiles. With a particular interest in working with the linear structure of burlap and linen apprentice Jane Walker has been practising the art of rug hooking for several years. Upon noticing the correlation between rug hooking and weaving, Jane has been keen to advance her knowledge of weaving.

Megan Samms and Jane Walker beaming a warp. Photo courtesy of Megan and Jane.

### Living Heritage 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 HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.

Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Designated buildings, awards, fences, chants and charms: it's the February Heritage Update!

In this edition of the Heritage Update: the iconic Grand Falls House designated as a Registered Heritage Structure; Heritage NL receives Community Builder Award from the NL Association of Professional Planners; Robert Burgess, of the Burgess Heritage Property writes on chants and charms; the history and recipes of marine oil paints in the North Atlantic; making friends and building fences; and a look at the history of the Lambert and Johanna Greene House and Outbuildings in Tilting, Fogo Island.  

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Living Heritage Podcast Ep225 Lebanese Memories and Music with Terri Andrews

Large Lebanese community photo. Ella Andrews on the far left. Photo courtesy of Terri Andrews.

In this episode we talk with Terri Andrews. Terri’s grandmother was Ella (née Michael) Andrews and her grandfather was Albert Andrews. Both were born in Hadath El Jebbeh, Lebanon. Today we talk about the Andrews family, and Lebanese bands and music. Terri also shares some recollections of the Lebanese community on New Gower Street, St. John’s, NL.

### Living Heritage 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 HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.

Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

A “magnificently appointed Tudor mansion" - Grand Falls House designated as a Registered Heritage Structure

An iconic historic property in Grand Falls-Windsor has been awarded provincial heritage designation by Heritage NL.  

Perched on a birch-clad hill overlooking the Exploits River, Grand Falls House was built in 1909 by Alfred and Harold Harmsworth as one of the properties built in conjunction with the new paper mill. Following the establishment of the paper mill, Grand Falls became a boomtown, with workers drawn from every bay on the island. 

Grand Falls House, with its outbuildings and mature parkland, was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure by Heritage NL on January 17th, 2023. Designed by British architect Robert Douglas Wells, and built under the supervision of Tom Brown of New Harbour, Trinity Bay, the building has been described as a “magnificently appointed Tudor mansion.” 

One of the oldest original buildings in the town, the house hosted many visiting dignitaries over the years, including the Duke of Connaught (son of Queen Victoria) and Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, founders of the Scouting movement. For a number of years, it was the residence of the mill manager.

Grand Falls House during the residency of Sir Vincent Jones. HM Dawe Photograph Collection.

In 2022, the province formally handed over possession of Grand Falls House and its surrounding property to the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor for heritage-sensitive development.

“Grand Falls House is an important part of our history,” says Dr. Lisa Daly, Chair of Heritage NL. “It is an impressive, unique building, which helps commemorate the century-long impact of the Grand Falls paper mill on Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Heritage NL was established by the provincial government in 1984 to preserve the architectural history and living heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Heritage NL designates buildings and other structures as Registered Heritage Structures and administers a fund on behalf of the province for the conservation of such structures.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep224 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Spruce Root Baskets with Eileen Murphy and Sandi Yates

Sandi Yates and Eileen Murphy. Sandi is holding her spruce root basket.
Photo courtesy of Eileen Murphy. 

In this episode we talk with mentor Eileen, and apprentice Sandi who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Eileen has been making spruce root baskets for 41 years and has both taught and demonstrated at workshops, festivals, in school settings, and with individuals. Mr. Anthony White from Shallop Cove, Bay St. George, was Eileen’s instructor and mentor. Sandi has experience weaving branches into tension baskets and also composes large scale sculptures using driftwood, seasoned birch and discarded found objects. Sandi is currently studying Fine Art through Memorial University: Grenfell Campus and works in the craft industry seasonally. She produces mixed media artworks about NL.

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Living Heritage 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 HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.

Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep223 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Weaving with Stephanie Stoker

Woven linen ecoprint. Courtesy of Stephanie Stoker.

In this episode we talk with mentor Stephanie who is a participant of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Stephanie Stoker is an experienced educator of textile arts, having taught weaving, drawing, design and colour theory for over ten years. Stephanie's experience in both Canada and Peru has allowed her to fine tune her skills and gain a deep understanding of the detailed work that is weaving.

### Living Heritage 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 HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.

Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep222 Mentor-Apprentice Program: Bark Tanning with Susan Furneaux and Nicole Travers

Bark tanned seal skin. Photo submitted by Susan Furneaux.

In this episode we talk with mentor Susan, and apprentice Nicole who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Susan is a craft educator who has been working with and extracting local tannin sources for over 30 years in her natural dye practise. Susan began practising her skill in leather tanning in 2011, and has been traditionally bark tanning and producing viable leather for over five years. Nicole is an avid bead artist and has recently expanded her artistic interest into the craft of tanning. She has been tanning fish skins for over a year, creating fish leather items beaded with traditional Mi'kmaw double curve motifs, petroglyphs and hieroglyphs. Nicole prides herself on teaching others traditional skills and wants to aid in the revival of bark tanning skins.

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Living Heritage 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 HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.

Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Yarns and Yarns - a virtual knitting and storytelling circle around the North

 

Join us for the first Yarns and Yarns event - we’ll be live from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada with the regular weekly knitting group at the St. John’s Public Library! Make yourself a cup of tea, tune in, and knit along as we hook up with friends and colleagues and have a virtual chat with Siun Carden about her woolly experiences from Shetland!  All knitters, story lovers, and textile enthusiasts are welcome. 

This is being organised by Heritage NL on behalf of the UArctic Northern and Arctic Island Studies Network linking island communities across the north. There will be others based in other northern islands in the coming months!

When: Jan 24, 2023 02:00 PM Newfoundland and Labrador (UTC/GMT -3.30)

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tCzmqrt0TSKwRN37ah2QXA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep221 The Story of Marguerite Lindsay

Miss Marguerite Lindsay, 1918.
Photo courtesy of Lucy Anglin and the Genealogy Ensemble blog.

In this episode we talk with Lucy Anglin and Katie Crane who connected over research into Marguerite Lindsay. Marguerite was Lucy’s great aunt and her story caught Katie’s eye when she was researching for another project. We discuss their connection, their research, and tips on how to conduct research in online archives and genealogical websites.

Lucy is involved with a group that writes genealogy stories and contribute to the blog Genealogy Ensemble. She has written six stories about Marguerite's life and would like to make them into a small book with the pictures she has of Marguerite. Read a blog piece written by Lucy about Marguerite here!

The image below comes from the January 1924 issue of the Among the Deep Sea Fishers journal. Katie sent along several files relating to Marguerite and there are several results about Marguerite on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. If you are intersted in learning more about Marguerite's story check out these results on the DAI. 

Among the Deep Sea Fishers, vol. 21, issue 4, pg. 146. January 1924.

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Living Heritage 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 HeritageNL and CHMR Radio.

Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.