In Requiem: Alice Lannon, Storyteller and Tradition Bearer

It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of one of Newfoundland and Labrador's treasures, Mrs Alice Lannon. Alice passed away this morning at the Palliative Care Unit of the Miller Centre here in St. John's.

Pat, Alice's daughter, emailed me today with the news. Pat writes, "She had been diagnosed with cancer in the fall. In the past few months all the medical people who have treated her were exposed to a few stories along the way. A week ago today she was admitted to the Miller Centre with her health deteriorating rapidly. She amazed everyone on Friday and Saturday and was obviously delighted to tell stories to everyone."

Alice was one of the last great tellers of traditional Newfoundland fairytales in the province, who learned many of her stories orally from her grandmother. In 2010, when Newfoundland hosted the Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada national conference, Alice was one of the gems of storytelling we chose to highlight. She was a regular performer at the St. John's Storytelling Festival, and someone we all loved. We were fortunate enough to have recorded her session at the SC-CC conference, and the stories she told that day are part of the permanent collection on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative.

To better understand her important place in the oral traditions of the province, listen to her introduction by the Department of Folklore's Dr. Martin Lovelace.

Or, better yet, stop what you are doing for the next 17 minutes, and listen to Alice tell one of my favourite Newfoundland folktales, "Open, Open, Green House."

We've lost a treasure today. I'll miss you Alice, very much.

Alice will be waked on Fri. Sat. and Sun. at Maher's Funeral Home in Placentia with her funeral on Monday morning @ 11:00 am from the Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church in Placentia.

Condolences can be sent through their website:
www.mahersfuneralhome.ca/obituaries

Getting Closer to Designation, Heart's Content

 

On the evening of February 27th, 2013, the Heritage Foundation held a public meeting in Heart's Content to discuss the upcoming heritage district designation. This designation, scheduled for July of this year, aims to commemorate the unique history and architecture that resulted from the long-term presence of the telegraph cable industry in this community. Our meeting took place in the beautifully restored SUF Hall, a historic building in central Heart's Content.We had excellent turn-out with over 25 residents showing up to ask questions and learn more about what this kind of commemoration will mean to the community. This meeting was important for the HFNL because it gave us an opportunity to find out what issues are important to the people who live here and how heritage-related projects might help address some of these. It was inspiring to have so many people show up and take interest in what is going on here, despite the blustery cold weather we had. Thanks to everyone for coming out, and for all of the great input. I look forward to a continued relationship with the town of Heart's Content, as well as the official plaque ceremony that we will be holding this summer.

-Lisa

Dale Jarvis addresses community members and discusses the impending heritage designation.

HFNL's George Chalker (in blue) standing with John, Bob, and Claude of the Mizzen Heritage Society.

Tuesday's Folklore Photo: Orangemen Marching Band

This photograph was provided by the Mizzen Heritage Society's archives in Heart's Content. It shows the Orangemen Brass Marching Band. At one time there were two marching bands in Heart's Content, and they played at all the different events in town. This photo is undated but is likely from the 1940s or 50s.

To learn more about the Orange Order of Canada, please click here.

-Lisa

Cupids Legacy Centre noticed by National Geographic

Cupids and the Cupids Legacy Centre have been named one of the 100 Places that Can Change Your Child’s Life. That’s according to a new book by the same name from National Geographic that lists 100 places around the world that author Keith Bellows considers must-see destinations for you and your child. 

In a section called “Continent’s Easterly Edge,” Bellows puts a spotlight on John Guy’s colony, the archaeological dig site, and the Cupids Legacy Centre in his short list of attractions on the Avalon Peninsula.

“Here in the region, we know the significance of our roots and the role Cupids played in the settlement of Newfoundland and Canada,” said Roy Dawe, Chair of Cupids Legacy Inc. when he learned of Cupids’ inclusion. “But to receive an endorsement such as this from such a world-class organization is a real honour—and gives a tremendous boost to our profile outside the province.”

Dawe also congratulated the other attractions on the Avalon recognized in the book, which include the Johnson GEO Centre, the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and nearby boat tours, and Signal Hill.

For more information about the Cupids Legacy Centre and how you can visit, see www.cupidslegacycentre.ca.

Move over, Dildo - The new best placename in Newfoundland

This gem of a placename comes to us from a friend who is obviously spending too much of his worktime exploring Google Earth. But we all benefit from him slacking off.

I'd love to know if there are residents of St. Shott's who can explain the origins of the name of "Lumpycock Pond," located at 46.638ºN by 53.586ºW.

There must be a story to this place name! Drop me a line at ich@heritagefoundation.ca if you know one!

Report on Heritage Day 2013

Shown here are Minister Terry French, Victoria Fitzgerald, HaeNa Luther, and Ashley Synyard at the Heritage Day poster contest presentation which took place yesterday at The Plantation in Quidi Vidi.  Over 1000 students from 50 schools across the province produced submissions for the contest. This contest was open to all schools in the province, and was organized through HFNL.

Victoria Fitzgerald, a grade 11 student at Gonzaga High School, St. John’s, submitted the overall winning submission. The winning submissions at the other grade levels were:

• Primary – Jorja Pevie, Grade 3, Jakeman All Grade, Trout River, 
• Elementary – HaeNa Luther, Grade 5, Stella Maris Academy, Trepassey and, 
• Junior High – Ashley Synyard, Grade 7, Roncalli Central High, Avondale. 

Judges for the event included Margaret Walsh Best, artist and art educator; and Debra A. Barnable, visual artist and consultant.

Then, in the afternoon, I headed off to City Hall for the Heritage Day celebrations there. During the weekly City Council meeting, Mayor Dennis O’Keefe signed a proclamation which officially recognized the day as Heritage Day, and yours truly presented him with a copy of the Foundation's Heritage Day poster.

The City then presented Certificates of Recognition to the following residents and businesses:

• Todd Perin, Kim Doyle and Stephen Lee for 8 Barrows Road, The Mallard Cottage
• Christopher and Donna Hickman for 46 Circular Road, Brookdale
• Paul Crosbie and Ellen Dinn for 70 Circular Road, Sunnyside
• Glen Power and Florence Kennedy for 27 -29 Holloway Street
• Judy Ryerson, Quidi Vidi Village Foundation and Paul Chafe, Stantec for 10 Maple View Place, Quidi Vidi Village Plantation
• Craig Flynn and Brenda O’Reilly for 288 Water Street, YellowBelly Brewery and Public House
• G J Cahill & Company for 240 Waterford Bridge Road, The Tower Corporate Campus

“The heritage areas are the heart and soul of our City and we are very pleased today to honour commercial and residential property owners for their work in rehabilitating, restoring and celebrating our rich built heritage,” said Mayor O’Keefe. “These properties are a wonderful illustration of what can be accomplished when owners take pride in their homes, businesses and City. I am very pleased to congratulate each of our award recipients for the excellent work they have done in our heritage areas.”

Tuesday's Folklore Photo: Make and Break Art

As a folklorist, going out into the field can yield interesting and unexpected results. This past summer I was working on the 2012 Folklife Festival which focused on make and break engines. Doing fieldwork for this project, I expected to see a lot of boats, many engines, and even some time on the water. What I didn't expect was finding miniature versions of these traditional engines being made for use in art.

A work in progress - by Charlie Abbott (CBS).

A movable miniature installed in a model 'motor boat' - by Harry Pardy (Twillingate).

Another miniature engine in a model boat - by Otto Young (Twillingate).

A make and break powered model complete with skipper - by Victor Williams (Bay Bulls).

Another surprise was to find one of these artists making full scale replicas complete with moving parts and sound. Victor Williams creates replicas of Acadia 3 hp engines in his workshop in Bay Bulls. A series of spokes attached to the back of the flywheel hit against a small metal tab as the flywheel is manually turned. The result? The iconic tik-a-tok sound that could only come from a make and break engine. 

Victor Williams and his replica Acadia 3 hp (Bay Bulls).

Floating George and Annie Warren's House, Placentia Bay

Lisa Wilson and I are just back from a trip to Arnold's Cove, to meet with their local heritage committee on a web project they are undertaking, on the theme of resettlement.

Committee member Edna Penney shared with us this great image, which would have been a fairly typical sight during the resettlement period. It shows George and Annie Warren's house, being floated from Best's Harbour (Tack's Beach) to Arnold's Cove in July 1966.

If you've got a photo of a family house being floated, or hauled across the ice, we'd love to see it. Toss us a line at ich@heritagefoundation.ca

A Valentine's themed ICH newsletter, sealed with a kiss!

In this special February edition of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Update for Newfoundland and Labrador, our contributors get all romantic. Learn about the Heritage Foundation's celebration of Heritage Day 2013, enjoy some traditional Czech pernicky (gingerbread), explore love stories from the appropriately named community of Heart's Content, see how an outport nurse celebrated her honeymoon, and lock up your loved ones. We love you, folklore!

Download the PDF

Contributors: Andrea O'Brien, Christina Robarts, Lisa Wilson, Nicole Penney, Dale Jarvis