Tuesday Folklore Photo: Eleanor Roosevelt visits Newfoundland

A funny thing happens, from time to time, when I'm trying to find a good folklore photo. I'll start out looking for a nice archival photograph of flowers, to brighten your RDF filled afternoon, and then I end up writing about Elanor Roosevelt, isn't it just the way?

It all started with this photo:

"Mr. Roosevelt being presented with flowers"
[October 08, 1961]
Original photograph in Memorial University
 of Newfoundland Libraries,
 Archives and Special Collections Division.
 S. J. Carew Photograph Collection

And then I just couldn't stop....

Eleanor Roosevelt chats with J.R. and Clara Smallwood
[October 08, 1961]
Original photograph in Memorial University
 of Newfoundland Libraries,
 Archives and Special Collections Division.
 S. J. Carew Photograph Collection

"Premier Smallwood, Lieutenant Governor MacPherson and Eleanor Roosevelt"
[October 08, 1961]
Original photograph in Memorial University
 of Newfoundland Libraries,
 Archives and Special Collections Division.
 S. J. Carew Photograph Collection 

On October 9th, 1961, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and an accomplished individual in her own right, attended the opening of the new campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Lord Thomson thanks Eleanor Roosevelt after her address[October 09, 1961]
Original photograph in Memorial University
 of Newfoundland Libraries,
 Archives and Special Collections Division.
 S. J. Carew Photograph Collection 

For more information about Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to Newfoundland, visit the collection on the Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives Initiative.
-Nicole 

Be on the lookout for this stolen 17' Newfoundland dory!

Traditional culture is where it's at, as we all know here on the ICH blog. It's so hot, apparently, that people are willing to steal to get a piece of it.

The news making its rounds on social media is that someone has stolen a Newfoundland dory.  I imagine it is the sort of thing that is hard to hide and move, so if you see it, let the police know.

This from the RNC facebook page:

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is requesting the assistance of the general public in regard to the theft of a 17' wooden dory from the east end of St John's. Anyone who has information related to this matter can call the RNC at 709-729-8000 or contact Crime Stoppers NL to submit their tips online, call toll free 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477) or text TIP190 plus your message to "CRIMES" that's 274637 and relay their clues or information.

Job Posting - Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Museum Coordinator

Reporting to the Heritage Committee, will be responsible for: 

- Supervising the museum and providing guided tours
- Collecting and cataloging historical information
- Other associated duties

Experience and Qualifications: - Must have experience dealing with customer relations 

- Must be competent in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Must have an interest in history and be enthusiastic

The Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Heritage Committee was formed in October 1995, with the goal of preserving and promoting our Town's rich history through the establishment of a museum. The Museum is divided into five themes representing different aspects of its heritage:

Fishery - a collection of local photos, fishing net displays, and various fishing and sealing artifacts.

Agriculture - photos, tools and items representing early farming activity.

Sports - highlights, through photos and artifacts, its strong rowing heritage from the famous Outer Cove crew that rowed the time of 9:13 in 1901 to present day rowers.

Lifestyles - re-creation of a traditional kitchen containing artifacts from everyday life. Also includes artifacts and pictures reflecting the importance of the church and religion in daily life.

Military - a tribute to those of the community who served in any armed conflict.

The Museum also contains an archive of information regarding history of the community that is available to the public upon request.

Send Resumes to aprilkenny@lbmcoc.ca

Application deadline May 28, 2014

Folklore Photo - Painting the Jenkins House, Twillingate

I have been working on compiling an oral history of the Jenkins House in Blow Me Down, Durrell, Twillingate. The above photo is of the house at the end of its restoration project. Here, owner Corey Sharpe talks about how he selected the colour for the house, in consultation with George Chalker, HFNL's Executive Director:

So colour was another thing. What are we going to put on it for colour? I can remember it always being white. So I said, “I’m not a big fan of white. White’s everywhere. It’s not even a colour, in my opinion. But anyway, it did look nice on the house and stuff.” So I said … I spoke to George Chalker, and he said, “Well, take a look at those heritage colours that we had Templeton’s do for us.” I said, “Yeah, I’ll do that.” 

So I picked out a colour. I think it was Dory Buff or something like that. Am I going to drastically change the colour of the house, or what am I going to do? So the siding, the local siding, had been replaced on the house in different places on the house over time. It was never all stripped and replaced. I could do one side one year, then 15, 20 years later they probably did a patch on the other side, whatever. So anyway, I got down to a patch that was original to the house. It had the cut nails, and I said, “What colours were on that house?” So I slowly scraped the paint down. When I got down to the last colour, apart from say the red ocher-ish stain that they had on it, that was the colour. It was almost like exact. That just made up my mind right there. So that’s the colour we painted the house.

Photos courtesy Corey Sharpe.

Tuesday's Folklore Photo - Waterfront Gardening

I've heard that because of our cold start to Spring, locals gardeners are feeling a bit anxious to get started. Surely things will soon warm up and people will be able to get their seedlings in the ground....right? Hopefully this photo will provide a little bit of inspiration, and remind us that the wait will be worthwhile.

Taken in Conche on the Northern Peninsula in Spring 2010, a family works together to dig potato trenches, getting the ground ready for planting. This waterfront garden plot is one that this family has been using for decades. Its location near the ocean ensures that it gets optimal exposure to sunlight, is easily accessed by boat, and can easily access kelp, which is an effective soil fertilizer.

-Lisa

Folk Belief Booklet Launch a Success

I'm glad to report that we had a wonderful turn-out for the launch of our booklet: Folk Belief and Legends of Bay Roberts and Area. This event took place at the Bay Roberts Pavilion last Saturday, May 3rd. Many people came to celebrate this collaborative project and sat down to hear a few local stories. Special thanks for the thoughtful and generous introduction from Mr. Clarence Mercer (pictured below). Also pictured are two students from Ascension Collegiate (Sarah Barrett and Josh Russell) who read out-loud selections of their work from the booklet. Sarah explained what weather-lights are while Josh told us about a ghostly figure that visits the bridge in Clarke's Beach--a lady that many have claimed to see over the years.  Mike Flynn, a local author, was also in attendance. He shared a spooky tale about the devil showing up at a local dance to partner up with a lonely woman. The moral of his tale? Be careful what you wish for!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the launch and helped us celebrate this accomplishment. The Bay Roberts Cultural Foundation will be offering copies of this booklet for sale onsite at the Pavilion in the near future. Don't forget to stop in and pick one up!

Clarence Mercer introduces Dale Jarvis and I.

Sarah and Josh reading their stories.

Some of the people who attended the event.

Mike Flynn shares: The Devil at the Dance.

Now that this project is all wrapped up, I'm dying to work on another one just like it. As always, we are accepting all of your ghost/fairy stories and other strange tales at the ICH office. Drop us a line!
lisa@hertiagefoundation.ca  
or Dale: ich@heritagefoundation.ca

-Lisa

Symposium on Music, Folklore, and the Public Sector - May 15

You are invited to attend a half-day symposium on Music, Folklore and the Public Sector on Thursday, May 15, 2014, hosted by the Research Centre for the Study of Music, Media and Place (MMaP). A group of internationally renowned ethnomusicologists and folklorists will join with local experts, activists and entrepreneurs for a lively exchange on issues that range across local culture, politics, and social well-being.

 his afternoon event will feature presentations by the Board members of the Society for Ethnomusicology: Gregory Melchor-Barz (medical ethnomusicology, Vanderbilt University and the University of the Free State, South Africa); Anne Rasmussen (musical labour in Oman, gender and Islamic arts, College of William and Mary); Tina K. Ramnarine (cultural mapping, heritage sites, Royal Holloway, UK); Harris Berger (popular music and performance studies, Texas A&M University); Zoe Sherinian (Tamil folk music, politics, film-making, University of Oklahoma); Margaret Sarkissian (minority groups in Malaysia, Armenian immigrants in Toronto and Chicago, Smith College); Andrew Weintraub (music and human rights, repatriation, Uganda and Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh); Stephen Stuempfle (SEM Executive Director, Caribbean musics, Indiana University);

It will also highlight ongoing public sector initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador: Dale Jarvis (Intangible Cultural Heritage, HFNL); Zainab Jerrett (Tombolo Multicultural Festival of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc.); Jillian Gould (Public Sector Program, Folklore, MUN)

When: Thursday, May 15, 2014, 1pm-6pm, followed by a reception.

Where: MMaP Gallery, 2nd floor of the Arts & Culture Centre, St. John's NL
Admission is free.

For more information and a full schedule of events, please visit the website: www.mun.ca/mmap, or contact Meghan Forsyth (709-864-2051, mforsyth@mun.ca) We hope you will join us for this exciting event!

Photo by Chris Hibbs, 2010.

A Call Out: Memories of Labrador

From the St. John’s Native Friendship Centre:

The quarterly magazine, Them Days, would like to interview people about personal experiences growing up in Labrador.  We've invited them to come talk to people at Tea & Sharing (2pm-4pm) this Thursday (May 8^th).  All are welcome - men and women - to share their memories. 

The St. John’s Native Friendship Centre is located at 716 Water Street, St. John’s.

Bringing Fish ashore in Forteau [A 51-31]
International Grenfell Association fonds
Grenfell Association of Great Britain and Ireland
Specimens of postcards by Tucks: Courtesy of The Rooms Provincial Archives 

Tuesday Folklore Photo: Making Hay

This week's featured folklore photo is of my late great-grandfather, Jack Peddle, making hay at his farm in Lethbridge, Bonavista Bay.

Jack Peddle, ca 193-
Lethbridge, B.B.
Photo Courtesy of June Russell, private collection

Bonus Photos: A cute little kid making hay! 

Raking Hay [VA 106-44.4] August 20, 1915
International Grenfell Association photograph collection
Photographs: Courtesy of The Rooms Provincial Archives.

Raking Hay [VA 106-31.5] August 20, 1915
Man and small child cutting hay;The child is Thomas,
 son of Dr. John Mason Little and Ruth Keese Little.
Caption Caption on back: The kid is the Little's !
International Grenfell Association photograph collection
Photographs: Courtesy of The Rooms Provincial Archives.

Aww, some sweet! 

-Nicole 

For more on making hay check out these blog posts about hay barracks in Newfoundland.