Mobilizing Culture - The ICH Update for July 2014

In this edition of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Update for Newfoundland and Labrador: we outline our plans for the Petty Harbour Memory store, a public recording booth which will be set up to archive memories of growing up in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove; the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador announces a $5000 grant for research on the historic fishery in the province; heritage intern Terra Barrett reports on community celebrations in Petty Harbour; Lisa Wilson gives an update on a recent tombstone rubbing workshop held in Cupids; Heather Igloliorte gives insight into two projects around mobilizing Inuit cultural heritage in Labrador; you all get an invite to the unveiling of the commemorative plaque for the Cable Avenue Registered Heritage District in Bay Roberts; and a reminder about our upcoming four-day "Fishing for Folklore" workshop in Petty Harbour, this September.

Download the newsletter in PDF and other formats from archive.org

photo: Grass basket, base 11.3 cm in diameter. Grass, red and black thread. Collected in Aillik Bay, near Tornavik, south of Hopedale. Received from F.G. Speck, July 4th, 1914. Collection of the Canadian Museum for Civilization.

Documenting Pinkston's Forge in Brigus

On Monday of this week, I travelled to Brigus to help the Brigus Historical Society with their work of documenting the history of Pinkston's Forge.

Pinkston's Forge has been a fixture of the community for a long time, and up to now has been in the hands of the Pinkston family. But maintaining a heritage building like the forge has been a challenge for the family, and the forge itself sits on a lovely piece of corner property. Recently, the family has decided they want to develop the property, but were concerned about the potential loss of the forge. So, the family has decided to turn the building over to the town, on the condition that it be moved.

Moving a heritage building from its original location is rarely the first choice for heritage conservationists, and moving an old forge will pose challenges for the historical society, but it will ensure that the building sees a new life, and hopefully, more educational opportunities.




Local heritage volunteers will be working on the documentation of the building and artefacts, and the ICH office has offered to help with collecting the associated oral histories of the building. On Monday, we helped with the first interview. The photo above shows (l-r) Muriel Pinkston-Wells and John Charles Pinkston, whose father and grandfather started the blacksmithing business, along with  local heritage consultant Dale Russell-Fitzpatrick, who conducted the oral history interview.

We’ll be posting more on the project as it unfolds.

If you have a memory of Pinkston's Forge, email me at ich@heritagefoundation.ca or comment below.

- Dale Jarvis

Tuesday’s Folklore Photo - Food Fishery

Courtesy of MUN`s Digital Archives Initiative

Today’s folklore photo is a photo of freshly caught cod being processed in Quidi Vidi during the food fishery. This picture was taken by folklore student Christine Blythe during the folklore field school in the fall of 2013.

I managed to get out on the water over the weekend and I figured this would be an appropriate photo given the ongoing food fishery. The fishery is open until August 10 and opens again September 20 to the 28.

Do you participate in the food fishery? Have you been out yet the year? Did you catch anything? Let us know in the comments below!

Bonus photo:

Breakfast is served!

Here is a picture of the lovely breakfast I was graciously served – including the freshly caught cod tongues and britches seen in the upper left hand corner.

What Lemonade Means to You

The Museum of Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove:
What Lemonade Means to You
Guest blog post by Katie Harvey

Photograph by Kenneth J. Harvey

Do you remember those hot summer days as a child, playing in the neighbourhood, coming home to your mother waiting for you with a cool glass of refreshing lemonade? The condensation on the glass and the clinking of the ice cubes would make your mouth water with anticipation. Lemonade evokes a sense of nostalgia. It is a tangible connection to our precious childhood memories.

Have you ever wondered about the origins of this tasty beverage? It is believed that lemonade can be traced back to ancient Egypt. The first documentation of the lemon in Egypt is made by the Persian poet and traveller, Nasir-i-Khusraw, in the eleventh century. Lemonade did not begin simply as a combination of lemons, water and sugar. The first variation was a wine made with lemons, honey and dates which was commonly drank by peasants. People also drank Kashkab, which was a drink made with citron leaf, rue, black pepper, mint and fermented barley. By 1104, Gatarmizat, or lemon juice, was being consumed regularly, traded and exported in the medieval Jewish community of Cairo.

The summer of 2014 is the summer of lemonade at The Museum of Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove. Free ice cold lemonade will be served all day each Friday. Our museum has a large selection of fascinating artefacts and we invite you to stop by to see and experience the history of our community. We hope that, with a little help from lemonade, our museum can produce a sense of nostalgia and a better understanding of past ways of life.

This is an old fashioned Bausch and Lomb "Premoette" camera. Photo by Kenneth J. Harvey.

Our museum tells a narrative, displaying the essential parts of the lives of those who grew up in Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove. Our themes include: School, Church, Lifestyles, Fishery, Military, Sports, and Agriculture. Everyone will find something of interest here!

Artefacts include: scrub board, wringer, washtub and spinning wheel (from left to right). Photo by Kenneth J. Harvey.

We are also looking to collect narratives and photographs from anyone who grew up in the area, so that we might incorporate them into the museum. If you are interested in being interviewed or have photographs you would like to donate, please contact our Museum Coordinator, Katie Harvey, at 726-5272 or email lbmcocmuseum@gmail.com.

Our hours of operation for the summer are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. There is no admission to enter, although donations are greatly appreciated. Come out and enjoy our community’s unique history, share some lemonade with us, and pay tribute to the past.

Headstone Rubbing Workshop

Workshop participant outlining the symbols on the headstone.

On Friday July 18th Lisa and I geared up and drove to Cupids for the second annual Headstone Rubbing Workshop. It was a beautiful day for a drive to Cupids and it was both of our first experiences at the Cupids Legacy Centre. Although we didn’t have much of an opportunity to explore the centre it looked wonderful.

Participants rubbing one of the older headstones in the cemetery.

Located next to the Cupids Legacy Centre was the Cupids United Church and cemetery. After Lisa’s introduction to the practice of headstone rubbing, and ideas of which stones to choose we headed to the cemetery. Lisa did a demonstration of the process which involved taping a thick paper over a headstone and using charcoal to outline the shape of the headstone and wording on the headstone.

These sisters chose a husband and wife's headstones to do their rubbings.

It was my first experience with headstone rubbing and I found the technique very methodical. It was interesting to see people’s different approaches to the very hands on process. Some people were looking to uncover the words on headstones while others were interested in taking their time and enjoying the practice.   

Almost done!

It was a great workshop and participants left with a greater knowledge of the practice, some information on resources for information on genealogy, and their own headstone rubbing.  It was a beautiful way to spend a Friday afternoon!

Tuesday's Folklore Photo - Labrador Wildflowers

 

"Specimens: Wee Flowering Plants collected Summer 1919 at 

Grenfell Mission Station, Battle Harbour, Labrador / by Katherine G. Amberson, R.N."

Item MG 63.1937 in The Rooms Provincial Archives from the International Grenfell Association Fonds. Entry includes the following quote from inside the album cover:

  

"These little plants and blossoms changed the forbidding landscape to the softest, loveliest inviting hues one can imagine. A gentle tribute to the Creator of our universe. K.G.A"

Headstone Rubbing in Action!

If you have two minutes to spare, please watch this video showing the artful hands of our headstone rubbing participants! This event took place on July 18, 2014 as a collaboration between the HFNL and Cupids Legacy Centre.  It was a great day in Cupids--we had a good turn-out and lots of fun learning about cemetery documentation under blue skies. This short was recorded and put together by Lisa Wilson, who facilitated the workshop. Accompanying music is Gerard Chaytor of Conche, NL, on accordion.

Also, please stay tuned to see photos of the event, which will be posted in the near future.

Job Posting - Museum Attendant – Part time

The Museum of Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove Museum is looking to hire an enthusiastic and independent student for the summer.

Responsibilities include: greeting visitors and leading tours of the museum, helping to establish an archives, and aiding with historical research.

Experience working in a museum and conducting historical research considered an asset.

Please forward your resume to Museum Coordinator, Katie Harvey, at lbmcocmuseum@gmail.com or drop off at the Museum of Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove located at 744 Logy Bay Road in the town hall.

Petty Harbour Oral History Project - Interviewer Becomes Interviewee

Photo by Terra Barrett

Tune in this Sunday July 20th to the Weekend Arts Magazine (WAM) hosted by Angela Antle for an interview with the Heritage Foundation’s summer intern Terra Barrett.  The interview will air at 7:50am Newfoundland Time on CBC’s Radio One and online at http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/.  

If you have any memories of growing up in Petty Harbour or the social life within the community please contact Terra at terra@heritagefoundation.ca or (709)739-1892 extension 5.