I was in Carbonear today for the unveiling of a new plaque marking the history of German settlement and industry in the town. Early in the 1950s, nine craftspeople arrived in Carbonear as part of a plan to stimulate industrial growth in rural Newfoundland. Those nine would be followed by families and workers, who opened three leather-related businesses in Carbonear. While the businesses were short-lived, they had a great impact on the town and on its people. Many of the Germans left, but some married, and stayed, and the names Reiss, Reichel, Shaefer, and Stoeterau can still be found here to this day. The plaque unveiled today commemorates that history and their contribution to Newfoundland. Congratulations to the Carbonear Heritage Society and especially to Ron Howell for their fine work.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Commemorating Carbonear's German History
I was in Carbonear today for the unveiling of a new plaque marking the history of German settlement and industry in the town. Early in the 1950s, nine craftspeople arrived in Carbonear as part of a plan to stimulate industrial growth in rural Newfoundland. Those nine would be followed by families and workers, who opened three leather-related businesses in Carbonear. While the businesses were short-lived, they had a great impact on the town and on its people. Many of the Germans left, but some married, and stayed, and the names Reiss, Reichel, Shaefer, and Stoeterau can still be found here to this day. The plaque unveiled today commemorates that history and their contribution to Newfoundland. Congratulations to the Carbonear Heritage Society and especially to Ron Howell for their fine work.
Lassy Wall, Crackie Road, and the Unmarked Graves – Stories from Spaniard’s Bay
Workshop participants. |
Discussing what to put on the cards for people, places, and traditions. |
Brandon and Dale discussing the location of a local sliding hill. |
The Lassy Wall in Spaniard's Bay. Photo by Cathy Kleinwort, 2005. Courtesy of the Town of Spaniard's Bay. |
Plotting the cards on the map. |
People, places. and traditions. |
Reviewing the story about the Spaniard's Bay Riot in 1932. |
Traditions practiced at the Loyal Orange Lodge. |
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Living Heritage Podcast Ep050 Skeets, b'ys, and other bits of Newfoundland folklore
Philip Hiscock has been studying Newfoundland and Labrador language and folklore for four decades. These days, he teaches Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and is the coordinator of the MA and PhD programmes in that department. We discuss Philip’s interest in dialectology, folklore, radio, and popular culture, Newfoundland folklore and language including the terms skeet and b’y, Newfoundland language and YouTube, children’s folklore, and digital folklore.
Recorded 23 June 2016
Listen on the Digital Archive:
http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_oral/id/671
Photo of Philip Hiscock by David Press.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Harbour Grace, circa 1949-1951.
We have a gem of a historic photograph for Tuesday's Folklore Photo this week!
The Heritage Foundation of NL has been working with a committee in Harbour Grace to find a new life for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (read about that here) and it has unearthed this great photo of the building, taken sometime between 1949 and 1951.
The photo comes from Bill Brooks, and was taken by his father, William Brooks (who was at the time a Captain in the US Air Force). I asked Bill what his father had been doing in Harbour Grace, and this is his response:
I’m guessing that he played some role in decommissioning the signal intelligence facility that was located at Harbour Grace – perhaps for reinstallation at Ft McAndrews, but it’s pure speculation. He was stationed at Ft McAndrew AFB in Argentia from 1949 through 1951 (where I was born). He was a Signal Officer. From his orders: “Commanding Officer of Signal Company Aviation responsible for training, administration, supply, personnel.” Responsibilities included “supervising installation, maintenance, operation of telephone, telegraph, and radio equipment.” I don’t think he was in Harbour Grace on vacation – not to dismiss it as a cold war period USAF personnel vacation destination, but his service record shows he had 58 days of unused vacation when he concluded service in Newfoundland, so he probably wasn’t taking much time off.
If you have any old photos of the Cathedral (or a memory of Captain William Brooks) email me at ich@heritagefoundation.ca.
Monday, August 22, 2016
#CollectiveMemories Roadtrip to Humber Valley - People, Places and Traditions
Discussing people, places, and traditions. |
Writing on their index cards. |
The story of Dead Man's Woods. |
Adding stories and memories to the map. |
Impromptu story telling around the Reidville map. |
Discussing the future of heritage in the Humber Valley region. |
~Terra Barrett
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Living Heritage Podcast Ep049 Heritage Foundation NL Programs
Andrea O’Brien is the municipal outreach officer and provincial registrar for the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. She comes from a background in folklore, history and Newfoundland Studies. She has been involved in the province’s heritage sector, both academically and professionally, for 20 years. We discuss how Andrea got her start in folklore and heritage, provincial and municipal heritage designations, interesting municipal designations, Andrea’s favourite designation, cultural landscapes, graveyards, fisheries heritage preservation program, and the links between tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Listen on the Digital Archive:
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Workshops and Interviews on the West Coast
Sandra Wheeler, Crystal Braye, Terra Barrett, and Dale Jarvis. |
Dale Jarvis and Clifford Reid. |
Adies Lake Tramway about 1940. Courtesy of Bowater's Wood Department. |
In the evening we headed to Pasadena for a People, Places, and Traditions workshop where there were over 30 people in attendance. We had the group separate into smaller groups and cluster around three tables. One focused on people, one on places, and one on traditions. Each group wrote their thoughts and memories on index cards which they then placed on large maps of the community. They connected their index cards with a ribbon to the location where the people discussed live/lived, the important places in the community, and where traditions took place.
Dale telling a story. |
People. |
Mapping memories. |
Reviewing the maps. |
The story of the ring and the trout. |
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
People, Places, and Traditions Tea
Dale and I are out on the West Coast this week doing some interviews, workshops, and meetings in Corner Brook, Pasadena, Reidville, and Deer Lake. We are hosting a couple of People, Places and Traditions Workshops and invite everyone in the area to come out and talk about your community.
Tonight we will be in Pasadena from 6:30-9:30pm at Pasadena Hall and tomorrow afternoon we will be in Reidville in the Community Hall from 1:30-4:30pm. Drop by, have a cup of tea, and share some memories of your community!
Tonight we will be in Pasadena from 6:30-9:30pm at Pasadena Hall and tomorrow afternoon we will be in Reidville in the Community Hall from 1:30-4:30pm. Drop by, have a cup of tea, and share some memories of your community!
~Terra Barrett
Please share and help solve this Newfoundland family photo mystery!
Last week, we were emailed three vintage photos, and the following intriguing note:
I am trying to research some aspects of my wife's family history. Her name is Jeanette Wareham and she was born in St. John's in 1968. Her birth father's name was Berkley Wareham and he was born in Salmon Cove about 1934 (he passed away in Toronto in 1989). We know that he was a teacher and that he taught in several places around Newfoundland including Twillingate. The attached pictures would have been taken in the mid to late 1950's and we think they may have been taken during his time in Twillingate, but we are not sure. He is the gentleman in the light sports jacket. Can I ask you if you recognize the school building that he is standing in front of in these pictures, or can give us any more information. The building appears to say "Prince Arthur" above the door.
The community of Charlottetown in Bonavista Bay has a Prince Arthur Orange Lodge, and we are curious if this is the same building.
If you know anything about these photos, the people in them, or the buildings, send us a note at ich@heritagefoundation.ca
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