Looking for Informants - The Newman Building and The Government of NL

View of Newman Building from Springdale Street. Photo courtesy Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Historic Sites.

Over the years, The Newman Building has functioned in many different ways. In recent years, the building has served as office space for the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Arts Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Did you or someone you know ever work in The Newman Building? If so, please contact Katie at 709-739-1892 ext. 6 or email katherine@heritagefoundation.ca.

The Newfoundland Mercy Foundation Urn

The urn (pictured above) is the work of the prominent Newfoundland artist, Gerald Squires and his wife, Gail Squires. Depicted on the urn are two Newfoundland scenes. The first is two fishermen hauling their nets, and the second is a family drying and salting fish. The blue cross seen on the front of the urn is the Sisters of Mercy's logo. The Basilica Cathedral and other buildings of Cathedral Square are also portrayed to represent Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland.

A replica of this urn was used by the Sisters of Mercy to collect water from Newfoundland. It was then transported to the Baggot Street Mercy Convent in Dublin, Ireland for the Blessing Ritual of the Fountain which took place on July 23, 1994. The Sisters collected water from all over the world in similar urns. The purpose of having water from various places was so that each place would be represented in the ritual, and in turn would unite all the people of the world.

You can see this beautiful piece in person at the Sisters of Mercy's Museum located at Littledale on Waterford Bridge Road, St. John's. The museum is open by appointment only. If you would like to set up an appointment, you can contact the Sisters of Mercy by calling 709-726-7320.

-Katie Harvey

#FoodwaysFriday - Tide Water Annie

Photo courtesy Newfoundland.ws

At the Port Blandford booklet launch, Calvin Efford of the heritage society mentioned the Tide Water Annie recipe. A couple of days later, he emailed me to explain the origins of this recipe:

"The recipe came to Port Blandford via Terra Nova Park. While constructing the road through the park in the late 1950’s, one of the cooks for the construction workers was named Annie, believed to be from Nova Scotia. She was noted for her dark raisin cake and the camp was at Tide Waters (a hill) near the eastern entrance to the park, overlooking Clode Sound.  Thus the name Tide Water Annie."

If you would like to make Tide Water Annie, here is the recipe:

4 cups Raisins

3 cups Hot Water

1 tsp Salt

1.5 tsp Cinnamon

1.5 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Cloves

3 cups Brown Sugar

.5 lb Butter

1 pk Cherries

Boil all the above ingredients, for 20 minutes. Let cool. Add 5.5 cups of Flower, 3 tsp Baking Soda, 3 tsp Vanilla or Lemon Flavouring. Bake 2.5 to 3 hrs.

-Katie Harvey

Tales from Afar: A short story about the lunar eclipse. #FolkloreThursday

"Tales from Afar: Old Stories from New Residents" is a project to share traditional stories which have come from away, created by the St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership and the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. This is one of the tales we’ve collected so far. 

A Short Story about the Lunar Eclipse

As told by Xingpei Li

In the old days, people had no idea of astronomy, or how and why the lunar eclipse happens. People believed that there was a dog up in the sky who bites and swallows the moon sometimes. That is when and why the moon disappears. It was not a pleasant experience in old days without electric lights available in the night.

So people were very scared by the darkness when lunar eclipse happened. To drive away the dog who devours the moon, people used to make noises, such as by ringing bells, beating drums or any metal utensils they could find at home. In this way, they wished they could get the moon back soon, as well as the light.

There are different versions about this story in China, but the main plot is as described above.

Xingpei Li is a Chinese student enrolled in the graduate program, Department of Folklore, Memorial University. Image from Fire Dogs and Angry Demons.

How can I share a story?

Stories can be submitted in written form, or participants can sit down with a collector and record a spoken version of their story. To share a story, you can:

• Email ich@heritagefoundation.ca
• Call Dale Jarvis at 1-888-739-1892 extension 2, or 
• Fill in the online form here: https://goo.gl/forms/QWmJY9haiyItAeop2

Stories From the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Memory Mug Up Booklet Launch Nov 1

“Stories From the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Memory Mug Up” Booklet Launch

Compiled by the students of Memorial University  FOLK 6740: Public Folklore 

Tales from residents of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, representing the breadth of their experiences and personal histories. Some of the stories are from long-time residents, some of the stories are from people newer to the community, reflecting the change and growth of the town itself.

When: November 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: PCSP Fire Station,1819 Thorburn Road, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s

note:

See the google maps link for directions. It is next door to the post office. If you reach the ferry you’ve gone too far. Also, we will have to use the back door, and go up the stairs to the meeting room/kitchen area.

Waste Not - Rugs, Rags, Ropes, and Recycling!

Waste Not - Rugs, Rags, Ropes, and Recycling!
Coffee and Culture at The Rooms
2:30pm, Thursday Oct 26th
(event free with admission to The Rooms)

In the past, the Newfoundland and Labrador household also had to be versatile in order to survive. People made do with what they had and turned old objects into new items. Clothes were cut down to fit someone else, apple barrels became rocking chairs, and so on. It’s a centuries-old tradition of adaptive reuse and creativity that continues today.

Join folklorist Dale Jarvis of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador as he interviews two of these crafty recyclers: Trent Hardy, mat maker and owner of Waste Knot Want Knot; and Ruth Noseworthy Green, artist and rug hooker. Trent Hardy founded his braided mat-making company on the principle that we should not be simply throwing away materials that can still be used, turning old fishing rope into modern floor mats. Ruth Noseworthy Green’s hooked mats have been exhibited in the Arts and Letters Competition, The Bonavista North Museum Gallery, the Kildevil Far, and hang in private collections across Canada. Together, they’ll talk about the tradition of reuse, reinvention, ropes, rags, and rugs!

#AdaptingHeritage Forum 2017 - Introducing Christine LeGrow

Christine LeGrow is the owner of Spindrift Handknits. Christine was born and raised here and has a keen interest in the people, places and things that make this island of Newfoundland unique.

At the forum, Christine will be giving a demonstration how darning. If you would like to know more about Christine's work, you can listen to our Living Heritage podcast episode with her by clicking here.

Forum on Adapting NL's Intangible Cultural Heritage will take place on October 25 and 26. The cost of registration is $75.00, and $18.75 for post-secondary students. For full program details click here. To register click here.

St. John's harbourfront before Harbour Drive #Folklorephoto

View of the St. John's Court House from wharf [1954]. Photograph courtesy of the Portugal Cove St. Philip's Archives (Allen and Pearl Squires Fonds)

These two photographs were taken by Allen and Pearl Squires in 1954 and show downtown St. John's before the addition of Harbour Drive. Do you remember the change to the harbourfront?

View of St. John's harbourfront and wharves [1954]. Photograph courtesy of the Portugal Cove St. Philip's Archives. 

#AdaptingHeritage Forum 2017 - Introducing Kevin Noseworthy

Kevin Noseworthy is a co-owner at Escape Quest, St.John's premier Escape Room experience.  

Kevin has always been passionate about stories, having pursued both his BA and Masters in English before earning his Education Degree.  A substitute teacher for the last nine years, Kevin developed a class management tactic of rewarding well behaved classes with a folktale (and 20 minute break) at the end of the school day.  Nowadays, he works with his incredibly talented team at Escape Quest to craft stories told through playing a game. Teams explore rooms and problem solve their way through extraordinary scenarios, like attempting to survive the zombie apocalypse, or escaping the Great Fire of 1892.  On his off hours, Kevin can usually be found playing video games, bingeing on Netflix, or relaxing at the cabin, all with his amazing partner, Nicole Kieley.

At the forum, Kevin will be a presenting in Session One: From Sealskin to Science Fiction – Taking Tradition into the 21st Century.

Forum on Adapting NL's Intangible Cultural Heritage will take place on October 25 and 26. The cost of registration is $75.00, and $18.75 for post-secondary students. For full program details click here. To register click here.