Grand Falls-Windsor Memories Mug Up - Kay McDermott

Storytellers on stage.

On Friday, July 13, as part of the celebrations for Salmon Festival the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society hosted their second annual Memories Mug Up at the Classic Theatre on High Street. About a hundred audience members came out to listen to the six storytellers share their memories of growing up in Grand Falls-Windsor. The session was moderated by Mary Kelly, a recently retired teacher and member of the heritage society.

There were stories about growing up in during the Second World War, the newspaper industry, memories of High Street and Main Street, and stories about the paper mill. Today's story comes from Kay McDermott:

View of the Classic Theatre.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep123 The Brewnettes: The Newfoundland Women’s Craft Beer Collective

The Brewnettes have been bringing women together over a pint since 2012, first as an online forum and now in the form of monthly meet-ups and events. The St. John’s-based group welcomes women with all levels of experience and knowledge, from professional brewers to those tasting their first pint of craft beer. In this episode, Terra Barrett talks with organizers Nicole Evans and Christina Coady. Nicole Evans is a Newfoundlander-by-choice, business developer and entrepreneur by day, and craft beer nerd by night. Through working with the Brewnettes and Port Rexton Brewing Company, Nicole has witnessed first-hand the power that craft beer has to bring people together, revitalize communities and support the evolution of the already strong culture of beer in Newfoundland. Christina Coady is co-owner and head brewer at Landwash Brewery in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. In addition to running a brewery, Christina works with other Brewnettes to organize monthly meet-ups and events. Join the Brewnettes Facebook page to learn more about the craft beer community or attend an upcoming event.

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Newfoundland word of the day: Linkum (and where it comes from) #heritageNL

This fabulous shot of a gentleman identified as Uncle Abe Mercer is from the International Grenfell Association photograph collection of lantern slides in the holdings of The Rooms (Item IGA 13-58). The original photograph was taken in 1931 by Fred Coleman Sears, and shows a man wearing rain gear, with sou'wester hat, or what in Newfoundland English one might call a "lincoln" or "linkum."

Here is what the Dictionary of Newfoundland English says about the word:

lincoln n also linkum. A fisherman's oilskin hat with elongated flap at the back; CAPE ANN, SOU'WESTER.

1936 DEVINE 115 He sold. . .oil clothing, which was a specialty and included south-westers, Cape Anns and 'Lincolns.' 1937 ibid 31 Linkum. An oiled hat (sou'-wester) worn by fishermen. 1970 Wooden Boats 20 Those three shipwrecked men clung to the rock from Saturday to Tuesday, without food and the only water they had to drink was rain water they caught in a lincoln. 1971 NOSEWORTHY 217 Linkum. A large water-proof hat worn by fishermen with a strap under the chin, a small rim in front, and a flap on the back to keep the neck dry. 1978 Evening Telegram 9 Sep. p. 14 A linkum is an oil hat with a long back on it to protect your shoulders.

Waterproofed cloth garments were used in the North Atlantic from the late 1700s, and what we think of today as the oilskins worn by sailors and fishermen were originally made from sailcloth coated with tar. Traditional black or "tarred" Sou'Wester hats were developed in the 1800s, but replaced the tar with linseed oil and lampblack. 

Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh patented a method in 1823 for binding two pieces of material together with rubber dissolved in naphtha, and the Mackintosh was born (the K was added later, apparently). But the rubber Mackintosh didn’t breathe, which made it unsuitable for certain types of work, and it stiffened when cold.

Gabardine was invented in 1879 by Englishman Thomas Burberry (founder of the Burberry fashion house) The original fabric was waterproofed using lanolin (and Burberry coats were worn by polar explorers such as Amundsen and Shackleton). It was a New Zealander, Edward Le Roy, however, who is said to have developed a more commercially-available (and yellow) material circa 1898, using worn-out sailcloth painted with a mixture of linseed oil and wax. This produced a waterproof, yet still breathable garment able to be worn in foul-weather conditions. 

Scientific American (Vol. 79, No. 11, September 10, 1898, p. 172) notes:

When a sailor's oilskins crack or get worn so that they are not waterproof, he oils them. They may need oiling two or three times a year. There are prepared oil dressings made for this use and pnt up in little tin cans. Some sailors use oils of one sort and another,and some sailors make a mixture of their own for a dressing. The sailor is likely to have a preference for some one brand of clothing and to stick to it. And he has his own ideas as to the best dressing for it, but he carries always with him a dressing of some sort. It is put on with a brush, the garments being hung up and painted with it.

But what of our linkums? Where did that particular word come from?

The catalogue and price list for Joseph H. Rowe & Company, manufacturers of genuine Cape Ann oiled clothing, horse and wagon covers, sou'westers and oiled hats, out of Gloucester, Massachusetts (circa 1892) note that their Lincoln Sou’ Wester retailed for $8 a dozen, though the catalogue advised that one could write in for discounts. The image below is taken from the catalogue:

It seems likely that the Newfoundland word “lincoln” and its derivative “linkum” comes from the Lincoln Sou’ Wester, though why that particular style of Sou’ Wester was called a Lincoln is yet (by me at least) undetermined. The catalogue also offered for sale "Rowe's Prepared Oil" (at $3.50/doz) to keep your lincoln in tip-top shape, which was warranted to dry, soft and pliable, and free from tact. It came in pint cans with a patent screw top, for your convenience.

If you have an old linkum in your collections, we'd love to see it, and if there are people who remember the process of making oilskin, please get in touch! You can call me at 1-888-739-1892 x2, or email dale@heritagenl.ca

Tuesday's #FolklorePhoto: Crafting in Black Duck Cove

Blanche Dredge stands next to her table of crafts in her home, Black Duck Cove. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010.

Today's Folklore Photos come from The Straits collection on Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. The Strait of Belle Isle is a geographic region on the northwest coast of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula. Colloquially know as 'The Straits,' this coastal strip runs from the community of Plum Point in the south, to Eddies Cove East at the northernmost tip.

Between these two locales, several small communities dot the coast. Families first arrived at The Strait of Belle Isle in the 1880s, to exploit the salmon fishery and perhaps set up a base for the fur trade. Early inhabitants were there seasonally, but by 1884, permanent settlers arrived and began fishing for cod, herring, and began sealing practices as well. Although resources may have shifted in value, abundance and importance, over the years, the local drive to work the land and sea has remained consistent. While the cod fishery ultimately saw its demise in the 1990s, forms of this industry continue to fuel the local economy today. In Anchor Point, for instance, many of the residents continue to work as fish harvesters, or alternately in the shrimp plant, which employs upwards of 150 people each season.

The Straits inventory is part of a founding collection for the Great Northern Peninsula Textiles Archive and Learning Center. This project, based in Conche, NL, is an on-going initiative to document and preserve the textile-based crafts that are being created on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula. The items in this collection were gathered between May and July of 2010 and include photographs of textile craft objects such as sealskin boots, Newfoundland Quilts, knitted socks, and embroidered cloth. This inventory also includes audio clips of craftspeople discussing their particular textile-based skills and practices. Straits communities present in this collection include Green Island Brook, Pines Cove, Bird Cove, Black Duck Cove, Eddies Cove East, Anchor Point, Sandy Cove, and Flower's Cove. Flower's Cove, due to its comparably large population, has been given its own community inventory on the DAI.

If you want to learn more about this collection click here and if you want to listen to an interview with Blanche Dredge about life in Black Duck Cove click here for part one, and here for part two.

Five polar bears hooked mat made by Blanche Dredge, Black Duck Cove. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

A toilet paper holder in plastic canvas made by Blanche Dredge, Black Duck Cove. Photo by Lisa Wilson. 2010

Grand Falls-Windsor Memories Mug Up - Ed Power

Storytellers on stage.

On Friday, July 13, as part of the celebrations for Salmon Festival the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society hosted their second annual Memories Mug Up at the Classic Theatre on High Street. About a hundred audience members came out to listen to the six storytellers share their memories of growing up in Grand Falls-Windsor. The session was moderated by Mary Kelly, a recently retired teacher and member of the heritage society.

There were stories about growing up in during the Second World War, the newspaper industry, memories of High Street and Main Street, and stories about the paper mill. Today's story comes from Ed Power:

View of the Classic Theatre.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep122 Tiny Houses with Jess Puddister

Jess Puddister was born in Burin, raised in St. John’s, and has roots both in St. Mary’s Bay and the Southern Shore. She completed her B.Sc. in Earth Science at Dalhousie University in 2013 and has since worked in the Environmental Science Industry (private industry and not-for-profit). She and her partner Tim Ward from South East Bight started building a tiny house in 2015 in response to unstable job security in Newfoundland and a desire to reduce their carbon footprint. A year teaching English in Japan helped inform their minimalist lifestyle, and they are looking forward to getting back to basics once they secure property for their tiny house. Jess wants to incorporate traditional Newfoundland homesteading practices into her daily life, and raise her future kids with a focus on nature and self-sufficiency. You can learn more about tiny homes in Newfoundland on the Facebook page Tiny Houses & Alternative Dwellings NL.

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.

Rectory and St. Mary's Anglican Church #FolklorePhoto

Photo courtesy Heart's Content Mizzen Heritage Society. 

This week's #FolklorePhoto is of the rectory(c. 1890-1954) and St. Mary's Anglican Church (1884-1989) in Heart's Content. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed by fire in May of 1989. 

Grand Falls-Windsor Memories Mug Up - Elizabeth Walters

Storytellers on stage at the Memories Mug Up.

On Friday, July 13, as part of the celebrations for Salmon Festival the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society hosted their second annual Memories Mug Up at the Classic Theatre on High Street. About a hundred audience members came out to listen to the six storytellers share their memories of growing up in Grand Falls-Windsor. The session was moderated by Mary Kelly, a recently retired teacher and member of the heritage society.

There were stories about growing up in during the Second World War, the newspaper industry, memories of High Street and Main Street, and stories about the paper mill. Today's story comes from Elizabeth (Hicks) Walters:

Memories Mug Up at the Classic Theatre.

Living Heritage Podcast Ep121 U-boats and Lost Torpedoes

Neil Burgess has a Masters in Science and works as a wildlife biologist for the federal government. In his spare time, he pursues his passion for learning more about shipwrecks in this province. With friends, he established the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland & Labrador five years ago. The aim of the Shipwreck Society is to document, protect and promote awareness of shipwrecks and nautical history across the province. The Society is currently working with the Bell Island Heritage Society to create a virtual museum exhibit online on the U-boat attacks at Bell Island in 1942 and the sinking of four ore ships. If you or someone you know has memories, stories, or photos of the Bell Island U-boat attacks, you can share them with the Shipwreck Preservation Society through their Facebook page or on their website.

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The Living Heritage Podcast is about people who are engaged in the heritage and culture sector, from museum professionals and archivists, to tradition bearers and craftspeople - all those who keep history alive at the community level. The show is a partnership between HFNL and CHMR Radio. Past episodes are hosted on Libsyn, and you can subscribe via iTunes, or Stitcher. Theme music is Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing.