A scene from Emily Harbour, Labrador. #FolklorePhoto

Hello 2019! Our first Folklore Photo for the year is of Emily Harbour, Labrador, and comes to us from Alice Elizabeth (Betty) Neil, who in turn got the photo from her late sister, Louise Vallis (née Barrett), (September 06, 1933 - February 07, 2015). 

Louise's father had a fishing room at Emily Harbour, and as a young girl, she was sent off to work as a cook for the fishing crew. Date of photo unknown, but shows the home of a Mr. Apsey (sp?).  Any information you have on the individuals shown, or about the house, would be greatly appreciated!

Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Sweeping up the old year! Our final #FolklorePhoto for 2018

Help us identify the woman in this photo! In our records, she is listed as the daughter of Martin Gosse of Spaniard's Bay, caught here mid-action, sweeping up with a broom in front of his house. Note the doll or baby in the little buggy to the bottom right!

Photo courtesy Daphne Robinson. Photos collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep141 Cemeteries with Denise Mahoney

Denise Mahoney, City of Mississauga.
Photo by Jason Spencer.
Photo courtesy of: https://www.mississauga.com/photogallery/6311476/

Denise Mahoney is the Manager, Cemeteries & Operational Services, and Program Manager, Cemetery Legislation and Compliance for the City of Mississauga, Ontario. She has over 20 years experience managing municipal cemeteries, and the promotion of heritage resources connected to cemeteries and cenotaphs. In this episode, Denise discusses her family’s connection to Fishot Island, her interest in cemeteries, her position as a heritage coordinator and a cemetery manager with the City of Mississauga, cemetery records and mapping, and the preservation and education of cemeteries.

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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.

You got it, Pontiac! A #folklorephoto from South River

Today's folklore photo comes to us courtesy Mary Hutchings. It shows Mary Hutchings (née Dunn) and her father Edwin Dunn. It was taken on the street now known as Springfield Road in South River. In the photo, Mary is around 4 years old, her Dad is about 39. If you look close, you can see a third person hidden in the back seat of the Pontiac, their face obscured, but their right arm hanging over the back of the front seat.  Some car enthusiast out there surely knows the model and year of that car. Let us know!

Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep140 Community Engagement in Canada’s History with Joanna Dawson

Joanna Dawson, Canada's National History Society.
Photo courtesy of: https://www.canadashistory.ca/about-us/staff-listing

Joanna Dawson is the Community Engagement Coordinator with Canada’s History, the official magazine of Canada's National History Society. It is published six times a year and aims to foster greater popular interest in Canadian history, illuminating the people, places, and events that unite us as Canadians. A Newfoundlander/Winnipegger, Joanna joined Canada’s History in 2011 after obtaining her MA in Public History from Western University. In this episode, Joanna discusses her interest and degree in public history, her work with Canada’s National History Society including the Governor General History Awards, Historical Thinking Summer Institute, and Heritage Fairs. You can check out Canada’s History’s website for more information.

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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.

A Conception Bay South fairy story, circa 1944, by Donald W. Smith.

A while back, Karen Smith, the owner of SeaGlass B&B in New Perlican, sent me a fairy story from her father, Donald W. Smith, of Manuels. What follows is his version of a fairy encounter or abduction from 1944. It features some of the classic NL fairylore motifs, such as missing or compressed time, and the use of bread as a protective charm.

Donald William Smith was born February 11, 1932. He married Phoebe Warren on April 28, 1953 and they had 6 children and over 65 wonderful years together. Unfortunately, Mr Smith had been in declining health for the past few months, and passed peacefully away on Sunday December 9, 2018. Our thoughts go out to the family. 

Here is Mr. Smith's story:

Conception Bay South, 1944 

Don Smith 12 years old, John Nickelson (Nick) age 50ish, and his dog 

We left Cherry Lane, Manuels to go fishing for trout at Thomas Pond on a Wednesday afternoon. Mom let me go because Ethel (John’s friend) didn’t like Nick to go in the woods fishing by himself. After two hours of walking about five miles we reached our fishing spot. It was starting to get dark so we decided to lay down for a rest and planned to get up at 5am to fish all day. When I woke up I realized the sun had already set and we had slept all night and the entire next day. The dog was still laid next to us and we felt rested but surprised that we lost the entire day. And thought it was too late to head home so we fished for a short while and ate supper. We lay down again and next thing we know another day has passed and it is evening again. Each time we woke the scene was exactly the same as the first. The dog never barked or wandered away during the night or day. On Friday we woke at dusk again. Nick was worried about getting home as they had a snack bar to run on Saturday and Ethel would be poisoned with him if he didn’t get back. So before things got out of hand Nick insisted that we try to find our way out of the woods in the dark. After 3 hours or more we finally made it home. I was expecting Mom to be mad and she was. I explained as best I could what had happened and she remarked that I must have been taken by the fairies. That was the last time I was allowed to go fishing for a long time after that. Although I still saw Nick from time to time, he never once mentioned our ordeal to me or anyone else. I’m not sure I believe in fairies but I have no explanation of how we lost time for 3 days and nights with no recollection. My father, Walter Smith, often cautioned us youngsters to wear a piece of clothing inside out or carries a piece of bread in our pockets while walking in the woods for fear of being taken by the fairies.

Donald W. Smith
Atkins Road, Manuels, CBS NL

You can read a 2016 CBC article on Karen's "zombie fairy" photoshoot here, inspired by some of the fairy stories she heard growing up.  Photo of Donald and Phoebe Smith courtesy Karen Smith via facebook. 

Saving traditional Newfoundland knitting patterns - Christine LeGrow is the focus of this month's Living Heritage Economy Case Study!

We have an early Christmas present for you - the next in our Living Heritage Economy Case Studies!

This month, we are delighted to showcase the work of Christine LeGrow and Spindrift Handknits. Christine LeGrow was born and raised in Newfoundland, and has a keen interest in the people, places, and things that make this island unique. A life-long knitter, her company Spindrift Handknits produces over 30 regular hand-knit wool products across a diverse product line. The business is supported by rural knitters throughout the island who make extensive use of traditional patterns that have been handed down through generations.

You can download the pdf version of the case study right here. 

And, you can listen to an interview with Christine and Shirley "Shirl the Purl" Scott here.

This is part of a series of case studies examining the links between living heritage, traditionality, entrepreneurism, and community economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca. Photo courtesy Christine Le Grow.

Some very dapper Vokeys, circa 1945. #folklorephoto

This photo shows Ruby Rees's grandmother Sarah (Anthony) Vokey and her grandfather Isaac Vokey, circa 1945. Location uncertain, but check out those hats!

Photo courtesy Ruby Rees. Photo collected as part of the "Lassy Days Photo Scanning Pary" held Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Wesley Gosse Heritage Museum. If this photo elicits memories for you, or if you'd like to arrange a photo scanning party for your community, contact Dale Jarvis at dale@heritagenl.ca

Living Heritage Podcast Ep139 The Pyrex Nerds

Terra Barrett is a public folklorist with Heritage NL. She is researching the folklore and oral history of the province. Terra holds a BA in Folklore and French and a MA in Public Folklore from Memorial University. She is a lover of all things vintage and an avid Pyrex collector. In this episode, Terra talks about the history of Pyrex, how she became a collector, and the thrill of the hunt for new (and old!) pieces and designs.

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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.