Interview #32
Name: Ann House
Sex: Female
Age: 61
Place and date of birth: St. Alban's, July 26, 1937
Education: Grade nine
Religion: Roman Catholic
Occupation: Housewife
Number of children: 10
Names of children and where they live:
Gerald Organ - Ramea
Levi Organ - Burin
John Organ - Ramea
Ken Organ - Bridgewater
Ann Marie Organ - St. Alban's
Carrie Organ - Quebec
Austin Organ - Lunenberg
Liewellyn Organ - Ottawa
Diane Organ - English Harbour
Lisa Organ - Gagetown
Phone: 538-3016
Place of interview: St. Alban's
Date of interview: February 25, 1999
Interviewers: Colin Pittman and Curtis Hoskins
Ann was born in St. Alban's on July 26, 1937. Her mother died in childbirth so she was placed with foster parents, Isaac and Emma Collier. She first lived around where Birchy Hollow Park is now (Walter Collier's road). Her foster parents had six boys and three girls including Ann. At age eight, she moved in on the neck. She didn't want to move but she had to.
Ann recollected some chores she did while growing up. She recalled bringing water. She said that when she lived on Walter Collier's road, she only had to go up the hill but after she moved in on the neck, she recalled it was harder because she had to go all the way to Path End. A funny event that happened to Ann while getting water one time, was when a billy goat pinned her down with his two horns and her father got it off of her. Her father had to kill it by putting sugar water down its throat. She also remembered carding, spinning and knitting wool, and milking cows and goats.
Although she did work, she had her fun as well. She recalled her friends being Maureen Hoskins, Frances Dollimont and Alimeta Cox. Their hangout spot was where Leonard Long lives today. She remembered doing such things as sliding, hopscotch, bat ball and tiddley. She also remembered rampsing in haybarns. Ann says it was more fun back then and everyone was together.
Ann recalled some slang words used in the past:
Ann attended three different schools at St. Alban's. She went to the school at Birchy Point and after it burned down, she went to the underground chapel. She also attended the school that we have today and she remembers helping pick up rocks to build the school and carrying splits to heat the school. Some teachers she recalled were Miss Flynn and Tillie Collier.
Church was also a part of Ann's life. She would always have to say prayers before going to bed and say the rosary after supper. She says "Everything is gone now." She also remembers Father Hayes. She said "He was good." She once used to clean the Church and Father Hayes would invite them to come and have black coffee and biscuits. She said she would never refuse it due to fear. She recalls one time that Father Hayes got mad about something in Church and he kept the congregation in for four or five hours.
One major Church event that Ann recalled was St. Anne's Day. She remembered going to Mass in Conne River in boats. After mass, there were a dance and a big lunch consisting of syrup, baked beans, fish cakes, soups, etc. Christmas was also a big celebration with drinks and accordions. Everyone went house to house, having square dances. As a child, she remembered her best Christmas when she got a big doll and a tea set.
Ann remembered different dances that she did. Some include: the step dance, the monkey dance, square dances and swinging eights. She also recalled being taught how to play the accordion by Nellie Collier at age twelve and having to play at "times."
One of Ann's biggest regrets in life is never meeting one of her older brothers. He went over to Scotland during the war with forestry. He stayed over and married a Scottish girl. He was coming home but he got sick and died at age sixty-five. Today Ann looked back with fond memories of growing up but feels things are a lot different today.