Interview #9

Name: Bessie Kean

Sex: Female

Age: 79

Place & date of birth Hermitage, December 2, 1920

Education: Grade seven

Religion: Anglican

Occupation: Homemaker

Number of children: six

Names of children and where they live:

Marilynn Skinner -Milltown

Maxwell - Gander

Vivian - Head Bay D'Espoir

Robert - St. John's

Lewis - Harbour Breton

Madonna - St. John's

Margaret - St. John's

Phone: 882-2327

Place of interview: Milltown

Date of interview: January 25, 1999

Interviewers: Sheri Peters and Pam Organ

Bessie Kean was born in Hermitage, on December 2, 1920. Her parents were Henry and Elizabeth Willmott. Her father was born in Partridge Harbour, and her mother was born in Sandyville. Bessie's grandparents, on her mothers side, were Sophia and John Wells from Sandyville. Her grandparents, on her fathers side, were Sarah and Henry Willmott from Hermitage Bay.

Bessie met her husband, Lewis Kean, in Westleyville They moved to Bay d'Espoir in 1945. Her husband, worked as a fisherman for a while, he then joined the merchant Navy in 1939. After the war was over, he became a cook's assistance for the Bowaters, which was located in Conne. Bessie stayed at home doing daily chores. She would milk the cows, card wool from sheep to knit mittens, sweaters, and socks. Bessie, still to this day, knits items for the Red Cross. She would use a scrub board and sunlight soap to wash clothes for her family of eight, another family of nine, her parents, and her brother. For her to be able to wash, she would carry buckets of water for a long distance. Bessie would light her home with kerosene lamps. For cooking and heating, they would use wood stoves.

In 1926, at the age of six, Bessie started attending school. In school, she would use a slate and chalk for writing. All the students were in one class, with one teacher. She remembered doing public exams for grade six.

The school and church were located just below the Vancor Motel, where the cemetery is today. The second church was built by Henry Burton, and people from the community. Sunday was a day of rest, which was called the Sabbath Day. Bessie and her family were very faithful to their religion. She recalled her children attending church at a very young age. The only time she would miss church, was if she were too sick to go. She remembered everyone going to Father Hayes for medical attention, because he knew first-aid. Other ministers she mentioned were Reverend Hollands, Reverend Bennett, who lives in Hermitage, Reverend Rod Lee, he Served for six years, and Reverend Colen, who served for ten years.

In the summer time, people would come to the bay on schooners. Bessie remembered Mr. Ted Jackman having a dance in his home, with just a single floor built. Someone fell through the floor. On the 15th of August, people would row their boats to Swangers Cove, and then walk to St. Alban's for a big time. This was known as St. Swiffins Day. The dances were held where the old doctor's house use to be. During Christmas time, they would go mummering and party for twelve consecutive days. Before Mary Brushett had a phone, they would have to walk to peoples homes to deliver messages.

Some illnesses back then, were the flu, chicken pox, and measles. Bessie remembered some people having Tuberculous, but very few people from the Bay d'Espoir area having it. She remembered uncle Bob Kearley and his home remedies that saved many lives. Once her brother George cut his foot in the woods. Uncle Bob took turpentine from a tree and spread it on George's foot and wrapped it up with a cloth. George walked on the injured foot and broke it open. Bessie recalled seeing a lot of blood when her father held the heel into his hands. From the loss of blood she thought her brother might die. But Uncle Bob mixed flour and salt together and wiped it on the open wound. He bandaged up the wound and George's heel healed up fine. George also developed a hasp on his leg. Uncle Bob told Bessie's mother to card some wool, and then soak the wool in melted butter. Then place the mixture on a cloth and use it on the infected area. The remedy drew out the infection and George's leg healed well. Aunt Millie Foote was the midwife that delivered three of Bessie's children.

Before the roads were constructed in 1965, people would travel by boat. In 1942, Bessie took a trip to St. John's. She left Milltown by boat and to Argentia, where she boarded a train to St. John's. She and her friends take a boat to the mill to get pieces of wood. After they had them collected, they would bring the wood home and pack it in the shed.

Bessie was nine years old when the tidal wave occurred. She remembered walking home and seeing a fence shaking and ice in the ditches cracking. The huge waves forced nets to go on shore. She also remembered, water running into some people's homes but no damage was done.

George Perry Sr. had the first radio. Bessie recalled sitting on his fence, just outside his house, and listening to the radio. Mr. Perry also owned the first store in Head Bay d'Espoir. Bessie can remember purchasing a cup, a saucer, a milk jug, and a pack of bobby pins, for only fifty cents. She said "Fifty cents then, is the same as 500 dollars now. Prices were about the same because you didn't have much money to buy things."

Bessie told us a tragic story that happened in Head of Bay d'Espoir. Helen Combs, age 17, and Margaret King, age 18, drowned in the area where Lloyd Diamond lives today.

Helen was on her way to Milltown to run some errands, and Margaret went along with her. At the time, it was a nice day. When they arrived at Mr. J. Strickland's store, they met up with Barbara Sutton. The three girls decided to walk back to Head of Bay d'Espoir, across the ice. As they were walking on the ice, the weather changed to a storm. They could not see where they were heading.

The girls continued walking and suddenly they fell through the ice at the deep point of the bay. Barbara tried to help Helen but Helen was too far away. Margaret was nowhere in sight. Barbara managed to get ashore. She saw a house and it turned out to be Mr. George Perry's house. She went to the house and immediately got help from Frances Perry. People from the community searched for the other two girls throughout the night. Uncle Bob Kearley had to walk into the woods to deliver the message to the girl's fathers about the tragedy.

On the morning of February 28, they found Margaret's body and later in that evening, Helen's body was found by Partridge Harbour amongst the ice.

Before the tragedy happened, the two girls had a feeling they might die. Helen told her mother that she could hear music coming from walls. She said "Someday I will fly away with it." Margaret told one of her friends that she felt like she was going to die, her friend said "We all have to go someday." Helen once asked her father which way was the easiest way to die, burn or drown. Barbara Sutton was the only survivor and has been afraid of the ice ever since the tragedy. She also said "I will never forget that day as long as I live."