Name: Mary Bridget Davis

Date: January 6, 1999

Interviewers: Sheri Peters and Crystal Hoskins

Place: St Alban's (Voyce Cove)

Education: Grade 4

Occupation: Homemaker

Date of birth: October 30, 1922

Place of birth: St. Alban's

Religion: Roman Catholic

Age: 77

Sex: Female

Number of children: 10

- Adelia (Deceased) - Walter (Deceased)

- Amelda (Deceased) - Matilda (Deceased)

- Edmund - Geraldine

- Anthony - Theresa

- Genevieve - Fabian

Mary was born in St. Alban's and so were her parents. Mary never knew her real father, Issac Collier, because he died when she was only three months old. When Mary was five, her mother got remarried to Ted Crant and they moved to Voyce Cove.

Mary remembers the animals they had. Her family owned sheep, hens and a cow. They used the cow's milk to make butter. First, they would boil the milk in a pan over a stove then let it cool. After the milk had cooled, they would remove the top layer of cream and churn it into butter. The sheep were also important to Mary's family. Mary would "card the wool" that was sheared from the sheep while her mother would spin wool on the spinning wheel. They would then use the wool to knit socks, underwear, hats, mittens, and guernsey's.

When Mary was a child, her and her friends would play "dolls house", hopscotch, tiddley, and cards such as 120's and donkey. During the winter, Mary and her friends would enjoy ice skating. They would use skates called "woodstocks" which were homemade, out of wood and pieces of blade. Two of Mary's friends were Mary Jane Davis and Liz Hull. She had many more but cannot recall their names.

Mary reached the fourth grade in school. While going to school, she had to walk from Voyce Cove to around where the post office is now. During the winter, they would walk across the ice to school. Some teachers Mary remembers were Miss Critch, Rita Ratford and Miss Hayward. Mary and her classmates had to bring wood from their homes to heat the school.

Two of the priests that Mary can remember were Father Nolan and Father St. Croix. Mary also recalls when people needed a priest, they would have to find one outside of the community.

Mary recollects having a house wedding and that two her daughters, Geraldine and Genevieve, did as well. Another special event was Christmas which included house parties.

Mary was eight years old when the tidal wave of 1929 hit. Her family had to leave their home due to flooding. Mary felt the tremors and remembers being very scared. She remembers local damage. Goods, such as sugar in Bill Collier's store, were ruined.

All Mary can remember about World War II was the absence of local men and that she had to fill out ration cards for the people of Voyce Cove.

Mary's husband was a woodsman and he also did some trapping but there were times they were dependent on Relief. Mary's stepfather was also a trapper. Her stepfather would travel by boat to St. Veronica's and then walk to Twillick Brook to trap animals such as red fox and otter. Her stepfather made moccasins out of deer skins for her to wear.

Mary can remember some history about St. Alban's. The old weather station was located where Warehouse 2000 Ltd. is located now and it was operated by Adelia Cox. In 1934, she remembers a post office that might have been run by Jim Kearley. Mary also remembers the names of some midwives. They were Aunt Joanie Collier, Bernie Collier, Mrs. Reynolds and Aunt Eve. Mary can also remember when boats would bring food to St. Alban's from Hermitage. Mary had to travel to Harbour Breton to have three of her children. Finally, Mary remembers Confederation being a good thing because everyone liked receiving Baby Bonus.