PRESERVING THE PAST
C.O.B.R.E.C	JANUARY 1999 ED. 1

YOUTH SERVICES CANADA PROJECT

This historical newsletter was created by participants in an on going Youth Services Canada project which involves the collection, documentation, preservation and promotion of the history of Bay D'Espoir.

This project is non-profit. It is funded by Human Resources Development Canada and sponsored by the Coast of Bays Resource Enhancement Corporation (C. O. B. R. E. C.).

This is our premiere edition. Other issues will circulate twice a month. Other projects planned include creating place mats to be distributed to the local restaurants, a CD Rom, a web page and educational packages to be distributed to the schools.

The Youth Services Canada project participants would greatly appreciate your input and support in completing this project.

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY: JANUARY

Did you know...

• the first public library in Bay D'Espoir was founded on January 18, 1972 by Beatrice Collier.
• temperatures reached 14 degrees below zero on January 31, 1957 in Bay D'Espoir. Due to the heavy ice, the coastal boat was unable to get inside Roti Point.
• in January of 1957, snowmobiles had crossed by ice from Milltown to Swanger's Cove for the first time.

BEFORE

This was a residence and dispensary that was built by the people of St.Alban's in 1951.The master builder was Mr.Samuel Cox. When it was completed it was a well equipped dispensary and the doctor was available to cope with almost any emergency from his own headquarters.

AFTER

Through the years, this building has been used for various purposes including the town office for St. Alban's and living accommodations. Today it is an apartment complex owned by Mr. Rick Benoit of St. Alban's. There are currently two occupants residing there.

"Profile"

THE BUSINESS OF WOMEN

Women's Contributions and Achievements to a community! These words immediately made me think of a woman who certainly made a valuable contribution to the community of St. Alban's and the surrounding areas. I am referring to Mrs. Eva Collier.

Mrs. Eva Collier was born in the small community of St. Joseph's Cove, Bay d'Espoir in 1909. She received her primary education there, all that was available at the time. She later married Samuel Collier and raised nine children.

In 1950, Mrs. Collier was persuaded by the local doctor to take a midwife course. For a lady from a small isolated community, it took a lot of convincing. However, she went to St. John's and attended the course at Grace Hospital. She never regretted that decision for one minute, even though she spent the next forty years of her life on call.

Mrs. Collier, Aunt Eve as she was affectionately known, spent more than forty years as a midwife. She delivered and assisted in the delivery of more than 1500 babies and as she put it, " without losing a mother or child." Many of these deliveries were made under difficult circumstances, without the medical conveniences that we have today. In the earlier days, the nearest hospital was miles and hours away by boat travel and in later years, hours away by dirt road.

Before the roads were in the local area, Aunt Eve traveled by horse and sleigh and boat to attend to expectant mothers, while many from surrounding coastal areas came and stayed at her home until the delivery.

Aunt Eve didn't limit her care for others to midwifery. She constantly called on the aged, the sick, and the lonely of her community offering her friendship, a tender word of encouragement, and a shoulder to cry on. When Mrs. Collier received the Citizen of the Week Award for Newfoundland by CJON Radio in 1975, it was written that to the people of St. Alban's she was an Angel of Mercy.

In 1990, Aunt Eve died at the age of 82 years. The people of the community mourned the loss of a very special person, but the people she helped will forever remember her contribution to their community. From the stories I have heard and in talking to her family, I am glad to now have the opportunity to remember a great lady.

By: Jason Barnes

"Christmas The Old Fashion Way"

For all the people of Bay D 'Espoir, Christmas was celebrated in a festive and enjoyable fashion. Compared to present day traditions, the "Old Way" had a greater sense of family and togetherness. Considering their lack of means and material possessions, they celebrated all twelve days with astonishing vitality and spirit.

When Christmas began most people put up freshly cut tree decorated with cards and colored paper. The kids hung their woolen stockings on Christmas Eve. In the stockings they would get figs, raisins, apples oranges, dry caplin and various homemade gifts that were not usually wrapped or if they were, it was wrapped in brown paper.

Around this time of year there was a lot of card playing such as 120's. Dancing and drinking were also included. The dances were held for 12 consecutive nights, at different houses in the community. Two men were selected to go out in search of a house for that night, once found, they went around the second time to invite people to the dance. Entertainment consisted of accordians, singing and dances such as "right hand reel". Everybody also enjoyed syrup, cakes, and a scatter "swig" of homebrew for all.

Mummering was also a big part of the Christmas celebration. People dressed up in amusing costumes where by the women dressed as men and the men dressed as women with their traditional footwear attire; rubber boots. They went from house to house with hopes that no one would guess who they were. Mummers would sing and dance and were served cake and syrup. This activity started during Christmas and lasted until Old Christmas Day.

Such old time customs are but a few and very rare in Bay D'Espoir. Time has influenced many changes in the manners and outlook of the people of this bay and the old customs would be out of place today. They are however, still a part of our rich heritage and as such deserve to be remembered.

TRIVIA

1) What and when was the first plane to land at St. Alban's?

2) What was the first radio station?

3) What was Bay D'Espoir formerly named?

4) Who were the first settlers in Conne River?

5) When did the development of Hydro in Bay D'Espoir begin?

6) Who had the first telephone in Head Bay D'Espoir?

Enter to win this contest to win a prize!! Test your knowledge of local history. Place your answer in the space provided. Mail your answer to:

C.O.B.R.E.C

P.O BOX 189

St. Alban's, NF

A0H 2EO

The answer will be provided in the next newsletter along with the winners name.

CONTEST: Who had the first truck in St. Alban's?

HOME REMEDIES:

OLD HAG : It is formally known as having a nightmare about a person. In order to rid of this problem call the person's name backwards and it will go away.

HEADACHE : If you have a headache. A common remedy to follow is to walk backwards, preferably around in a circle.

PARTICIPANTS:

CURTIS HOSKINS - DALE WILLCOTT

KERRI-ANN SNOOK - COLIN PITTMAN

SHERI PETERS - LEAH MARSHALL

PAMELA ORGAN - CARLA COLLIER

TRINA KING - CRYSTAL HOSKINS

CO-ORDINATOR: KEN KELLY

ESSAYS / POEMS / OLD STORIES

We are inviting youth of all ages, to participate in preserving our local history. We would like you to write essays, poems, and old stories about Bay D'Espoir's past. We will select certain entries to be published in our newsletter. The entries should be no more then four hundred words in length. Send all copies to

C.O.B.R.E.C YSC

P.O. Box 189

St. Alban's, NF

A0H 2E0

or drop off at the Resource Center at room 105.

HEY STUDENTS ! Name the newsletter contest!! We are searching for a title for our newsletter that deals with local history. This contest goes out to students of all ages in the Bay D'Espoir region. Be creative. The title should be no longer than FOUR words. Have fun!! Send your replies to the above address.

Answers: 1. Imperial Airways. July 30th, 1937. 2. VO8S. 3. Ile d'Esprit. 4. Jeddores. 5. 1965. 6. Mary Brushett.

Dear Readers,

The producers of this newsletter would greatly appreciate any comments or criticisms that you might have regarding the information you have just read. If any of the information is false or does not address the full story we would love to hear from you, our readers. Feel free to contact us at: 538-3236