PRESERVING THE PAST
C.O.B.R.E.C.	February 1999 ED. #2

Father Michael Francis Hayes

Father Michael Francis Hayes was the parish priest in St. Alban's for 22 years. He began his duties as priest for St. Ignatious Church and St. Anne's Church in 1943. His services to Bay D'Espoir have had a lasting influence.

Father Hayes was born at Sandy Point, Bay St. Georges on May 14, 1892. He became a priest on June 29, 1927. Before he settled in St.Alban's, Father Hayes was well known throughout many communities of Newfoundland.

Once in St.Alban's, Father Hayes made a tremendous impact on the community. One of his strongest beliefs was that people should go to church regularly and often. As part of this belief students had to attend church at the beginning of every school day and during Lent, attendance was mandatory for the Stations of the Cross. Events like these and many others were strictly enforced.

Although firm, he provided many valuable services to all of the communities that went above and beyond his role as a parish priest. With his earlier training as a male nurse he provided medical and dental services to the area. He was also involved in the educational system with responsibilities such as the hiring and firing of teachers.

Father Hayes retired in 1965 and resided in Corner Brook until his passing in 1968. The marvelous influence he had on the area is one that will never be lost.

BEFORE

St.Luke's Anglican Church in Head of Bay D'Espoir was built in 1927.

AFTER

In 1980 St. Luke's was leveled and its congregation merged with St. Simon and St. Jude's of Milltown to form the Christ Church. Today, the area is still being used as a cemetery. Some of its oldest head stones date back to the 1890's.

This Month in History: February

Did you know ...

• February 7^th 1957 the Canadian National Telecommunication office in St.Alban's was separated from the post office and then situated in the Community Council building.
• February 20^th 1957, herring were scarce but unusually large codfish were being caught through the bay ice. Some reportedly weighing up to 50 lbs.

• Sadly, on February 27^th 1945, Helen Coombs, age 17, and Margaret King, age 18, accidentally drowned while crossing the bay ice.

"The Long Walk"

In 1939 Mike House was working at Garland's Mill for a mere ten cents an hour. "Money was scarce back then and a job was a job" Mr. House reflected. Also, at that time a lot of young Newfoundland men were heading over seas to work in the forestry to earn a better pay. However, for that summer Mr. House had something else in mind.

Around about the beginning of August Mr. Burt Organ received a telegraph from a man in Gander named "Old Man Goodyear." Mr. Goodyear was looking for five strong men to help in the construction of a new airport. The five men that were chosen were Mike House, Burt Organ, Frank Organ, Jack Organ, and Fred Collier. The only problem was "How were they going to get there?" Burt suggested that the five men were young and healthy enough to walk the long distance. The others agreed and they set off on the 8th of August with a few supplies and Burt's map and compass.

After seven days of walking the men reached Gander River. They stopped there for the night and camped along side of the steady. That night the men started recalling the "times" they used to have on August 15th, especially the big dances. "Burt, being foolish like he sometimes was, started jumping around and dancing. He trot on the bib of the kettle and drove it up the bottom of his foot. He never crippled himself up bad though" Mr. House remembered. The next morning the men set off again. It was still a long ways to Gander but now the men could use the river to make their trip a little easier. After they were below Rolling Falls the men cut 5 pines, 12 feet long and used them to build a raft. They rode the river until they met up with a man named Larry Shay. Shays had a camp 12 miles from Glenwood where he was looking after 20 horses that belonged to Bowater. He invited them to stay the night.

The next day the men reached Glenwood and they gave the 5 pines that they had used as a raft to a local mill. It was great to finally reach Glenwood where they could catch the train for the remainder of the trip but as luck would have it there was no train until the next day. So, again they had to put their heads together to figure out a way to travel the remaining distance. Burt reassured them and said, "Don't worry! We will find some way." And they did. After a little persuasion, they hitched a ride with railway workers on two hand cars for the final leg of the journey.

The entire trip took approximately seventeen days to complete. The men traveled by foot, by water, and by rail. This story, like many others, is a testament to how dedicated and hard working the people of Bay D'Espoir were and still are today.

Census

The settlement of Bay D'Espoir was slow and took a long time to develop. By the 1890's most of the communities were situated along the mouth of the Bay. The reason for settling here was due to the fishery and forestry, and for the quick exporting of goods to areas such as St. Pierre. The following is a list of the communities and their population for the year 1891:

Pop.		Pop.
Great Jervis	91	Stanley's Cove	27
Birchy Cove	7	Quilliere	7
Bay du Nord	42	Bay du Est	38
Goblin	22	Lamble's Passage	41
Ship Cove	178	Head of Bay	70
Conne River	77	Aaron's Cove	15
Little River	10	Diamond Point	5
Bramble's Head	32	Raymond's Point	36
Fox Island	15	Harbour Galley	9
Patrick's Harbour	17	Scouce Cove	10
Green Point	7	Sugar Loaf	7
Island Cove	3

By the 1920's advances in the logging industry prompted a more centralized movement to the inland of the Bay. Because of the advances the number of communities were reduced to about half of what they were in 1891. Instead of residing only for the winter logging season, families began to settle in these areas permanently. The following data shows how the population changed from 1891:

Pop.		Pop.
Great Jervis	111	Stanley's Cove	36
Bay du Nord	11	Goblin	33
St. Alban's	437	Milltown	108
Conne River	121	Raymond's Point	39
Roti Point	5	Harbour Galley	20
Swangers Cove	11	The Tickle	10
Morrisville	59	Head Of Bay	164
Push Through	229	Burnt Woods	12
St. Joseph's Cove	58	Head of Conne	14

By 1981 resettlement had long since been completed. Only six communities remained populated. However, many families living in these areas can trace their ancestors back to many of the resettled communities.

Pop.		Pop.
St. Alban's	1968	Conne River	588
Milltown/Head of Bay	1376	Morrisville	233
St. Joseph;s Cove	145	St. Veronica's	99

Sources:

Newfoundland & Labrador Census

Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador

Trivia

When was the construction of Greenwood High School completed?

What year did Abe Collier start building his sawmill in St. Joseph's Cove?

Who was the first resident priest in St.Alban's?

When did the construction of the Causeway Bridge in St.Veronica's begin?

What was the name of the school in Morrisville?

What year was St.Anne's church built in Conne River?

Trivia Contest

When did the High Liner Inn first open its doors to the public?

Enter this contest to win a prize!! Test your knowledge of local history. Mail your answer to.

C.O.B.R.E.C

P.O. BOX 189

St.Alban's ,NF

AOH 2EO

The answer will be provided in our next issue.

The answer to last months trivia is Bill Hartery. Below is a picture of Bill with his 1952 Chevy Pick-up. The lucky contest winner is:

Sara Oxford.

Weather Lore

"Brilliant Northern Lights foretell a fine day and then a storm."

"When goats come home from the hills, expect rain soon."

" When distant hills appear near, rainy weather is coming."

"When wild animals take on thick coats of fur in autumn, it is a sign of a severe winter."

"To dream of horses is a sign to sailors that storms will come."

"Red sky at night sailors delight. Red sky in the morning sailors warning."

Special thanks to these organizations/businesses for making this news letter possible:

St.Alban's Building Supplies , Fabric Design , Warehouse 2000 Ltd. , Bay D'Espoir IGA , St.Alban's ESSO , Hartery's ESSO

The Pub Lounge V.J. Shoes & Variety , Snook's Foodland Buffett's Gas Bar Germaine's Flowers , Ann's & Doreen's Unisex

The Looney & Twoney , St. Alban's Drugs Ltd. , Bayside Marina Ltd.

Vancor Motel Ltd. , Motel Bay D'Espoir , A & D Ultramart Ltd.

Barbara's Hair Styling , Cohen's , Kendall's Store

Spencer's Funeral Home , Regional Resource Center , Newtel Communications

Golden Fried Chicken , Images Hair Styling , Cranberry Gardens

Kendell's Auto , St. Veronica's Convenience , Royal Canadian Legion Branch 61

Regional Resource Center ,

We would love to see your business or organizations name here. Please help support this newsletter so we can continue to bring the unique history of Bay D'Espoir into your homes.

Thank you, Y.S.C. Participants

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 limited to four hundred words or less. Send all copies to:

C.O.B.R.E.C Y.S.C

P.O. Box 189

St. Alban's, NF

A0H 2E0

or drop off at the Resource Center at room 105.

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. Thank you for your overwhelming support and response towards our first newsletter. Please continue your feedback and feel free to contact us at: 538-3236.

Trivia Answers. 1) 1961 2) 1952 3) Father St.Croix 4) July 9, 1956 5) Sunshine 6) 1908

Matching 1)E 2)I 3)H 4)C 5) A 6) F 7)D 8)B 9)J 10)G