T REE OND LETTER INTER DITION 1997
WHAT'S INSIDE Children and Persons Baptized by Rt. Rev. James Butler Kelly, Bishop of Newfoundland on horse and September 27, 1869 sleigh in front The Battertons of Batterton Island The Saga of the Bonavista North Straight of Bank of Shore Road In conversation with Doris (Janes) Jerrett Montreal, 1905 Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 1
Table of Contents
From the Editor " .. , , , ,.. , , , 2 Persons Baptized' by Rt. Rev. James Butler Kelly" Bishop of Newfoundland on September 27, 1869 ,,.. ,, 3
T.he Battertons.. -'.-,' of"'-....Batterton_. -- - -'., Island" -,-'-. , t •••• , ••• ,. •••• ,•, ••• , ••• 4 The Saga of the Bonavista North Straight Shore Road , ,.. ,. 6 In conversation with Doris (Janes) Jerrett " , 18
The Greenspond Letter -- a journal oj'tbe history oj Greenspond tbroughpoetry, prose, photographs, and interviews. Greenspond is an island situated on the northwest side of Bonavista Bay.' It was first settled over three centuries ago in the late 1690s, by people from the West Country of England. Greenspond is one of the oldest continuously inhabited outports in Newfoundland. In 1698 Greenspondwas inhabited by 13 men, women and children. By 1810, the population was 600 and by 1901 the population had risen to 1, 726. Greenspond was one of the major settlements in Newfoundland. It was an important fishing, shipping and commercia.l centre and was called uThe Capital of the North". The Greenspond Letter is published four times a year in January, April, July and October. Subscription rates are $20.00 per year. Please address all correspondence to:
Linda White 37 Liverpool Avenue St. John's, Newfoundland Canada · Ale 3B4 2 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number J. Winter 1997
From the Editor
Welcome to the winter edifiNova Scotia are interested.in· the the time to share her story with the readers of. Saunders family. In" thiscaselbeli~ve I may be The Greenspond .. Letter. related'to this branch of the Saunders famil)r. Also inthis issue is the story ofthe building Therearea'group ofheadstonesin (;loverto\\rn of the Bonavista NQrth StraightShore 'highway. South that' bear the following::iriscriptions~ The author.' of this article. is unknown but it ','Samuel Saund.ersdied Jan. 1 ~ "1900 aged 78 certainly reads like a government report. If years and 9 months, hu~ban'd of Jane Durdle ,an)ronecan identify the writer please let me Saunders; Jane Durdle Saunders died Jan 10, know. There are photographs accompanying 1903 age 76 ·yrs.; Robert Saunders died June the article of some of th~ men.whoworked on 26 1906, aged 60 years, husband of¥aI)7 Ann building the Bol1avista, North Highway. Way Saunders; MaryAnn Way Saunders died Readers,'mail continues to,pour. in and I Nov 21, 1918." My grandfather, Edward
think the .• requ~stthat I. get~o~t is ·£8{ ,Carterf ·.married.Louise.Saunders of•Saunders· information on £amilyhistory. There are. a lot .,Cove, .·near .Glovertown.. of people·.out theretfadng tl1eir£atniljrtr,~~s . . This is 4bigyear,~nNewfoundlandand and the descendants· of C;re~nspon9t~IIli1ies ir8J:"eenspondin Pfrticular.Newfoundland is are no exception,However, .l.mustsayt~at1 .celebratingthe500th anniversary ofthe arrival just cannot posSibly·correspon<:i with al1tl1pse, ofJohn Cabot at Boriavist(1. AJ"ld, .Greenspond looking£or in£orm~tion.onani9dividualbaSis. is ·.celebrating ... th~.300,th a.n~iversary of In.. each.i$Sue •• l.will ••• tryand include som(j .European settlers arrivingin Greenspond. The genealogical information from sources th.at: I Greenspon4celebration runs from July 31, 1997
feel are not~asi1yavailable,Inthis issgeI.~~ve to August.,10, 1997. FormQfeinformation ! included a list of names of'members'of the please write to the Greenspond Come Home Church of England whowexebaptized, in Year, eo. Box 100, Greenspond, AOG 2NO. Greehspondon September 27, ··'1869. H,~~lY There are many people: to thank for their reader has a "request for genealogical assistance, with the, publishing of, this issue: in£ormationand" would like to have it : Weldon Bonnell who does the layout and published, and thus share their information graphics, cousin Ivy White who is general
with others, please let me know. Nina Fosnaes J consultant; Pearl Dyke and Edith Burry who who lives in Mobile, is researching the Harding permit me to place The Gre,enspond Letter in family of Greenspond. Some of her! res'earch their stores, Lori Jerrett and Scott Jerrett for will appear in the next issue. John Clarke of their assistance in identifying photographs of Utterson, Ontario is looking for information houses in Pond Head, and Art and Dale Jerrett on William and Rebecca Gillingham. They had for their courier service. Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 3
Persons Baptized by Rt. Rev. James Butler Kelly, Bishop of Newfoundland on September 27,1869
Cooze, Estl1er born 1847 Greenspond Harding, Catl1erine born 1855 Greenspond I-Joddinott, Saral1 born 1850 Greenspond Oram, Eugenie born 1853 Greenspond Stockley, Diana born 1850 Greenspond Lockyer, James Darius born 1856 Greenspond Coward, Miriam born 1852 Greenspond Blandford, James born 1853 Greenspond Edgar, I-Iarriet born 1850 Greenspond Edgar, Edwin born 1856 Greenspond W11ite, Emily Maria born 1855 Greenspond Daw, William Job born 1853 Greenspond Saunders, Emma born 1855 Greenspond Hump11rie, Robert born 1853 Greenspond Stone, Rebecca born 1855 Greenspond Butler, Robert born 1854 Greenspond Burr, Ellen born 1853 Greenspond Humphrie, William born 1855 Newell's Island Harding, Mary Ann born 1853 Greenspond Young, Josepl1 born 1852 Greenspond Burry, Emily born 1853 Greenspond Young, Frederick born 1854 Greenspond Burry, Cl1arlotte born 1854 Greenspond Young, Benjamin born 1853 Greenspond Carter, Trypl1ena born 1851 Newell's Island Green, Robert born 1852 Greenspond Burry, Harriet born 1855 Newell's Island Stockley, William born 1853 Greenspond ! White~ Lucy born .1852 Greenspond Harding, James born 1854 Greenspond I ' Saunders, Rebecca born 1853 Greenspond Wright, Natl1aniel Allen born 1834 I Pittman, Mary Ann born 1854 Greenspond Greenspond ,Carter, Susanna born 1854 Newell's Island Grunter, Susanna born 1854 Greenspond The Church of England yacht, Lavrock, with Bishop and others in Greenspond 1 Saunders, Elizabeth born 1852 Greenspond ., . '". Dewey, Anne born 1850 Greenspond harbour, c.1910 .++ 4 ,+ THE GREENSPOND LETTE'R Volume 4t .Number 1, Winter 1997
The Battertons of Batterton Island
Linda Hayley Bath of Bonavistahas just ..,:,Ireland." Nicholas .was a cooper. He had two published.·.a book entitled;'King's:. Cove ·Head: sons, James and Philip, and three daughters, the light tower a way of life. It is a history' of the Anna, Betty, and Kate. King's Cove lighthouse. The book was part of . James was born at Greenspond in 1837. the literacy project sponsored by the Bonavista He married twice. His first wife was a Miss South Regional Development Association. The Burton and they had two children, Cecilia and first lighthouse keeper at King's Cove was Mary. His second wife was Anastasia Mackey James" 'Batterton. The following excerpt from Kane of Greenspond and they had seven this book explains the Batterton connection". children. Anastasia was also a widow when If you would like to purchase a copy of this she and James married. James was a mariner book which costs $12.00 including postage and "'who usually sailed 'between Halifax and St. handling, please write to: John's.... In 1883, James was a coxswain on the S.S.
" " "Bonavista Sout.h Regional'Dey~lopment .~ Plover. The captain of that ship. ~as S"amuel .. Association Blandford who served as the Member of House General De~iyery":" of Assembly for the Bonavista" District from Plate" Cove East 1889 to 1893. Blandford and Batterton had a , ..... ·;Botlavista Bay, AOC 2CO lifelong connection. They had both been born ,.A~...... k\ /J, '.. , ~' • .' •
The Batterton '8 of King's Cove are The Point, Batterton's Island, descendants of Nicholas Batterton who settled Greenspond, ,c. 1995. Photograph by Ivy 'in' @teenspond after coming from Waterford, White 1bng. Photo held by Linda White Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 5
House and bridge in Pond head Family members report that the children were P1Jotograph by Ivy White 1bng, c.1995 often asked; "was there not one man in King's Held by Linda White Cove, not one man, who could light a lamp?" and "you won't be living in that big 40use come the next election". and raised in Greenspond. Blandford had promised James a job on land if he was elected. He was true to his word. James and Anastasia Where is Batterton Island? moved to I<:ing's Cove in 1893. James was fifty In tall{ing with people from Pond Head six years old, and Anastasia fifty-four years there was quite a discussion on the name old at that time. Some of their seven cilildren Batterton Island. Scott Jerrett said he always moved with them. Two of their sons, James referred to the place as Wing's Island. Lori and Philip, would eventually become Jerrett stated she always said called it "over on lightk:eepers and carry on the family tradition. tIle Point". Malcolm White who was also born When James Batterton, his wife, and and raised in Pond I-Iead also referred to the . "." cilildten moved to I<:ing's Cove, it must have area as "over on the Point". Can you assist in been an interesting adventure. The comfort of this debate? having found a job on land must have been 'very great. I-Iowever, James was very much an outsider and he was reminded of that fact. 6 THE GREENSPOND LETTER .JVolume 4, Nu'mber 1, Winter'1997
The Saga of the Bonavista North Straight Shore Road
The following article was written in the 1950s and Newfoundland. Would any reader know who wrote appears. to be a report on the building of the this report. Do you have memories of travelling Bonavista North Highway. There are photographs over the new highway? If you would like tos.hare included with the report, some' of which are those memories with other readers please write to included in this issue. The original copy of this The Greenspond Letter. report is housed in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives, Memorial University of
The impossible has at, last been integrated community life, but the move has .accomplished. The road, which everybody said been of considerable economic importance to could never be.built, has now been completed, the country as a whole. thus ending forever the isolation to which the people ofithe Straight Shore, .Fogo District and Nature of Terrain and Physical Bonavista North have so long been subjected. Conditions Generally Throughout the Its 'completio,n marks the fulfilment of the Proposed Route of the Road promise .made by Premier Smallwood to his ~()nstitu.~Ilts, \\Then he first offered himself for . The North Shore of BonavistaBay from ';~1~~ti6rii'n the District of Bonavista North. It Hare Bay to Wesleyville, as seen from also marks the beginning of a new way of life Freshwater Bay, presents a 'solid granite face. for. t~e people 'of these two districts,the'first This condition extends for several miles into chapter,o£"which having already been~ritten. the hinterland, while glacial action has left the Before the road project .started, upwards headlands bare of soil. However, there still of two thousand people were living on islands remains in the hollows and crevices a sufficient and in small outlying villages, namely, Cape amount of mineral soil (consisting mainly of a Island, Pinchard's Island, Deer Island, Bragg's pug formation, with large granite boulders Island and Flat Island, North West Arm, solidly embedded) to support fairly good stands Valleyfield, Safe Harbour, Port Nelson, of spruce timber. This continues all the way Shambler's Cove and Newport, each of which from Hare Bay around the heads of Lockers has supported schools, churches and public Bay, Trinity and Indian Bay, and about one buildings. These islands and small settlements third of the distance to Wesleyville. There the have now been restored to their original status, pattern changes. repeated fires have denuded namelYk ne~ting g~oundsfor seabirds. the whole countryside of whatever vegetation existed~ The- exodus of the people from those leaving the granite boulders exposed islands to the nearby villages along the route like figs in a pudding. These finally givfj, placer::; ;:,.. ,9~." :;!he;!oa~,.would make a most.Jnt~resting to muskeg bogs''Yith the odd exposed rocky story' in itself. It is sufficient to say here, ridge in between. This condition exists on however, that not only.are those islanders now through Valleyfield, Brookfield, Badger's Quay, enjoying the advantages of a larger and more Wesleyville, Pound Cove, Templeman, Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 7
Newtown, Cape Freels North and South, Don Andrews, General Superintendent, Lumsden North and South and ends at Wesleyville and RC Goodyear at Lockers Deadman's Bay, where the formation ends Bay abruptly.
Change of Formation has Marlced Effect and finally Main Point and Mann Point, Gander on Progress of Construction Bay, no appreciable change is noticeable, from a formation point of view. Within the confines I-Iere begins the Straight Shore, where the of that area, using Gander River to the North land tak:es on a new life. Good stands of and Indian Bay River to the South, there exists mature, merchantable trees run directly to the over a million cords of prime pulpwood (spruce) water's edge. It is perhaps the sudden change forests. from muslceg bog and barren rocky ridges, to a smooth shoreline, that continues on dead Government Decides to Build the Road straight for a distance of nearly twenty miles, which was Promised the People of which cause it to appear unique. It is the Bonavista North and the Straight Shore contrast, however, that shows up its picturesqueness to tIle visitor, who views it for J. Goodyear & Sons Ltd. of Grand-Palls is the first time. From here on through Dotting awarded a contract to build the first twelve Cove, Musgrave I-Iarbour, Seal Cove, Aspen miles. Cove, Ladle Cove, Carmanville, Fredericlcton, 8 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997
Early Beginners of the Company a Limited Liability Co., and became J. Goodyear & Sons Ltd., with the father, Josiah The Directors, sons of the late Josiah Sr., as President. Goodyear, were born at Ladle Cove, on the Following his demise Roland succeeded Straight Shore in the District of Fogo. Their to the father's position as President, Joe, (Josiah first experience in industrial activities was R.) became Vice-president and Secretary and obtained in the Lewis Miller Lumbering Ken (H. Kenneth) became Managing Director, operations at Millertown in the year 1900. a position which he now holds. When the work of construction started Josiah Goodyear Sr., with his family took up Ladle Cove, Birthplace of the Present residence in Grand Falls where they quickly Directors became active in affairs of the town. At first the business was carried on under Compared with other small places around' a partnership, but finally was incorporated into Newfoundland, Ladle Cove may be said to have been a model village, in that it was practically Capt. Alpbaeus Stanford, Wesleyville, self-sustaining. General Foreman and No.2 on the Everybody had as much land as they could Payroll. work which was well-cultivated and Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 9
consequently yielding good crops. Tilling of Edward Blackwood, mechanic, the land went hand in hand with fishing. (Cod, Wesleyville, Gordon Blackmore, Salmon, Lobster.) Templeman, first man to be employed ., From the standpoint of a balanced living, as tractor operator the land, actually, was more important than the fishing. Everybody l{ept cattle and sheep. Others from the Straight Shore who sought The spinning wheet (now non~existent) was in employment at Millertown and Grand Falls every home. Clothes generally were home who made good were Mr. Ben Tull{ who made. Girls did the ·l{nitting while the boys became the first Woods Superintendent of the looked after the outside chores. Once a boy A.N.D. Co. at Millertown, Capt. Samson became big enough to carry an arm~fullof wood Whelan, Labour Foreman, later District Sealing there was little time after that for play. Inspector, Mr. William Wellon, Logging Compared with the life of the teenager today, Contractor, and Mr. William Goodyear, now life for the young could be said to be a Spartan in his late eighties, Logging Contractor. existence. ' Mr. Jack Goodyear, son of William, started Education in Ladle Cove was also above as a junior in the Accounting'Department at average. Almost everybody could read and Grand Falls., Today he occupies the position of write. Most went as far as the eighth and ninth' Secretary of tIle Company and Controller of grades, a lesser number to grades ten and Finance. eleven, wllile some went on to college in St. John's and from there to University. 10 THE GREENSPONDLETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997
Capt peter Blackwood, veteran .Labrador for the A.N.D. Company, which position he schooner skipper, Brookfield, dumpman held until his retirement. and checker Mr. Charlie Whiteway from Musgrave Harbour was the first school teacher at The late Capt. Hedley Goodyear, M.C., Millertown who later received a degree in was a graduate of Toronto University and medicine and became the medical practitioner became active in educational work in that city in his home town. before enlisting in World War I. Mr. Newman Gillingham was for many The late Capt. Stanley Goodyear, M.C., years a scaler with the A.N.D. Co., when he was active in the Goodyear enterprises at Grand was transferred to the St. John's office and Falls before joining the Newfoundland finally became secretary for Labour Relations 'Regiment. Both 'he and Hedley were brothers Board. of the present Directors of the firm. Numbers of othersfrom.,the Straight Shore Capt. George Hicks, M.C. & Bar, of also made good in other fields, some of w~om Carmanville, became the first school teacher were the late Mr.' Herbert Russell who became and principal of Grand Falls Academy. After General Manager of the Newfoundland his return from the war, he became pay master Railway. The late Mr. Solomon Whiteway, Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 11
brother of Dr, Whitew~y was for many years found to either build rafts and float it across, Principal of the Methodist College in St. John's. or else convey it by vessel. The Hon, B. J. Abbott, school teacher, A number of schooners formerly used in and~now magistrate, Minister j of Municipal the Labrador fishery were lying idle in the Affairs, harbours of Wesleyville and Brookfield, Many others of the older generation also Although the owners were willing and anxious . made good, especially in the industrialsection to put them into' service, all were reluctant to (Millertown and Grand Falls). A few of the go to the expense and trouble of refitting them outstanding cases have been cited to show that for what appeared to be an unprofitable isolation waS not-necessarily a ·barrier when undertaking. the will 'to"succeed predominates, Finally, one man, Mr, David Sturge with his two sons, Ronald· (Ron) and Arthur decided 'The Procuring of Building M.aterials to give it a trial, Within four days from starting Proves to be a Problem out they were back with their first load (2000 pieces). The price paid was twenty cents a piece The problemn~confronting the contractors c.i.f. ~ at the start was the lack of m.aterials with which Meanwhile others were planning to make ·to l"build as the whole area was completely a start and within a week, six vessels and surrounded by' bog~·lands. upwards of two hundred men were engaged at There·were, however, two outcrops of the business of. cutting, boating~nd handling gra~ei suitable for ballast. These were separated corduroy. . by, tw~lve miles of bog. In addition to vessels of around seventy ...,Before an attempt could. be made at to eighty tons, a fleet of motor boats were building the road it was necessary to lay a mat engaged at conveying the stuff from the larger of ,either timber or brush over the whole route craft to the nearby beaches. The discharging which the.roadwould take before a ·yard of point was Pound Cove. The price paid for this Dall~fst·: could be, hauled. work was three cents a piece. The contract, called for a secpndary road. The means or system by which the material Excavation of the bogs, or filling in with hard was procured entailed an endless amount of rock material was.impossible, therefore the checking and accounting. Not only did each laying of a corduroy mat was the only solution. vessel owner have a contract, in which his crew . Building over this type of terrain, however, shared, but each man had to pay a portion of was by no means unusual as it was the method his earning to the owner to compensate against commonly practised in building bush roads in hire, wear, and tear etc. but dozens of motor logging operations. boats were also engaged bringing the wood from the vessels to the beaches where it was Wood for Corduroy is Moved from the loaded on trucks. This applied also to the I',lslandsand Coves Around the Bay by loading of vessels. Vessel In all cases the·crewsas wellas':the:' boats elI,}ploy~? Qn.~.p.iece,worlebasis.:,.The,'price Good stands of timb'er suitable 'for" were ~ .~ , corduroy were procurable on the south side of paid the smaller boats for this worle was three the bay. Clearly, a means would have to be cents apiece. 12 .:. ",THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume' 4, 'Number 1, Winter 1997
The Procuring of a Staff Begins machinery was required, apart from trucks. Altogether over two hundred men were Mr..Robert Hall (Bob) is engaged as employed. checker and time-keeper, while Capt. Alpheaus ,Luckily the fall turned out to be very mild Stanford was placed in charge of operations. 'and the vessels operated until late. December. By the time the first vessel load of/timber Laying of the corduroy continued u'!) until mid was landed, several trucks; a tractor January, by which time over seven miles (bulldozer), tools, and· an assortment of.other muskeg bog had been covered and 350,000 equipment, together with operations' had pieces of corduroy had been laid. arrived. The work of putting the corduroy, in "Loaded trucks continued to operate over place followed immediately. the .whole seven miles of corduroy, most of Because of the nature of the soil no truck, which was entirely bare of ballast with little or 'tractor, or vehicle of any kind could move a no ,settling taking place. yard without first laying a mat of corduroy. In certain places, however, where the bogs Throwing the timber on the ground any were especially soft, often sloughs. or open old way would not do. The method employed swamps were encountered as much as fifty feet therefore was the laying of '·one tier parallel wide and more. -,f:"with>th'e:road; taking care that where two ends In situations of that kind, instead of met the joint was secured by laying another corduroy; sometimes five and six and as many piece besidethet?with a lap of at least six feet as ten tiers were used. This was built up in the d,n~Hher.end. lJ'&llast}' > • forests long dead are brougl1t up from 'depths As most of the work during the first season of from eight to ten feet and more. This wood was ninety per cent hand labour very little when piled and given time to dry makes excel~ent fuel. I i Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 13 An Office is Opened Local Labour Employed The book~keeper, Mr. Joseph Yetman, As it was the intention to use local labour having arrived with the machine operators, an in so far as was possible, only a small nucleus accounting system was immediately set up. Mr. of experienced operators arrived with the Hall became the assistant to Mr. Yetman and equipment or, sufficient to train new men finally took over the accountancy job upon the according as the situation demanded. former's retirement. Altogether over a half million pieces of Mr. Frank Green succeeded Mr. Hall (Bob) corduroy were used up. as checker and timekeeper and finally was Although the preparations of the road and ! l' promoted to accounts when the second camp the procuring of the corduroy and laying it in opened up. They are both from Newtown. place was costly, it was the ballast or the Prior to their joining the road job, Bob procuring of it, which made the cost of was employed as Postal Clerk, while Frank was construction rise to three times what ordinary school teaching. George Green t Superintendentt and operators at Gander Bay Carmanville section 14 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 Group of workmen, Camp No.2, Machinery also began to replace labour. Musgrave Harbour As a consequence the labour force was reduced to less than half with a resultant smaller payroll. From here on the building conditions ballasting or grading should cost; consequently, became more normal, with the result that not at the end of the first season, the job had gone only were costs reduced, but better headway so deep in the red that it appeared doubtful was made. whether or not the company would carry on. Cruising of timber ended with the close Two More Camps are Opened. of the season and all work was closed in January. Finally two more camps were opened, one Work resumed the following Spring, the at the Indian Bay section and one at prices having been improved somewhat. It was Carmanville where a start was made towards this, plus the fact that not only did more and Gander Bay. better materials (ballast) become available, but the going continued to improve progressively First Objective Reached better which made it possible to continue. . Although not all the bogs had been Starting from Dover, it is now possible to covered, timber for corduroy was either drive to every village in Bonavista North and procured during the Winter months or else Fogo District as far as Ladle Cove a distance became available along the way so that bringing of 110 miles (including branches) namely; wood by vessel was no longer necessary. - I i Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 15 Trinity, Wareham, Parson's Point, Indian Bay, the tie in with Gander Airport, Carmanville Wesleyville,Badger's Quay Brookfield, will take on added significance. :Valleyfield, Pound Cove, Templeman, Besides being within easy reach of the ·Newtown, Cape Cove North and South, people, those amenities which Gander has to Lumsden North and South, Deadman's Bay, offer, eg. the hospital, banks, theatre, attractive Doting Cove, Musgrave Harbour, Aspen Cove shopping centre plus the airport itself, this road 'and Ladle Cove. will make accessible those fine timber stands The ultimate aim was to service the whole through which it must necessarily pass. Besides perimeter from Gambo, through the two ports sawmilling, pulpwood operations will in all of Wesleyville and'Carmanville to the head of probability be developed very soon. Gander Bay and from there to a point in the In that area which will be encircled by the highway near .Gander Townsite. road there exists over one million cords of Between Ladle Cove and Carmanville there prime pulpwood and sawlog timber. While the still remains a. stretch of twelve miles wood is of excellent quality, it is its accessibility unfinished. which makes it of added importance. Some two years ago a beginning was made Within five miles of this port also there is at Carmanville, the intention being to work a mineral prospect (Asbestos, Chrome) of towards· Wesleyville, but the people of Fogo proven merit. District being desirous of reaching Trans Potentially, there is no other place along Canada Highway by a shorter route petitioned the whole coastline of Newfoundland that has the government to work towards Gander Bay so much to offer as the area which this road \i~stead.The survey having already been made will service with the exception, possibly, of St. ,::,;:,:th'at ·way,~ the wishes of the people were Barbe District. therefore adhered to. They include four good salmon rivers Twenty-five miles of that section have now . which drains through'virgin forest, the forest . ~been"completed from Carmanville through itself, mineral resources already proven, one Main.Point, Main Point through George's Point of the best harbours on the east coast and lastly, at the head of Gander Bay (site of the old G.L. its natural beauty and attractiveness from a Philips Mill) Frederickton and Noggin Cove tourist point of view. being serviced by··branch roads. The distance from Carmanville via the Number of Vehicles Owned and Operated Gander Bay route to Gander is forty miles by the Public against 150 miles via Wesleyville and Gamba to Gander. At the start of road building operations not more than a dozen vehicles were in Port of.Carmanville evidence in both districts. Almost before the first mile of corduroy Carmanville, although the only harbour was laid, cars and trucl{s began to arrive until in Fogo District (mainland) has, so far, ne~er now the total~ is ~in.excess·.ofrl~ '-~' 300:·while., new I _ ." ",:. ' ','': -", --'. !".-' " •.:' - ", l ' J" .<;' ';. '" -i· ','; i - " ,.- achieved great importance economically, for ones are arriving da~ly. the, reason that;· it has 'been' entirely isolated Twogarages"'dre now in operatIon and and cut off from all.communications with the several others are 'in the process of getting surrounding countryside, except by water. started. Once the road system is completed, especially , \ . ~ ~.. \ 16 THE ,GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 Moses Lethbridge, Inspector, and R. C. A summary of the staff required for the Goodyear operation is as follows: Personnel c', Total' number of truck operators: 30 Total number of labourers: '30 The following now comprise the staff: Mr. Don Andrews, Superintendent Total Number of vehicles owned by Mt Frank Hall, Accountant contractors now operating: M:r. Frank Green, Accountant Mt Ray Guy, Foreman Bulldozers 10 Mr. George Green, Foreman Shovels 2 Mt Pat Brown, Foreman Traxcavators 2 Mt Hedley Abbott, Assistant Foreman Miscellaneous 12 M:r. Don Snow, Assistant Foreman Messrs. Harry Dowding and Cecil Hall also Total number of privately owned trucks act'ed"in the capacity of Foreman, but have engaged at hauling road materials etc... 28 now taken other positions. While it is important'to any organization Machine··Operators and Mechanics tohave',capableand 'efficient superintendents,', book-keepers and foremen which the Directors Total number of machine operators are confident they have, it is equally important employed by the contractors are: 10 to have good dependable mechanics. Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 17 Although none of the men presently viz, that of getting the road through. operating machines (bulldozers, shovels, Not only has there never been any labour loaders, graders, trucks etc.) or, the men troubles, but there has never been a man ,looking after repairs had any experience at this discharged either for reason of insubordination class, of work previous to the start of the road, or failure to perform the task assigned him. 1 being as they were all fishermen. In the opinion Next to the record of performance under i I of the Directors, at least, both from the unusual circumstances this may be said to be knowledge of their work and the standpoint the Directors' proudest boast. of performance, they now compare favourably This completes the story of the building with any group of "men who are engaged in of the Bonavista North Straight Shore Road 1 I I the same capacity anywhere. and the opening up of one of the most: Furthermore, the Directors have promising productive areas of the island, which confidence in their loyalty which has been up to now has remained one of the most continually in evidence since the start of the isolated sections of the countrywith the District work. of St. Barbe possibly excepted. This applies also to the men who were Frank Green, accountant, Camp No..2, r engaged at ordinary labour and here the I. , I ;' Birectors take advantage of the opportunity , Musgrave Harbour and Ray Guy, I j I I'· · to pay tribute to the whole staff, all of whom superintendent, Camp No.2, Musgrave . appeared t~ be imbued with the o:qe objective, Harbour 18 .:.:, THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4~'" Number 1, Winter 1997 In conversation with. Doris (Janes) Jerrett This past autumn I spent'a lovely afternoof! with married Dale Carter of Ship Island an'd they 'have Doris'Jerrettat her ,home in Shallop Cove, Pond a son, Scott, ,who is attending the Marine Institute Head. Doris told me lovely stories of growing up in St. John's, and a daughter, Lori, who att.ends in Sale Harbour and stories about coming to Memorial University. Greenspond for visits. It was in Greenspondthat the young Doris Janes from Safe Harbour met John The following interview took place on September Jerrett. John and Doris were married in 1947 and 19,1996. they subsequently had a son,' Art Jerrett. Art Now then Doris, I usually start;by asking ,What was it like growing up in Safe people their names and their parents' names. Harbour? Was you father a fisherman? :~'i;,~::;;,;.',·~l",'M¥·;!;nafll.e'Jwas Janes, Doris ,JClnes. 'My Yes. And my mother was a midwife. She'd father's,'name'was Moses and my mother was do the gardens and 'that. ,,~arah Janes. She was ,Sarah Spurrellfrom Pool's 'Now that's a lovely picture., Where was .it "'1sland. I was bofo"September3, 1912. taken? Is that down in Quirpon? After you Oh, you"just'had your birthday. sold the schooner? And what are they putting on the roof? Is that salt fish? Yes, I was in St. John's for my birthday. Now then tell me about your family. You Yes. Yes, on the roof because the roof g,tew, up in. Safe Harbour. was all mossy because it was made of wooden shingles. And they'd dry the fish up there. Yes. I had seven sisters besides myself and Lovely fish isn't it? Yes. My father went down four brothers. I'm the only one that's living. on the Labrador fishing. I was down two Seven sisters. My oldest sister was Laura, and summers. I was cook. Oh yes. I'd never touch then there was Lucy and Effie, and·there was the fish. I was two summers on the Labrador Beatrice Leah but I don't know her. She died and one summer anchored off in Quirpon. The when she was 13 months old. And there was name of the schooner was Miss Janes. My dad Paulina and Emma May, and Marion Blanche and my brothers owned the schooner. And I and Doris (Aunt Maggie). The boys names were went cook. When we was down Quirpon, we Othenil. would be down until the last of October and Othenil? Is that out of the Bible? sometimes up in November. We carried most . " .. things with us but you buy things down there. Oh yes, out of the Bible. There was Allan The first time down I went down, to, and Wilfred, and Alexander. He was the Quirpon I was, going on 19. I was six summers . youngest. He married Millie Wheeler from here, there. On the land. I was eight summers with from Greenspond. I was the youngest of the my dad and they. I'd come back on the lot. Volume 4, Number 1,' Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 19 steamer then, the Northern Ranger. Yes, we lived Doris (Janes) and John Jerrett, c.1990s in a house while we were down there. Now, then, your mother was a midwife in Harbour. I was going to study for primary, Safe Harbour? There was no doctor? that's grade nine today but my sister got sick. That's Paulina. Well I had to come out then. I Yes. She was a midwife. They'd call a was only fourteen. I never went to school after. doctor if they needed one. He'd come from We had a number of teachers. Miss Dawe, and Greenspond. Dr. Cecil I(ean and Dr. Sam !(ean. Mr. Noble from Pool's Island. And Anita Wiclcs S11e borned 110 babies. from here. We had her for four years. She was lovely. Max Wick:s's sister. Wll.en did you meet your husband, John Jerrett? And what did you l~now of Greenspond when you were growing up? I come up l1ere for to go out on Puffin Island, see, and it was too stormy to go out on 011 I used to come here and visit. Yes, Puffin Island. You see tl1at was my nephew, Aunt Julia Janes, see. "We used to ;come up and Albert Walceley, the lighthouselceeper. 11:e -was see ,.her mother, see the Chaytors. And Aunt . iny sister, Paulina's son. /1 was 'going out to Emily used to come 'down the house. The visit Albert and see Puffin Island before the Chaytors lived where Dot Woodland's house sun crossed the line. I went to school in Safe is. Aunt Millie Burry, she lived right down 20 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 Large house on main road, Pond Head, 1996 What year did you get married? 1947. I married John Jerrett. His parents where Norman Burry lived. She married Fred were Lavinia and William Jerrett. She was Burry. Lavinia Wakeley. She was Albert's aunt. I got Now when you came over to Greenspond, married here in the old church in Greenspond. how would you get here? United Church. Now tell me about the wedding. Who came We came in boat. There was a ferry but I to your wedding? What did you wear? I don't think I ever came on ferry. I was here once when Albert Wakeley came from overseas I had a white dress. and they had a party for him and the Governor Where did you get it? Did you make it? was here. Captain Peter Carter, I believe, had something to say. That was in 1941. My mother My niece made it. Yes. And the material had died in, November and that was in the was presented to me by Mr. Henry Granter. summer. He was a Safe Harbour man. He had a business. . . . What ~as it like in Greefolspond then? My niece, Annette Gillingham made it, yes. It ., had twenty-four buttons at the back. And I Yes, oh yes. I don't know if I ever went to have three left. Here they are. That's three of church here before I was married. I was only the buttons. The dress was white. Oh yes, I here a few days for a visit. had a lovely dress and I have some of the trim Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 21 left. There were rosettes. And it was full length, Aunt Ellen was his wife, He lived here for I had a veil. My sister~in~law, Louise, was twenty~five years. Sylvester Meadus played the married before me and it was presented then accordion at the wedding reception, in the to the family. Lodge, the Orange Lodge, We had a supper, And you still have some of the buttons from You have a lovely house here. And a great the dress. That was really nice of that man view here. You can see all around. You can to give you the material. see Shoe Cove Point. You have a great vegetable garden, there, Oh yes. I thought it was a joke. I came home I and told my ·Dad about it. I told Mr. Yes, it's lovely. This is the garden, I had Granter that I needed six yards. 1947, The 17th potatoes set. I have three more b.~ds to get up, of December. And my brother, Sandy, was the When'you gc;t married did yoti", live here? best man. And my ..sister.-in.-law, Annie, was the maid of honour,. And Gertie Meadus and Oh no, we lived on back of the island with Arthur Burton, Will Burton's son, and Ron John's mother and father, There were nine of • t • Janes, my nephew, and Evelyn, my niece were u~.' We lived together for four years, nine of there. us. There was Mr, and Mrs. Jerrett, Louise I had"Uncle Ken, Burton for twenty~five years, He was John's uncle. His wife and John's '~ mother were sisters. John's 'mother, Lavinia? 22 .++ THE GREENSl?OND, 'LETTER · - '. Volume 4 t Number 1, ,Winter 1997 and Dan, Edward, and Annie, and Eliza family. She was having a baby, Leonard. We Harding. She was Mr. Jerrett's father's sister. came back in March month to Mrs. Jerrett's Yes, and then we moved ,to this house. This again. Albert Wakeley was lighthousekeeper house was floated over from on back of the for twenty.years.. Then in 1956 we moved over island. We were married for four years and here. Forty years. then we had this house taken down in Safe Well, you've been in Greenspond longer Harbour, it' was taken down in sections and than you were' in Safe Harbour. Who were brought over .. her. your neighbours? This ·house came, from Safe Harbour and then to the back of the island and then to' , Well, Susie wasn't here then. That house ,b-ere?My dear, this house has travelled. Who was vacant. That was Aunt Prissie Lush's house, 'lived in the house in Safe Harbour? I think. Ponds first, then Lush. Yes, I've seen alot of change. John's sister, Annie and her It was my uncle's. It was taken down by husband, Marsh Granter, and John's brother, my husband and his brother, Dan. After we Dan, and his wife, Louie Jerrett, live here now "were married we went down Pond and looked 'and they are wonderful friends. You wouldntt after Albert in Peckford's old house, where Eric wish to have better. ': "Vi~~()f;,,$tt(;l£f9rz"sandbouses on Pond Oh yes, with his brother. And his brotherts .. . H~adroa4\'Witb boats and stages, ,1996 son and our son, Arthur. Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 23 " ' Yoti had one child Arthur? And he married View of Gordon Janes's bouse from the Dale Carter? Wilfrid Carter's daughter? water, Pond Head, 1996 Yes, that's right. Now when you were a child can you Anglican Church, and United Church, and remember your mother as a midwife, going Salvation Army, I thinl(, in later years. out? Did you ever go into St. John's when you Oh, my dear yes. Somebody would come were a girl? and get her, rough or smooth. It was hard going I went in there when the war was on, I baclc in them days. My Dad had a schooner. went there in 1941. I gave up going down to I-Ie would go to St. John's with his fish. It was Quirpon. I went in working with Captain Ned $2.50 a quintal for ,shore fis!l. And that was Blacl(wood on 3 Saunders Place, in service. just lik:e the cheese. There was no motor, only Seven dollars a month. He was from Port sails. Nelson. I-Ie married a Best, I believe, from Now wllen you went down to Quirpon did Wesleyville. Ida Best. I was there from May you live on the scll0oner? montil to September. Dad told me to come bacl( because Mom was ailing then. Mom died Yes,' and I was on the boat. There were in November. livyers there, yes, they were like your own people. The Taylors and Paynes. They had an Did you lilre it in St. John's? 24 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 Stratton's house, main road, Pond Head, So you were glad to come home were you? 1996 No, I wasn't glad, but I had to, because my mother was sick. She had no one to look I managed it. I wasn't use to it. I was used after her, eh. I stayed home then. Six summers to being my own boss. But I managed it. I had I looked after my Day myself. Dad and me. six dollars when I came home, to call me own. Down Safe Harbour, six summers. He fell down and he broke his leg or hip. He never had a After all summer in St. John's you had six doctor to know what he done. So he had to dollars. You spent all your money? On Water walk cripple, with a stick, a cane. There was a Street? doctor but they never believed in doctors. Yes, we went down to the stores. I had a You said that you were married almost 50 friend girl there. Beaufield. From St. Anthony. years. Shannie Beaufield. We used to go to Gower Street Church. I can remember an ordination Yes, we were happy. It would be 50 years service, a Tucker, I believe, was ordained. next year. 1997, Come Home Year. Art was born the 15th of September 1949. How did you get back and forth to St. John's? 1949? Well, we're the same age. I was born. j' On boat? j , in 1950. I went by train when I went. And when I came down I went with Skipper Saul Abbott, Yes. Art was born at Brookfield Hospital Pool's Island, in schooner. and we lived then 9n back of the island anq Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 THE GREENSPOND LETTER 25 he used to walk over to school every day after Oh yes, I was Worthy Mistress for nearly he got older. He walked from back of the island ten years. The L,O.B,A, The Ladies Orange to the school here in Greenspond, He got his Benevolent Association. I remember when I education and then: afterwards he went in to took it first I thought why did I do that? I was the Trades School, He was 12 years in St, John's sick in the heart. Susie Ron, you know Susie and then he moved back here. Yes, after Lori (Ron Burry's wife), she used to say don't worry was born, Lori was three years old, I believe. Doris you got a good backer. That was her, Lori went to school here, And Scottie was born see. Susie Burry, I was chair, And it was no too before they come here, They come here more like now, We only got eight or nine now. then· and they lived with me until they got Back then there was 40 of us. There was Susie their house built. And Uncle Ken was here Ron, Violet Bragg. She was a Worthy Mistress. too, I had a house full, Yes, Uncle Ken, he So what did you do when you got together? wouldn't move, No, He loved the children that Did you have secret words like the men did? much, Yes, Ken Burton. He lived here 25 years. Yes, he moved here after his wife died. We have a routine..We'd meet every two I have his obituary here, August 19, 1990.. weeks. It's not the same now, even the Church Ken Burton passed away after a month in are not the same because the young people hospital~Hewas.97 and three months, He was are gone to College and away to work. The buried the 31st of August, He was like a father" Anglicans still have Sunday School. almost. He was nice, really nice. He was good You asked the name of our Lodge? It was H company too for me. He loved Arthur and called the Royal Visit, Yes, we had our socials, I·· Scottie and the children.'He always knew John. We had one this summer in July. We had a You've' got lots of keepsakes. They are nice sale and soup and cookies. We had a sale of pictures. goods. We'd make donations to hospitals, the Orange Hostels, for the sick people and shut Ohyes. That's Duke Blackwood. That's ins, John was a member for 50 years in the old time. The Rudolph, .she was lost and all L.O.L. hands. Otto Hicks and .The Mollie, she was Here's the certificate. lost too. December 20, 1944. She was smashed It says that you were the Worshipful Mistress on the rocks in Grate's Cove it says here. It of the Royal Visit Lodge. Number 1345 of says the Rudolph left the town with a full load the L.D.B.A. It was signed April 1988. 6f cargo for PortNelson. She was coming around Southern Head, near Catalina. All John has his certificate up in the living except Dul<:e Blaclcwood. He survived and room. I must light the stove. It's getting cold climbed up a cliff and went to his uncle's in here. The paper went out. Now here are some Catalina, Levi Dalton. All hands clear Dulce. I more pictures and some newspaper clippings. lcnew him. and his 'wife. They were from Port Minnie Stratton. The funeral service for Minnie Nels'o'n~ Tl~ey were-related to Anita and Louise Stratton. We was up to Glovertown. Yes, she down there. Dulce Blaclnvood climbed the cliff. was 'married to Fred. Stratton. She~had:one It was the unseen hand that guided him, that's brother, Walter Osmond, and one'·sister, Emily what I always say. Abbott: Yes, (:Was gooClfriends with Minnie. Were you involved in the Lodge? You see Minnie's aunt, Emma Osmond, was married to my first cousin down Safe Harbour. 'i'" ;. \ 26 THE GREENSPOND LETTER Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 1997 Large bouse at tbe bottom of Ben Burry's You have some lovely pictures here. Is that bill, 1996 hens? Did you have hens? Oh, yes, girl. Sheep, goats. And we grew Adam Janes. See, Emma was married to Adam vegetables. I had seventeen hens. They were Janes. gorgeous. Yes, they were cute. They had a What other names are Safe Harbour names! house out there. Always had eggs. On hack of Janes and ... the island we had sheep. Not over here. We used to send our wool away. Janes, Dykes, Granters, Barbours, Yes, you certainly have a lovely view from Pinsents. There was a road going from Safe here. You can see Puffin Island from here. Harbour to South West Arm. Oh, yes, there But you can't see Ship Island. were stores in Safe Harbour. Bournes. Mr. Granter had a store. Gillinghams and You used to see Ship Island. We could see Blackwood's had a store there too. My sister, Mr. Carters, Wilfred's and Sam's. But now Effie, married Tom Gillingham. She was there are new houses built up and you can't involved in the church. She was Superintendent see it Ship Island houses. , of the Sunday School. She had a store and after awhile she had the post office. They had three sons, and all were United Church ministers.