BISHOP JONES MEMORIAL HOSTEL GROUP NEWSLETTER (Newsletter for former residents of the Bishop Jones Memorial Hostel (1940-68) and Bishop Spencer Lodge (1927-40) Volume 8, Issue 3, October 2016 GREETINGS FROM THE BJMH GROUP COMMITTEE Summer was so slow in coming, but zipped by so quickly! Now the fall colours are putting on a great show. I have a Pacific Sunset Maple in my yard that is blazing beautifully, and the blue jay sitting in it seeming particularly impressed with the bright red colour! So I’m waxing poetic here today, since it seems we are looking forward to a few days of bright sun ahead. We hope that your summer season went well, and that the days leading into Christmas keep you well We held our AGM/Luncheon in June with the highest number ever for that event (see Page 7, Events News). The West Coast girls held their mini reunion in late September and you will find that photo and write up on Page 5. The next event to look for now will be the annual Corporate Communion and Breakfast on Nov. 20th. (see Upcoming Events, Page 7), Grand Falls girls have a get together every 6 weeks or so. Details for their most recent event and the Scholarship Fundraiser Luncheon will be published in the February 2017 Newsletter. You can see that, even though we are living far and wide, some sort of communication – in person, by phone or e-mail – still continues long after the 2008 reunion. We started our journey in 2006. Ten years after we’re still keeping in touch and we have our Scholarship to show that we play a vital part in our province. A Scholarship Donation form is attached to this Newsletter for your convenience. For news on the Scholarship, see Marge’s Report on Page 5. Membership 2016-17 is now due. There is a current membership list on Page 4, and for those whose membership is now due, a Membership Form will be attached to this Newsletter. As we look forward to the Christmas season, we wish you and yours, a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Shirley Cooper; Communications, Membership and Newsletter Coordinator, Bishop Jones Memorial Hostel Group Committee. INTRODUCTION TO THE ARCHIVES OF BISHOP SPENCER LODGE/BISHOP JONES MEMORIAL HOSTEL 55 RENNIES MILL ROAD, ST. JOHN’S, NL by Barbara (Wells) Davis & Shirley (Morris) Cooper, Reunion 2008 Co-chairs PART 3: REUNION JULY 18th – 20th, 2008 On July 17th, Reunion Co-Chairs Barbara and Shirley checked into Burke House where they would stay and set up their command post for the duration of the Reunion. The purpose of their staying at the residence would be to maintain a central point of contact in person and by cell phone for both the Committee members and registrants. MUN Housing had kindly provided them with a room to serve as an office across the hall from their bedroom. They also had first aid supplies in case of emergencies. After distributing the Welcome Sheets to each room and setting up an information table in the lounge, they then proceeded to deliver materials for the Meet and Greet at St. Augustine’s. There they found Ruby (Moss) White arranging flowers while her Hospitality Committee volunteers were busy setting up the food tables. Marge Brown and the Registration Committee were setting up the Registration station and a printer was provided for them to use for the duration of the reunion. The lovely registration bags were admired – the shoe bags made with materials donated by hostel girls and sewn up by many hostelites and their friends. The first arrival at the residence from California was Mrs Margaret Sayers (40-43) (shown left, signing the guest book at Government House while on the city tour), daughter of our last matron, Mrs. Elizabeth Gosse. She was a bright, energetic 80+ lady who exhibited the same interest in life as her late mother. As the night proceeded two others arrived, Marie Cook (60-62)from Grand Falls and Ev (Clarke) 1 McTaggart (64-66)from Toronto. Bright sunlight greeted us again on Friday morning. We walked to the Science Cafeteria for breakfast (it was here that Shirley, the only “casualty” to use the first aid supplies – a band-aid, fell off the seat of the picnic table!). After breakfast, more girls arrived and much excited talking and laughing could be heard throughout the residence. Barbara and Shirley fielded questions both in person and by phone leading up to the “Meet and Greet”. A backup person (Wendy Bursey) was hired to take care of these duties while the Meet and Greet was in process, and again on Saturday while the tours were in progress. Eight or nine of us walked across Prince Phillip Drive to have lunch at Bitters Pub where the chef came out to greet us. We ate well, we felt special! Throughout the afternoon, the remaining girls arrived and it was wonderful to match faces to names. We also fielded phone calls and handled little problems that cropped up. The “Meet and Greet” at St. Augustine’s (shown right) on Friday was a hit. The Registration Desk gave out the Hand-Sewn Shoe Bags filled with goodies. The Hospitality Booth had memorabilia laid out and the VCD showing photos of girls across the 40 years of the Hostel being open. These were being sold along with some books. Tickets were sold on a couple of paintings that were donated by Art Marsh (husband of Eileen (Eveleigh) Marsh) and another by Georgina (Budgell) Hedges. The first was drawn for at the Meet and Greet and was won by Jean (Hill) Nash. The Hospitality had flowers, food and drink laid out on a central table for all to enjoy. Barbara and Shirley greeted everyone, using the Hostel Bell as a signal to start the event. After welcoming everyone and attending to some housekeeping points that everyone should be aware of, Barbara informed everyone of the glitch we had encountered with the Harbour Cruise only three days before the reunion. The vessel had not passed the federal safety regulations and thus could not sail. Fortunately, Barbara was able to contact a friend who was the manager of the Fairmont Hotel, the former Newfoundland Hotel, and he came to our rescue with just 24 hours notice and provided us with a VIP Luncheon at the Cabot Club. Anne (Combden) Perchard was also able to arrange for an entertainer who played the accordion. Those interested could either opt for the new offering or get a refund. This was well received and most went along with the change and, in the end this event was a highlight of the Reunion for those who attended. With music from across the decades provided by VOWR’s Joe Kelly, everyone proceeded to enthusiastically enjoy the rest of the evening reminiscing, chatting and even dancing with their former hostel mates. The Hall rang with laughter and the camaraderie was truly felt by all. This did not stop at the end of the Meet and Greet, because when we got back to Burke House we found an impromptu party going on in the lounge with wine and food brought in by the 35+ girls who were staying there. It was some time before we finally rolled into bed! Early Saturday morning, we were blessed with yet another beautiful day. Breakfast was brought into the residence by two hardworking early-rising members of the Hospitality Committee: Ena (Torraville) Oake (with husband Guy for lifting of heavy boxes and tables) and Eileen (Eveleigh) Marsh. The water urn doesn’t work! Eileen rushes off to get a kettle from home, bless her! While everyone left to go to the two arranged events, Shirley stayed behind and held the fort. What a good idea of Barb’s to have a central communications line, because Shirley’s cell phone got a good deal of use that day. Hiring a back up to help us was brilliant as we sure needed it when little problems arose that needed to be taken care of immediately. Evelyn and Barbara left to pick up the current owners of 55 Rennies Mill Road, the Drehers, and saw they even had a big welcome sign (shown right) on their veranda. They joined other Hostelites at the Battery Hotel for a buffet luncheon, and then 25 of them were picked up by a tour bus at 1:30 pm and drove to Quidi Vidi Village. It was the Drehers’ first visit there! The tour then visited Government house and signed the Visitor’s Book. This visit was also a first for many. Then came the highlight of the day; the tour bus took them to 55 Rennies Mill Road, the former Bishop Jones Memorial Hostel. The door was open and the Drehers graciously invited everyone into their home and gave them a tour. They posed on the “sacred stairs” (shown left) and the Drehers’ son, Richard, patiently used everyone’s cameras to take wonderful pictures for them. They took the Drehers’ address so they could individually express their appreciation for the opportunity to once again 2 visit the Hostel. The atmosphere was so welcoming and they stayed so long that the planned visit to the Basilica had to be aborted since by now a wedding was in progress. So they toured Signal Hill instead. They then hurried back to the Residence to get ready and listen to the other girls rave about the wonderful VIP Luncheon (shown right) and entertainment by Joan Upshall on accordion at the Fairmont’ Cabot Club.