That ‘chaw’ trying to make a big fellow of himself … in the lock up ”

Archival Moments

September 19, 1882

A prison cell is no place for a ‘chaw’.

St. John’s, NL is known internationally as a “party” city. The iconic George Street is on the itinerary of every tourist. Unfortunately, however, when large numbers gather and alcohol is involved trouble follows. But did you know that night life in St. John’s is tame today compared to what it was in the 1880’s.

In the 1880’s the court reporters for the city newspapers were busy reporting on multiple arrests for drunkenness and fighting, typically there would be seven to thirteen individuals thrown into the “Lock up” on any given weekend night, this pales in comparison to the one or two that we get today.

With so many people being arrested for disorderly conduct and other related alcohol charges in September 1882 the condition of the “Lock up” became such a concern that the Editor of the Evening Telegram penned an editorial about the deplorable conditions. The editorialist wrote:

“Attention has been frequently called to the condition and insufficient accommodation of our Lock up. This place, that is proved by the government for the temporary detention of prisoners, has time after time been found most injurious of the health of its occupants. Deaths have occurred there. In consequence of which a want of proper attention has been attributed to the police authorities; but no blame could attach to them, as it was not through their fault that such sad events have taken place.”

The “Lock Up” the newspaper reporter suggested because of its size was a breathing ground for “fighting and disorderly conduct.” The editorial stated:

“As the Lock up is at present situated, it contains four small and dark cells, and as many as eighteen prisoners have been confined to them, at one and the same time. It no wonder then, we find huddled together in a small space, the greater number who are doubtless excited through the influence of strong drink. Last night seven prisoners confined to those four cells, on Sunday morning last here were thirteen having been arrested for the usual offences of drunkenness and disorderly conduct.”

It appears that some of the men who were arrested liked their peace and quiet in the ‘lock up.’ One night In September 1882 a man named Neagle of Riverhead (west end of St. John’s) who was found fighting on the street was taken into custody and was placed in a cell with the “indomitable Andrew Kearney” who had been arrested for being incapable of taking proper care of himself.

Kearney was not amused with his very talkative roommate and his pleas for him to be quite fell on deaf ears. About 2 o’clock in the morning Kearney had had enough and gave Neagle a black eye and a bloody nose. Asked by the constable why he had beaten his cell mate Kearney stated:

“that that “chaw” whoever he was, was trying to make a big fellow of himself.”

His Worship (Judge Prowse) was most displeased with the two men. Andy Kearney was given twenty days imprisonment for his assault in the cells, and Neagle got fifty days for striking the constable earlier in the evening. In imposing the sentence Judge Prowse stated “that any person who would raise his hand against policemen would be punished by him with the utmost severity.”

The calls for reform to improve the “lock up” with its “four small dark cells” also fell on deaf ears. The “lock up” remained home to all those who broke the law until the Great Fire 1892.

Recommended Archival Collection: The Evening Telegram and other newspapers give very detailed accounts of all citizens that were arrested. It might be interesting to explore to see if you will find an ancestor in the “lock up.”

Lost Word Meaning: Chaw: a talkative person. Example: Terry is a fine young man, / But he has a lot of ‘chaw,’ /

Newfoundland Expression: “More chaw than a sheep’s head” refers to one who talks too much.

Chaw Bag – Newfoundland and Labrador Language Lessons. Watch This: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOgkY02Q-c

Catholics forbidden to join union

ARCHIVAL MOMENT

September 19, 1913

William Ford Coaker (1871-1938) ended an hour-long speech to a group of fishermen at the Orange Hall in Herring Neck by asking those who wished to form a fishermen’s union to stay behind. Nineteen did, and thus, the Fishermen’s Protective Union (FPU) was founded that evening, November 3, 1908.

The FPU, under Coaker’s leadership as president, became a dynamic social, economic and political force unlike anything previously witnessed in the Colony. Never before had there been a serious attempt to organize fishermen, in a movement to challenge the established order.

Two other fishermen’s organizations extant in this period were little more than social and fraternal societies organized along religious lines: the Star of the Sea Association was a Catholic club that existed primarily in St. John’s while the Society of United Fishermen was an Anglican benevolent society.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. John’s Michael Francis Howley was not at all receptive to the idea of a fishermen’s union. On September 19, 1913 he had a notice posted in all the churches in the Placentia District, forbidding all Catholics from joining or having anything whatever to do with Coaker’sUnion.

Coaker quickly realized that he would need the support of the bishop if he was to get his union established in Placentia Bay. Coaker’s officials met with church officials convincing them that a line in the FPU constitution that implied that members had to take a secret oath in order to become union members was not true.

On September 29, 1913 upon hearing that Coaker had altered the constitution of the FPU, Howley immediately withdrew his condemnation and allowed Catholics to join.

Coaker was instrumental in establishing Port Union, Canada’s only union-built town, created in 1916 by the Fishermen’s Protective Union (FPU). The town became the centre of the FPU’s business, which included the Fishermen’s Union Trading Company, a weekly newspaper called the Fishermen’s Advocate, a retail store that served 40 outlets in other communities, a salt-fish plant with electric dryers and many other businesses and amenities. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his work with fishermen.

Recommended Website: Formation of the Fishermen’s Protective Union: http://www.mun.ca/mha/fpu/fpu18.php

Recommended Reading: McDonald, Ian D.H., “To Each His Own”: William Coaker and the Fishermen’s Protective Union in Newfoundland Politics, 1908-1925.St. John’s:Institute ofSocial and Economic Research,MemorialUniversity ofNewfoundland, 1987.

Recommended Song: We are Coming, Mr Coaker: http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/26/coaker.htm

“The last livyer of Red Island, Placentia Bay”

Archival Moment

“I did not want her to be left alone.”

September 12, 2013

Jimmy Corrigan (far right) is going home to Red Island.

James “Jimmy” Corrigan, age 80 years went home to Red Island, Placentia Bay for the final time on September 12, 2013. “Jimmy” who died on September 9 asked that he be returned to his beloved Island home to be buried next to his mother.

Jimmy told friends that he wanted to be buried home on Red Island to “keep company” with his mother Mary (nee Barry) Corrigan who was buried there many years ago. He told friends, “I did not want her to be left alone.”

Red island is one of the many Islands in Placentia Bay that were part of the resettlement program in Newfoundland in the 1960’s. The program saw families move from isolated, often island communities, to what the provincial government called growth centers. Families began moving from Red Island in 1966 and by the fall of 1968 it was practically deserted.

He has gone home to his beloved Red Island

Jimmy Corrigan resisted the move. He held title to his land and the right to prosecute the fishery from his fishing premises. To subsidize his income he maintained a small herd of sheep. He was the unofficial keeper of the island, including the guardian of the cemetery where he was buried.

In 1992 with the introduction cod moratorium he became the last livyer on Red Island.

He continued to return to Red Island for most of the summer and part of the fall until 2010 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Since 2010 his deteriorating health allowed him to make only occasional short visits.

His burial in the cemetery on Red Island was the the the first since 1968. Many residents of the Placenta area say he will be the last to be buried there.

Immediately following the mass of Christian burial at Sacred Heart Church, Placentia family and friends gathered to take him home. Dominic and Doreen (Dohey) Traverse lead a procession to the public wharf where he was placed in a fishing boat.

Five vessels joined the flotilla carrying approximately 130 friends to bring Jimmy back home to Red Island.

“So, tonight the west moon hangs over the harbour,

Shines down ‘cross the headland and out ‘cross the bay,

Shines down through the trees and rests on the graveyard,

As if lookin’ for the souls of the ones moved away.”

Recommended Museum Exhibit: The Rooms Provincial Museum Division, Here, We Made a Home: The Elinor Gill Ratcliffe Gallery, Level 4. One of the exhibit cases focuses on the official Resettlement Program of the province using artifacts and photographs.

Recommended Song: West Moon : Recorded by Pat Byrne (Towards The Sunset / Pat and Joe Byrne with Baxter Wareham 1983, Pigeon Inlet Productions, St. John’s, NL. http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/01/west.htm

Recommended Reading: West Moon by All Pittman. Breakwater Books, 1995 – Drama – 63 pages. West Moon is set in Newfoundland during the time of resettlement in the mid-1960s. Though the play explores some serious social, political, moral, and theological themes, it does so with a unique blend of pathos and humor. Though the characters are dead and subject to different degrees of despair, they come vigorously alive as we meet them, for a brief while, within the confines of their mortality.

Obituary:

Corrigan, James Joseph – Dec 5, 1932 – Sept 9, 2013, Age 80 years. Passed away at the Placentia Health Care Center, surround by love on Sept 9, 2013, Jimmy Corrigan formerly of Red Island, Placentia Bay. Predeceased by his father John, mother Mary (nee Barry), brother- in- law Tom Cheeseman, and nephew Gerard Cheeseman. Left with precious memories are his beautiful sister Elizabeth and her children Terry, Doris (Bill Carroll), Diane (Ron Brewer), Willis and Norman Cheeseman and their families, also cherished by his other family Dominic and Doreen Traverse, and their children Peter and Christopher, where he resided and was loved. Also heartbroken are his special friends Nick Traverse (Janet Jones) , all of the Traverse family and a large circle of friends, too many to mention. Waking at Coombs Funeral Home, Placentia on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:00 – 9:00, Mass of Christian Burial to take place on Thursday September 12, 2013 at Sacred Heart Church, Placentia at 10:00 a.m. Flowers gratefully accepted or donations may be made in his memory to the Sacred Heart Church Repair Fund.

Seven Placentia Giants at the Regatta

Archival Moments

August 9, 1877

Seven Placentia Giants, 1877.

The talk in St. John’s in the days approaching Regatta Day in 1877 was all about a crew of fisherman from Placentia daring to compete for supremacy on the historic waters of Quidi Vidi Lake.

In 1877, Mr. Edward Sinnot a businessman of Placentia, assembled a crew of six strapping fishermen, all over 6 feet tall. Phillip Morrissey, Daniel Morrissey, Patrick Morrissey, John Morrissey, Moses Morrissey, and James Whelan. Sinnott would act as coxswain.

On Saturday night, August 4th, the crew hoisted their boat on their shoulders and left Placentia to walk the 90 miles to St. John’s. The trail was a rough one through the woods, as there was no road. The press in St. John’s and the public anxiously awaited their arrival.

The St. John’s newspaper the Morning Chronicle reported on, August 7, 1877

“We have no doubt that their brother fishermen in St. John’s and the neighbouring outports will accord to them a hearty welcome, and in the friendly contest of Thursday (Regatta Day) next willingly concede to them all the immunities of honorable rivalry.”

Expectations on how the ‘Placentia Giants” would do was low. In a letter to the Editor of the Morning Chronicle on August 9^th it was written:

“As they have had pluck to start I trust they will make a favorable show; but it is hard to expect men who have had no practice, and who are unaccustomed to the pond, to match men like you have here in St. John’s – well practiced and acquainted with the race course. I merely mention this to show that they will be contending against big odds. I do not mean to throw anything like disparagement on the men; they are good strapping fellows, no doubt, and deserve great credit for breaking the way for others to follow their plucky footsteps in the future.”

The great Race of Regatta day, August 9th, was the “Fisherman’s Race.” Seven boats entered, the competing crews came from Torbay, Outer Cove, Harbour Grace, Placentia, St. John’s and a British Warship that was in port.

The Morning Chronicle of August 11th describes the race:

“The Placentia crew in their own boat walked beautifully over the course and won the Prince of Wales first prize. The famous Outer Cove crew of last year were left far away behind, and proved that even their magnificent rowing could not retrieve the reputation of a boat whose natural propensity to push all before her seem insuperable.”

For rowing the quickest time of the day, the crew of the “Placentia” were awarded a bonus of $10. The victory was the cause of great excitement and Governor Musgrave asked to have the seven visitors brought to him so he could give each a gold sovereign.

With their moment of glory over, the victorious crew lifted their boat to their shoulders and walked home with it.

The Placentia crew quickly became known as as the ‘Seven Placentia Giants’.”

This tremendous feat was replicated in 1977 by the Placentia Lions who once again carried a boat to St. John’s and won the Championship. It marked the second straight year that the Lions Crew had won the Triple Crown of Rowing, meaning they had won the men’s senior Championship in all three fixed-seat rowing Regattas (Placentia, Harbour Grace and St. John’s.)

Recommended Archival Collection: At the Rooms Provincial Archives Division take some time to look at “The Rowing” Series which consists of 212 b&w photographs predominantly of the Royal St. John’s Regatta races and crews, The photographs include team portraits, races underway, presentation of awards and views of the people along the shore of Quidi Vidi Lake.

Recommended Museum: Special tours and visitation to the Royal Regatta Museum are available upon request. If you wish to make a special appointment to visit the Museum, please call the Boathouse at: (709) 576 – 8921. (Note: Research and writing for this Archival Movement was completed by John O’Mara.)

Recommended Web Site: The Royal St. John’s Regatta: http://regatta.nlpl.ca/php/home.php

Recommended tune (Listen): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNVQdwzMKpA

Catholics eat meat at St. John’s Regatta?

Archival Moment

August 6, 1964

Photo Credit: The Rooms Provincial Archives 1.502.050A; Regatta crowd on the north side slopes of Quidi Vidi Lake during Come Home Year Regatta

On Thursday, August 6, 1964, Father Dermot O’Keefe, Secretary to Archbishop Patrick J. Skinner, Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. John’s contacted all of the local radio stations and newspapers with the important announcement that he (the Archbishop)

“has granted a general dispensation from the law of abstinence from meat on tomorrow (Friday, August 7^th) to all Roman Catholics in all parishes of the Archdiocese of St. John’s.”

The Archbishop stated “Meat is therefore permitted as often as desired on this Friday, whether the Regatta is held or not.”

In the Roman Catholic Church their are certain disciplinary observances that were encouraged. On Friday’s, Christians are encouraged to fast. That fast takes the form of avoiding meat in the diet.

With the Regatta cancelled because of inclement weather on Wednesday, August 5, 1964 and the weather not looking good for Thursday, August 6, 1964 Archbishop Skinner insisted that the “law of abstinence from meat on Friday, August 7, 1964 be dispensed.”

With the law dispensed Roman Catholics could stand at Quid Vidi Lake enjoying the Regatta with hotdogs and hamburgers in hand with the rest of the population.

Recommended Reading: A Day at the Races: Mysteries of the Royal St. John’s Regatta, 2003 by Jack FitzGerald

Recommended Archival Collection: At The Rooms, Provincial Archives Division take some time to look at VA 61: Souvenir 1912 Regatta, St. John’s, Newfoundland / photographed and published by P.H. Cowan (St. John’s, N.L)

100,000th View to Archival Blog

I have hundreds of stories in these archival boxes for you!

(St. John’s, NL, July 31, 2013) we reached a milestone today, recording 100,000 page views!

The site was designed less than a year ago to bring attention to the extensive archival collection of material that is held in archives throughout the province.

“Archival Moments’ takes an archival document that has some relevance to a particular day, and then writes a synopsis of the document which is then posted. The posting includes reference to the particular archives that holds the original document and includes suggested reading material.

The goal of ‘Archival Moments’ was and remains to encourage those who come to the blog to do some further research on the topics that are posted. This site is all about bringing attention to the great stories and traditions that are found in archives.

In the last few months ‘Archival Moments’ posted stories about the oldest man in the world, a Newfoundlander, we’ve talked about the significance of Memorial Day, imported moose, mysterious icebergs, and we’ve even solved a mystery. We learned about the proposed international airport for Trepassey, bonfire night, giant squid and public bath houses!

Be sure to stay tuned in the next few months as Archival Moments will let you learn about jail conditions in the old city (not much has changed), a bigamist in the town, (the descendants will be surprised!) an attempted assassination on a Catholic bishop, and the employment of cats!!

It’s certainly been a busy year. Thanks to everyone who have stopped by and who have shared with others.

You can sign up to receive ‘Archival Moments’ by entering your email in the Subscribe box in the sidebar. You can also follow ‘Archival Moments’ on Facebook and on Twitter @LarryDohey.

Page views refer to the number of times visitors to the site have looked at the pages that I have created. Every time a visitor loads one of the pages, a page view is counted.

Here’s to the next 100,000 views!!

“Desertion” and the quality of the butter

ARCHIVAL MOMENT

July 11, 1879

When Denis Walsh of Renews signed up to prosecute the fishery with Messrs. Goodridge and Company of Renews in July 1879 it is likely that he would have signed a standard agreement known to many as the ‘Masters and Servants Agreement.’

This agreement that would have stipulated among other things that:

“The said (Messrs. Goodridge and Company) agrees to find and provide for the said (Dennis Walsh of Renews) and supply him during the voyage with provisions in qualities per week that is to say: 2 lb’s Bread ; 1 gallon of molasses; 1 gallon of flour; 5 lb’s of Pork or Beef; 2 oz of tea and 1 lb of butter… “

Denis Walsh, like many of the fishermen of his day, like many of our ancestors, prosecuted the fishery in a craft with two others. Denis would have remained unknown to history except he liked his butter. He liked his butter so much that the local St. John’s newspaper the Evening Telegram described him as “being rather epicurean in his taste”.

It appears that Dennis opened his supply box, looked at the supplies that had been given to him as part of the contract to find ‘rotten butter.”

Denis approached (John) Beavis of Renews who was responsible for the boat and told him he would have got along alright with the supplies that he had been given, only for “the quality of the butter” with which the “bread box” was supplied. With that he told Captain Beavis he was “clearing out till the grievance was removed.”

John Beavis was not amused; on behalf of his employer Allan Goodridge and Company he had Walsh arrested and dragged before Judge Henry Renouf where he was charged with “deserting his Masters Service”. It was not a charge that was taken lightly, under the Masters and Servants Act, fishermen if convicted could spend from 30 – 60 days in jail.

Alan Goodridge & Son was one of the most successful fishing firms in Newfoundland. The firm had branches throughout the colony of Newfoundland including their home port of Renews. The Registry of Newfoundland Vessels reveals that the Goodridge’s were one of the largest vessel owners in that era, registering 197 vessels between 1834 and 1917.

Walsh was ready to defend himself before the good judge producing a sample of the butter in the court.

The newspaper reporters in the court were sympatric too Walsh, the reporter for The Telegram wrote:

“but we didn’t taste it (the butter) didn’t care to, because we might run the risk of being expected to taste the cause of nearly all the trouble …”

The reporter was suggesting that one of the greatest causes of discontent and increased desertions from the many fishing vessels was the quality of the food.

Judge Renouf upon seeing the quality of the butter also proved to be sympathetic. Rather than the standard sentence of 30 -60 days in jail he ordered Dennis Walsh to return to his occupation and further ordered the supplying merchants, Messrs. Goodridge and Company, to promise to provide ‘new butter’ for the crew.

A happy compromise!!

Recommended Archival Collection: The Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. Johns, holds 70% of the Crew Agreements from 1863-1938, and 80% of the Agreements from 1951-1976. The crew agreements include particulars of each member of the crew, including name (signature), age, place of birth, previous ship, place and date of signing, capacity and particulars of discharge (end of voyage, desertion, sickness, death, never joined etc). http://www.mun.ca/mha/

Recommended Reading: Bannister, Jerry: The Rule of the Admirals: Law, Custom, and Naval Government in Newfoundland, 1699-1832. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2003.

Recommended Reading: The Newfoundland Bank Fishery: Government Policies and the Struggle to Improve Bank Fishing Crews’ Working, Health and Safety Conditions. Fred Winsor, B.A., M.A. Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1996.

A beach as justification for the invention of the automobile

: Gooseberry Cove on the beautiful Cape Shore

A cove of inner peace on Newfoundland’s Cape Shore

The beauty of the Cape Shore, in particular Gooseberry Cove Beach, stirred Rex Murphy the CBC host and commentator to write in the Globe and Mail, October 6, 2001:

“It is a small cove, and it has a beach, which Newfoundlanders are willing to claim is a sandy beach, though the effete who have tasted Florida littoral, or the great expanses of Tofino or Hawaii, might quarrel with the description. Sand in these places is small, smooth and sultry. Gooseberry Cove’s sand is much more masculine.”

He continued:

“The going to it, (Gooseberry Cove Beach) and the coming from it, over the splendid wilfulness of the Cape Shore road itself, is the only thorough justification for the invention of the automobile that has yet been hit upon.”

Recommended Reading: A cove of inner peace on Newfoundland’s Cape Shore: Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-cove-of-inner-peace-on-newfoundlands-cape-shore/article763554/

Lovers and fighters in Bannerman Park

Archival Moment

July 8, 1879

Bannerman Park, located on the north side of Military Road, St. John’s next to Government House and the Colonial Building has long been the home to many events some planned some quite spontaneous. A place for lovers and fighters!

On the night of July 8, 1879 three young lads decided they were going to resolve their differences with a round of ‘fist a cuffs’ in the park.

A member of the constabulary walking about the city on his rounds was not amused that the “young lads” were up to their shenanigans. He was particularly not happy that they were causing the disturbance at 11:30 at night!!

The next morning the three lads found themselves in the docket before Judge Henry Renouf.

The St. John’s newspaper ‘The Telegram’ reported that the three were charged with practicing “the noble art of self-defense.”

They were cautioned and discharged.

Bannerman Park is however best known as scenic setting for courting lovers in St. John’s.

In 1947, Douglas Black, a sailor on the Royal British Navy vessel HMS Sheffield, arrived in St. John’s. Walking through Bannerman Park, he met 17 year-old Adelaide Byrne of Placentia Bay, who had also just arrived in the city. During the ship’s ten days in port, the two regularly met Bannerman Park before eventually losing touch after the ship’s departure. In 1990, 70 year-old Douglas Black placed a letter in The Evening Telegram, hoping to find Ms. Byrne once again. The letter reached her brother, who informed him that, sadly, Adelaide had died of tuberculosis two years after his ship left St. John’s

Bannerman Park takes its name for Governor Alexander Bannerman, who in 1864, donated land in the vicinity of Government House for a public park for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of St. John’s.

In April 1887 city officials began to seriously consider what to do with the land that had been left by Governor Bannerman. In 1891, the City of St. John’s funded the design and development of the Park as a formal Victorian Garden.

The rest is history evolving.

Recommended Reading: Stories About Bannerman Park: http://www.bannermanpark.ca/stories/

Recommended Action: Support the Garden of Memories in Bannerman Park: People who enjoy the park can contribute to the park‘s revitalization through by sponsoring various fixtures, flower gardens, and commemorative granite stones, which will be used for the pathways in the Garden. For more information: http://www.bannermanpark.ca/the-garden-of-memories-open-to-the-public/

Do you have a story to tell about Bannerman Park?

Here, We Made a Home

Reception July 6, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

The Rooms

Here, We Made a Home

At the eastern edge of the continent, bounded by the sea, the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador’s livyers was tied to the fisheries and the North Atlantic. A rich mix of dialects, ways of life, food traditions, story and song developed here. Shaped by the unique combination of location, history, and cultures – English, Irish, French, and Scottish – the gallery shares many of these traditions and stories. Some are personal and local; others reflect roles and achievements on the world stage. Running through most of them are qualities of perseverance and innovation, courage and generosity.

Join us tonight for the official opening!!