Catching Capelin

"Catching Capelin" 1908 [Va 118-100.3]
International Grenfell Association Photograph Collection
Courtesy of: The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador: Archives Division

One of the great things about Newfoundland is that you can gather free food from so many places. While it's a rough go getting much to grow here, besides root vegetables, Newfoundland is rich with berries, edible plants, fish and game. My mother and father grew up in Lethbridge, a small community in Bonavista Bay and I'd spend my summers picking blueberries, cherries and rhubarb. I have memories of my Nan Penney picking little "sweet leaves" and chewing on them, handing them to me and nodding a "yes, go ahead maid, it won't kill ya", as I popped the new treat in my mouth. I'd venture into the woods to set rabbit snares with my cousin Mitch and in the fall of the year we'd pick crabapples, cracking up laughing when someone got a really bitter one and one of us would shout, "Sure look at the face on you!"

"Two Children in Garden Eating Rhubarb" 1932 [Va 92-188]
International Grenfell Association Photograph Collection
Courtesy of: The Rooms Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador: Archives Division

The other day I went to get some capelin with my sister, Robyn, and our friend Maggie. Capelin are a small fish that "roll" onto beaches in the millions in late June or early July. If you live in St. John's, the usual spot to get your capelin is Middle Cove Beach, and people turn up in the thousands. Despite the awful traffic and parking, I was so impressed with the sense of community at the beach.  First of all, the capelin weren't rolling right in, without nets you just couldn't get anything. So in pure Newfoundland fashion, a few locals came down to the beach with their nets, just to haul up the capelin for everyone else. Folks were helping each other gather the little squirmy fish and we helped an older lady fill three buckets, to the joy of her husband who grumbled, "Sure, I don't know what I brought you for anyway Vera, with that hip on you!" In all directions you could hear the squeals of little children, as they grabbed for the gooey creatures that danced out of their chubby fingers, "How many can you hold at a time?! I can hold, like twenty!"

Middle Cove Beach, Newfoundland. 2014

Middle Cove Beach, Newfoundland. 2014

Capelin
Middle Cove Beach, Newfoundland. 2014

Maggie and Robyn with our bucket of capelin
P.S: we don't eat them raw!

After all was said and done, we got our feed of capelin and had a grand time. So, what do you do with the capelin once you get them? Here's a great video by Bob Kelland that shows you just that! Enjoy!

Fire it Up!

St. John's after the Great Fire
East end of Duckworth Street
[A 2-19]
Winter 1892-1893

I often research the most random things to post for you guys and today I searched "fire' and got some great pictures. I don't really have much to say about today's post, so let's get to it.
(All photos courtesy of The Rooms Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador)



Fire at Job Brothers and Co.
[B 4-100]
September, 1901
 The fire that destroyed the Job Brothers
southside premises was caused by a boiler explosion.

Fire at the Imperial Oil Premises (seen from downtown St. John's)
[A 53-7]
June 24, 1944

Windsor Town Fire
[A 32-61]
1943(?)

Windsor Town fire
[A 32-64]
1943(?)

Windsor after the town fire
[A 34-64]







Time Travelling with a Newspaper

When I fantasize about time travel I think about how white people are really the only group who can safely time travel to just about any time they choose...well, white men. 

As a women, I often think about how it's really only the white, heterosexual, "unmarked" male that this applies to. I wouldn't find pre-1980 very liberating either, even as the second wave of feminism started and the Canadian Charter of Rights was published. But even here, in Canada, which many believe to be quite progressive (despite the ultra-conservative measures of current government), things weren't that great for women in the 1980s. For example, it wasn't until 1987 that systemic discrimination in the hiring of women was found to be unlawful and it wasn't until 1989 that the Supreme Court of Canada decided that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination.

"Miss Information"
Evening Telegram [1919-05-07]

While I can never actually time travel, no matter how hard I wish for it, I can explore the past through archival documents, photographs and recordings. One of my favourite things to do is browse though old newspapers using Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative. It's hard to find a medium with more blatant sexism than in old advertising.



Evening Telegram
 [1910-02-28]

Evening Telegram
[1911-03-16]

St. John's Daily Star
[1916-09-15]

St. John's Daily Star
[1916-09-18]

The Strange Craze of Dr. Bragley

If anyone tries to tell you that this generation is more about gore and violence than any other, direct them to a newspaper from the 1880s. This isn't for the faint of heart...

Evening Telegram [1885-12-11]

Currently Offering: Pillow Top Workshops

Raymond Russell, who made a pillow top in the lumber camps in Terra Nova in 1958,
shows his daughter,Arlene Penney how to tie off the wool on the pillow top frame.

Pillow tops are woven with wool on wooden frames and were traditionally crafted by Newfoundland lumber camp workers to be gifted to their wives, girlfriends or mothers. They are sewn onto pillows, used as throws, pot holders or place mats. While there are different methods of making these pillow tops, it always begins with a handmade square wooden frame. Today, I'm one of a handful of people carrying on this tradition and providing detailed instructions through this hands on workshop. I became interested in pillow tops several years ago while interviewing my grandfather, Raymond Russell, about his time in the lumberwoods. The pillow tops have brought me to such places as Quidi Vidi, Cupids, Winterton, South East Bight and even the Logger's Life Museum bunkhouse in Grand Falls-Windsor.

At the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with their very own pillow top and the knowledge and skills to make more. All materials and tools are provided in the workshop fee.

 

 

Length of Workshop: 3 hours 


Cost: $20 per person and this includes all materials (twine, wool) and use of specialized tools (twine needles, weaving frame), and detailed instructions. At the end of the day you leave with your very own pillow top.

Maximum Number of Participants: 12

Proposed Audience: This workshop is suitable for everyone and children ages 8 and up. This workshop has proven to be a great intergenerational activity.

If you're interested in having me teach a pillow top workshop in your community, please feel free to get in touch at npenney4@gmail.com.

 

My name is Nicole Penney and I work in Newfoundland as a folklorist and archivist, helping communities shape their identity and preserve their traditional culture. I have been working within the heritage community since 2004, and hold a BA in Folklore / English Literature and an MA in Public Folklore from Memorial University. I currently hold a position with The Rooms Provincial Archives Division Reference Desk and sit as secretary on the board of directors of the Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives. I also work and volunteers regularly within the archival community and contribute to various newsletters and blogs relating to traditional culture. I has a particular interest in folk art and occupational folklore and I'm a strong advocate of community level heritage projects and inter-generational activities.

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