PROMINENT PEOPLE
Mr. Joe Careen
In every community, some people stand out for their
achievements and their commitment to volunteer work. In
Point Lance, that person was Mr. Joe Careen. He was
born in Point Lance on
June 1, 1907. He was the youngest
of a family of six.
His mother died when he was only nine
years old.
While he had a busy life
with a large family of 21 children,
he still managed to find
time to volunteer his services to
improving his community.
His first task was to lobby
government members and
after a lot of convincing, finally
persuaded them to provide funding
to build a road to Point
Lance. The following excerpt was
taken from a letter
written to the Evening Telegram in 1931
by Mr. Joe.
"I don't think that the government knows that there is a
place called Point Lance and that one hundred
people live
there, therefore they might find out through
your paper and do
something for us. People have been living here for over one
hundred and thirty years and it is not one bit farther ahead
today then when the first old Irishman came
here to live. In
regard to civilization, we have no road to our fishing premises
which is our only dependence. It will
only cost about six
thousand dollars to make a road for us, one month's work for a
hundred men. There were eleven thousand dollars
spent
in Branch last fall, and five thousand more distributed on the
Cape Shore. We didn't get five cents.
I hope that when the
House will open we will have someone to take
pity on us and
try to give us a road."
Mr. Joe also obtained government funding to build a wharf
and a community stage
in Point Lance. In 1971, Mr. Joe
formed the first community
council in Point Lance. He was
the first mayor and served
in this position for 10 years.
During this time, Mr. Joe
was very active and very vocal.
During those years, he obtained
funding to install a water
system, cleared land for a garbage dump, built a skating
rink and a playground as well as a number
of picnic sights.
In fact, Point Lance is the only community
on the Cape
Shore today who can boast about having
a complete sewer
system. His last project before stepping
down as mayor
was to construct a community center, a
facility which
residents of the community are very proud of today.
After
completing all his accomplishments, however he still
was
not ready to retire. He and his wife continued running
his businesses, a convenience store and a small trucking
business. He also owned and operated the school bus
providing transportation
for the school children of Point
Lance to St. Bride's
for a period of 20 years.
Mr. Joe died March 24, 1996 at the age of 89. On that day,
Point Lance lost one of its most respected citizens. He will
always be remembered for his dedication to his community.
Today in the community of Point Lance we can see many
of his accomplishments.
The people of Point Lance were
very fortunate to have
Mr. Joe Careen as a citizen.
The following poem was written by a resident of Point
Lance as a tribute to Mr. Joe upon his death.
A Tribute to Mr. Joe
Here is a little poem
which is written just Mr. Joe,
for you
because of the fine person you
were
in all that you did do.
As the Father of Confederation
Mr. Smallwood was well known
but for the prosperity of Point
Lance
Mr. Joe you held your own.
Politicians you forever wrote
concerning the condition of our
roads
you letters had such an impact
they all came out in droves.
For many, many years
you drove our school bus
whenever you stopped to light
your pipe
the children made no fuss.
You gathered many bottles
to raise money for our church
because when it came to charity
you were always among the first.
You were the founder of our council
and running water in our tap
a playground for our children
and much, much more than that.
The children they all loved you
and gathered round each night
whether a game of cards or the
Rosary
you did always guide them right.
Yes Mr. Joe, you surely will be
missed
and to you we give our thanks
because you will always be remembered
as the Father of Point Lance.
This is Mr. Joe and his wife, Mrs.
Katie.
Careen's Cairn
Riding down to Lancelieu
Bull, Cow and Calf in view
Over barrens, hills and marsh
"Gibark," the partridge call so harsh
They scare the pony as well as you
Riding down to Lancelieu!
Oh summer is over, the fish is made
Through I for my share have not been paid
And now you know the life I lead
For many a cod for my keep I bleed
Fresh from out of the briny blue
Fishing by dory from Lancelieu
Now the mist comes up and the cold is keen
It's purely Fall as I'm Nick Careen
But there's meadows to cut and oats to reap
To harvest the hay for
the cattle's keep;
For the
gardens are late and the pony too
Galloping down to Lancelieu.
The barrens were here since the world began
So I think I'll build me a naked man
When the fog is in it's all aplain
And he'll be a mark when I go again
For the lost may have their course a clue
He'll show them the way to Lancelieu.
Nick alighted and filled the skerry
For never a wheel on this path made merry
With stones with
which to crown the hill
By a Cairn endowed with his name and skills
And then in the mist as the moon shone through
Nick trotted his pony to Lancelieu.
by Eric Hiscock
