As part of researching information for this community profile, we had to interview a senior member of our community to enlighten us about early life in the area.

1. How would you compare education years ago to education today?

 There were grades in a two room school. There were two teachers, one of which was a principal. There was no such thing as a gymnasium, there was no water, and to keep warm they had a pot belly stove. Every morning you had to bring a junk of wood  to school in the winter. On really cold days you could not take your mitts off until dinner time. Reccess time they would have cocoamalt,  which was like hot chocolate,  to keep warm. Cocoamalt was later replaced by  cod-liver oil.

2. How would you compare weather years ago to weather today?

 It was a lot different. In the winter there was a lot of snow. It would even reach up over fences. It was very, very cold! There was no such thing as snow plows so people would have to walk over the snow filled roads. They would have really warm summers and they would have really cold winters. They would have to start wearing bobby socks ( ankle socks) in April.

3. How would you compare Christmas years ago to Christmas today?

 They always had a tree from outdoors. There was no such thing as artificial trees. In stockings they would get an apple, orange, notebook, a pencil and perhaps one other small gift besides. They had no lights on Christmas trees and they always went mummering. For Christmas dinner they would have a chicken or rabbit with vegetables.

4. How would you compare work years ago to work today?

 No women ever worked  years ago, they only did housework. The men would work at lumber woods and mostly fishing. The lumber jacks got paid 10 cents an hour which were the ones on wages. The other men would cut wood all day to get a cord., and they got 90 cents for each cord. They would have to sleep on bows in the woods because there were no beds and they used lanterns for light.

5. How would you compare health care years ago to health care today?

 Years ago they had no doctors in the community. They had a midwife but if anyone got really sick they would get on a boat and go to Twillingate hospital. There were no roads so you’d have to walk to the boat or someone would help you if you were ill. There were no phones so you would have to go to the post office and send a telegram to contact a doctor.