Cottlesville Book Chapter 2

    CHAPTER 2
EARLY DEVELOPMENT


    Medical Care in Earlier Years

In the 1800's there was no doctor or hospital in the local area of Cottlesville.  A doctor being resident at Twillingate was available if weather permitted travel by water or ice.  In this period boats were powered by sail or oars, increasing the undertaking of such a task.  People sometimes had to rely on such things as local remedies,  charmers and religious faith.

During the late 1800's and early 1900's medical care was still much harder to obtain than at the present time.  There were no doctors, nurses, or  a clinic on New World Island.  There were no roads connecting us to Twillingate where the nearest medical supplies were.  In case of an emergency, residents of the town would have to travel to Twillingate, most likely by boat.  Sometimes they would travel by boat to Wiseman’s Cove in Dildo Run, then ride the trolley on rail track to Virgin Arm, and finally by another boat to the hospital at Twillingate.  In winter they would travel over the ice by horse or dog team.  This was very inconvenient, but was necessary because a house call could cost up to $20.00 and could not be afforded by the ordinary fisherman.

Since doctors were so expensive, families called in certified women called midwives to help in the delivery of the babies.  Some of the midwives were Mrs. Selena Cooper, Mrs. Claire Philpott, Mrs Eliza Jennings and Mrs. Mary White.  The midwife for Samson’s Island was Mrs. Selena Moores, and on Black Island it was Mrs. Mary Hampton.

During 1900-1925 people could go to St. Anthony or Twillingate if boats were available.  The hot bread poultice was popular during this time.

A form of medical care common in subsequent years were the travelling clinics.  Boats equipped with the doctors, nurses, and medical supplies would travel to the outports and provide the needed services.  The Bonne Nell 1 and 2 would travel throughout the bay visiting the outports providing their medical aid to the people of the towns.

From 1925-1950 the Grand Falls, Botwood and Gander hospitals were barely accessible by boat, plane, horses or train.  The infamous Dr. Olds made Twillingate popular due to his work in the mid 1900's.  In this period sanatoriums for TB patients were set up in Newfoundland.  The Newfoundland Tuberculosis Association in 1944 purchased a navel patrol craft from the United States Air Force Base in Argentia.  The Christmas Seal (as this vessel was named by Newfoundland school children and sanatorium patients) was converted to a TB medical clinic and visited coastal communities around Newfoundland providing x-rays and vaccinations to prevent tuberculosis.  Cod liver oil was taken by school children.  Up to this point in time, many Newfoundlanders were under nourished.  The M.V. Christmas Seal was operated through funds raised by the sale of Christmas Seals and by public donations.

Between 1950-1975, roads and cars made hospitals more accessible and Medicare paid the bills.  A clinic was set up in Virgin Arm, Dr. Sheldon settled in, and most children eventually were born in hospitals and senior homes began to be built.

From 1975 until present, ambulances, specialty  doctors and even the hospital in St. John's became accessible to the point where there had to be cutbacks.

Before Medicare, medical aid  was so expensive, families would only consult a doctor in an emergency.  Otherwise some homemade remedy was used.  Examples are:

Illness        Remedy

Toothache        Tobacco, redways, or salt would be placed on the             afflicted tooth.

Ulcers (mouth)    Elim or Blue Stone

Headache        Soak brown paper in homemade vinegar and             place it on forehead or steep out blossom.

Scalds or Burns    They would smitt lime and burn cod oil until             it was thick enough for a feather to stand up             straight in it.  Then pour the strained lime into             the burned cod oil and place on burns.

Boils            Use poultice consisting of bread and water.



Proud Flesh    Elim or Blue Stone.

Cuts            Myrrh bladders to help stop bleeding.

Infection        Steep out juniper bushes.

Eczema        Place Stockholm tar or mutton fat on affected area.

Common diseases in those days were Polio, Typhoid, Consumption (TB) and Diphtheria.  Consumption killed quite a lot of people in the local area including Selena Cooper, Alfred Cooper, three children belonging to Ambrose Rideout, one boy belonging to Joe Flight and others.  Diphtheria took two children's lives from Lloyd Watkins.  A couple of days were between the deaths of Edward which was six years old and Shirley who was eight years old.  No one else in Cottle's Island caught the disease at this time.  When Mr. Watkins was asked what had caused the disease, he said a young girl came from St. John's where cases of this disease were high in number.  He believed it may have spread from her clothes or suitcase.


    The Depression

The depression struck hard.  People survived with little to wear or eat, and the houses were cold.  Here is an incident of how one family lived through it.  It was a winter of the 1930's and Lloyd Watkins got up one morning and there was nothing in the house to eat.  Maybe there was a crust of bread but that wasn't enough to satisfy himself, a wife, and two little children.  A few evenings prior to this the ice had come in.  Lloyd now decided to go out for a seal.  He grabbed his snowshoes, cap, gun and gaff and he was on his way to get a swile.  He walked half way across the bay to a swatch, took out his gun an cocked it.  He was waiting for a seal to show.  One did and it went  under again.  He pointed his gun and before long it came up again.  He pulled the trigger and the seal floated on the water.  He took the gaff to pull it over, cut the stomach out and tied a rope around it.  He took off with the seal and didn't stop until he got home to the door.  He cut off a piece and said "Come on Violet get out the frying pan".  While Lloyd was gone, his mother had come up, and she noticed that Violet wasn't very talkative or all smiles like most of the time.  His mother asked Violet "What's wrong?".  Violet said "Nan, we got nothing to eat".  Lloyd's mother asked "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you and Lloyd come down?".  Before long his mother had been back with a loaf of bread and so much other stuff and was gone again.  There was church that night and Lloyd's mother told Jessie Peddle (Violet's mother).  The next morning uncle Jack Peddle (Violet's father) came over and asked Lloyd to come over because they might go in the woods later.  When he was there aunt Jess got a cup of tea, Uncle Jack got up and said "you can finish your lunch" and he went outside and returned later.  While he was gone aunt Jessie was very talkative,  trying to keep him there.  After he returned he told Lloyd "you can go home now if you want, because I don't think we'll be going in the woods today".  Lloyd went out and uncle Jack had a sack of flour on the counter and a box with beef, pork, tea, sugar, butter (part of everything he had) for Lloyd.  He left (uncle Jack didn't come out, so Lloyd wouldn't have to say thanks).  Lloyd Watkins said "when you got hungry you would take food from anyone".


    Meals in the Early 1900's

This may have been a meal plan for a week:

Sunday Morning: Fish and Brewis
Sunday Dinner: Cooked dinner (cabbage, carrot, potato, salt beef and turnip)
Sunday Supper: Custard and Jelly
Monday: Some kind of soup
Tuesday: Pork or beef, carrot, potato, and boiled flour for pudding
Wednesday: Salt beef or pork, doughboys and potatoes
Thursday: Rabbit in the fall and winter, Seal in the spring or summer
Friday: Fish and Brewis
Saturday: Peas Soup

Everybody had a pig or a few chickens to kill, sheep, seagulls (a special dish), catch lots of rabbits and have salt fish and salt turbot.  A couple times a week they would have porridge.  No one had fridges, pickle or salt kept the meat preserved.  Some say it was better than now because the meat wouldn't dry out like in deep freezers today.  Very often they had baked beans in the oven or stewed sometimes with salt beef or salt pork,  turnip and other vegetables for a change (almost like bean soup).  Mother kept a couple pigs around in the fall about potato digging time.  They kill their first pig and father would take it down clean it, gut it, scrape it and wash it.  Then he would put it down on the table and chop it up.  They would give away 10-15 pieces to neighbours around.  As each person killed a pig they'd give away so many pieces, but they would end up getting them back.  The more pieces you give away the more you would get back.  They enjoyed sharing, someone would kill a lamb or sheep perhaps on a Friday and share it.  The next Friday that person would get a piece back from one or two people he gave a piece to the week before.  Then you would end up with a roast for Sunday.


    World Wars

In the 1940's  World War Two was taking place.  Two ships sunk in Belle Isle, and as myths and stories are told it was said that one ship sunk between here and Sampson's Island.

Some of the people from Cottlesville who participated in war were Cyril Anstey (Peace time service), Lewis Canning(WWI), Sandy Flight (WWI), Bennett Mugford (WWI), Harvey Pryor (WWII), Allan Rideout (WWI), Cadiz Rideout (WWI), Ford Rideout (WWI), Sidney Rideout (reported missing in action)(WWI) and Dawson White (WWI), Raymond White (drowned crossing the Gulf on the Caribou on the way home from WWII).

During the wars many men were listed as under Moreton's Harbour or Twillingate.

Some local boys which have recently enlisted are Pleaman Cooper (Navy), Lorne Rideout (Navy), Christopher King (Army), Shawn Snow (Army), Bert Rideout (Army) and Justin Brown (Army).


    Before Confederation

Before Confederation there were no roads, only foot paths.  No phones.  Not a school fit to go in.  There was no water supplies only surface wells and when that dried up you had to go to Guy's Cove in Luke's Arm, or go to Anstey's (where Max lives now) who had a pretty good well with a spring up in the garden.  In the winter when it would freeze up people would go to Pot Cove Pond for ice, and many times they used snow water.  John Pryor had a pretty good well too.  There was only a wood stove, no stove oil.  Kerosene was 20¢ per gallon so they had to limit it to a gallon for a winter for their lamps.  To do their schoolwork some opened the stove door.  When it reached 10 or 11 o'clock it was late.  There was no such thing as staying up until 2 or 3 o'clock.  Parents would have to get mad if children didn't go to bed on time.  Houses were poor in condition but what they had they kept tidy.  In the evenings sometimes mother would be at the door to tell you to wipe off your boots, hang up your bookbag, feed the pigs, bring in the wood, and water and get the splits.  When your chores were done it was suppertime.  Then they would do their homework and when they got big enough they were allowed to go to church.  If you didn't go to church you had to go bed.  But every Sunday everyone went to church, there was no pretending you couldn't go.  Mother always taught you to be mannerly.  If you were talking to a man it was "yes sir" or "no sir", if you were talking to a woman it was "yes mam" or "no mam" and take off your cap.  If you went to the merchant's office you would take off your cap.  When you go in the door you weren't seated until you were asked.  Everyone used manners, if they gave you a parcel they'd always say "thank you".  That's why Arthur King was always called Mr. King.  If a clergy came to the house you had to be reverent.

Most say that before confederation there was no such thing as money.  When James Philpott squared up with the Knights, he had $380 come in the year.  He was with the schooner, Opal Gem.  After he had his winters grub, he asked Mr. Knight for $20 and Mr. Knight said "Jim, in the name of God how are you going to spend $20 this winter?".  James Philpott didn't get the $20.  There was no such thing as cash.

Lloyd Watkins said that no one had money.  No one went to Twillingate into a restaurant and bought a lunch.  They would carry their breadbox perhaps with molasses and fish.  They didn't have money to buy lunch, they just had to bring it from home.

Here are some comparisons before confederation and today.  $1.50 per ton then for building a schooner now it's $15,000 or $16,000 per ton.  Some say they got nothing for the product they produced nothing for the fish they brought home, only garbage in comparison to today.  In 1924 there were twenty one millionaires on Water Street who were fish buyers.  In 1962 the Sharon & Vaughn's load of fish (which was 2000 quintals of salt fish) came to $12,878, today that would be half a million dollars.  Then you would pay the highest price for salt and oil at that time, if you couldn't make it you were left on the wings of the world.  If you couldn't make it on a fishing boat you would go in the woods.  People once cut wood for 90¢ per cord, today they get $35-$40 per cord.  One man cut one hundred core of wood and got $90 for it, today you pay $80 for
only half a core.
    Type of House and Family

Newfoundland housing has changed drastically over the past number of years.  In earlier years, homes were two stories high and very seldom painted.  The floors were board, some had canvas, others would sprinkle sawdust over the floor in the evening, the days sawdust would be replaced by new sawdust.  Boughs were an extensive cleaning tool in that it was used to sweep board floors and to clean the chimney.  There was no basement just the first floor put on shores.  There would be a door separating each room and just a pot belly stove in the kitchen to keep the house warm.  Houses were not insulated, although some people used sawdust as a type of insulation.  In houses years ago they had to burn coal.  They got it in Moreton's Harbour.  It was so cold that sometimes the water in the kettle would be frozen by morning.  People would have to wear longjohns under their regular clothing to keep warm during the harsh winter months.  The windows were loose, no putty, no houses done around  underneath.  On windy days or nights the canvas would blow up off the floor.

The families were very large consisting of father, mother, and a number of children.  Large families provided free labour to the parents in doing the chores, helping in the garden, and in drying fish.

The type of house and style have changed over the years.  People built better and better houses.   Today they are well  insulated with hot air furnaces, hot water furnaces, 12 hour burners and electric heat.


    After Confederation

People who lived here before confederation were very thankful for the change.  It was a total alternative from starving.  There were so many benefits, old age pension and family allowances, etc.  One time Jim Philpott, Lloyd Watkins, Nelson Burt and Arthur Burt went out to Belle Isle.  The Kyle came down and the two Burt men had mail and each had a ten dollar bill in their letter.  They couldn't read so Lloyd Watkins (who was the cook) read the letters to them.  The money meant a lot to them, it was the first sent to them while on the Labrador.  Their families had received family allowances and their wives had changed the checks. Nelson's wife told Arthur's wife that she was going to send $10 to Nelson who went away with no money.  Arthur's wife did the same thing.  The two Burts asked Lloyd "Mr. Cook did you get either letter?".  "No, I didn't get either letter" figuring that Violet might have not been able to connect with the steamer (Kyle).  "Well when we get in port you'll get your share of our money" said the two Burts.  When they got in port they bought coke, chips, bars, and fancy biscuits and they shared with Lloyd Watkins.





    Resettlement

The resettlement period was between the years 1954-64.  The residents of Black Island, Samson's Island, Exploit’s Island,  Swan Island and other islands were paid a certain amount of money by the government per family to move to the mainland.  When resettlement started the people were paid $150.00 per household but as the program progressed the amount paid increased to $600.00.  Some settled in Cottlesville, Lewisporte, Little Burnt Bay, and Salt Pond (Embree).  After a number of families had already responded to this move there were not enough people left on these islands to get a teacher or preacher to move there.  Thus, people who wished to attend church and those who had children eventually decided to move also.  This resettlement program took place under the leadership of Joseph R. Smallwood.


Richard Wells - Graham Flight
Richard Wells of Exploit’s Island was not interested in the resettlement program.  He  remains a resident of Exploit’s to this day.  Richard’s parents were William and Sylvia Well’s of Swan Island.  Sylvia was formerly Mrs. Zeebeedee Flight of Cottle’s Island.  Jim Flight of Embree, father of the former MHA, Graham Flight, was  the son of Zeebeedee and Sylvia.  This makes Richard Wells the  half - uncle of Graham Flight. 

Richard’s father William, by his first marriage had Maxwell, Ralph and Phoebe.  Phoebe married George Rideout, Sylvia’s brother.  Sylvia’s parents were Samuel Rideout and Moriah Jones of Cottle’s Island.

    Transportation

The roads of Cottlesville are changing every year.  However, for many years little advancement was made from when trails and cow paths connected Cottlesville with Summerford.  For most people of Cottlesville the only means of transportation was by boat, either by steamer, sailboat,  skiffs, schooners, or punt.  The first steamer mail boat was the S.S. Clyde.  There was no such thing as going to Gander or Grand Falls, and if anyone wanted to go anywhere they would have to catch the train in Lewisporte.  During the winter months other means of transportation was used such as horses, sleds and dog team.

Passenger boats were an important means of transportation in earlier years.  There were several in Cottlesville.  Cadiz Rideout owned and operated the Miss Cottle’s Island from 1935-44, after his death Arthur King bought this boat and used it until 1947.  The route taken was from Cottle’s Island to Bridgeport to Black Island to Samson’s Island to Lewisporte.  Arthur King also ran the Lanedo, the Seamobile, the Marine Roller, and the Earl Keefe which was also a part time freight carrier.  Hooper Smith ran the Miss Tizzard's Harbour from Tizzard's Harbour to Lewisporte picking up passengers along the way.  Also Frank Philpott ran the M.V. Motorola.

One of the first boat engines in Cottle’s Island was owned by Ford Rideout.  It was a "Bridgeport" built in Nova Scotia, it travelled from 4-6 miles per hour (The most common engine in this area was 5 HP).  Some other engines were "4 Acadia" or "4 Atlantic".

In 1893 a Local Road Board from this town was set up.  It was a joint committee between Comfort Cove and Cottle’s Island.  Simon Cull of Comfort Cove, just picked a few because there were so many wanted work .  At that time they would only get paid 70¢ or 80¢ a day.  Some men that served on the committees from this town were William Philpott, Charlie King, George Bulgin, Elihu Moors, Mark Mugford and Arthur Anstey.

During the thirties and forties the government gave the community ten dollars a head, which means ten dollars for every person in the community young and old, which at that meant about $450.00 per year.

In 1950 Lloyd Watkins was foreman.  Before this there was only a cow path.  Clayton Samson from Hillgrade (who had permission from Magistrate Roberts) hired Lloyd Watkins, Reg Peddle, Reg White, Lewis King, Roland Canning and more to make up about ten or fifteen.  They started in Luke's Arm (what is called Sou'west now, over by Bill Legge's).  In the fall they went down to Jim Philpott's.  The tools used were axe, bucksaw, handbars (a barrel put on two sticks).  They would codroy the bog, that means they cut down logs about eight feet in length (firewood size) placed these side by side so that slides could go over them in the winter time.

In 1953 the road was built for a car, Tulk was the foreman (government contractor).  At that time Les Curtis was the member.  He played a great part in getting the islands hooked up (The Curtis Causeway is named after him).  Many people wondered why construction was going to take place to build a road to Cottlesville.  Some thought it was a waste of money since there were no cars or businesses down here for people to come to.  By the time the road was in there was a car or two, Arthur King had a Land Rover Jeep.  One person timed the run from the Orangemen’s Lodge in Summerford to Frank Philpott's gate as being three minutes which was so much difference from walking that distance.  The next improvement was out to Luke's Arm, the next year around Sarah Canning's or down over Blackhead.  There could only be a little bit built at a time since they were on 50/50 days.  (50/50 days was when you would work one day and get paid and work the next day for nothing).  Sometimes they would work a week of free labour. 

The first road was connected to Summerford by the Dept. of Social Services, which is now the Department of Works, Services and Transportation.   Lloyd Gates was the first person to drive a car down over the road, and Arthur King was the first to drive a jeep up over the road.

At that time the Local Road Board would make up a list of how much road they wanted done and sent it in.  You probably wouldn’t get the full amount you wanted.  Say if they wanted $500, they might get $150 to $200, the wages were nothing and the expenditure list took care of plank and nails.  One year they got $800.  Some years they just patched up the old road.

Pickerskill, our federal member,  came and at that time there was no causeway.  He mentioned building a causeway and they booed at him.  He told them "If I'm elected in this district, then before I come back for the second term I'll come back over a causeway".  They booed at him still, but he did what he said and five years later he came back over a causeway.

























    Road Conditions

The road conditions of Cottlesville between 1960-70 had changed very little.  During winter storms the residents were isolated at times for a day or two.

There were many problems associated with the road conditions of our town, for instance, the winding roads and blind hills made driving difficult.  The seasonal ruts due to water erosion and thawing caused thousands of dollars of damage due to its bumpiness.
 
It was a memorable day on July 22, 1988, when the first load of asphalt began at the government wharf and connected with the pavement in Summerford.


    Electricity and Telephones

"The people of Cottlesville were talking in the dark!"  This was a joke for miles around in the early sixties.  Regular phone service to each house happened before the lights came in 1967.  The first telephone was in the late 40's and owned by Bessie Anstey in the Post Office.  In January 17, 1967, the first wires were ran down from Summerford.  The electricity from the provincial “grid” came on  February 14, 1967 (Valentine's Day).

Before the first telephone came to town, messages were sent by telegram.  If it was bad news (eg. death) the envelope would be headed in black print.  If an important call came in for somebody in town, Bessie Anstey would send someone to inform the person.

Before the electricity came people went to bed early and got up early, they would sometimes have breakfast in the dark.  They either used Tilly lamps or gas lanterns.  It was really something but caused lots of trouble.  Lloyd Watkins was working with Chesley Moores who  had a lantern.   Chesley told Lloyd that he could lug in wood, saw it up, cleave it up at night time.  Lloyd wanted one too.  After getting one he said he would be out night time working at his wood.  He found that it made him bad tempered and he would put off this wood work until night time.  He took the lantern and threw it down on the ice over the point.

Before electricity arrived, small gas power generating plants on the island were used to produce enough electricity for running the lights and washers.  However, they were shut off 10:30 - 11:00 at night.  Power was only on after dark, except on Mondays when electricity was turned on to run washers for the women.  The three power plants were owned and run by Arthur Anstey, Arthur King and Frank Philpott.

    Come Home Year

1966 was declared the Come Home Year by Mr. Smallwood.  It was an idea appealing to all the expatriate Newfoundlanders and their descendants to visit their home land.  This event coincided with the opening of the T.C.H.  This year, 1997 is the next big year for Newfoundlanders it marks 500 years since John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497.