Growing up around the Bay in the Sixties was a lot of fun.We were the unsupervised crowd.Not much modern day toys.lots of room for imagination.Raised in an Old two story Salt Box House with the harbour view from one Kitchen Window and a view of the Bay from the other.We were taught by Nuns and some of them were tough as Nails.A couple I remember fondly.We shared everything.Wooden Swing sets made by Father.Hand me down Clothes from my Older Sisters as I had seven.Once when my Grandfather was on his last legs I got a Dancing Master that you wind up and he did a tap dance on a drum.Grandpa thought that was the Kat’s Meow.Mother was a great cook we always had food on the table at meal hour and she was punctual and enough for everybody.If you missed a meal you lost out as there were no left overs.Everybody had a Garden for Vegetables and for Cutting Hay.Lots of Chickens,Cows,Sheep,Horses.In Summer we would swim at the local Pond.No life Guard or Parents in site.A few kids drowned over the years.

The Neighbours were great.If a kid wandered too far from home.An Adult would take them back home.I got lost up by the Church once.The Nuns took me into the Convent and showed me there Budgie Birds.First time I had seen one.A teenage boy showed up and walked me halfway down the road and met up with an Old man who knew my parents .He was kind enough to take me the rest of the way.About a mile and I was about 5 years old at the time.When a neighbour would kill a pig or lamb or Moose.They would always bring us a meal.People with milking Cows would bring us milk and fresh butter.Never saw any money exchanged.Mostly good will and favours.My Dad use to Shoe his Buddies Horses when required.The Odd house had Home Brew or Moonshine.Not a lot of booze around in the 60’s.Mostly people would drop in for Tea and a Chat.A lot of the Old fellas were Pipe Smokers.

The Garden Party in Summer was fun.Plenty of games and grab bags for kids.Ice Cream Cones,Hot Dogs and Cold Plates.The Local Band would play as well.I am a music lover.So that was very good.The fall fair.The men would bring there animals to be judged.Inside the Hall the ladies would have Craft Tables and some men had carved Schooners to be judged.Kids could even make items.I cheated got my Cousin who owns his own Crab Bot now to make me a long liner.He went all out.Included a couple of small dories on it.It was dark blue and red.The Judges were looking for originality and they figured a 10 year could not make such a dandy creation.On a lighter note I won 3rd prize and my Cousin who took the top of a Palin with the pointy V shape.Cracked it off.Put a stick on the middle of it was a bit of white rag used as a Sail.He walked away with 1st prize.He later became a Teacher at Fishery’s College.That Smart Aleck.

When the Fish Plant became Operational most of the locals were Employed there.It was great to have a job that paid well.But the Gardens started to go by the way side.Most Shifts were six 8 hours.Later in the Sixties as TV reception improved.People started watching Hockey and the Stories.So the Rambling House visits started dropping Off.

We had Teenage Dances every Friday Night music supplied by our Local Band.Our Radio reception was poor in those days.CHCM in Marytown came in good and they always played plenty of Newfoundland Artist music.If ya had an Accordion around the Bay.You were always in demand for Dances.My Uncle played but that was before my time.Brian Finn was popular on the Shore.

Teenage years were awkward for a Shy Bay Boy and I am sure lots of people felt that way.The Teenage Girls were friendly enough at School.To be fair to them.No one wants to lay with a Guy in a Bank of Snow wearing his sister Clothes and a haircut that could be Classed in today’s age as Child Abuse.Stores kept female sanitary napkins and Condoms hidden away.Heaven forbid someone mention Private Areas in a Catholic town.Come On Now.

Late Sixties we had a influx of Fish Plant Workers and The Loran C Station employed some workers.A meeting was held and it was decided to form a Town.Everyone could hook up to Town Water and Sewage.A lot of the Locals were against the idea of giving up there Clean drinking Water from there own Wells.The Water Supply turned into a bit of a disaster as the water was very brown and not Potable.Some day the town may take care of its water issue.When the Cod Fishery Closed down in the Early 90’s.It was very hard on our Community.Population went from 1400 people to now about 400.

I was not much for Sports.Track and Field was easy because I was used to Running all over Town not having warm Clothes.It kept me fit and Alive.Copying Pans of Ice on Joney’s Pool in Winter.My dog’s are barking.So this ends Part One.