Living Heritage Podcast

In this episode we talk with mentor Duncan Major, and apprentice Katie Butler Major who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.
Duncan learned the craft of letterpress from Tara Bryan, a painter and book artist who was well known internationally for her letterpress work. He started working as Tara’s apprentice in 2000 at the age of 14. In this role Duncan helped make handmade, limited-edition artist’s books. The pair continued to collaborate until Tara’s death in 2020.
Since 2004, Duncan has operated Walpurgis Press with Katie Butler Major, making cards and sundries. Duncan has introduced bookmaking and printing to kids in St. John’s, Goose Bay, North West River and Nain.
Katie has always been drawn to handcrafts. She is an avid sewer and knitter, and enjoys working with her hands creatively—so letterpress is a natural fit for her. Katie has helped design and produce invitations, coasters, and cards. As Duncan’s partner, she has learned the basic printing process and is also familiar with the materials that go along with printing. Katie has participated in Printer’s Fairs organized by the Book Arts Association, met letterpress artists from abroad, and visited Running the Goat’s printshop in Tors Cove.

In this episode we talk with mentor Charlene Rumbolt, and apprentice Katie Lee who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.

Charlene is the lead artist and knowledge keeper at the Great Caribou Studio in Mary's Harbour. A talented seamstress, she was a winner in the Senior Visual Arts division of Arts & Letters NL in 2019 and 2021. Charlene is a member of the NL Craft Council. She began sewing at 11 years old and has since made dresses, pants, handbags and more. Charlene has taught crafting and art for over twenty years, in both group and individual settings. For the last 12 years, after learning from elders in Nain and Hopedale, Charlene has been making the traditional Cossack/Dickie and the Akalik. Learn more about her work at Great Caribou Studio.

Prior to the start of the program Katie had basic skills in cossack making and was intent on improving her abilities. Her artwork has been inspired by her Indigenous roots and she plans on making more traditional outerwear to carry on her ancestors traditional craft while simultaneously expressing her own creativity within her culture. She has previously worked at the Great Caribou Studio in Mary's Harbour.

In this episode we talk with mentor Danny White, and apprentice Arlene White who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.
Danny learned the teachings, stories, and process of basket making starting at the age of 12 from his father, Anthony White. Anthony was considered a master basket maker. Danny has taught courses and held exhibitions at Pow Wows, schools, and colleges. His work has been documented in newspapers, magazines, and videos.
Arlene completed a course with Master Basket Maker Dan White in 2018. She has an understanding of how to dig spruce roots, and how to harvest some of the material. She has made two baskets but is interested in taking her knowledge to the next level in order to keep the skills alive, and pass it on to the next generation to ensure the tradition continues for years to come.

In this episode we talk with mentor Morgaine Parnham, and apprentice Sylvie Mitford who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.
Morgaine has been a practicing craftsperson for over 10 years. She graduated from the College of the North Atlantic Craft and apparel design program in 2012 majoring in Print and Dye, Surface Embellishment and Weaving. After graduation Morgaine held a studio at Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios. Later she moved to Bonavista to open her own craft shop and weaving studio. Aside from formal training Morgaine learned a lot from her mother who has been informally teaching Morgaine since she was a child. Morgaine has experience teaching group workshops to both adults and children.
Sylvie has been interested in weaving since she was a teenager, and has moved from a simple handmade loom to a floor loom. She has woven scarves, wraps, blankets, tea towels and yardage. Sylvie is a knitter and sewer and also has an interest in natural dying. She wants to learn more advanced weaving techniques and weave structures, and also learn how to spin, and make use of the local wool from the sheep in Bonavista.

In this episode we talk with mentor Marnie Parsons, and apprentice Abby Hann who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.
Marnie first learned letterpress printing from Tara Bryan, who invited her to her studio in the summer of 2000. After working for several years in Tara’s shop, Marnie set up her own letterpress studio in her home in St. John’s. She then moved her shop to Tors Cove in 2013, where it remains. The shop is open to visitors throughout the year.
Abby graduated with a Bachelor of Fine arts from NSCAD University in Halifax in 2020. During her degree she focused on printmaking, primarily using the relief technique. Since then, Abby has maintained a prolific printmaking practice from her home studio and small printing press. Abby has participated in artist residencies in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and South Africa, while exhibiting prints in multiple solo and group exhibitions.

In this episode we talk with mentor Richard Park, and apprentice Michelle Park who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.
Richard Park is a retired teacher who was first exposed to the birch broom in 1957 while teaching in the community of Fox Roost-Margaree. Later in 1979 in Francois, he learned the skills to make birch brooms from a fisherman in the community. He has been making birch brooms since, and has made several brooms including many as gifts.
Michelle is a history teacher with an interest in local history and folklore. Since the age of 10 she has watched her father make birch brooms as gifts for family and friends, as well as for the family’s own use. Michelle’s experience was admittedly limited; she helped make brooms in the past and was looking to refine the skill.

In this episode we talk with mentor Loretta John, and apprentice Kevin Drew who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.

Mrs. John has over 45 years’ experience making moccasins. She originally learned the craft from Ms. Johnson (known as Doctor Granny among the Mi’kmaq) of Eskaosni First Nation. Since learning her craft, Mrs. John worked at the Glen John Craft Shop in Miawpukuk First Nation for year until she retired. She has shared her skills and knowledge through one-on-one mentoring and group workshops.

Kevin Drew has worked with the Glen John Craft Shop for several years now. Over that time, he has worked with many crafters in the community, having an opportunity to observe different Mi’kmaq crafts. Over the course of his time at the craft shop, Kevin has focused on beading and embroidery work.

In this episode we talk with mentor Lori McCarthy, and apprentice Tina White who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.

Lori has lived close to the land her whole life. In 2010, she opened Cod Sounds, a company dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultural food and footways in the province. She has taught foodways workshops for 10 years on everything from wild game butchery to bread making.

Tina has been gathering knowledge on traditional food/recipes, preservation and foraging for the past several years, inspired by her training in Forest Therapy. She began to share her foraging knowledge with others in 2021, when she offered her first Wild Food Walk & Tastings in Tors Cove.

In this episode we talk with apprentices Francine Winters, and Dave Chaulk of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and mentor Walter Fowler of Capstan Island. All three are are  participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program.

Francine and Dave's mentor, Alfred Winters Jr (also known as Sonny), learned to make komatiks from his father, Alfred Winters Sr. Sonny's father was originally form Kamarsuk near Hopedale and was a renowned komatik builder featured in Them Days magazine. Sonny has made six or seven komatiks a year for the last twenty or thirty years.

Apprentice, Francine, developed carpentry skills from working on her house and cabin. She has always wanted to learn to build komatiks, and saw this program as a great way to learn the traditional methods. Dave is also interested in traditional activities, and found it important to learn from Elders in the community. He has worked with wood all his life creating everything from Christmas ornaments to ramps.

Mentor, Walter Fowler, taught apprentice Peter Fowler how to make komatiks. Walter has been building komatiks for over 50 years. He first learned from his father, and older brother and continues making them for himself, his family, and people in Capstan Island and beyond. 

In this episode we talk with mentor Guy Barnable, and apprentice Eric Escudero who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Guy is a teacher by trade and learned the craft of wriggle fence (or as he calls them - riddle fence) construction from a neighbour and started building them on his own in the 1990s. He is proud to say that his two sons know the craft and have helped him teach it to others. Eric is studying Ethnomusicology at Memorial University. As a newcomer in Newfoundland, he hadn’t had an opportunity to practise Newfoundland riddle fence making prior to the program. Eric has some experience in building wooden fences back in Brazil and learned the basics of building wooden fences and gates from his father.

In this episode we talk with mentor Megan Samms, and apprentice Jane Walker who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Megan Samms has worked with textiles since she was a child but her main focus over the last ten years has been hand weaving. Over her career she has attended artist residencies and dedicated full time studio hours which has allowed her to finetune her craft. Each piece of her work is unique, and Megan uses plant dyes that she grows or forages locally to colour the yarns she uses in her textiles. With a particular interest in working with the linear structure of burlap and linen apprentice Jane Walker has been practising the art of rug hooking for several years. Upon noticing the correlation between rug hooking and weaving, Jane has been keen to advance her knowledge of weaving.

In this episode we talk with Terri Andrews. Terri’s grandmother was Ella (née Michael) Andrews and her grandfather was Albert Andrews. Both were born in Hadath El Jebbeh, Lebanon. Today we talk about the Andrews family, Lebanese bands and music, and Terri shares some recollections of the Lebanese community on New Gower Street, St. John’s, NL.

In this episode we talk with mentor Eileen, and apprentice Sandi who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Eileen has been making spruce root baskets for 41 years and has both taught and demonstrated at workshops, festivals, in school settings, and with individuals. Mr. Anthony White from Shallop Cove, Bay St. George, was Eileen’s instructor and mentor. Sandi has experience weaving branches into tension baskets and also composes large scale sculptures using driftwood, seasoned birch and discarded found objects. Sandi is currently studying Fine Art through Memorial University: Grenfell Campus and works in the craft industry seasonally. She produces mixed media artworks about NL.

In this episode we talk with mentor Stephanie who is a participant of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Stephanie Stoker is an experienced educator of textile arts, having taught weaving, drawing, design and colour theory for over ten years. Stephanie's experience in both Canada and Peru has allowed her to fine tune her skills and gain a deep understanding of the detailed work that is weaving.

In this episode we talk with mentor Susan, and apprentice Nicole who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Susan is a craft educator who has been working with and extracting local tannin sources for over 30 years in her natural dye practise. Susan began practising her skill in leather tanning in 2011, and has been traditionally bark tanning and producing viable leather for over five years. Nicole is an avid bead artist and has recently expanded her artistic interest into the craft of tanning. She has been tanning fish skins for over a year, creating fish leather items beaded with traditional Mi'kmaw double curve motifs, petroglyphs and hieroglyphs. Nicole prides herself on teaching others traditional skills and wants to aid in the revival of bark tanning skins.

In this episode we talk with Lucy Anglin and Katie Crane who connected over research into Marguerite Lindsay. Marguerite was Lucy’s great aunt and her story caught Katie’s eye when she was researching for another project. We discuss their connection, their research, and tips on how to conduct research in online archives and genealogical websites.

In this episode we talk with mentor Joyce, and apprentice Miranda who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Joyce is an award winning wildcrafter whose dedication to the conservation of Labrador's traditional crafts is only matched by her immense talent. Joyce has demonstrated and taught her skills in workshops across Labrador and has helped bring duffle work back to Labrador, by completing workshops from Labrador City to Lanse au Clair. Miranda is a novice artisan of duffle work, a craft that uses a pure wool fabric to create mittens, slippers and more. She is well versed in traditional Innu crafts such as Tea Dolls and Beadwork. Miranda is currently employed at the Great Caribou Studio in Mary's Harbour where she has been focusing on beadwork and has had the opportunity to sell her art.

In this episode we talk with mentor Jessica, and apprentice Christian who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Jessica is a Textile Artist who completed the Textiles program at the College of the North Atlantic and fine-tuned her skills at NSCAD University. She has presented and taught workshops at the Anna Templeton Centre and the Craft Council of NL, and continues to promote and bring awareness to weaving. Christian, an avid knitter, became enamoured with weaving in 2019 and decided to pursue it further. They built a small loom from a canvas frame where they began to practice basic tapestry weaving. Christian has completed over twenty projects in the past two years.

In this episode we talk with mentor Jerome, and apprentice Chris who are two participants of Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. With over 40 years of experience, mentor Jerome Canning is a master boat builder. A well known craftsman across the island, Canning has completed over 100 wooden boats during his career. Apprentice Chris Hogan is an experienced carpenter and woodworker with a long-held desire to explore the unique craft of wooden boatbuilding.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Celeste Colbourne about weaving including her interest and background with the craft, the process of weaving, and her experience weaving across Canada. Celeste is a weaver who was introduced to the intricacies of making yarn, threading a loom, and creating beautiful cloth 28 years ago in British Columbia. Over the years miles of handwoven cloth have been woven and sold in almost every province, and now she is home, weaving in Newfoundland.

In this episode we talk about Lindy's experience learning cooperage or barrel making, the traditional and modern tools used, and the importance of barrel making to Cottlesville. We also discuss the historical uses for barrels as well as three different grades of barrel making.

Lindy Rideout is a self trained cooper who lives in Cottlesville, New World Island, NL. Using his grandfather’s cooperage tools he has made barrels, water buckets, and even a wooden hot tub. A third generation boatbuilder who builds kayaks he has also taken up painting and has tried to capture the work of barrel making including the tools, process, and people.

In this episode we talk about Ellen’s grandmother Irene Reid along with several other family members' experience with millinery, dress making, knitting, embroidery, and other textile work. We also touch on Ellen's experience with the wool stall at the Anglican Cathedral, and some of the work of the St. John's Guild of Embroiderers.
Ellen Reid has been contributing to the local arts scene for over 30 years. A poet, playwright, visual artist, a blogger and an arts patroness! She is a grateful and frequent contributor to the Cosmic Show! She has been an early childhood educator for 20 years.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Rex Passion about historic restorations and repairs. Rex describes his background, what brought him to Newfoundland, his work on Kent Cottage, and leading workshops and demonstrations to teach traditional skills.

Rex apprenticed as a cabinetmaker and carpenter in California and Boston in the 1970s. In 2006 he sold his construction company and architecture firm, Classic Restorations, and subsequently moved to Torbay. His vocation of restoring old houses became his avocation, heritage preservation. He currently sits on the Landfall Trust Board of Directors, and recently taught a wooden window repair and restoration workshop with Heritage NL.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Sara Anne Meyer about all things millinery! This includes the history of millinery, her interest and background with the craft, and some of the hats and fascinators she has created over the years.

Sara Anne is a multi-faceted performer, costumer, maker and poet born and raised in the St. John's arts community. She is an avid observer of intangible history and a folklore enthusiast. But above all things, she is mad as a hatter.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Dale Jarvis and Lara Maynard of Heritage NL about the 2021 Craft at Risk List, and the Mentor-Apprentice Program. We learn the background of the projects, some of the issues that face traditional craft, and what Heritage NL is doing to ensure the transmission of traditional knowledge and skills. We also learn a little about the nine Mentor-Apprentice pairs who are currently involved with the program.

Dale holds a BSc in Anthropology/Archaeology from Trent University, and a MA in Folklore from Memorial University. For many years he oversaw Heritage NL’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Office which helps communities to safeguard their traditional culture. Dale has contributed as a board member and volunteer to many local arts and heritage organizations. Former newspaper columnist, and author of several books, he is a tireless promoter of local traditions.

Lara studied English and Folklore at Memorial University and has been working or volunteering for local or provincial heritage organizations and initiatives for 20 years. A former Municipal Outreach Officer with Heritage NL, she is back on board to help deliver heritage skills training around the province.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Linda Badcock about making period costumes, sourcing materials and patterns, the skills needed to pipe or sew cartridge pleats, and how she learned these skills. Linda retired after close to twenty years as a Historic Sites Officer with Provincial Historic Sites. One of her passions during this time was creating realistic period costumes for several sites across the province. We also touch briefly on millinery or hat making which is listed on Heritage NL’s Craft at Risk list.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Ian Morris and Kevin Toope of the Trinity Historical Society about the work of the society, their adopt a headstone project, and their research and revitalization plans for the St. Paul’s Anglican Cemetery. We also hear some of their favourite stories from their research, and their own connections to the cemetery.

The Trinity Historical Society preserves and promotes the history of Trinity, through the acquisition and preservation of artifacts and archives, and through the promotion and acquisition of historic properties. The Trinity Historical Society was organized in 1966. Originally the Trinity Historic Sites Committee, it was formed on February 7, 1964 to gather information on the history of Trinity and to preserve it for future generations. In 1971 it was incorporated under the laws of Newfoundland and it is a registered Charitable Organization.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Ken Tuach about dry stone walling in Newfoundland and Labrador, his family's history in stone work, and the dry stone craftsman certification process. We also hear snippets of audio from the stone wall workshops Ken led as well as a short clip from Lara Maynard with Heritage NL on the importance of Heritage Skills.

Ken Tuach is the owner and operator of NL Flagstone, a quarry in Pynn's Brook, NL. NL Flagstone produces quality masonry and landscaping stone and has been operating since 1994. They also create stone installations including outdoor living spaces, patios, paths, seating, stairs, etc. Ken is a certified level three dry stone craftsman and led two dry stone workshops for Heritage NL in Brigus this fall.

In this episode of the Living Heritage Podcast we talk with Anatolijs about industrial heritage in Newfoundland and Labrador and specifically his fieldwork in Labrador this summer. We also chat about the impact industrial heritage has on the landscape, the history, and the people of a place. Anatolijs Venovcevs is a PhD candidate whose work looks at the legacies of mines, mining towns, and mining development that occurred during the twentieth century in Labrador, Canada and the Kola Peninsula in Arctic Russia. His research interests include contemporary and industrial archaeology, mining and extractive industry, Soviet history, Northern and Arctic Canada and modern ruins.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, fences were built for a number of reasons including keeping animals out of gardens and delineating property lines. In this episode of the podcast we learn about traditional fence types, the importance of fences in the cultural landscape of the province, and in particular the way to build a traditional wriggle fence.

Often well-meaning people clean or “restore” old gravestones in ways that actually damage them or hasten their deterioration by using the wrong methods. In this episode of the podcast we talk with Andrea O’Brien and Robyn Lacy about some tips and tricks for cemetery cleanups including headstone cleaning and repairs. We also learn more about the work happening in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Cape Broyle including some stories of local characters buried in the cemetery.

Many of the traditional features of the English countryside such as dry stone walls and hedge banks were originally created and maintained by rural craftsmen, using the skills that were passed from father to son. In recent years, these skills have been at risk of being forgotten. The Devon Rural Skills Trust was established in 1980 with a view to safeguarding the future of those traditional skills while the men and women who practiced them were still able to pass on their knowledge. During this time the Trust has trained thousands of people, providing them with the skills and knowledge to practice traditional rural skills. One of those people is Chris Baker, the Trust’s Publicity Officer. We chat about the work of the Trust, hedges, stone walls, Devon’s link to Newfoundland, and cabbages. 

For over 40 years, Dan Snow has been building dry stone constructions in his native Windham County, Vermont and beyond. From the practical to the fantastical, his works in stone fuse vanguard vision with old world techniques and traditions. His work has been the subject of articles in numerous journals, including “This Old House”, "Vermont Magazine" and “Vermont Life” magazines, and the “New York Times" and the "Boston Globe.” Way back on 18 August 2010, Dan and provincial folklorist Dale Jarvis sat down for a chat at the Two Whales Coffee Shop in Port Rexton about the tradition and the art of stonework, the place that dry stone wall building holds in the heritage of Newfoundland, and his dry stone courses taught in partnership with the English Harbour Arts Centre. 

During the late 19th and early 20th century, Henry William Winter, an ambitious self-taught furniture maker in Clarke's Beach, Conception Bay, mass-produced furniture using simple hand tools and a few primitive machines. These included a foot-powered jig saw, a foot-operated lathe and a larger lathe designed to be driven manually or powered by a dog. His home stands today, beautifully restored by his family, as a Registered Heritage Structure. Recorded on October 4th, 2008, folklorist and storyteller Dale Gilbert Jarvis had a conversation with the grandson of this legendary furniture maker, William (Bill) Winter, and Newfoundland furniture expert Walter Peddle, about Henry William Winter's life and legacy.

Black Cat Cemetery Preservation specializes in historic gravestone and monument conservation and restoration in Canada. Husband and wife team Robyn Lacy and Ian Petty, have a combined 20 years of experience in the heritage sector as archaeologists, gravestone conservators, and cultural heritage technicians. They have worked across Canada and the United States, as well as on the Isle of Man, recording gravestones and cemeteries, conducting archaeological surveys, mapping sites, and evaluating heritage structures and landscapes.

Dr Andrew Jennings is based in Lerwick, Shetland's capital. He enjoys everything about life in this beautiful archipelago, from rowing in the local yoal team and taking part in the Fire Festival, to walking the dog and experiencing the wild Shetland weather. Living in Scotland's most northerly islands, with their Nordic cultural inheritance, inspires his research and his teaching. He is the programme leader on the MLitt Viking Studies, Island Studies, Orkney and Shetland Studies and Highlands and Islands Literature.

We chat with folklorist Dr. Anna Kearney Guigné about the new CD - Doughboys and Molasses, Oh!, which offers listeners a fresh perspective on the musical heritage of the Gros Morne region on Newfoundland’s west coast. Available on disc and digital download, the album features 22 carefully restored tracks originally recorded from local singers by folk song researchers in the mid-20th century. 

Also included are four new performances specially commissioned for the compilation from musicians Anita Best, Matthew Byrne, Daniel Payne and Jim Payne. The accompanying booklet explores the stories of the songs, the singers and the collectors, as well as the role of singing in family and community life.

Folklorist Wyatt Shibley interviews retired local politician Lorraine Michael about what it was like growing up with Lebanese roots in downtown St. John’s. Lorraine talks about family memories, the origins of the Lebanese community, and the importance of sharing traditional food.

In the final episode of the Baccalieu Trail Series, host Natalie Dignam teaches listeners how to create their own podcast.

In 2020, Heritage NL designated a concrete footbridge in Bowring Park as a Registered Heritage Structure, one of the first modernist structures in NL to be recognized as such. The bridge was designed in part by influential architect Blanche Lemco Van Ginkel, and it has been an object of fascination and study for Newfoundland architecture student Sarah Reid. Folklorist Dale Jarvis chats with Sarah about her interest in the footbridge, and shares some of the audio she recorded in conversation with Blanche Van Ginkel herself.

Roger Tinney is a furniture maker based in Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Originally from Prince Edward Island, Roger inherited some of his skill as a carpenter from his father and grandfather, and then expanded his knowledge of furniture-making after moving to British Columbia. We chat about family origins, working with wood, finishes, and the importance of whimsey! 

The weaving of traditional baskets using spruce roots is an Indigenous artform with a long and complex history. Renowned Mik'maq basket maker Anthony White, together with his son Danny, have been credited with reviving the tradition of Mi'kmaq spruce root basket weaving in Newfoundland. We look back at a 1981 recording of the Whites making baskets, and then features interviews with educator Eileen Murphy about the legacy of Mr. White, and with Jane Daly and her memories of her step-father, the west-coast basket maker Edward Young. 

We're all about lighthouses and lighthouse keepers this week on Living Heritage. Grab a cup of tea, and listen to tales told by Barry Porter, as well as by archival audio from Jack Roberts and Theresa Colbourne, who were both born at lighthouse stations. Plus, an archival recording of Cyril Myrick and a mystery involving the Cape Race lighthouse, plus news of a very strange phenomenon said to happen at the Long Point Light in Twillingate. 

Host Dale Jarvis travels to Heart’s Delight-Islington for a chat with boatbuilder and snowshoe maker Edwin Bishop. Listen in and learn about the process of making traditional wooden snowshoes, steaming and bending the wood by hand, the types of styles and wood Edwin uses, and which snowshoe really is the best kind to wear while checking your rabbit slips. 

Hallowe'en comes to Living Heritage! In this special spooktacular edition of Living Heritage, host Dale Jarvis has dug through the archives to unearth some of his favourite recordings of Newfoundland ghost stories. We've got strange tales from Andrew Parsons, Jack Mansfield, Mike Flynn, Jesse Rideout, Sarah Jackman, and the late, much-beloved storyteller Alice Lannon. Listen in, if you dare!

In this episode, we chat with Libby Carew, a board member of the Newfoundland Pony Society. Libby first encountered Newfoundland ponies as a child while visiting her grandmother on the Southern Shore. In this episode, we talk about the history of the Newfoundland pony, why they are an important part of the province’s heritage, and the Newfoundland Pony Society’s hope to build a pasture where residents and tourists can visit these beautiful animals.

Gwenllian (Gwen) Decil LeGrow was born in South Wales on December 10, 1912. She served as a radio operator during World War II and became a nurse in London England. Gwen loved adventure and in 1949 went to Newfoundland to serve as a nurse in the outports. It was there she met and married the local RCMP officer and love of her life Reg to whom she was married for fifty-three years. In the 1980s, Gwen LeGrow was interviewed by Marilyn Marsh on nursing practices in Newfoundland. In this remarkable bit of archival audio, she talks about her experiences as a nurse in outport Newfoundland, London during the blitz, and her early work as a midwife. Gwen Legrow passed away in Calgary in 2009 at the age of 96.

Did you know that Admiralty House Communications Museum was once a farmhouse? In this episode, folklorists Shannon Bateman and Alyson Small trace the domestic history of the property, its furry inhabitants, and the legacy of the Parsons family who cultivated the land for nearly fifty years. Settle in as we share stories of blossoming young love, Saturday afternoons spent baking, and a clever cow named Swiss – which all took place at the Bellview Farm.  It's another episode of Pigeon Post, in cooperation with our friends at Admiralty House in Mount Pearl!

Today we are in conversation with Allison Bennett, a Ph.D. Candidate at Memorial University. Her research investigates the soldiers of the British Army who contracted venereal diseases while serving in the Middle East during the First World War.   Her research interests include War and Society; Gender History; and the History of Medicine.  We talk prophylactics, prostitution, and recent pandemics!

This week, we are handing over the podcast to Admiralty House Museum, in cooperation with Memorial University Folk6740 Public Folklore students!

This episode of their Pigeon Post podcast centres on (purported) German spies in Newfoundland during World War I. The hosts discuss various stories about people of German ancestry, or people who were perceived to have German ties, who fell under suspicion and the consequences of this. The hosts also discuss rumour theory, the social and political climates that breed rumours, and the dangers of believing and spreading them blindly — in World War I and at all times.