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Tuesday 27 September 2022

Memories of Channel/Port aux Basques

What started out as Hurricane Fiona last week became a tropical storm as it passed over Atlantic Canada. We were warned about the wind, rain and storm surge but what we experienced was more than we could have imagined. While our house is not along the coast, those who were experienced an onslaught they could never have expected, especially along the north shore of Prince Edward Island, where the northwesterly winds did the worst damage. We were assaulted by the outer bands of the system to its west with the equivalent of a category 2 storm. Today more than two thirds of the island doesn’t have power yet.


It wasn’t the same wind direction which destroyed much of a Newfoundland community however. Channel Port aux Basques on the southwest corner of the island, was in the direct path of that monster of a storm and the on-shore winds from the advancing storm meant a wall of water, with each wave, estimated at over sixteen metres high and propelled by wind speeds of 130 kph, hit homes with the force of advancing locomotives. Many disappeared into the sea. One woman died. Up to one hundred homes in the area are missing or destroyed. 


That community is where my husband’s maternal grandmother was from. For posterity, I wrote about that side of our family in 2014 and am updating the information to reflect events since then. To those who follow my blog, you may want to stop here.


When my husband, Rick was three, his mother, Sylvia took him for a week to visit her grandparents, Julia nee Hardy and Joe Lawrence. They took the train from Corner Brook, Newfoundland to Channel Port aux Basques where her grandparents lived.


Sylvia is the middle child of Classie (Lawrence) and Richard (Dick) Mercer. She has two brothers, Richard (Dick) and Carl. The three were born in Channel Port aux Basques and have fond memories of their grandparents especially during their youth. Sylvia wanted Rick to know these wonderful people.


    Carl, Sylvia, Dick Mercer

Joe Lawrence was from Channel but Julia was from another community along the southwest coast of Newfoundland. While Joe lived into the late 1980s, Julia died more than thirty years earlier and Sylvia's memories of her are closely tied to the house where she lived, a house with a great deal of character.


            Dick at his grandparents' graves

This house had a beautiful garden where Julia grew gorgeous dahlias. She also grew rhubarb and gooseberries. It was an incredible feat to have a garden in that area because the houses were built on solid rock. Julia was a great gardener and worked hard to build up the soil for her garden.


Julia made the best thin apricot pies out of dried apricots and cooked them on plates in the oven of the wood stove. Her meals were delicious and the food was plentiful. 


Julia was a robust woman with dark curly hair. She was good to Sylvia and though she shouted at her own children, Julia didn't once raise her voice to Sylvia. Dick, Carl and Sylvia, were close in age to the youngest of Julia's own children. Julia's youngest child, Clarinda was a year younger than Dick and a year older than Sylvia. Sylvia’s mother, Classie, was Julia and Joe’s oldest child. While she loved all three of her grandchildren, Julia's favourite was the oldest grandchild, Dick. He could do no wrong according to Julia. 



                    Julia Harding Lawrence

Joe purchased their house with gold pieces which he saved by working on a ship. Later he was a conductor with the Newfoundland Railway. Julia kept the house immaculately and it was a huge house to tend. It had three levels, with the attic holding a hot water tank. This was an exceptional feature in a Newfoundland home for that time. The attic was also the storage place for mats in the summer and wool for carding.


The second level had three bedrooms, two of which had fireplaces. There was also a huge bathroom with a sink, toilet and bathtub. This was unusual as well, to have a bathroom but especially one so large and well equipped. The hall on this floor was wide enough that Julia had a bed under the hall window for guests if needed. 


The unique thing about the main floor was that it had two kitchens, one for summer and one for winter use. It also had two verandas front and back, one covered with windows all around  where Julia kept wicker furniture, the other had a covered deck. The living and dining rooms on the main floor were not used until the minister visited, like in so many Newfoundland homes. Only special guests ever got into those rooms. 


There was a wash house on the main level as well, what we call a laundry room today. There Julia kept her wash tub and a stove for heating water in addition to the hot water provided from the hot water tank. This wash house had a table and chairs where the family ate on wash days. 


In summer they ate in the summer kitchen which lacked a stove, and the rest of the year, in the winter kitchen which was warmer and had the cook stove. There was a huge window in the winter kitchen. Julia set up her rug hooking frame under that window and hooked her mats out of scraps of material. She took the mats across the Lower Road, path really, to the shoreline and washed them on the beach. 


Joe's motor boat was pulled ashore on that beach. He used this boat for fishing or going to work at the railway, motoring around the point of land in Channel and steering along the coastline to the train station. Sylvia's older brother, Dick, often went in the boat with his grandfather. The lobsters were so plentiful that the two speared them from the boat. On one such trip Joe's motor cut out and he couldn't get it working again. As they drifted closer and closer to the rocks, Dick thought they were going to die. Luckily Joe didn't give up on the motor and got it going just in time to save them from a rocky, watery demise.


       Joe Lawrence

People moved around by boat a great deal because roads were merely paths. They often used horse and cart as well however. Sylvia's father fell off the cart on his way home one day and broke his arm, in the 1930s version of a traffic accident. 


    Classie Mercer, Julia Lawrence, Dick Mercer

Channel is forever changed because of the storm, Fiona. It is questionable whether houses will be rebuilt where this old house stood. However, warm memories of the big house and the people who lived there are part of the history of the Lawrence/Mercer/Smith family. The story of Julia and Joe will live through the generations. 


Note: Richard (Dick) Mercer, Sylvia’s brother, died in 2016.






31 comments:

DJan said...

Thank you for this update on the storm damage on PEI. And I enjoyed the family history, too.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Hardy people in a hardy village in a hardy province.

Boud said...

Thank you for this valuable history. Yes, storms change the landscape dramatically especially in a shore community. I wonder if rebuilding involves moving further inland.

Bill said...

Storms that cause losts of damage change lots of things. I've never experienced anything like you just did but it definitely scares me. Love reading about the family history.

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you for the update - and for the fascinating family history too.

Lorrie said...

We've seen some of the devastation of Port aux Basques on the news. It's heart-wrenching to think of homes swept away. I enjoyed reading the family history.

margi said...

I can't even imagine the power of Fiona and how scared you must have been. I love reading about your family history.

peppylady (Dora) said...

It been a while I visit any of my family grave. I been thinking of going up.
Coffee is on and stay safe

Helen said...

I wondered if you had any relatives in the area that was hit.
You have written of the family's history so beautifully. So many wonderful memories.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I am sure it must be especially poignant when you have that kind of family connection, Marie. Sadly, I fear storms of this intensity will become more frequent. Stay well and stay safe.

Joanne Noragon said...

This was a hard storm. Thank you for the history.

William Kendall said...

That hits so close to home.

Anvilcloud said...

You were better warned than we were when we experienced the derecho, but it is not easy to be without power for a protracted period. I hope it gets restored for all soon. All the best.

Danielle L Zecher said...

That's sad that so much history is lost to the storm.

Maebeme said...

The storm was a brute! The devastation at Port aux Basques is absolutely terrible. Was the old house still standing or was it already gone. It sounds like it would have been a real show place when it was built.

Family history is so interesting. I've been doing a lot of work on Ancestry but sadly, I can't seem to get beyond Canada though ancestors came here from England, Scotland and Ireland.

Debbie said...

i read half, then came back and finished it today!! i enjoyed every word...

i did not have family like this, i did not really know my family much. i had an aunt dot, who was much like julia in every way. she too was "robust" and made the best blueberry crumb cake i have ever eaten. she took that recipe to her grave with her, she would not share it while she was alive. i learned my love for birds from her!!
apricot pie is unusual, i'll bet it was delicious.

it is so difficult to see what the storms take from us. ian is coming up the coast, turning back inland. i don't know if that will impact you also. stay safe marie and keep posting if you can!

i enjoyed this family history!!

Debbie said...

hi marie, it's purple debbie, my recent comment my have been anonymous!! maybe!!

photowannabe said...

I am so glad you are ok but so sorry for the many others that have lost their homes and lives.
Such tragic happenings..I just can't begin to imagine...
Thank you for repeating your history. I find it fascinating and so informative.
Stay safe
Sue

Glenda Beall said...

I am so sorry to hear of this storm damage to your area. It is devastating to see what nature can do in a short time. I love family history and enjoyed your history here. Could you give some dates to help place the family in the right era? Thanks for posting on this subject.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Beautiful, beautiful memories!!!!!!

Now, for October Eves.
🍁 🌻 🍂 🌰 🍂 🌻 🍁

Liz Hinds said...

What a wonderful family history story. I would have loved to see that house.

But what a terrifying time in the storm. We never have any storms causing that sort of damage although with rising sea levels and climate change who knows what is to come? I'm glad you're all safe and sound.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

so sorry about the devastation from the storm. My cousin's community Florida was hit badly too. I enjoyed reading your family history. It is great that you are able to record it all.

Rose said...

Marie, I do not have words to tell you how much I enjoyed this post. I bet there would be a good book if their life was written into words.

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

What an interesting post. Yes, storms can certainly change a lot of things.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I enjoyed reading your family history, it is good to have it all in writing for memories. I have just bits and pieces from my family's history, I wish now I had more. Take care, enjoy your day!

Hena Tayeb said...

It wonderful that you are piecing together your family history but life back in the day does not sound like fun.

Catarina said...

Your posts are always very interesting and well written.
Thank you for sharing those memories with us.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Beautiful family

Barwitzki said...

I live far away from the sea and can only think of such storms and what they mean for the existence of the people with horror. I hope it can be helped.
Thank you for the wonderful family story...it will live on.
Hug

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Storms and mother nature can change so much of how things used to look. I love your photos and family history of this post.
Wishing you lovely days ahead!

Barbara said...

It is so nice you keep this family history organized. My sisters and I often have conversations about "Do you remember?" and "Who was she now?" We could do with some good history notes.