In his column, Between the Boulevard and the Bay, Downhome's founding editor, Ron Young, recently wrote about his own theories regarding how to improve the province's ferry service. (See the March 2012 issue for the full column.) Since then, we have been inundated with feedback from our readers, including the following messages left on our Submission Phone Line (1-866-640-1999):
In the span of a couple of months, Downhome received letters from two different readers, both inquiring about nearly identical antique items that they own - a brass image of a fisherman's face. Struck by the coincidence, but unsure what the item was or where it came from, the editors put the call out to readers to identify the mystery object (pictured right). As usual, you came through for us! Here are some of the messages left on Downhome's Submission Phone Line (1-866-640-1999).
On a chilly, wet morning,
from the cove by the bog,
came the lighthouse man’s warning,
of the rocks in the fog.
That blanket of gossamer,
what lurks there beneath?
Tis' my love and the jaws of her,
beware of her teeth.
If a ship you be sailin’,
through the wind and the cold,
if you’re homebound from whalin’,
if a cargo you hold,
heed the lighthouse man’s warning.
Seek the lighthouse man’s light.
For ‘tis fog in the morning,
and my lover will bite.
– Poem by Terry Bursey of Mount Pearl, NL
Grand Bank Lighthouse, NL
Photo by Boyd Holloway
Heart's Content Lighthouse, NL
Photo by Jennifer Gushue
Old Cape Spear Lighthouse, NL
Photo by Dave Armstrong
Rocky Point Lighthouse, NL
Photo by Frank Verro
Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, NS
Photo by Ronnie Kinnie
Quirpon Lighthouse, NL
Photo by Gene Greene
Cape Norman Lighthouse, NL
Photo by James Fewer
Margaretsville Lighthouse, NS
Photo by Jan Boone
East Random Head Lighthouse, NL
Photo (taken around the turn of the 20th century) courtesy of Elizabeth Bustard
Do you have an incredible lighthouse photo to share? Submit here.
Just about everyone has a digital camera these days. Unless it is a simple point-and-shoot, the camera is likely covered in buttons, wheels and displays all designed to help the photographer take great pictures. Learning to use this type of digital camera can be a daunting task.
While there are many books, online photography schools and YouTube videos to help, nothing beats an experienced photographer’s guidance while learning a new camera feature, attempting a compositional technique or exploring exposure options. This type of personal help often exists within the congenial atmosphere of a local photography club. One such club exists in Gander, Newfoundland. Formed in 2006, the Gander Photography Group has grown from three to 60 active members from Gander and surrounding communities.
The Gander Photography Group is typical of most amateur photo clubs. Our membership ranges in age from young adults to retirees and includes beginner, intermediate and advanced photographers, all self-taught and professed amateurs. We meet biweekly from September to June. Each meeting includes a presentation, usually by one of the group’s more experienced photographers. Topics typically include photography basics, types of photography (portrait, landscape, abstract, wildlife and macro), camera settings, exposure, composition, lighting, framing, photographic techniques, imaging software, as well as camera equipment and accessories such as extra lenses, tripods, filters and flashes. The meetings usually conclude with a show-and-tell featuring images recently uploaded to the group’s Flickr photo site. This session provides an opportunity for members to share photographs, exchange ideas and answer questions about the techniques, equipment and camera settings used. This sharing helps to improve members’ photographic skills and to fulfill the group’s primary goals; to spread the enjoyment of photography and to help its members become better photographers!
The Gander Photography Group recently held its third Annual Photography Exhibit at the J.R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre in Gander. Twenty-five members displayed more than 150 photographs across all types of photography. An official opening of the exhibition provided an opportunity for family and friends to view the photographs and share in the social side common to most photo clubs. The exhibition’s guest book lists residents, tourists and school children as visitors, and judging by their comments, the month-long event was an outstanding success.
If you live in an area without a photography club, find a few camera-happy friends and start one. If you need help, contact us and we will gladly share what we did to make our group a success. After all, photography is meant to be shared.
Click here to see a sample of photography by the Gander Photography Group. To view more, see the May 2012 issue of Downhome, or click here.
The Inuit community of Rigolet, Labrador and national youth service program Katimavik celebrated the successful completion of their first year-long partnership on August 5, 2010.
Katimavik offers youth aged 17-21 an exciting six-month journey of discovery in two or three different regions of Canada. The program is based on the concept of service learning, which integrates both personal and professional development through volunteer work and group life. It focuses on five components: developing leadership skills, official languages proficiency, protecting the environment, cultural discovery and a healthy lifestyle. At the end of the program, each participant will have contributed an average of 900 hours of volunteer work – 35 hours a week – for non-profit organizations. Since 1977, more than 28,000 young Canadians have participated in the Katimavik program.
The August “Katimaversary” at Rigolet showcased the community projects accomplished by the youth volunteers, highlighted some of the unique cultural experiences participants received while living in Rigolet and recognized the many efforts of community partners.
“This is the first year for the ‘Cultural Discovery and Civic Engagement’ themed program across northern communities in Canada and its success in Rigolet is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved,” says Rigolet project leader Kelsey Tonner. “It is truly staggering what 50-plus young Canadians can accomplish in a small community when volunteering for a year straight!”
Rigolet AngajukKâk (mayor) Charlotte Wolfrey states, “The Rigolet Inuit Community Government was very impressed with all of the Katimavik volunteers over the past year. The young people that came here embraced our lifestyle, were eager and willing to volunteer, and they left a number of lasting legacies and friendships that will flourish across the many miles of our country.”
Just a few of the many volunteer initiatives over the course of the year included painting the community church, cleaning up the boardwalk, supporting the Northern Lights Academy breakfast program, contributing to the town recreation programs, creating a homework club and supporting the community senior’s group. In the final month of the program, participants erected new flagpoles and a town bulletin board, grassed the community field, constructed community gardens and supported the annual Rigolet Salmon Festival.
Highlights of cultural experiences included attending an Inuit Elders Gathering; carving antler rings; trying their hand at grass weaving, moccasin making, drum dancing, Inuktitut and throat singing; tasting local bakeapple and redberry sweets, arctic char, salmon, trout, caribou, moose and seal. In addition, there were a number of one-week or weekend billeting opportunities where volunteers were integrated into the homes and lives of families in the community.
Due to the overwhelming success of the project, Katimavik is looking at returning for a second year in Rigolet starting in December 2010.
In the May 2009 issue of Downhome, Lin Crosbie Marshall takes a look at cobby houses (also called "copy" or "coopy" houses), structures that were once commonly used as playhouses for children in this province.
But the McAuley family's cobby house, built about 50 years ago in western Newfoundland, was used for more than just child's play. When Karen (McAuley) Matthews' father found a young seal abandoned on a beach near their home, the cobby house was filled halfway with snow and voila! It was transformed into a home fit for a seal.
Click here to watch a video (shot in 1965) of the McAuley family's seal, which they eventually set free - much to the dismay of the children, who fancied it a pet. (Note: This video has no sound.)
By Rev. John E. Currey
(re-printed from the June 1996 issue of the Downhomer)
Down through all the years that men have gone to the sea, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any act of courage and determination compared to that of Captain William Jackman of Renews, on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland.
He and his brother Arthur went to sea at an early age with their father, who was a captain engaged in the cod and seal fishery. Both lads quickly learned the sea and all its ways: Arthur was called "Viking Arthur" for his daring skill - he commanded his first schooner on a voyage to "the Front" at age 22. His first steam vessel was the Hawk and he was given command of her on her first trip. He also commanded the Falcon, the Aurora and the Eagle, and helped get Robert Peary to the Arctic on his first voyage north. Arthur was later Master of coastal vessels, and when he died in 1907, he was marine superintendent for Bowring Brothers.
William, six years older than Arthur, was captain of the schooner Skipsworth at age 18. Between age 30 and 39, he was Master of the Hawk and the Eagle. He is chiefly remembered for an act of unequalled courage and strength that he performed one night in October 1867. His noble deed is commemorated in a poem by Marcus Hopkins, called "Jackman the Hero"; in Joseph R. Smallwood's Encyclopedia, Vol. 3; in "The Rounder," August 1979; and in writings by Michael Condon (1925) and by H.Y. Mott (1894).
Jackman was at Spotted Islands, Labrador, and was invited to stay at a friend's home while a fierce storm was raging. He said later, "I felt something telling me to take that course (take a walk to the headland)." As the view opened up over the headland of the sea thundering in on the rocks, he was shocked to see a small fishing schooner being battered on a reef, about 600 feet out from the landwash.
Jackman knew that the schooner could not last more than an hour or two. He sent the man who was with him back to the community for ropes and help, and since he knew no boat could possibly survive in that surf, he quickly pulled off his rubber boots and his coat, and plunged into the sea that was foaming in over the rocks. He was a very strong swimmer, but you know it took a tremendous effort for him to reach the side of the doomed schooner.
One of the crew of the Sea Clipper went over the side of the schooner, and William Jackman took the man on his shoulders and struck out for the shore. He managed to make it to shore with the man, and then immediately turned about and swam back to the wreck. Incredible as it seems, 11 times he made it from ship to shore with a man on his back! When he made shore with the eleventh, his companion arrived from the community with a long rope.
Jackman tied the rope around his waist and again plunged into the boiling surf and fought his way out to the schooner. With those on shore helping by hauling on the rope, Captain Jackman made 15 more trips out to the wreck. Making it to shore with the 26th man, he asked the survivors if there was anyone else on board. They said there was a dying woman down in the cabin, but in her condition she would never survive a rescue attempt. They said, "It would be foolish to risk your life again in a hopeless cause."
"Living or dead," said Captain Jackman, "I'll not leave her there." He plunged again into the raging surf. Reaching the schooner, he climbed on board, went down to the cabin, picked up the woman in his arms and went over the side one last time. He made it to shore with her, but the sea was too much for the woman. After thanking Captain Jackman, she passed away.
When Jackman's father heard about his son's incredible feat of bravery and strength, his comment was, "If you had not brought that woman ashore, I would never have forgiven you!"
The next year, 1868, the Royal Humane Society presented Captain Jackman with a certificate and a medal for his courage and humanity. After receiving it, William handed it to his wife, asked her to put it away and never again referred to it. The unparalleled exploit damaged his health beyond repair. He passed away 10 years later, at age 39. It was a young age certainly, but it is as John the disciple wrote in the Book of Revelations (14:13): "that they may rest from their labours, and their lives speak for themselves."
Editor's Note: While Jackman's heroics have been officially recognized many times over, his hometown of Renews, Newfoundland bears no obvious monument to the man – but this may soon change, thanks to the Renews-Cappahayden Heritage Preservation Committee Inc. To support the Committee's efforts to erect a memorial to Jackman, the public may make cheques payable to "Captain William Jackman Memorial Statue Fund" and mail to: P.O Box 47, Renews, NL , A0A 3N0.
For more information about this project, see "Saluting the Captain" in the April 2012 issue of Downhome, email gjackman@nf.sympatico.ca or mike_chidley@yahoo.com, or visit the campaign's Facebook page.
