Life, customs and personal testimonies...

- Mrs. Briand remembers...

- Claimed to have a photo of the 2nd to last church.

- The sisters in Douglastown at the time were described as "nice", with one favorite by the name of Mother St. Julia. According to Mrs. Briand, the sisters didn't assist the priest in the church or have any related duties, just teaching in the schools.

- Masses were held in the church largely just once per week, taking place Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., however, a prayer session referred to as "vespers" was held at three o'clock in the afternoon.

- People were viewed as more churchgoing then, the weekly mass being quite the social affair, a get together, a walk. And walk they did, both winter and summer.

- Although during Father Nellis's time as Priest in Douglastown, there was a snowmobile transportation service to mass and back, at a cost of approximately fifty cents return, for two passengers. The time is roughly 1940, and going to church is a rule to live by, come hell or high water. - In that era kneeling for communion was expected; general confession was a term unknown; and clothes such as slacks on women or short sleeves, or any sort of informality, was strictly prohibited inside the church itself. - Mrs. Briand states that the rapidly decreasing formality in the practices and opinions of the church is for the better, a definite step ahead.

-The annual parish visit is described as having required a lot of preparation.

- Special dress, dinner; money donations were expected; the priests were driven around the parish by the parishioners themselves, though supposedly paid.

-The sacrement of First Communion was proceeded by six weeks of thorough catechism teachings, at age ten - eleven.

- According to Mrs. Briand, in that time there were a lot of self-made men; lacking a basic educational foundation, they managed to obtain decent positions in firms of goood standing in cities away from the parish, such as civil engineer.

- Family curfews were strict, as parties were attended with either one or both parents. Ssquare dancing, fiddling, etc. were involved; a few names from Douglastown's musical past are Mr. Willie Grant, Mr. Joe Drody, Charlie Drody

- Those Drody's were a family of talented musicians and entertainers, having a "Drody concert"; involved were Anthony, Joe, Mary Ellen and Bridget Drody.

- Mrs. Briand's father's main itinerary was fishing in the summer months, and by winter harvesting wood.

- Their family basically provided for themselves, as was largely done then - by fishing, hunting, farming, dairying, and keeping meat animals such as cattle and pigs. Some items, such as cream, eggs, milk, were sold or marketed if a surplus occured, but that was rare.

- The women did such "manly" chores as work on the fields, milk the cows, and so on.

- Yes, Women were even allowed to vote! The age limit was 21 years of age for all voters.

- Her brother and her husband worked on the railroad in Douglastown; the latter for forty years, retiring at age sixty-four. His position as a foreman - sectionman required long hours and awarded little pay. For about 2$ per hour, one was expected to endure storms, and often 2 days / 1 night shifts.

- She recalls a time when the rail service to Montreal changed and stopped over in New Carlisle, leaving Douglastown in the afternoon.

- Her parents received a 17$ a month pension from the government, commencing at age seventy.

- Miss Claribel Kennedy recounts: - The historical event of the coming to Douglastown of the United Empire Loyalists, who were among the first settlers of the town. - The seasonal work calendar for those able and willing Douglastowners was fishing all summer off the island of Anticosti, returning in the fall usually to harvest the forest's bounty. The townsfolk also profited from the Anticosti through the wrechkage of the ships destroyed on its rocks. - A great passtime then was combing the beaches after a shipwreck, searching for any items worth salvaging. The people knew of the wrecks through the town's telegraph equipment. The voyages were largely from France to Québec. The subject even heard tell of Pirates working the Gaspé Coast, mostly around Barachois area, in the early 1800's, looting silver, china, precious gems, metals, etc. - The vessels back then were powered by sail and by oar, and directed by the use of a compass, and through close study of stars or other stellar formations.

- Churchlife was considered too harsh and rigid, masses and sermons being long and wearisome, aften requiring the practice of fasting for the reception of communion. Apparently, only in the past fifgteen years has communion been received in the high Mass.

- Miss. Kennedy describes the people as generally less involved in the church and religion then, perhaps due to the restrictions placed upon the people by that institution, for example, worshippers weren't even allowed inside the Sanctuary.

- The yound people of today are reported as being a lot better; being more open, not sneaking around but doing as they like in earnest, and sticking up for one another.

- The subject even goes so far as to describe the people of that era as; "...good Catholics, but not good Christians." She relates that people were made to go to church, that they were afraid not to go; the Priests pressed the parents for regular attendance, and the parents pressed their families.

- It was even disallowed to attend church bareheaded.

- The first school is remembered as being log, with a schoolmaster complete with his birch rod. Classes were mixed, with a slate and slate pencils as recording materials.

- Math, or Arithmetic was not stressed upon heavily in the curriculum, but Catechism, Bible History, Canadian History, Grammer and English Literature was dwelt on.

- Longish rectangular desks seating three to four students were in use then, needless to ssay allowing for consideraable student interaction and mischief - making.

- Heating the classroom was a task for the males present, keeping filled with wood the round pot-belllied stove occupying the room's center.

- Instead of direct communication with the instructress, a type of sign language was practiced to ask for certain permission; for example, holding up one finger might mean; May I please use the bathroom?

- The sisters as teachers are described as "kind and understanding", but disciplining. Some of their formulated punishments were being banished to the chapel as an isolation penalty or kneeling in front of the nun' desk at the head of the classroom, also staying after school or the leather streap method.

- Generally, most automatically performed jobs these days were done manually, by hand, then. By the same token, ones wardrobe was stitched and sewn by hand, without the use of modern-day sewing machines; all clothes, complete with linings, petticoats, and lace.

- Sheep had to be sheared, the wool washed, dried, cleaned, carded, and spun before finally being hand-knit into clothes that could be expected to last a lifetime.

- When a special occasion or holiday, like Christmas, did come around, it was celebrated and enjoyed thoroughly.

- Stockings were literally hung by the chimney with ultimate care, on the mantle piece, in waiting for Santa Claus, who was fervently believed in. The little children believed Santa to arrive at the window before bringing the presents, leaving if anyone saw him; therefore, the youngsters were terrified at the thought of accidentally catching Santa peering through the window panes on Christmas Eve and losing all chance of receiving gifts; Needless to say, a house's window view was strictly avoided that night.

- Another Santa Claus tradition was the father of the household, dressed as Santa, to appear at a window and ask the children what each wanted for Christmas gifts.

- Some typical figts were dolls, handmade wooden toys, knit clothes; hats, mitts, oranges, apples.

- Midnight Mass was largely attended, described as being beautiful, and a grand and welcome change from regular ten a.m. mass.

- An extensive family feast was laid out at home after the mass; all the marvelous, mouthwatering smells and aromas of festive treats; roast beef, vegetables, hot fresh-baked breads, cakes, cookies, puddings.

- There were no funeral parlors then - the bodies of the deceased were waked in the house, what few preparations required for preservatioin of the corpse were effected there. For three long days the body would be laid out on high boards suspended off the floor, draped in sheets.

- All-night vigils were kept for the dead, candles kept burning throughout the entire ordeal.

- Naturally, coffins were made usually by the family in mourning or by those close to them; a plain, wood box.

- If the death occured in the winter months, the grave was dug just the same, from the frozen ground, as the graveyard vaults of today were non-existant.

- While in mourning, the family would say "the beads" each hour, every hour, on the hour, all night long, a practice the neighbours shared in. At and around the time of a death in the parish, the church was blacked-out; windows were covered in black curtains, etc.

- It was common for the family of the deceased to mourn for a year following the death, dressed all in black and restricted from most enjoyment.

- Keeping Douglastowners informed was the Family Herald rural newspaper, delivered by treain from Montréal by subscrjiption method, being made available on a weekly basis.

- The Cambellton Graphic (another newsprint sold at the time) cost about 1$ for 2 years.

- Mail-order shopping was also popular, Eaton's catalogue outlet being the most outstanding among those along the coast.

- Reading was described as a great passtime, the people scouring anything and everything from Shakespeare to Seuss.

- In those times, it was not unheard of for mailing costs to be about three cents to cover an ordinary letter, and one cent for a postcard.

- Douglastown possessed its own town council, which consisted of about four councellors appointed by town pollling, and of course, the Mayor. The Townhall housing this company was located where the Douglastown Community Hall is today.

- Mr. Isaac Kennedy, Mr. Arthur Grant were known Mayors; a job that didn't pay, and that carried a five-hundred dollar fine if the appointment as Mayor was backed out of. Needless to say , the position was one of responsibility, pressures and tensions.

- Provincial political party elections were held in separate buildings for each party in the running for voting - either the liberal house or the tory house.

- Apparently during the First World War there arrived in Douglastown Bay a fleet of ships on their way to battle in other parts of the world, dating about 1914. It was stated as being the 1st Contingent from out West.

- The vessels anchored themselves offshore for a week, enlisting new soldiers while not allowing those already on board to debark. Known to have joined the ranks then, were Andrew Kennedy, Mancer(?) Gaul, Jim Mulrooney.

- The following are a few statistics; little known or otherwise; Mr. Fred Kennedy was the postmaster in the first post office, while a Mr. Dupuis serviced the mail in her own house before that.

- The first train station was located over where the iron Bridge is now.

- Stores around town were owned and operated by the Kennedy Brothers - C & X Kennedy; Charles Veit(?); a Jewish man named Mr. Hank.

- Alcohol was then, and still is, a weighty issue, the market for it then being largely on the illegal side. For instance, there existed what was termed as "Rum Runners", coming over from St. Jpierre et Miquelon, while having to respect the designated ten-mile limit. What wasn't bought through either legal or illegal means was home-brewed, using such ingredients as molasses, hops, yeast cakes, oranges, water, and allowing it to ferment in a crock for a week.

- Home entertainment was also popular, ranging from card parties, dancing, to playing and listening to musical instruments. A few examples of the musically inclines Douglastowners and their choice of instrument are; Mr. Willie Grant - violin; Mr. Charlie Drody - violin; also the accordion, organ, and Jew'S Harp were played. -Mr. Abraham Crotty settled the French down on the Pointe in Douglastown, creating the term "crotty" in reference to those French.

- There was a bus service running from Chandler to Gaspéj every day except Sunday, from 10a.m. to 3p.m. costing about ten cents each way

- This service existed approximately forty years ago. Also, Norman McCauley had organized a taxi outlet.

-Mr. and Mrs. Mac Kennedy recall;

- Mr. Kennedy described the inside of the old church as wooden with large wooden pillars to support the ceiling.

- Mrs. Kennedy states that the church was heated by four large pot belly stoves and that it was the responsibility of every family to deliver half a cord of wood to the church every fall.

- Mr. Kennedy remembers the old graveyard was in much the same place as the present one. He continued by stating that the old tombstones were straightened and a new graveyard was constructed under the direction of Father J.P.Nellis.

- Mrs. Kennedy recalled that the people were more involved in the church and that the rituals of the church were stressed much more back then.

- The parish visit was a major event in the parish according to Mr. Kennedy. The parishioners would donate such things as pork, fish, beef, or vegetables to the parish priest who conducted this visit by horse and sleigh.

- The first school that either person remembered was located near the present one.

- Mrs. Kennedy recalled that the grades were mixed and that punishment was administered by the mother superior with a strap.

- Both persons stated that their parents were from Douglastown and that they both originated from midsize families.

- Mr. Kennedy recalled that the average salary, when he began working, was about 50$ a month and some examples of prices would be 10¢ for tobacco and papers or 42¢ for a pack of cigarettes.

- According to Mr. Kennedy, fishing and wook cutting were the main sources of income. Crown Lumber Company built and operated lumber camps back of Douglastown that employed many local men at the time.

- Mrs. Kennedy remarked that families were very self-sufficient at that time. Every family had their own cattle and grew their own vegetables as well as cut their own wood for heating purposes. She also strongly emphasized the fact that women helped to a large degree on the farm.

- Mr. Kennedy, who admitted that he has always been actively involved in politics, recalled that compaigns and the voting process are organized quite similarly today.

- He recalled three main general merchants operating in Douglastown in the early 20th century; J.H.Morris, John Rooney, and C and X Kennedy.

- He recalled the first postmaster as being Mrs. Isaac Kennedy who used to redistribute the mail throughout the community.

- The effect of the world wars on the community was seen through occasional black-outs according to both.

- Mr. Kennedy remarked that there was a legend that said a German submarine was destroyed in Gaspé Bassin during WW II.

- Mr. and Mrs. Norman J. McAuley share;

- Mr. McAuley described the location of the old church as where the rectory is presently.

- He stated that going to church was a rule to live by and that church rituals have changed dramatically since the beginning of the century.

- Mrs. McAuley recalled the annual parish visit as a major event in the parish. She continued by stating that this visit was usually conducted during the winter and donations such as food or firewood were expected.

- To the best of his knowledge Mr. McAuley recalls that classes were conducted in the convent and were taught by the sisters.

- He remembered punishments as being harsh and vacations short.

- Both stated that their parents were from Douglastown and Mr. McAuley remarked that his grandparents were descendants from Ireland.

- They stressed the idea of family unity in the early part of the century and the fact that every member of the family had a specific role to play.

- Mr. McAuley recalled, when he began working, that the average salary was 1$ a day and that prices for products were relatively expensive in comparison to wages.

- He also stressed the importance of the fishing industry in Douglastown with salmon and cod being the staple fish.

- Mrs. McAuley recalled that every family had their own beef and poultry as well as their own vegetables.

- Mr. McAuley recollected that the railway began around 1910 and recalled the CNR opening the tracks in the winter with V plows.

- The earliest stores that either could remember were C and X Kennedy and Dan Beaudin which were both located in the main village.

- The construction of the wharf, according to Mr. McAuley, began between the years 1910 and 1915 and a local man,
David Kennedy, was foreman of the project.
(Link to a letter adressed to David Kennedy...)

- Slightly later the CNR constructed the railway bridge connecting Douglastown and Gaspé by rail.

- According to Mrs. McAuley (née Dorothy Morris), electricity did not reach Douglastown until the 1930's when it began to expand rapidly.

- Mrs. Ann and Eva Holland recall;

- The old church is reported as being located above Bernard Rooney's residence of today, and as being heated by wood stoves, and the interior as being encircled by side galleries near the ceiling in case of large congregations.

- The new graveyard, or the extension of the old one, is stated as beginning in Father Nellis's era in Douglastown parish, perhaps twenty years ago. (interviews held in 1981)

- The sisters of Douglastown reportedly first came from Rimouski, perhaps 80 years ago. They resided in the old convent, keeping their own farm and livestock.

From left to right: Sister of Mercy, Sister Mary of St.Mechtilde, Sister Mary of Lourdes, Sister Mary of Calvary, Sister Mary of St.Julia

- The old school up the Bay in Douglastown was located around where Elias White now lives; a few notable teachers were Mother Mary of Mercy, and Mother of the Blessed Sacrament. They supervised the prayers in the school rooms, sacred history, which was similar to catechism, and so on.

- For punishment, the strap was used, isolation in the csorner, even kissing the floor - however, for sanitary reasons was abolished. On the average, students attended the local community school until the fourth grade, although a few priviliged ones continued up to the ninth.

- Jobs were not plentiful, and the fishermen having voyage to Anticosti Island for the summer months, June to September, and in the winter working the woods, cutting logs and the such.

- The government provided some of the employment in the area, having the Seal Cove River bottomed out and cleaned out by the townsfolk, paying the sum of 1$ per day, per person.

- Steven Walsh had a store where the CN station is now, or was until recently.

- People seemed to mingle more then than now, at such times as the evening mail delivery. Then, gossip was swapped over a leaf tobacco "smoke-in", ghost stories - everyone always trying to tell one better.

- Because of the absence of modern plumbing, people either had to carry water from the nearest brook to the house, or pump it if there was one, and heat it on the stove top for washing purposes.

- Hand washboards were used for laundering, and thin, flat, cast iron irons also heated on the stovetop for use.

- There existed very little medical aid available for the needy, a doctor maybe at a chance being in Gaspé - a few at the time were Dr. Pelletier, Dr. McCartney, Dr. Smily - the latter helping in the time of the outbreak of diptheria here.

- Midwives were used in the childbirth process, instructing the mother-to-be to brace her feet on a chair and push. A few midwives of the time were Mrs. Emmanuel Briand's grandmother, Mrs. Edward Maloney.

- The railroad is remembered in the early days of its construction, around 1912.

- Supposedly a Mr. Fred MacDonald man was hurt or killed from a fall off the trestle. He was hospitalized for a six-month period, however regardless of all efforts to save his life he perished in Cartierville hospital. - About twenty-five years ago the lighted cross at the crossroads in Douglastown was installed, with the intention of blessing the parish. - Some liquors consumed were gin (John DeKuyper), spirits (whiskey, white rum); some home brews were dandelion wine (soaked 7-8 days), beet and blueberry wine.

Tressel Scene (Douglastown???)

- Other commentaries
(authors not known, but collected during the same time period as the preceeding testimonies)

- The first graveyard in Douglastown was located on the property which is presently owned by Bernard Rooney. This graveyard was used up until the early 1800's when a second graveyard, built on the property presently owned by Joseph Delaney, was completed. This second cemetary served the expanding populatin of Douglastown up until the mid 1800's when it was enlarged to cover its present location.

- The parish priests before Rev. Father J.P.Nellis resided in homes around the village. Father J.P. Nellis constructed the rectory in 1937 as a residence for future priests. This was completed with the help of the Fabrique.

- Father Duncan Gillis, hailing from Scotland and having been ordained in Paris, France, passed away in the year 1907, to be buried underneath the previous Douglastown church. - There his body lay entombed until need had it exhumed at the construction of the new church in 1957. His remains now rest in the parish's graveyard as it is today. - Church masses of the time were described as long and tiresome, the sermon alone lasting anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. Then, of course, there was the confessional time alottment before the mass, communion during the mass, collections and choir time. The ordinary, regular masses were held weekly on Sunday mornings at 10a.m., probably lasting until noon.