Evelyn Gordon and Harry
Grant
Dad’s choice of such a large turkey for Christmas
dinner
made me wonder if he thought Mum was cooking for a mill crew. Food was
not
to be wasted so for nearly a week, we had been eating turkey in some
form
at every meal. Turkey with potatoes and gravy. Turkey sandwiches.
Turkey
with pancakes. Turkey ground into hash and mixed with potatoes. Finally
today’s
turkey soup signified the end.
Cliff and I were certainly pleased to get back to our regular bedtime
lunch of hot porridge covered with cream and brown sugar. As we were
eating Gramp walked into the kitchen and asked, “Is that real oatmeal
or rolled oats?”
As usual, I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. Now if we had
lived near Mactaquac, I would have known about taking the bags of oats
to Jewett’s Grist Mill and real oatmeal being brought home.
In 1972, Evelyn Gordon and Harry Grant published, “The
Vanished Village” - Jewett’s Mills, N.B. which
portrays life in a village that was founded by Daniel Jewett in the
early 1800's and disappeared in 1967 with the rising waters of the
Mactaquac Hydro Development.
The first saw mill and grist mill were built by Daniel Jewett. Some of
the pine sills used, were sixty feet long and twenty inches square,
hewed
with broadaxes from the timber growing nearby. A dam across the stream
was
built of wood, stones and packed earth. The original water-wheel
was
in use for more than a hundred years.
A pit for tanning of leather for shoemaking was constructed. The bark
from the oak and hemlock trees was used in the colouring and preserving
of the hides.
In 1858, Daniel and his growing family moved into their new spacious
home, named the “Lily of the Valley”, that had been
constructed of lumber sawn in the mill. It had a cellar-kitchen and a
large table that always had room for one more guest.
Tragedy struck in March of 1859, when Enoch, Daniel’s brother fell upon
a saw while working in the lumber mill and had his arm severed. Due to
this accident, a wool carding mill was set up for Enoch to operate.
Farmers brought in their washed handpicked fleeces to be converted into
machine-combed soft rolls. The housewives then took over, by spinning
yarn to be used in knitting. The sale of knitted products at the
farmer’s market at Phoenix Square in
Fredericton, put some coins into their purses.
On the sentimental journey to the time before “The Dam”, you
will visit the lumber making business from the cutting of the tree to
hearing the
whine of the circular mill saw, spend time in Grandma Jewett’s bedroom,
dining
room, kitchen and parlour, learn of soap making, hear stories of the
native
residents, the early black settlement, religion and community affairs.
“The Vanished Village” - Jewett’s Mills, N.B. by
Evelyn Gordon and Harry Grant is available at several libraries in New
Brunswick.
A copy of “The Vanished Village” - Jewett’s
Mills, N.B. by Evelyn Gordon and Harry Grant is
available for purchasing from rmcusack@nbnet.nb.ca. Information
at http://www.rubycusack.com/Book-Vanished.html
* *
Query 1127
Lamoreaux - Cross - Woodruffe: I seek proof of the possible
daughter
relationship to James Lamoreaux and. Martha (Patty) Cross of Hannah
(Annie)
Lamoreaux, who was born 4 Feb. 1799 in either Gagetown or Grand Bay.
She
married Zelotus Harvey Woodruffe and died 6 Aug. 1857
-Howard Ray Lawrence, 17919 Baker Riley Way,
Mokelumne
Hill, CA, 95245, USA. E-mail to howardl@inreach.com.
Query 1128
Brig Breeze Ship: The Big Breeze sailed from Dublin, Ireland on 12
April
1834 with 108 passengers. What happened to the 75 people who were
forced
off at Dipper Harbour as 3 died in transit and only 36 made it to Saint
John
on 4 June 1834? Captain W. A. Robinson stated, "The remainder went on
shore
by force."
-Carmela Kelly, 7013 Seaview Terrace SW, Seattle,
WA,
98136, USA. E-mail Ckelly3377@attbi.com.
Query 1129
Thompson - Welton: Aaron Thompson married Emily Grace Welton in
January
1865
at Hardwood Ridge, Northfield, Sunbury County. Aaron was born in
New
Brunswick, emigrated
with his family to Maine, died there in 1903, and was buried back in
New
Brunswick in an unknown location. I seek information on his origin,
parents
and siblings.
-David Scott Drane, 405 West 23rd Street #4J, New
York,
NY, 10011, USA. E-mail drane@aya.yale.edu.
Query 1130
Hampton-Belyea: I am interested in finding information on Emma
Pheasant
Hampton (1862 - 1904) who married George Henry Belyea. They are both
buried
in Cedar Hill Cemetery in West Saint John.
-Donald D. Erwin, 5 Law Ave, Hampton, NB, Canada,
E5N
5C1. E-mail dderwin@nbnet.nb.ca.
