The Cock O Wee Path meanders up a grassy slope

• Main Author: Branch Cultural Historical Association
• Other Authors: Gambin, Marina, Marina (Power) Gambin grew up in Branch in the 1950s and early 1960s. She often writes about life growing up in Branch.
• Format: Still Image
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Knowledge of the land/water and environment; Landscape; Footpaths; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_avalon/id/4403

The outer cliffs of the Wester Cove give way to grassy slopes, some of which are easily scalable. The Cock O Wee Path meanders up and down such a slope just up from the Big Rock. Marina Gambin writes, This narrow path in the Wester Cove led down to a spring well which offered the coolest, freshest, cleanest water. Before we were granted the convenience of town water, many people who lived on the Hill carried water from the Cock O Wee Path well. It was common to see girls and women walking in that direction with a wooden hoop and two aluminum buckets. The hoop helped keep the water from slopping. Sometimes the area was a social gathering place. The name probably comes from cockawee which is a common long-tailed sea duck of the northern parts of the United States. Maybe cockawees once inhabited this path. Cockawee is also a synonym for old squaw, old wife. Maybe it was named by natives. This path has also been a popular place for men hunting hound ducks, so it is likely that cockawees have been sighted in the area. Another account says that the path was named for an old lady who carried water from the well.