Critch, John. Interview with John Critch, Cavendish

• Main Author: Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation
• Other Authors: Critch, John
• Format: Moving Image (Video)
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Oral traditions; expressions and the written word; Critch; John; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_avalon/id/4843

This interview is part of a series of oral histories collected by The Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation. This interview is with John Critch of Cavendish, NL. The interviewer is Linda Reid. The camera was operated by Linda Cooper. The video was edited by Mike Ryan and Darrell Barrett. [00:52] Critch talks about his childhood and growing up in Cavendish. He describes when the train ran in Cavendish. [3:00] Critch talks about attending school in Cavendish. [5:12] Critch shares the history of Cavendish. [5:35] Critch talks about the tradition industries in Cavendish when he was younger. He recalls that when he was young, most men would go work in the lumber woods. [6:07] Critch talks about where they got their clothing and food when he was younger. [6:50] Critch talks about his time away from Cavendish, living in the United States working as a cement finisher. [8:03] Critch mentions being involved with the Orange Lodge. [9:11] Critch talks about how people would make moonshine in Cavendish. [10:10] Critch talks about how he and his family would celebrate Christmas. [12:01] Critch describes the clothing he wore as a child. [12:21] Critch talks about his brothers and sisters. [13:10] Talks about music, which was mostly accordion music. And he talks about concerts and times. [14:15] Critch talks about the canning factory that was once in Cavendish. [15:01] Critch talks about boat building in the area and how a schooner was once built on the beach in Cavendish. [15:21] Critch tells a story about a man who died on the Labrador and they salted his corpse in order to get him home to be buried. [16:20] Critch describes medical care in Cavendish when he was younger and how they would very seldom see a doctor there. Critch recalls flying a white flag in the community when a doctor was needed. [16:50] Critch talks about the use of juniper tea as a home remedy. [18:11] Critch describes being part of the seal hunt on a boat called The Gulf Star. [20:25] Critch describes the changes he see in the community, in comparison to ...