Whitten, Cyril 1. Interview about life in Petty Harbour.

• Main Author: Barrett, Terra
• Other Authors: Whitten, Cyril
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Migration/settlement; Work; Towns; Fishers; Commercial fishing; Fishing; Communities; Whitten; Cyril; Newfoundland; Orca
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_avalon/id/5355

Interview with Cyril Whitten focuses on growing up in Petty Harbour, Cyril's time as Mayor, the changes the community has seen, and Cyril's time as a fisherman. Recorded in Cyril Whitten's cottage at Saint Luke's Homes with his friends Dennis Madden, Peter Squires and Richard Murphy as well as his cousin Muriel Andrews present. His friends were boiling up a meal of lobster for Cyril. Introductions; Cyril Whitten was born May 14, 1926 in Petty Harbour and grew up in a large family; 0:38 - Children’s games; 1:21 - Time as Mayor of Petty Harbour; 2:40 - Story of Whitten’s uncle who drowned; 3:55 - School; First job; 6:06 - Fishing; Story about hand fishing; Making fish; 10:52 - Making of the movie Orca; 11:37 - Changes in Petty Harbour; Building of the breakwater; 12:55 - Cooking on the water; Folk beliefs on the water; 14:17 - Fishing; 14:59 - Fishing accidents; 17:26 - Meeting place--the stand; 18:11 - Concerts; Dances; 19:38 - Holidays; 19:57 - Working in St. John’s; 20:32 - Christmas visiting; Mummering; 22:20 - Children’s toys; 22:51 - Poems and songs about the community; Petty Harbour Bait Skiff; The Polar Bear; Whitten and Peter Squires rhyme off what they know of the Polar Bear poem; Whitten describes his friends who are in the house with him and their families; 28:52 - Whitten’s parents’ work; His mother’s baking; Winter supplies; 31:22 - Shops in Petty Harbour; Whitten’s family; 33:15 - Dream about Petty Harbour; 33:59 - Garden parties; 35:31 - Fishing premises in Petty Harbour; Salting fish; 36:22 – Whitten’s time in his cottage at Saint Luke’s; 37:25 - Whitten’s time as Mayor; Community’s improvement.