Mercer, Palma. Interview with Palma Mercer about Portugal Cove.

• Other Authors: McGrath, Monique; Zalis, Jordan, Mercer, Palma
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Migration/settlement; Towns; Communities; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_avalon/id/6248

Interview with Palma Mercer by Jordan Zalis and Monique McGrath, conducted as part of a Collective Memories Mug Up project conducted by Memorial University students enrolled in FOLK 6740: Public Folklore, Winter 2017. 00:00 Palma Mercer (née Harding) from Harding’s Hill, Portugal Cove, NL hands me an old book to read (Events of Newfoundland) about the early history of Portugal Cove - the consecration of the Church of England - an octopus or giant squid attack; 1:33 - Palma explains how Portugal Cove Road was the first road in Newfoundland outside of St. John’s, paid for by lottery; 4:45 - Mercer describes taking a horse and buggy to St. John’s when she was young and how the city was much smaller; 5:40 – Mercer gives biographical information; 6:03 – Palma shares photos of the Queen Mother’s visit to St. John’s and ‘The Cove’ in 1939; 7:48 – Mercer shares photos of the ‘old’ war memorial; 7:55 – Mercer shares a photo of her father and a large tuna he caught; 8:21 – Mercer shows a photo of St. Lawrence Church and a family funeral; 9:00 – Mercer goes back to the picture of the Queen Mother and George VI and talks about the event and the book she brought; 10:04 – Mercer explains Portugal Cove Road and Windsor Lake Road/Twenty-Mile Pond; 10:34 – Mercer’s tells us about the ghost that haunts the road; 11:45 – Mercer now reads the Octopus story; 12:41 – Mercer tells us that she has a copy from the original service at the Church of England; 13:32 – Mercer talks about her father and his life – he was a very interesting man; 14:55 – Mercer talks about growing up in Portugal Cove and her father; 16:11 – Mercer recounts the story where she broke her leg and developed her fear of heights – jumping off a roof in winter; 18:03 – Mercer speaks about her father’s cars and that they were some of the first in The Cove with television; 19:15 – Mercer talks about growing up with two younger brothers and summer time play; 20:08 - Mercer goes into details about the games they played on Harding’s Hill (named for her family); 20:52 – ...