Harris, Eyvonne; Noel, Deborah. Interview about growing up in Mount Pearl, folk cures, and home remedies from Mount Pearl and Upper Island Cove area.

• Main Author: Barrett, Terra
• Other Authors: Harris, Eyvonne; Noel, Deborah
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Social beliefs; practices and customs; Migration/settlement; Newfoundland; Upper Island
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ich_oral/id/738

Oral history interview conducted by Terra Barrett and Andrea McGuire with Eyvonne Harris and Deborah Noel about growing up in Mount Pearl, and folk cures and remedies including poultices, charming warts, setting bones, and midwifery. Interview arranged with Deborah Noel her friend Eyvonne Harris joined the conversation in the first minutes. Deborah Noel was born September 16, 1959 in St. Clare’s Hospital, St. John’s; growing up in Mount Pearl; 1:10 - fairy circle and fairy belief; [Eyvonne Harris walked in] toothache; poultices; spider webs; turpentine; 9:45 - mustard poultice; castor oil; tonsils removed; coke for tonsils and hangovers; blueberry wine; eating goat, dog, seal, crow; 19:42 - pot liquor; growing up in the 1960s; Newfoundland accent and stereotype; Mount Pearl versus around the bay; 25:42 - hangover cures; wart charming; cradle cap; Eyvonne Harris’ grandmother’s cures and 34:15 - setting bones; midwives; tea and pap; plants used for cures; 40:15 - Doctor Grenfell; Joey Smallwood; filming in Deborah’s home in Toronto; movies, film and theatre; Newfoundland accent; Newfoundland friendliness; 58:19 - alcohol and cigarettes as a remedy; drinking culture; seasonal work; 1:03:52 - cures for measles and mumps; hard work; poverty; teaching and punishment; 1:11:01 - nosebleed cures; fevers; toothaches.