Burned Out

Standing in what is left of our home: Terrence Walls with his hand on Eric Underhill’s shoulder, Jim MacKenzie, Michael McLaughlin, and Dale MacKenzie. You can see our swing tree in the back yard, and a pile of firewood by the back fence.

In 1957, nine year old Pat Fournier witnessed his family home burn down. In this thirteenth installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, Pat shares his memories of that time and how the family of seven overcame a tragic loss to have one of their best Christmases ever. This installment…

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Got Ya Back!

It’s the fall of 1956 and nine year old Pat is in trouble for tripping Lana Garwood in Mrs. Stephens’ class. Unbeknownst to him at the time, the antic is actually payback for an incident that occurred three years prior. Got Ya Back! is the twelfth installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir, Memories of a Boy…

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The First TV On Our Hill

It’s the summer of 1956 and Pat Fournier’s uncle Stan has purchased the first television in his neighbourhood. In this eleventh installment of his memoir “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”, Pat recalls the Saturday afternoons spent at Stan and Greta’s house watching Roy Rogers and Rin Tin Tin. THE FIRST TV ON…

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Ninth Birthday Party

Blackville High School 1955-56 Grade 3 class Back row: Gail Underhill, Graham Parks, Jack MacDonald, Michael McLaughlin, Johnny Fournier, Gary Gillespie, Gordon Underhill, John Corney, Shirley Dunnett Middle row: Connie Walls, Gertrude Furlotte, Mitzie Delassio, Annie Stewart, Anna Moody, Joyce Morehouse, Sharon Gillespie, Helen Muck, Judy Ross Front row: Patty Fournier, Brian Stephens, Brian Mersereau, Graham Campbell, Walter Frenette, Herman Vickers. Teacher: Miss Marie Burns

In the tenth installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, the Fournier family welcomes a baby boy, Leonard, in the winter of 1955 and Pat celebrates his ninth birthday in the Spring of 1956. Written by Pat Fournier December 8, 1955 – eight years old My little brother Leonard…

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The Boy in the Casket

Doctor's Island and the Miramichi River

In this ninth installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir, “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”, eight year old Pat struggles with the concept of death after a young boy, Allie Davidson, drowns in the summer of 1955. THE BOY IN THE CASKET Written by Pat Fournier June 1955 – eight years old This is…

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Bless Me Father

A confessional booth similar to the one in St. Raphael’s church

It was the first Friday in May of 1955 and eight year old Pat Fournier was going to confession… but what would he confess to? In this eighth installment of his memoir “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”, Pat recalls the story of how the misfortune of another child from his neighbourhood lead…

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The ‘Chocolate Flu’

Album cover for 78 rpm record album of tunes by popular fiddler Ned Landry

On a late-July day in 1954, seven-year-old Pat Fournier and his siblings play a prank, with some unpleasant consequences, on their neighbour Ronald MacKenzie. The Chocolate Flu is the seventh installment of Pat’s memoir “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”. THE ‘CHOCOLATE FLU’ Written by Pat Fournier July 1954 – Seven years old…

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First Communion

It is the summer of 1954 and seven year old Pat is about to make his First Communion at Saint Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church. In this sixth installment of “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”, Pat recalls the special occasion led by Father Nowlan and the Bishop. First Communion Written by Pat Fournier…

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School Daze

The date is September 8, 1953 and it’s Pat Fournier’s first day of school. In this next installment of “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”, join Pat as he walks the mile and a half trek to school, while sharing memories of the people and places along the way. School Daze Written by…

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A Visit to Dalhousie

In this next installment of Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, set in the summer of 1953, six year old Pat goes on a bus ride to Dalhousie with his mother and siblings. A Visit to Dalhousie Written by Pat Fournier August 1953 – six years old Mom took Katharine and Marjorie and…

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Coronation Day

It’s June 2, 1953 and the citizens of Blackville are celebrating Coronation Day – the day Princess Elizabeth of England is crowned queen. In this third installment of “Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville”, Pat Fournier recalls the festivities of that day, along with recollections of the milkman Mr. Vickers, Jim MacKenzie’s horse…

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First Memories

The next installment of “Memories of A Boy Growing Up in Blackville” features Pat Fournier recalling his earliest memories from his childhood, between the ages of three and five years old. First Memories Written by Pat Fournier Winter of 1950/51 – three years old We were living in some rented rooms in the big two…

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