Memories
Hitchhiking Home
It’s the winter of 1963 and Pat’s father Sylvernus is working at the mill in Newcastle. In the twenty-seventh installment of his memoir, the fifteen-year-old boy recalls a cold January morning when his dad has just hitchhiked a ride home from work. HITCHHIKING HOME Written by Pat Fournier January 1963 – fifteen years old It…
Read MoreThe Slingshot
In this twenty-fifth installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, fifteen year old Pat Fournier learns a lesson in empathy after making a slingshot with his friend Gary Gillespie. THE SLINGSHOT Written by Pat Fournier July 1962 – fifteen years old My friend Gary Gillespie sniffled and rubbed the back…
Read MoreThe Sensitive Moose
It’s the bitter winter of 1962 and Pat, along with his brother Johnny, friend Alton Underhill, and their father Sylvernus, travel the Bartholomew Road to gather firewood. On their way the boys venture upon a not-so-pleasant moose, the focus of the twenty-second installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville.…
Read MoreJimmy and Jesus
As Father Nowlan retires from serving as parish priest at St. Raphael’s, a visiting priest shares a story of faith that strikes a chord with fourteen year old Pat in Jimmy and Jesus, the twenty-first installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. JIMMY AND JESUS Written by Pat Fournier…
Read MoreMost Memorable Christmas
It’s Christmastime in 1960 and thirteen year old Pat and the rest of the Fournier family are preparing for the holidays. In the twentieth installment of Pat’s memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, the young boy recalls the cutting and trimming of the tree, the snowy midnight trek to mass and the…
Read More40 Days of Stupidity
It’s the 40 days of Lent and twelve year old Pat has given up candy for the lenten season. Earning money from his neighbour Jim MacKenzie, Pat engineers a plan to buy and save until Easter, as much candy as he can at Jenny Hayes’ store. 40 Days of Stupidity is the nineteenth installment of…
Read MoreThe Godparents’ Visit
In the eighteenth installment of Pat Fournier’s memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, the family receives a visit from Johnny’s godparents, Joan and Alban Boudreau. THE GODPARENTS’ VISIT Written by Pat Fournier July 1959 – twelve years old We had a nice visit one weekend by Joan and Alban Boudreau, who were…
Read MoreA Scary Walk Home
It’s May of 1959, and Pat Fournier is attending a night-time screening of “The War of the Worlds” at Saint Raphael’s church hall. In the seventeenth installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, twelve year old Pat faces a frightening walk home after watching the scariest movie he’d ever seen.…
Read MoreThe Outhouse
It’s the Spring of 1959 and Pat Fournier’s older brother Johnny has an unfortunate run-in with the family outhouse in the sixteenth installment of Pat’s memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville. THE OUTHOUSE Written by Pat Fournier November 11, 1958 – eleven years old Our little sister Leslie is born. Now there…
Read MoreSummer’s Gong
It’s the summer of 1958 and the residents of the village of Blackville and outlying communities have gathered for the social event of the year: St. Raphael’s annual church picnic. In this fifteenth installment of his memoir, Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville, Pat Fournier reflects on the day’s events and recalls some…
Read MoreBurned Out
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…
Read MoreNinth Birthday Party
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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