family history Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Memories of Blackville

A Visit to Dalhousie

By Pat Fournier | March 27, 2014 |

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…

Coronation Day

By Pat Fournier | March 20, 2014 |

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…

Memories of War: Benjamin & Helen Campbell

By Les McLaughlin | March 14, 2014 |

In late January, I was approached by the Blackville Women’s Institute and asked to participate in their Heritage Day celebrations. Heritage Week is celebrated in communities throughout New Brunswick each year. This years theme was New Brunswick Remembers: 1914-2014, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War and the…

First Memories

By Pat Fournier | March 13, 2014 |

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…

Memories of a Boy Growing Up in Blackville

By Pat Fournier | March 9, 2014 |

Pat Fournier was born and raised in Blackville. In a series of short stories, Pat will share his memories of the place, of the people and of his life as a boy growing up in Blackville. In this first installment, Pat sets the scene of his childhood neighbourhood. An Introduction Written by Pat Fournier This…

Burned Out – A short story by Pat Fournier

By Les McLaughlin | February 28, 2014 |

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 the short story below, 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. Burned Out Written by Pat Fournier January 31, 1957 – nine years…

Patricia Curtis Recalls the Past in new Storytellers Series

By Les McLaughlin | February 24, 2014 |

Patricia Curtis moved from Gray Rapids at the age of 17 and returned at 60. In this first installment of Storytellers, Patricia reminisces about the days of her youth spent at a one room schoolhouse, skating at Morgan’s Rink and why she returned to the river.