Agnes Sheehan and Peg

Interview

Thompson, Reg "Dutch"

Sheehan, Agnes

1995-03-21

01:03:48

This interview is with Agnes Sheehan of Bear River, P.E.I and her daughter Peg McInnis. The interview begins with a discussion of the origins of the Bear River name and the old train station there. Agnes then goes on to tell about Dr. Gus MacDonald, her childhood, general stores, and school. She then talks about her family, farming, horses, and trading butter for groceries. Anges then tells about the birth of her children at home, the big snowstorm of 1923, and her uncle Joe dying while working in the fields. There is also mention of the Halifax Explosion, life in the 1930s, wakes and funerals, and trains.

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Held by Reg "Dutch" Thompson

SIDE A 00:00:05 -- 00:01:31 Discussion about how Bear River got its name, and the railroad station there; railroad station, Bear River, Dinny Coslow, Roddy MacDonald, bears, Souris Line Road. | SIDE A 00:01:31 -- 00:05:52 Discussion about Dr. Gus MacDonald; Dr. Gus MacDonald, Dr. Gus, 1962, Ten Farms, Souris, marine hospital, A. J. MacCormack, accident, Dr. Ross, 1934. | SIDE A 00:05:52 -- 00:07:46 Discussion about growing up, general stores, and school; MacIsaac, Souris, school, genera stores, Syl McInnis, Joe Cameron, MacDonald. | SIDE A 00:07:46 -- 00:10:36 Discussion about her family; Maine, Waterville, Hugh Sheehan, ice, meningitis, 1929. | SIDE A 00:10:36 -- 00:14:45 Discussion about farming, wool, and horses; electricity, 1951, wool, sheep, Rollo Bay, woolen mill, Bloomfield, horses, wheat. | SIDE A 00:14:45 -- 00:19:28 Discussion about their favourite horse, farm machinery, and tractors; mare, horse, Queen, scuffler, 1952, horses. | SIDE A 00:19:28 -- 00:22:01 Discussion about veterinarians and trains; MacDonald, veterinarians, Charlottetown, train fare, train pass, school, St. Peter's, chores, trains. | SIDE A 00:22:03 -- 00:23:15 Discussion about trading butter and geese for groceries; Souris, market, Gerard Sheehan, 1940, trading, groceries, geese, butter. | SIDE A 00:23:15 -- 00:27:09 Discussion about the birth of her children at home; midwife, doctor, Mrs. MacGillivray, twins, birth. | SIDE A 00:27:13 -- 00:28:48 Discussion about the railroad and a big snowstorm in the winter of 1963; railroad, snowstorm, 1963. | SIDE A 00:28:49 -- 00:29:55 Discussion about Dr. Gus MacDonald continues; Dr. Gus MacDonald, Dr. Gus, Souris. | ***Tape appears to have stopped at 00:29:55. SIDE A 00:29:55 -- 00:31:49 Discussion about her uncle Joe dying in a field; Dolphie Burke, Gus MacEachern, harrow. | SIDE A ends at 00:31:49. SIDE B 00:31:58 -- 00:37:08 Discussion about her uncle Joe continues, with mention of wakes and funerals; death, wake, funeral, 1925, 1928, 1943, Souris, coffins, Dingwell's, Donald Lavoie, rough box, hearses, 1912, shipwrecks. | SIDE B 00:37:17 -- 00:39:43 Discussion about Halifax Explosion, the "crying 30s", and home remedies; Spanish Flu, 1917, 1918, 1930s, rations, groceries, kerosene, cod liver oil, home remedies, Halifax Explosion. | SIDE B 00:39:43 -- 00:43:06 Discussion about peddlers, fish, and rum running; Rashid, Reggie Peters, fish days, lobsters, kegs, fish, rum running, peddlers. | SIDE B 00:43:06 -- 00:45:34 Discussion about the big snowstorm of 1936; Souris, Souris Beach, Jack MacLean, MacLean's store, horse and sleigh, Henry Mallard, Fred Curran. | SIDE B 00:45:39 -- 00:47:46 A story about fruitcake at Christmas; fruitcake, Christmas. | SIDE B 00:47:46 -- 00:49:35 A story about drinking kerosene; kerosene, Souris, Dr. Gus MacDonald. | SIDE B 00:49:35 -- 00:52:06 Discussion about the biggest changes, with mention of televisions, radios, and cars; card games, television, radio, radio programs, Don Messer, 1940s, cars, Joe MacKinnon, Jack Donald, 1928. | SIDE B 00:52:11 -- 00:55:06 Discussion about traveling in the old days and her grandparents; traveling, Souris, Souris Line Road, Helen McIsaan, telephone, 1922, death. | SIDE B 00:55:06 -- 00:58:48 Discussion about forerunners, WWI and WWII; WWI, WWII, forerunners, lights, dogs, Bear River. | SIDE B 00:58:50 -- 01:03:48 Discussion about the biggest changes continues, with mention of television, Christmas, horses, and life in the old days; television, Christmas, horses, presents, Christmas tree, toys, food. | Tape ends at 01:03:48. ***Tape ends mid-sentence.