John Coombs T1 [Tape One]

Contributors
Interviewer: Thompson, Reg "Dutch"
Interviewee: Coombs, John
Researcher: MacKay, Paul
Audio engineer: MacKay, Paul
Date Recorded
1994-04-29
Date Digitized
2010-06-28
Abstract
This interview is with John Coombs. In this interview John talks about his upbringing, his parents, his father's service in WWI, working as a farm labourer at age 16, school, the Halifax Explosion, working out West during the Harvest Excursion, the chaotic train ride out, and stories about his travels as a hobo.
Genre
Interview
Subject (Geographic)
New Glasgow, NS
Halifax, NS
Calgary, AB
Subject (Temporal)
1927
1917
1920s
1930s
Rights
All content on this site is made available for personal research and private study only. Any other reuse, reproduction, or re-purposing may require the permission of the rightsholder(s); please contact the UPEI Library for more information on permissions/clearances.
Physical Location
Held by Reg "Dutch" Thompson
Duration
01:03:50
Member of
Dutch Thompson Audio Collection
Model
1 1 Item in Collection
Transcript
***Disclaimer - This interview contains language and subject matter some may find inappropriate.
SIDE A 00:00:05 -- 00:10:59
Discussion about his father's work, his parents breaking up, and his father's service in WWI; Lizzie Casey, WWI, army medals, 85th Battalion.

SIDE A 00:10:59 -- 00:16:11
Discussion about working as a farm labourer at age 16; farm labourer, milking machines, wages.

SIDE A 00:16:11 -- 00:23:24
A story about living on Barrington Street during the Halifax Explosion; Halifax Explosion, slates, Halifax, Citadel Hill, snowstorm.

SIDE A 00:23:24 -- 00:31:31
Discussion about school and his work as a farm labourer, with a story about picking raspberries; school, wages, George Coombs, raspberries, farming, hard work.

SIDE A 00:31:31 -- 00:31:54
Discussion about going to work out West; farm labourer.

SIDE A ends at 00:31:54.
SIDE B 00:32:00 -- 00:51:51
Discussion about going to work out West continues, with mention of the train ride out; farm labourer, Harvest Excursion, combines, grain harvesting, 1927, stooking, binders, thrashing, sheaves, quarter time, wages, vandals.

SIDE B 00:51:51 -- 01:03:50
Discussion about hoboing and stories about his travels; hobo, Gallant, hitchhiking, panhandling, robbery, Calgary.

Tape ends at 01:03:50.