Clow, Roy

*** Mainstreet Air Date - December 2008?
Roy Clow begins by telling about oyster fishing in Vernon River. He goes on to tell about digging out a train engine that was stuck in the snow for a week. Roy then talks about Herring Island and the people who were living there. He talks about Clow's wharf and the schooners that carried goods. He briefly talks about Gaelic and Sundays at church. Roy then speaks in length about seal fishing off the coast of Newfoundland.

*** Jan. 29/02
Roy talks about the grist mill, Dan MacRae's flour, baking homemade bread, and using flour bags for clothing. Roy then talks about raising foxes, and trading them for a mare which ended up being lame. He then talks about buying a car engi ne from a Model-A Ford for his boat, racing the boat in Pictou, and going down to Pictou to see the circus. He finishes by d iscussing prices for goods at Clow's wharf.

This interview with Roy Clow continues on from tape fourteen. Roy begins by finishing a story about Finlayson's dam, and catching and cooking eels. Roy then talks about Jack Leeco's aluminum air-cooled touring car. The conversation then changes to black mitts on a fishing boat, and then on to other fishing superstitions. Roy then talks about fishing with Jim Davison and buying moonshine stills from Hickebaum. On the topic of moonshine, Roy then tells about Al Leblanc, a bootlegger in Charlottetown, and Dolphie White from Newfoundland. Roy then tells about the feud between the McGuigans and the McGees and McCairns. He goes on to tell about the relationship between Catholics and Protestants. The tape concludes with stories about Willie Dunn.

This tape begins with a story of Roy stealing his brother's car, continued on from tape sixteen. Roy briefly talks about his family before beginning a story about fires in Montague, which quickly changes to a story about cars. Roy then tells about how his brother Stanley died of typhoid fever, and then goes on to continue his story about a fire at Boon Thompson's in Montague. He then talks briefly about the Spanish flu, and then goes on talking about tuna and eel fishing, and then exporting them to Japan. Next, Roy tells about dogfish and fishing after his service in WWII. Roy then tells about well drilling and water witches, piloting a ship into Murray Harbour, and halibut fishing. He ends the interview with stories about Freeman Reynolds and some of the men who worked in the lobster factories in Murray Harbour. At the end of the tape he begins to tell about a pop factory, but the tape finishes soon after.

This interview with Roy starts with a conversation continued on from tape thirteen. Roy tells about piloting ships into harbours. He then briefly talks about a murder in Georgetown before telling a story about a fire at Boon Thompson's. Roy then goes on to talk about shearing sheep, carding mills, and fires in Montague. An interview indicated as being from January 30th, 2007 begins with Roy talking about "Hand Brand" rum and moonshine. He then goes on to talk about different birds in Newfoundland, and the Halifax Explosion. On side B, Roy talks about rounding up cattle with Wellington MacNeil and western horses. He the tells a series of stories about Angus Johnson, Jim Macbeth, and Wall White. The tape ends with a story about a wrestler from Quebec, and Roy catching eels with his father.

This taped interview with Roy Clow begins with a discussion about home remedies. Roy then tells of his birth, the local midwife Lizzy White, and doctors in the Murray Harbour area. Roy then goes on to talk about moonshine being used in place of gasoline, rum runners being hungry enough to eat gulls, and a time when Roy and George Miller bought two kegs of rum from the rum runners when they were only thirteen. Next, Roy tells briefly about cigarettes and different liquors at the time before telling more stories about rum running and bootleggers. Roy then talks about his father and his cousins cod fishing and buying rum. Then Roy tells about some local tricks for hiding and transporting the illegal rum. The interview continues with a brief mention of the phantom ship and lobster prices. The remainder of the interview consists of Roy telling about killing pigs and farming according to the phases of the moon, and home remedies.

This interview with Roy Clow begins with the remainder of a conversation about Ben Clow and his homemade blueberry wine. Roy then goes on to tell about Ben's fox ranch, property, and family. The conversation then turns to schooners and rum runners, and then on the Boughton Island. Roy then tells about the bounty set on crow and how people would hunt them for $0.50 a head. He also tells about killing skunks for money. The topic changes to Frank Solomon's boarding house, then George Hibbett, before moving on to lengthy discussions about Roy's service in the Royal Canadian Navy. Roy begins by telling about how he came to join the service at the age of seventeen. He tells about his service on the HMCS Prince David, his duty as petty officer, and German submarines. Roy then talks about the HMCS Athabaskan, his friend's experience in a P.O.W. camp, wages in the navy, and capsized ships. Next, Roy tells about his time in serving in Halifax, including stories about the Bedford Magazine Explosion, V.E. Day and the riots, the Air Foce versus Navy rivalry, and the HMCS Prince David. Towards the end of the tape there appears to be a change in topic and interview, with the last few minutes covering the topic of rum runners.

This tape begins with a conversation about the Garden of Eden sawmill, continued on from tape three. Roy then goes on to talk about Dan MacRae's gristmill, then raising and killing pigs, and then on to foxes and horses. Discussion of MacRae's mill continues, with some mention of Finlayson's mill. Side A ends with a short story about giving the cats and dogs fresh milk from the cows. Side B begins with a discussion about moving houses over the ice. Roy then goes on in length, telling all about making and buying moonshine during the prohibition of alcohol. The tape ends with a story of politically fueled street fight between two local candidates.

The interview with Fred Coles continues with discussion about WWI, the Halifax Explosion, the Spanish Flu, seeing the Hindenburg, the Depression, local farms, local stores, mussel mud, and his church and burial place. The interview switches over to Roy Clow who talks about his life as a child and playing in a boat with George Miller and it springing a leak, large schooners picking up cattle and being rum runners.

This interview with Roy Clow begins with stories about Roy's service in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. He begins by telling about joining the navy and being given the duty of instructing new recruits due to his experience at sea. Roy then tells about his friend, Lester MacKeeman, and his experience as a Prisoner of War in Germany. Roy continues the interview by telling about his ranks and duties in the navy, his time in Halifax, rationing during the war, and the riots that broke out in Halifax on V.E. Day. Roy then goes on to tell about his friends and their involvement in the war effort and Roy's duty with the navy after the war. On side B of the tape, Roy begins by telling about building and selling fishing boats, and the house he built himself. Next he tells about family farms in Montague, and then goes on to tell stories about making moonshine and buying pigs with Dolphie White. Roy then talks about Georgetown, a home remedy for wet eczema concocted by Dr. Barnes, and finishes by beginning a story about piloting ships into Georgetown harbour.

***This interview begins at roughly 255 on side B of a tape titled "Sheldon Coffin".
***This tape is titled "Politics".

This brief portion of an interview with Roy Clow focuses on political elections. The interview begins by telling about two politicians who were always fighting, and a story of Roy's father (a conservative) drinking and dining with a member of the liberal party. He then goes on to tell about the meetings, particularly Cambridge Hall, that always turned out be a "real circus". Roy then tells about a fight in the streets of Montague that was a result of an argument started at one of the meetings. Clow then talks about candidates "buying" votes with pints of rum, including a story of a candidates hidden rum that ended up being stolen by kids.