Back to US Naval Air Station - Argentia Newfoundland 2013

Me with my Family in Argentia around 1967
with the Atlantic Ocean behind us
the shadow of our house to the right of me

It was late spring of 1969 when my family left the U.S Naval Air Station in Argentia Newfoundland, Canada.  After 22 years of service, my father was retiring from the Navy due to a chronic illness.  After being near my mother's family for the past few years in Argentia, I remember being told we were moving "back to the states", to the Chicago area to be near my father's family.  I was eight years old when we left and I have some very vivid memories of our time in Argentia.

During my recent trip home to Newfoundland, summer of 2013, I put Argentia on my list of places I wanted to visit.  Although my Flynn cousins warned me, that there was not much left of the Navy Base and there was not much to see, I found it did not prepare me for the impact of the deserted state of the once prominent Air Station, "Guardian of the North Atlantic"

We drove from St. John's on Hwy 100, through Placentia, which was about a 90 minute drive. Approaching the base we were greeted by tall fencing and an open gate, with a sign that said "Enter at Your Own Risk".  We followed what was left of a road which was extremely rough and worn.  There were a few warehouse type buildings to the right or East edge of the base which were fenced off with signs that said, "Do Not Enter" and several designated fenced areas that looked like scrape yards of material, seperated and sorted waiting to be hauled away for recycling or disposal.

We drove to the far end of the peninsula, the Northside, and came across long strips of pavement in the shape of a triangle, these were the runways or I should say what was left of the runways of the once "Bristol Field".

Front Steps of Housing Unit
Argentia Newfoundland
Me with my siblings and Neighborhood Friends
 My sister MaryLeah holding our little puppy "Cindy"
taken around 1967

I thought how nice it would be if there was someone I could talk to about the history of the base, the memory I was relying on was that of a young child. I did have a old map of Argentia that I had downloaded to my I-Pad, this gave me a visual as we continued our tour.

I stood at the far end of the Old Base and thought about the childhood memories I had of living in Argentia, I remember directly behind the housing unit we lived in, was the ocean! We had to walk a good bit through the grass and the only thing between our house and the ocean were fallout shelters that we often played around in the summertime. Then came the big rocks by the water, I loved the big rocks! I was only allowed to go down by the big rocks with my brothers or sister.  I remember climbing on the rocks as the waves from the ocean crashed into them and shot the water up to the sky making a great sound.  Occassionally, I would step directly in the water between the rocks, getting my foot completely wet. We often searched for colorful "sea pebbles" down by the rocks, which were pieces of broken glass that became round and smooth from the ocean's repetative movement, I would collect them and put them in my coat pocket, taking then out to admire the beautiful colors,  and sometimes tasting the salt from the sea.

In front of our house was the road, we had to cross the road to catch the bus that took us to school, and took my brothers to basketball practice on Saturday mornings, and to the swimming pool, bowling alley on the North-side or just about anywhere we needed to go. The bus then brought us back home letting us off right in front of our house.

My brothers, sister and I often reminisce about the special events held at the Officers Club, especially the time the "Three Dog Night" came and gave a performance in their early years, we would get to have a "Shirley Temple" non alcoholic drink, to toast the special event. Life in Argentia was really pretty good!

We got back into the truck and drove toward the entrance, I remember reading that the housing section was on the south-side, I got out and there they were, the big rocks I remembered. ( This was the only area that had big rocks) The earth in this area seemed to be out of place, possible from removal of the cement footprints of the buildings or fallout shelters. I sat for awhile just looking around and then walked down by the water. I think we were pretty close to the area where we had lived.

The US Naval Air Station was decommissioned in 1973, and land was transferred to the Canadian Government in 1975. Until 1994, the runways of the former airfield were utilized by the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. [1]

The US Naval Air Station was an important facet for my family as far as economic stability, with many family members finding employment on the base. My grandfather, Stephen Flynn Jr, who then found a job for my mother, my Aunt Agnes, "Uncle Bill" my mother's cousin who work for 29 years on the base.

Below are some photos I took during my visit, I thought they would be of interest to those who had lived on the Naval Air Base - Argentia at one point in their life. Please feel free to leave comments or memories of your time in Argentia.

                                                                                                                         Elaine

A few buildings still standing

Storage Bunkers

Storage Bunkers

Old road along the outer edge

Far North-side of the Base
near old runways

Looking out over old runways - Northside

Marine Atlantic Ferry Service
Nova Scotia to NFLD
Southside

[1]  Naval Station Argentia - www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Station_Argentia 

        

An Afternoon at Bowring Park

For me, the year 2013 will always be remembered as "The Year of Two Springs".  When I left Wisconsin in May, we had had 3 weeks of bright yellow daffodils, sweet pink apple blossoms and fragrant lavender Lilac Bushes. So, when I arrived in St John's Newfoundland, I was pleasantly surprised to find the  excitement of spring beginning all over again.

A spontaneous visit to Bowring Park one afternoon with my Aunt Doris turned into a delightful, refreshing adventure.

Aunt Doris and I - Bowring Park 2013

Bowring Park Pond
Photo from Wikipedia

Less than 10 KM west of downtown St John's Newfoundland you will find a beautiful old-style English park, Bowring Park. Visitors can enjoy feeding ducks and swans, walking or cycling the meandering trail network or view historical monuments. [1]

Bowring Park, located in the Waterford Valley, St John's is one of it's most scenic parks in the city. The park has many recreational facilities including tennis courts, swimming pool and playground.

A two hundred acre park created in 1914, July 15th.  The land was purchased and donated to the city in 1911 by Sir Edger Rennie Bowring on behalf of the Bowring Brothers Ltd, on 100th anniversary of commerce in Newfoundland, operating retail stores focused on gifts and home decor.

The Peter Pan Sculpture was erected in memory of Sir Edgar Bowring's grand daughter Betty Munn, who had drown along with her father at the sinking of Florizel at Cappahayden.  The statue was unveiled on August, 1915 with the following inscription.
                                                                                 
"In memory of a little girl who loved the park." [2]

Peter Pan Sculpture 1987
2nd cousins - Brian, Audrey and Shannon

Peter Pan Sculpture
Bowring Park 2013

I remember seeing this Statue of Peter Pan when I was last home in 1987. My son Brian, daughter Audrey and my cousin Janet's daughter Shannon, enjoyed a visit here, as well!

Beautiful Swan, enjoying a Sunlight Bread Crumb Snack - Bowring Park 2013

                        

                            

                                                It was a lovely afternoon at Bowring Park,                            

                          

                                                                                                                Elaine


[1]   Bowring Park - www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com/planourtrip/Detail/201407

[2]  Bowring Park (St.John's) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowring_Park_(St.John's)  
  

Taking Flight - Bowring Park 2013

Looking for Lunch - Bowring Park 2013

The View from the "The Rooms"

I was seated at a small tall table, next to a towering wall of windows at "The Rooms Cafe" located on the top level of the Archival Museum in St John's, Newfoundland Canada. 

The view of St. Johns Harbor was mesmerizing! 

Although I was some distance from the harbor, the elevation at which "The Rooms" were situated and the direct view out into the harbor, made me feel as if I were right there in the bay.

I stood extremely still, captivated by the view, watching, observing and admiring, as a tiny tugboat made it's way through "The Narrows" out to the sea. It was on it's way to greet and guide a larger vessel into the port.

I noticed Signal Hill to the left, and the rapid movement of the thick billowing clouds on the right, pushing into the harbor.  The clouds separated the clear blue sky from the land and water, creating quickly changing shadows on the banks and adding depth and dimension to the color of the sea.

I took several quick snaps, within a few short seconds, hoping to capture this incredible "Moment of Change"

                                                 This was the amazing view from "The Rooms"!



                                                           Elaine

"The Rooms"

"The Rooms" Provincial Archives in St John's Newfoundland Canada
Dressed for Spring- in a Blanket of Bright Yellow Dandelions - May 2013

Before my trip to Newfoundland, I had done quite a bit of research on the Flynn Family History through family notes, stories, interviews with aunts and uncles and by scanning over old photographs.  My research lead to working on-line and learning about a place called "The Rooms" - Provincial Archives in St John's Newfoundland, Archives - Art Gallery - Museum.

With documents dating back to 1662, The Rooms Provincial Archives is the guardian of the historical record of the people, places and events of the oldest colony in North America.  Soaring into the skyline of historic St John's, The Rooms combines twenty-first century technology with a striking visual reference to our past.  It's unique design mirrors the "Fishing Rooms" where families came together to process their catch. [1]

The description above sounded perfect to this family historian/genealogist, I planned to spend some time here hoping to find some answers to my family history.  Shortly after getting settled in Newfoundland, I made my way to downtown St. John's to "The Rooms", a one time registration fee of 10 dollars, gave me access to their reference staff, to research archival resources and to be able to return how ever many times I would like, in my life time!

                                                       

I met with an Archivist, who gave me an introduction and tour of the Research Indexes available.  He asked me several questions about what I was looking for, to help me get started and commented, he was surprise at how much I  already  knew.  I explained that I had been working on this project for the last 5 years!

Once acclimated, I filled out the Retrieval Request Form for the specific areas I knew my ancestors were from and got to work.  I found the atmosphere at "The Rooms" to be extremely inviting, comfortable and intriguing! There was so much information available!

What is a "Fishing Room"? you may ask, here is a description by Fred Pafford found on Gen Web NL

A fishing room was an area on the shoreline where a fisherman or a group of men landed their fish, kept their boats, stored their fishing property and built flakes to dry their fish.  It most often required the clearing of forest, building a shelter for storage of fish and material and a dock of some sort for their boats.  In the early years of Newfoundland fishery it was important to have such a place to return to each spring and not have to rebuild every year.

So a person's "room" was his shoreline property and quite valuable to him.  In some places every bit of useable shoreline was taken up and a male person wanting to go on his own would have to move to another cove or island to find a good landing area.  This was important enough that quite often a man from one community would marry into another area to get waterfront land for his "Fishing Room".

Hmm? I wonder? Did my Flynn Ancestors have a "Fishing Room"?

In my grandfather's notes, he states, "My grandfather, Michael Flynn married Elizabeth Dunlae and at that time settled on the south side of Harbour Main, waterside, as fishing was the main source of living at that time"……..….

                                                      Elaine


[1]    The Rooms Provincial Archives, Connecting with the Past, Brochure

Mary Ellen Flynn 1887 - 1977

This past summer, I unexpectedly received a letter in the mail from a second cousin, Lorraine from Massachusetts.  She had found my Flynn Family History Blog and wanted to get in touch with me. Lorraine is a descendant of Mary Ellen Flynn (my grandfather's sister) and had information about her grandmother and also her Aunt Betty (Elizabeth Flynn).  Lorraine and I started corresponding via e-mail and I quickly learned I had the story of Mary Ellen Flynn incorrect.  I promised Lorraine, I would make corrections to the Blog regarding her grandmother.  Her story is as follows:

Mary Ellen Flynn (standing)
Elizabeth Flynn (sitting)

Mary Ellen Flynn was born December 15th, 1887 in Harbour Main, Newfoundland Canada.  She was the third child and the first daughter born to Stephen Flynn Sr. and Mary Ann Tubrett, making her my Great Aunt.

According to Ancestry.com, Mary Ellen arrived in MA in 1907 she was 20 years old at the time. (possibly when this photo was taken) Four years later, she married William J. Holden in 1911 in MA. He was from Salmonier, Newfoundland.

Lorraine states they had four children, all born in Newfoundland. So for some reason, after they were married in MA they returned home to Newfoundland and started a family.  Lorraine's mother Gertrude Agnes was born July 10, 1912, then George in 1914, Michael in 1917 and last William in Oct of 1919.

Shortly after William was born the family traveled back to MA to live (probably for work opportunities) , Lorraine states the family story passed down was that on their way to MA, "they threw the dirty diapers out the window of the train.".  She is thinking they arrived in Boston, MA sometime in the spring of 1920.  They had only been in MA for about six months when Mary Ellen's husband William Holden was struck by a truck and died.

I was able to find - U.S Records of Aliens Pre-Examied in Canada (again through Ancestry.com) dated 07/02/1920 of William Holden, his wife Mary Ellen and their four children.  It states they were coming from Bell Island, Newfoundland, Williams occupation is recorded as Machinist, destination East Boston, MA to the address of William's brother, James. They had 300 dollars in their pocket and that their purpose in coming to the states was for permanent residence. 

Lorraine shared that it was very difficult for her grandmother after her husband's death, she could not afford a burial plot for him but a relative offered her one, she believes he is buried in Needham, MA. Mary Ellen went to work as a cook for a wealthy family in the Boston Area.  Lorraine's mother Gertrude, being the oldest had to drop out of school at age 16, to help support the family.

 

Mary Ellen with grand daughter Lorraine
& Lorraine's father  Walter in 1946, MA

Some years later, by 1940, Mary Ellen remarried to William Morse who was from Newfoundland as well. He was also widowed and had 8 children.  When Mary Ellen's second husband passed away, she went to live with her daughter Gertrude and her family in Malden, MA. Lorraine states,  her grandmother was very dear to her.  Mary Ellen died Oct 6, 1977, two months before her 90th Birthday.  She is burried along side her sister Elizabeth, and 3 of her 4 children in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA.

Lorraine expressed that her grandmother was a very strong woman, to raise four children on her own so far away from home and family, she feels that her life and experience growing up in Newfoundland is what made her so strong.

This is another heart-breaking story in the Flynn Family History,  Mary Ellen's father Stephen Flynn Sr also died that year on Oct, 5th 1920.


Thank You Lorraine for sharing Mary Ellen's story!

        Your Cousin, Elaine

Lt to Rt - Gertrude Agnes, Lorraine with son Michael, daughter Denise and Mary Ellen Flynn Holden Morse
Taken 1971 in Massachusetts 

                             

                                                           

Stephen Flynn Sr's Family - Part 2

Stephen Flynn Sr.
Stephen Flynn Jr (7)

Mary Ellen Flynn (standing) (3)
Elizabeth Flynn (sitting) (6)

So,  here are seven of my Great Grandfather Stephen Flynn Sr.'s children, missing only second born, Thomas 

and of course my Great Grandmother MaryAnn Tubrett.
I have been in contact with some Tubrett Descendants from Holyrood, N.F.L.D., they will keep in mind my endevor for finding a photo of Mary Ann Tubrett as they talk with family members.  She died in 1930, so it is possible there is a photo of her somewhere. 

Michael Flynn (1)

Patrick Thomas Flynn (5)

Esther Flynn (4)

Philip Martin Flynn (8)

Thomas Flynn (2)
Chapels Cove Cemetery

Michael Flynn 1884 - 1916

Catherine Mary Kent Flynn
"Kitty"

Michael Flynn 1884 - 1916

Michael Flynn was born 09/06/1884 in Lakeview Harbour Main/Chapels Cove, Newfoundland Canada.   He was the first of eight children born to Stephen Flynn Sr and Mary Ann Tubrett, making him my Great Uncle. He was named after his grandfather Michael Flynn who died the year he was born.

As a grown man he lived and worked on Bell Island, N.F.L.D., which is about 40 miles Northeast of Harbour Main, in Conception Bay.  He married Catherine Mary Kent born Sept, 1883 from Bell Island.  Her parents were William Kent and Ellen Grangel.  According to Baptismal Records of St Michaels Parish, BI found in the N.F.L.D. Grand Banks Genealogy Site, Catherine had a twin sister named Bridget Ann.

It is believed by Michael's descendants, that he worked in the Iron Ore Mine on Bell Island.  Michael died December 23rd, 1916 of Typhoid Fever, at the age of age 33 years. In my recent trip home to Newfoundland. I spoke with his grandchildren about this heartbreaking event in their family history. They shared with me that when Michael died, his wife "Kitty" was pregnant with their fifth child, she became very distraught and saddened, refusing to talk with anyone.

After Michaels death, the young family needed to be quarantined, for fear of the possibility that they too were infected. Food was delivered to the house and passed through the window to minimize exposure.  Men would be seen outside the house, kneeling in the snowbanks mourning and praying for the family.

Michael's wife did become sick with Typhoid Fever though and died 3 months after Michael, on March 29th, 1917, one month after giving birth to a daughter Catherine (or Kathleen?)  Their five children were cared for and raised by family members, 

Mary Ellen (Molly) age 8,  by George and Esther Lahey (Michael's sister)

William A. age 6, by Stephen Flynn Jr (Michael's brother)

Elizabeth age 4, by William and Susannah Kent ( Catherines brother)

Thomas age 3, and Catherine/Kathleen infant, by Daniel and Mary Ann Steele ( Catherines Aunt?) [1]

The above photo of Michael Flynn completes my search of Stephen Flynn Sr.'s children. The only photo that is missing is of Thomas Flynn 1885 - 1903 (second child) who is believed to have died of Typhoid Fever also.  Because he died at a young age, I do not believe there is a photo of him to be found.

Thank you, to my second cousin once removed, Maureen, who forwarded these photos of her Great Grandparents to me.


                                                                                    Elaine

[1]   NL GenWeb 1921 Census Data, Avalon South Region - Conception Bay South District
        Bell Island Center Part 1