Historic Wabana
  • Home
    • Search
  • Blog - Jan - June 2025
    • Blog Introduction
    • Nov. 2021-May 2023 Blog
    • May - Dec 2023 Blog
    • Jan - June 2024 Blog
    • July - Dec 2024 Blog
  • History
    • Mining History >
      • Time-line of Wabana Mines
      • Boys of Wabana
      • Bridges of Wabana
      • Commuting Miners >
        • Miners Path
      • Company Housing >
        • Housing Introduction & Contents
        • Saddle-Roof Style
        • Gable-to-street style
        • Bungalow Style
        • Bunk & Mess Houses
        • Shacks
        • Staff Boarding Houses & Main Offices >
          • The Staff House
        • Company Family Houses for Management & Staff
      • Company Names Timeline
      • Company Payroll
      • The Company Whistle
      • Dams & Other Mining Water Bodies
      • Fatalities Related to Mining >
        • Accounts of Employee Fatalities
        • Miners' Stories of Accidents
        • Mining Accidents Overview
      • The Messrs. Butler of Topsail
      • Miners Brass / Check / Cheque Numbers
      • Miner's Working Life
      • Mining Equipment >
        • Euclid Trucks
        • Land Rovers
        • Shovels for Hand-Loading
      • Mining Operations >
        • Arthur House Article >
          • Part 1 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 1, 1939
          • Part 2 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 2, 1939
          • Part 3 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 3, 1939
          • Part 4 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 4, 1939
          • Part 5 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 6, 1939
          • Part 6 of "Early History of Bell Island Mines," March 7, 1939
        • F.F. Jardine Articles >
          • Fortieth Anniversary of Wabana Mines, Bell Island
          • Part 1 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
          • Part 2 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
          • Part 3 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
          • Part 4 of "Forty-Fourth Anniversary of Wabana Mines"
      • Mining Terminology
      • No. 2 Mine
      • No. 3 Mine
      • No. 4 Mine
      • No. 6 Mine
      • Patrick Harrison Co.
      • Royalties
      • Scotia & Dominion Piers >
        • Bamafash Pilot Boat
      • Shipping Season at Wabana
    • Bickfordville
    • Businesses >
      • Bank of Nova Scotia
      • Bell Island Co-Operative Co. Ltd.
      • Scotia Ridge Businesses
      • Town Square History >
        • Charles Cohen & Son
    • Churches >
      • Anglican / Church of England
      • Pentecostal Chapel
      • Presbyterian Church
      • Roman Catholic
      • Salvation Army
      • United Church / Methodist
    • Community Organizations >
      • Bell Island Poultry Association
      • Boy Scouts
      • Boys & Girls Club of Bell Island
      • Caribou Athletic Club
      • Catholic Cadet Corps
      • Church Lads Brigade
      • Clift Masonic Lodge
      • Dominion Boat Club
      • Elks
      • Girl Guides
      • Independent Order of Odd Fellows
      • Kiwanis Club
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Life-Saving Guards
      • Lions Club
      • Loyal Orange Association
      • Motor Association
      • Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 18
      • Society of United Fishermen
      • Sporty Few
      • Syrian Benevolent Society
      • Tennis Club
      • Wabana Literary Institute
    • DOSCO News (CJON Radio)
    • Education >
      • Anglican Schools >
        • Academy - St. Augustine's
        • St. Aiden's
        • St. Mary's School
        • St. Stephen's School
      • Boys Home & Training School
      • Methodist / United Church
      • Roman Catholic Schools
      • Salvation Army
      • Vocational Education
    • Electric Power
    • Entertainment >
      • Wabana Little Theatre
    • FIRES >
      • St. Augustine's School Fires
      • Staff House Fire
      • Town Square Shops Fires
    • Health >
      • Company Surgery
      • Death Practices in the Mining Years
      • Doctors Timeline
      • Epidemics in the Mining Years
      • Hospital
      • Midwives
      • Red Cross >
        • Junior Red Cross
    • Lance Cove
    • Maps & Diagrams >
      • Insurance Plan of Wabana 1954
    • Military Activity >
      • Military Service Other Than WWI & WWII
      • World War I
      • World War II >
        • Caribou Sinking-Bell Island Connections
        • NFLD Militia
        • Torbay Airport/St. John's Airport
        • U-Boat Attacks >
          • Ratcliffe Winn's Story
        • WW2 Veterans
        • WW2 Veterans Group Photos
    • Monuments & Murals >
      • The Murals Project History
      • Brian Burke Sculptures
      • Lance Cove Seaman's Memorial
    • Municipal Government
    • Operation Toxin
    • Parsonsville / Freshwater
    • Population Statistics
    • Postal Service
    • Settlement of Bell Island: Fact & Folklore
    • Sports - A Brief History >
      • Arena History
      • Bowling
      • Curling - Men's >
        • Women's Curling
      • Tennis
    • Telephone Service
    • Timeline of Amenities, Public Services & Utilities
    • Today in the History of Bell Island
    • Transportation >
      • Beach Tramway
      • Ferries & The Tickle >
        • Elmer W. Jones
        • Ice in The Tickle
        • Kipawo
        • MANECO
        • S.S. Mary
        • Timeline of Ferries & Freighters
        • Tragedy in The Tickle 1940
      • Transport & Shipping Companies
      • Motorized Vehicles
    • The Women of Wabana, Part 1: Women's Work & Social Life
  • Publications
    • Arthur House Article
    • The Book of Newfoundland >
      • "Bell Island Was Exciting For a Growing Boy"
    • Books About Bell Island
    • Early History of Bell Island
    • F.F. Jardine Articles
    • "Where Canada's Iron Comes From"
    • "A Mine Dead - A Town Stricken"
    • Morris, I.C.
    • Newfoundland Quarterly >
      • "Bell Island," V. 1, No. 1, July 1901
      • "Belle Island Boyhood," Part 1, V. 85, No. 2, Fall 1989
      • "Belle Island Boyhood," Part 2, V. 85, No. 3, Winter 1990
    • Newspapers (Bell Island) >
      • Bell Island & Conc. Bay Reporter
      • Bell Island Examiner
      • Bell Island Miner (Newspaper)
      • Bell Island Miner 1965
      • Bell Island Reporter
      • Bell Island Times
      • Bell Islander
      • Wabana Druggist
      • Wabana Star
      • Wabana Weekly
    • Notes on Belle Isle by Mrs. B.B.E.
    • Our Bell Island Budget
    • Place Where the Sun Rises
    • Submarine Miner >
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 1, June 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 2, July 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 3, August 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 4, September 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 5, October 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 6, November 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 1 # 7, December 1954
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 1, January 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 2, February 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 3, March 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 4, April 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 5, May 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 6, June 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 7, July 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 8, August 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 9, September 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 #10, October 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 # 11, November 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 2 #12, December 1955
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 1, January 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 2, February 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 3, March 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 4, April 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 5, May 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 6, June 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 7, July 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 8, August 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 9, September 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 #10, October 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 # 11, November 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 3 #12, December 1956
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, # 1, January 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, # 2, February 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, # 3, March 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #4, April 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #5, May 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #6, June 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #7, July 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #8, August 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V. 4, #9, September 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.4, #10, October 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.4, #11, November 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.4, #12, December 1957
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #1, January 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #2, February 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #3, March 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #4, April 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #5, May 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #6, June 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #7, July 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #8, August 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #9, September 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #10, October 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #11, November 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.5, #12, December 1958
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #1, January 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #2, February 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #3, March 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #4, April 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #5, May 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #6, June 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #7, July 1959
      • Submarine Miner, V.6, #8, August 1959
      • DOSCO World
    • Victor Southey Article
  • People
    • A
    • B >
      • The Messrs. Butler of Topsail
    • C >
      • Chinese Community
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H >
      • Sherry Hawco-Delanty
      • Harry Hibbs
      • Alvin Hussey
      • Maxwell Hutchings
    • J >
      • Jewish Community >
        • Cohens of Bell Island
        • Goldstone Family
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • R
    • S >
      • Yvonne E. Saunders
    • T >
      • Adrian Taylor, 1918-1944
    • V
    • W
    • Y
  • Extras
    • Amazing Coincidences
    • Animal Stories
    • The Brighter Side - Poem
    • Buried Treasure
    • Calendar Customs >
      • Bonfire Night
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Hallowe'en
      • Labour Day
      • Memorial Day / Canada Day
      • Remembrance/Armistice Day
      • St. George's Day
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
      • Victoria Day
    • The Great Fossil Mystery
    • Jail Break
    • Personal Experience Stories >
      • Dave Careless: "A Rough Day at the Office"
      • Dave Careless "Around the Block"
      • Dave Careless: "Dogs & Cats of Wabana"
      • Dave Careless: "Five Minutes for Fighting"
      • Dave Careless: "My Travels on Ore Carriers""
      • Dave Careless: "November 22nd, 1963"
      • Al O'Brien
      • Weir: Ghost & Fairy Stories
    • Unusual Occurrences
    • Wit & Humour
    • Woman In White
  • Photo Gallery
    • Archibald
    • Artifacts
    • Bell Island Scenes
    • Bell Island Special Housing Assistance Program
    • Bennett
    • Built Heritage >
      • Government Buildings
      • Lighthouse
      • Mine Company Buildings
      • Town Square
    • Careless
    • Case
    • Dawe
    • Hussey-Weir
    • Lawton-Murphy
    • Library & Archives Canada
    • Lindsay
    • Miners & Mining Scenes
    • Northshoremen
    • O'Neill
    • Rees
    • Southey
    • Winter Scenes
  • About This Site
  • Contact Information

PUBLICATIONS
NEWFOUNDLAND QUARTERLY



"BELLE ISLAND BOYHOOD:
a Memoir of Newfoundland in the Nineties, Part 1"

by Thomas Power
​Newfoundland Quarterly Volume 85, No. 2, Fall 1989
Pages 20-28

First published in the Redmond, Oregon Spokesman, March-June 1949 

Thomas Anthony Power (1882-1959): Rancher and County Judge in Oregon, USA. He was born on Bell Island February 2, 1882, the third child of Louisa (Anthony c.1844-1888) and Thomas Power (c.1838-1888), who had inherited a large farm of "several hundred acres" at The Front when his father, Thomas (c.1793-1882), died. Thomas Anthony was six years old when his parents both died in 1888, and he and his five siblings were then raised on the family farm by their Aunt Kate (Catherine Power, 1834-1910). They lived just east of what was then a Roman Catholic mission chapel, built in 1875. This was rebuilt in 1896 as St. Michael's Church. [Today, St. Michael's High School occupies the site.] There was a Roman Catholic school operating in 1878, presumably near the chapel. When he and his brothers were not at school, they were helping out on the farm.

In 1897, when he was 15 years old, this third-generation Thomas Power left Bell Island for Boston, the "mecca" for many Newfoundlanders seeking their fortune at the time. His 1959 obituary states that he was educated in the grade and high schools of Boston and at Massachusetts Technical College. He was still living in Boston in 1903 when he applied for naturalization status. At some point, he struck out for the American West, and was living in Los Angeles, California and working as a telegrapher and signal maintenance manager for the Santa Fe Railroad at the taking of the 1910 Census. Shortly after that, he briefly worked on the construction of a new railroad line in Alaska. In 1911, "flush with gold pieces from his Alaska adventure, he was eager to file a claim on a quarter-section of free land" in the foothills of the Ochoco Mountains in Central Oregon. His land in Madras, Oregon was "half sagebrush and half Ponderosa Pine, and lay a few miles east of the famous Hay Creek Ranch" that had been developed by a Boston acquaintance of his. Just as his forefathers had done on Bell Island, Power raised sheep and cattle on his ranch, which he named "TP Ranch."

On January 12, 1917, at the age of 35, Thomas married Evada R. Richards (1894-1969) of Tacoma, Washington, who was a summer visitor at a nearby ranch. "Never wealthy, the Powers quietly built up the TP Ranch to something beyond a subsistence-level operation and contributed indispensably to the settlement of the region. Evada helped establish the local school and was active in the historical societies. They did not have children. He served as a Commissioner of Jefferson County in the 1930s and as County Judge from 1941 until 1953." During World War II, he was chair of the USO Council in Madras, chair of the War Price Rationing Board, and chair of the Keep Oregon Green Association in his county. 

After having been away from Bell Island for half a century, he came home for a  visit in 1947. On his return to Oregon, he wrote his childhood memories. They were edited by his wife and were published in the Redmond, Oregon Spokesman between March and June 1949. (In 1989, Jarold Ramsey, a professor of English at the University of Rochester and former neighbour of the Powers, submitted the memoir to the Newfoundland Quarterly, which published it in two parts in 1989-90.) The Powers moved from Madras to Prineville, Oregon in 1957.  T
homas suffered a stroke on his 77th birthday and died two days later on February 4, 1959. Evada died there on July 19, 1969. They are buried at Mt. Jefferson Memorial Park Cemetery.

You can read more about some of the earliest recorded members of the Power family on Bell Island on the "People" page in the top menu.

​Here now is Part 1 of Thomas Power's memoir of growing up on a farm on Bell Island in the 1880s-90s.

Picture

Picture

Picture

Picture

Picture

Picture

Picture

Picture

Picture

Below is a photo of The Beach, Bell Isle, c.1896, by the St. John's photographer, James Vey. This was Thomas A. Power's playground in his boyhood. There was no ferry terminal, just a poor excuse for a wharf, such as it was. The Beach Hill was no more than a cow path. The first ore pier had only just been built and is barely visible. Photo courtesy of A&SC, MUN Library.

Picture

top of page
Go to Part 2
home

Proudly powered by Weebly