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Category: Power Family

  • Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: April 1947

    Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: April 1947

    Tuesday April 1, 1947:
    Harpell out fishing got
    16 fish. He lost
    his logs while towing them

    Wednesday April 2, 1947:
    We got a fresh fish
    from Harpell for
    dinner Pearl here tonight

    Thursday April 3, 1947:
    Ralph on beach got 2 traps
    Otis here this morning
    Earl putting up fence

    Friday April 4, 1947:
    Bless me oh my Saviour
    bless me as I bow low at
    thy feet.

    Saturday April 5, 1947:
    Levi came here
    dinner time taking
    orders for potatoes

    Sunday April 6, 1947:
    Levi gone back on the
    Bus tonight a
    rainy Easter

    Monday April 7, 1947:
    I washed but its
    raining out the
    wind is North West

    Tuesday April 8, 1947:
    Earl Doris and I up
    to Alans in the
    Boat first trip this spring

    Wednesday April 9, 1947:
    Rob + Arth gone in Halifax
    for bait they called
    saying their engine broke down

    Thursday April 10, 1947:
    life only once we
    can live it, oh what
    a great solemn thought

    Friday April 11, 1947:
    My hope is built on
    nothing less than Jesus blood
    and righteousness

    Saturday April 12, 1947:
    Rob and Arth got home
    this evening after being
    in town service Wednesday in Boat

    Sunday April 13, 1947:
    Earl + I up to Ednas for
    dinner Fred here for
    tea. Mason + Edna here tonight

    Monday April 14, 1947:
    I cleaned kitchen ceiling
    muresco the pantry ceiling
    Earl got 20 flat fish 1 lump fish

    Tuesday April 15, 1947:
    for all the Lord
    has done for me
    I never will cease to praise him

    Wednesday April 16, 1947:
    I papered the pantry
    and painted the
    kitchen windows

    Thursday April 17, 1947:
    I cleaned paint around
    the kitchen walls
    and painted our bases

    Friday April 18, 1947:
    Ralph + Elsie here for
    supper I was down
    to Ralphs last evening

    Saturday April 19, 1947:
    When your loving Lord made
    home so bright and
    life was a merry chime

    Sunday April 20, 1947:
    Ralph + Elsie here
    for supper
    Pop here tonight.

    Monday April 21, 1947:
    A fine day
    I papered the (?)
    room this morning
    Earl + Bud set all the traps
    Hon came home on the Bus

    Tuesday April 22, 1947:
    Earl sold 68 dollars
    of lobsters price 35 + 10
    Bud sold 13.25

    Wednesday April 23, 1947:
    Earl had 45 dollars
    worth Bud had 11
    Hall’s haul

    Thursday April 24, 1947:
    Earl + I down to Freds
    this afternoon and
    to Ralphs

    Friday April 25, 1947:
    A storm rough out
    lost 4 traps.
    Elsie + Ralph here for supper

    Saturday April 26, 1947:
    heard the frogs tonight
    first this year. Lobster
    price today 28 + 11

    Sunday April 27, 1947:
    Bud stayed in town
    over night
    I have a bad cold

    Monday April 28, 1947:
    Awfull rough spring so far
    Earl made 196 dollars
    one week today Bud 46 dollars

    Tuesday April 29, 1947:
    A Big snow storm 2 inches
    down now North wind awfull rough out side

    Wednesday April 30, 1947:
    Earl + Bud wasn’t
    out side a big storm
    and rough

  • Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: February 1947

    Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: February 1947

    And now, let’s see what’s happening down in East Jeddore in February 1947. Sounds like there’s some sickness going around.

    Saturday February 1, 1947:
    I had my work
    all done and
    cleaned up before dinner

    Sunday February 2, 1947:
    Fred and Edna
    here for supper

    Monday February 3, 1947:
    I started my fourth
    mat this is the
    last for this year

    Tuesday February 4, 1947:
    (Little Rob’s birthday) Ralph Elsie and
    Edna here tonight
    I was hooking

    Wednesday February 5, 1947:
    No snow or no
    hauling so far this
    winter

    Thursday February 6, 1947:
    Edna down and
    made Ice Cream
    for us

    Friday February 7, 1947:
    Hon came home
    on Bus tonight
    finished my fourth mat

    Saturday February 8, 1947:
    Bless the Lord
    oh my soul
    Bless his holy name

    Sunday February 9, 1947:
    Hon up to Annas
    Ralph + Elsie here tonight

    Monday February 10, 1947:
    I washed and
    ironed Electric light
    man here. Bill was 268

    Tuesday February 11, 1947:
    Hon gone back on the
    Bus. Anna gone in
    for her teeth

    Wednesday February 12, 1947:
    Oh what peace we often
    forfeit

    Thursday February 13, 1947:
    Earl and I up to Edna
    for supper
    I made Hons baby clothes

    Friday February 14, 1947:
    Fulton here hauling
    hardly any snow

    Saturday February 15, 1947:
    Fult gone home
    just hauled 1 ½ days
    cost us 9 dollars.

    Sunday February 16, 1947:
    Bud down Dr. Wilson
    went asleep and got
    20 teeth out

    Monday February 17, 1947:
    He wept that we may weep
    each sin demands a tear In heaven
    alone. no sin is found and there no weeping
    there.

    Tuesday February 18, 1947:
    I washed Earl put
    clothes out. I have
    Bronchitis so bad

    Wednesday February 19, 1947:
    Bud and I have
    awful bad colds
    his gums are paining.

    Thursday February 20, 1947:
    Earl + I up to Roses
    Earl painted green + yellow
    on the Boat Bud isn’t well

    Friday February 21, 1947:
    Snowing + raining
    Bud and I have
    bad colds

    Saturday February 22, 1947:
    Let your lower lights be burning
    send a gleam across the
    wave

    Sunday February 23, 1947:
    Mason here for supper
    I dont feel well have
    a bad cold + bronchitis

    Monday February 24, 1947:
    a big snow storm
    12 inches down now
    teams hauling tomorrow

    Tuesday February 25, 1947:
    Bless me oh my Saviour Bless
    me, As I bow low at
    thy feet

    Wednesday February 26, 1947:
    Fulton hauling
    for us today
    lots of snow down

    Thursday February 27, 1947:
    Ralph finished hauling
    helped Fulton haul
    for us this after noon

    Friday February 28, 1947:
    Fulton finished hauling
    our wood. 22 loads
    cost 24 dollars

  • Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: January 1947

    Alice (Baker) Power’s Diary: January 1947

    And now, let’s see what’s happening down in East Jeddore in January 1947. It’s a new year and it looks like my great-grandmother is sure busy making mats.

    Wednesday January 1, 1947:
    New Year’s Day
    Lord guide and keep us
    forgive our many sins
    May we all love and serve thee more

    Thursday January 2, 1947:
    Alan, Rose, and family
    were down with Otis
    yesterday New Year’s

    Friday January 3, 1947:
    Ralph + Elsie here for dinner
    We were down there
    tonight (snowing)

    Saturday January 4, 1947:
    When upon life’s billows you are tempest
    tossed and you’re discouraged thinking
    all is lost, count your many blessings

    Sunday January 5, 1947:
    Mr. Jim Chase brought
    Olive home today.
    Alan + Ralph here for dinner.

    Monday January 6, 1947:
    I finished my first mat
    this winter Fred here
    for dinner about 2 inches of snow

    Tuesday January 7, 1947:
    Earl & Bud started
    to chop our fire wood
    down on Ralph’s land

    Wednesday January 8, 1947:
    Oh what peace we often forfeit
    oh what needles pain we
    bear.

    Thursday January 9, 1947:
    Olive and I hooking
    some on my second
    mat this winter

    Friday January 10, 1947:
    I am safe when by
    thy side. I would in thy
    love abide

    Saturday January 11, 1947:
    Coldest night
    roads awfull icy and
    snowed some today
    Ralph up tonight

    Sunday January 12, 1947:
    Olive + Robbie down
    to Elsies. came
    home for supper

    Monday January 13, 1947:
    I washed and got
    clothes dry
    a nice cold fine day

    Tuesday January 14, 1947:
    Ralph walked out to
    the channel on ice
    Earl got 2 rabbits

    Wednesday January 15, 1947:
    I finished my second mat.
    raining tonight

    Thursday January 16, 1947:
    Saviour like a shepherd
    lead us. Much we need thy tender care

    Friday January 17, 1947:
    Olive washed
    this morning. gone up to Annas afternoon

    Saturday January 18, 1947:
    Olive + Robbie up to
    Ednas this after
    noon

    Sunday January 19, 1947:
    Mr Jim Chase came
    after Olive + Robbie
    they went back 2 oclock

    Monday January 20, 1947:
    I have a bad cold
    in my throat and
    chest.

    Tuesday January 21, 1947:
    When we walk with
    the Lord what a
    light he shows on the way

    Wednesday January 22, 1947:
    Anna + Edna here
    hooking I got some
    tablets from the doctor

    Thursday January 23, 1947:
    There’s peace and
    contentment in
    serving the Lord

    Friday January 24, 1947:
    I had a letter
    from Hon today.

    Saturday January 25, 1947:
    Earl + Bud cutting
    fire wood down
    on Ralphs land.

    Sunday January 26, 1947:
    Lord you know my
    heart is weary I am
    tired of living wrong

    Monday January 27, 1947:
    I washed and
    ironed a fine day.

    Tuesday January 28, 1947:
    I started my third
    mat. a nice fine warm day

    Wednesday January 29, 1947:
    Anna, Edna, + Elsie here hooking for me
    Ralph + Uncle Rob here

    Thursday January 30, 1947:
    Earl + I up to Ednas
    tonight. awfull
    cold out no snow

    Friday January 31, 1947:
    Bless me oh my Saviour
    bless me. As I bow
    low at thy feet

  • Photo Post #23 | Gladys Mills, Earl Power, and Rose (Power) Mills

    Photo Post #23 | Gladys Mills, Earl Power, and Rose (Power) Mills

    Here are three generations: My great-grandfather Earl Power in the centre with his daughter Rose (my Nan) on his left and his granddaughter Gladys (my aunt) on his right.

    It looks to me that the picture was taken at my grandparents’ home in Oyster Pond. The photo is dated January 1969, which was one year after my great-grandmother Alice (Baker) Power died.

    This is one of only a handful of photos I’ve seen of Earl Power. It’s certainly the best one quality-wise. And, I’m amazed at how much my Nan looks like my Mom in this photo.

  • Photo Post #19 | Rose (Power) Mills and Olive (Power) Miller

    Photo Post #19 | Rose (Power) Mills and Olive (Power) Miller

    Two for the price of one this week. Here are a couple photos of two people I have great memories of: my Nan and her sister Olive.

    Rose Margaret Power was born August 19, 1919 and Olive Mildred Power was born September 16, 1923. They were both born in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia – daughters of Earl and Alice (Baker) Power.

    My Nan lived up the road from us on the Beach Strip in Hamilton. Aunt Olive lived in Stellarton, NS and would come up to Hamilton once or twice a year, so I knew her quite well.

    The upper left photo was taken during her first visit to Ontario.

  • Photo Post #14 | Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom

    Photo Post #14 | Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom

    Today is my Mom’s birthday. She would have turned 74. I love this photo of her and Nan about to share what looks to be a delicious birthday cake. Growing up, birthdays were a big deal. Mom would always make a cake for us – often from scratch. And, we got to choose which flavour we wanted! Happy Birthday, Mom. Hope you and Nan are enjoying your day.

    My Mom Doris Elaine (Mills) Finch was born on August 26, 1949 in Oyster Pond, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. Her mother/my Nan Rose Margaret (Power) Mills was born on August 12, 1919 in East Jeddore, NS.

  • My Grandparents in the 1931 Canada Census

    The 1931 Canada Census was released last week. It’s not indexed, yet, so you need search through lots of images to find your ancestors. I’ve been able to find three of my four grandparents in this census so far.

    Let’s start in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia. My Nan Rose Margaret Power was 12 years old the time of the census. Here she is in the household of her father Earl Wilson Power along with her mother Alice and six siblings.

    Some interesting tidbits from the census…Earl Power was a fisherman, their house had eight rooms, was of wood construction, and was valued at a whopping $200. And, the family did not have a radio.

    Source: 1931 Canada Census, Jeddore, Nova Scotia, population schedule, district 10 (Halifax), subdistrict 25, page 8, dwelling 77, family 77, Earl Wilson Power household ; digital images, Library and Archives Canada, Census of Canada, 1931 (https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931 : accessed 17 September 2023).

    Next, up the road in Oyster Pond, there is my grandad Alan Mills and his family. My grandad was 15 years old here living in the household of his widowed mother Arabella Jane Mills. Also living in the house were his old brother Harland, Harland’s wife Ivy, Harland and Ivy’s daughter Elvie. and two other siblings Albert and Florence.

    This house also had eight rooms and was of wood construction. Looks like it was worth a bit more, though. No radio in the Mills household, either. I wrote a previous post about this house.

    Source: 1931 Canada Census, Jeddore, Nova Scotia, population schedule, district 10 (Halifax), subdistrict 25, pages 4-5, dwelling 44, family 44, Arabella Jane Mills household ; digital images, Library and Archives Canada, Census of Canada, 1931 (https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931 : accessed 17 September 2023).

    Now, we come up to Ontario to Glanford Township. Here, my Grandpa Clifford Finch, is living in the household of his widowed father Jonathan Finch, a farmer, along with his brother George and sister Catherine (Cassie).

    Real estate is certainly worth more in Ontario. Their house is valued at $2,000. And, this family has a radio. It’s cut off from the snapshot below, but their neighbour was a man named James Marr, who also happened to be the best man at Jonathan Finch’s wedding.

    Source: 1931 Canada Census, Glanford Township, Ontario, population schedule, district 169, subdistrict 33, page 1, dwelling 6, family 7, Jonathan Finch household ; digital images, Library and Archives Canada, 1931 Census of Canada (https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931 : accessed 14 June 2023).

    So far, I haven’t been able to find my Grandma’s family. I’ll keep browsing or might have to wait until the census is indexed in the months ahead.

    UPDATE. I found my Grandma Hazel Vansickle’s family. She was 15 years old at the time of the census living in the household of her father Allan Vansickle. They rented a farm in Beverly Township, Wentworth County, paying $10 per month.

    Source: 1931 Canada Census, Beverly Township, Ontario, population schedule, district 169, subdistrict 13, page 12, dwelling 147, family 147, Allan Vansickle household ; digital images, Library and Archives Canada, 1931 Census of Canada (https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931 : accessed 14 June 2023).
  • Remembering my Nan | Rose Margaret (Power) Mills (1919-2008)

    Remembering my Nan | Rose Margaret (Power) Mills (1919-2008)

    Today marks fifteen years since the passing of my Nan. Born Rose Margaret Power on August 12, 1919 she was the oldest daughter of Earl Power and Alice Baker. She was born and raised in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia, a small rural fishing community about an hour’s drive from Halifax.

    Of my four grandparents (I was lucky to know all of them!), I was no doubt closest to my Nan. The fact she lived up the road from us on the Hamilton Beach Strip obviously cemented that relationship. From my earliest memories, Nan was always a part of our lives.

    She often talked about life growing up in a historically impoverished area of Nova Scotia. Her family had little money, but they managed. Her father was a fisherman like most men in East Jeddore, and her mother a housewife. Because they were largely self-sustainable, their lives were not greatly impacted by the Great Depression. Their diet centred around fish, of course – something she despised in her later adult life.

    She talked about going to school and her reputation for beating up the boys on occasion. She was known as “Earl Power’s Wildcat,” a badge of honour. And she told me how they would get in the “bateau” (a small rowing boat) and row up the shoreline or over to West Jeddore.

    In 1938, she married my grandfather Alan Mills. Together, they raised a family of five girls. There was also a stillborn son (Alan). My grandparents eventually moved into my Great Grandmother Arabella (Mitchell) Mills’ house in Oyster Pond where Nan took care of her mother-in-law until she died. That must not have been easy, and my Nan recalled to me many a story of living with “Grandmother Mills” (that’s a post for another day).

    Unfortunately, the marriage broke down and my grandparents separated in the 1970s before getting divorced a decade later. Ironically, this twist of fate is what enabled me to have the special relationship with Nan. Had they remained together she never would have moved to Ontario, and I would have seen her once a year at most.

    I have so many wonderful memories of Nan: Christmases, family BBQs, drives out to the country, etc. One that sticks out, as well, was a tendency for my brother and I to take her shoes when she was visiting and hide them in the field behind our house so she couldn’t go home.

    A couple others…

    Finding her sprawled out underneath her Christmas tree that fell on top of her listening to her grumble about Christmas and swear that “this was the last year she was dressing up a tree.”

    On a trip to Nova Scotia at the Halifax airport picking up our car rental, we didn’t have a valid credit card, so she offered cash as a security deposit. The worker (who happened to be bald) literally took all her cash on hand. After finally getting into our car, I asked her where she wanted to go first? “To the bank to get some damn money because that bald bastard took it all,” she snapped.

    My grandparents reconciled the year before he died. One of my favourite photos is of them outside the old Oyster Pond home. She was fortunate to be able to live somewhat independently as she aged. I helped look after Nan in her later years, and we strived to do as much as we could together.

    Nan died in 2008 after a brief illness. She is buried in the East Jeddore Cemetery, overlooking the harbour that is synonymous with her younger days. Her legacy lives on through numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have been named after her, including my own daughter whose middle name is Rose.

  • Photo Post #9 | Olive (Power) Miller, Rose (Power) Mills, and Edna (Power) Baker

    Photo Post #9 | Olive (Power) Miller, Rose (Power) Mills, and Edna (Power) Baker

    Here are three Power sisters, daughters of Earl Power and Alice Baker, all born in East Jeddore, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. From left to right…Olive, Rose, and Edna.

    Rose is my Nan. She lived up the road from us on the Hamilton Beach Strip, so we were very close. My Aunt Olive lived in Stellarton, NS. She would come up to Hamilton once or twice a year, so I saw her frequently. Aunt Poode – that’s what we called Edna – lived in East Jeddore. We would see her every summer when we went to Nova Scotia. She lived right on the water, and I have fond memories of walking out on the wharf to look at the fishing boats.

    The photo was taken by Aunt Poode’s son Robbie.

  • Photo Post #8 | Allan and Ella (Young) Vansickle

    Photo Post #8 | Allan and Ella (Young) Vansickle

    Here is a photograph of my great grandparents Allan and Ella May (Young) Vansickle. Allan Vansickle was born on December 28th 1885 in Norfolk County, Ontario. He was the son of Edwin Vansickle and Elizabeth Herriman.

    Ella May Young was born on March 24th 1893 in London, Ontario. She was the daughter of George Henry Foster Young and Jane Mary Bell.

    They were married in 1913 in Jerseyville, Ancaster Township, Ontario and had four children: Hazel (my grandmother), Dorothy, George, and Jean.

    I never met either of them, unfortunately, as they both died before I was born. But, I’ve heard some good stories about them. My Dad and my aunts and uncles referred to them as “Pa Sickle” and “Granny.” I can certainly see the resemblance between my grandma and her mother in this picture.