vol. 10, no.5, october 1981 - Memorial University of Newfoundland

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3M)ECKS AWASH between intensive sessions with Bible, trumpet. or hymn book in hand. "This week Is music camp," says camp director Captain Doug Hefford with a welcoming smile, "and there are young people here from among 39 corps in the central Newfoundland area, between Buchans and Glovertown. Other weeks of the summer, if you came here you could see camps (or Girl Guides, disabled children, adults, you name it. There are roughly 12 to 15 each summer in total, and all together, they bring in about 1100 kids and 600 adults." Doug Hefford, 30. has been director of the Northern Arm camp for three years now, otherwise working full-time (or the Salvation Army's Divisional Office in Grand Falls. He is among 27 instructional staff at this camp that hosts 120 young people and employs 13 support staff. As we sidestep puddles in the grassy field between the dining hall and the cabins, Doug . explains some details of the camp. "It it wasn't (or this rain," he sa)'s, "you would see classes taking place under the trees and everywhere outdoors, but when it rains, we have to spread out among the various cabins. Each day our students receive (our to six hours ot music instruction and another one or two hours of Bible study." When the music Vocal director Derrick Moore blends young voices In chorus. strumentalists are sorted into four levels o( instrumental proficiency and eight levels o( theory knowledge, based upon the results o( an audition and a written test. Then at the end o( the camp. students receive a certificate showing their grades in music theory, performance. and Bible knowledge. "Most of the cost of this camp is borne by Salvation Army funds." Captain Hefford continues, "though the students each pay $36 to attend. Instrumental Director at the camp this year was Calvin May, 42, who normally resides in Gander. Vocai Director was Derrick Moore. 26. ot St. John's. Guest Conductor was Ivor Snell, an accomplished euphonium player and bandmaster who received much o( his training in
Scotland and England, but has been living in Toronto and playing with th e North York Temple band for man y yea rs. Simil ar camps to the one at Northern Arm are opera ted by th e Salvation Arm y's other two divi sions in Newfoundla nd . The Western Division operates " Sliver Birches" , near Corner Brook, while " Camp Starrigan " , near Musgravetown . is managed by the Eastern Division." The lovely piece of property on which Northern Arm camp sits was once owned by a Doctor Gear, but was acquired by the Salvation Army in about 1958. Some of the people who attended the first camps in 1959 and 1960 as students are still coming back, but now as instructors. Captain Hector Elliott and his wife Melva , both of Gander, are a good example. "In 1960," recalls Hector, "there were only two buildings here, and nine fellas from Bishop's Falls had to sleep in a tent. The old editorial The more we travel throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the more aware we become of th e role history has played, Botwood and out the Bay is no exception. A brief look at the past shows us that the area was thE' hun ting ground of the Beothuk. followed by the arrival of the white settlers. which saw a period of hostility between the two peoples. culminating in the unfortunate demise of th e nati ve Beothuk. The settlers at first earned their living through the fishery and, later. woods-related activities and mining also came to be important. Most people were able to raise livestock and grow root crops sufficient to meet their needs. This self-sufficiency allowed the communities to weather the times of depression better than most. Even the more recent cutbacks in employment by both Abitibi·Price and ASARCO. while being undesirable. have not destroyed the economy of the surrounding settlements. Looking int o the future, the pie·in-the·sky In stru ct or Bernard Cur tis-Wi thams (fight) with some 01 th e Camp's senior m usicians, forc ed to prac tice in the cabi n du e 10 rainy weat her. cookhouse at the time was also a tent. with only a floor and a roof , no walls." "I remember the first toilet here consisted of a twc-by-Iour nailed across two trees, " says WUbert Wiseman of Bishop's Falls, another vet eran of the camp, who is now a music DECKS AWASH-39 theory instructor. " Tents were used until about 1965, and all activities had to be outdoors." Today, with a cluster of sturdy cabins and an assembly hall on the property. things are not quite so rugged. Everything is well in hand , except the weather! l! petro-dollars are on the horizon. Botwood, in particular. has experienced some petroleumrelated activity and expectations are high. Fortunately. however. the people are not pinning all their hopes on this potential development The farmers are optimistic about being able to expand in the future. and experiments with growing on peat bog seem to be going well. We almost dreaded to talk to thE' fishermen this summer. due to the massive slump in the industry. but instead found that they were busily pursuing alternatives to the trap fishery. It looks as if the fishery will ha ve an important role in the area's diversified economy of the future. While most residents perhaps might like to see a great influx of offshore-based dollars. they resltze the risks, and they also know that any development may be years down the road. But they are planning; they appear to realize and are aware of the dangers of putting all their eggs in that particular basket. The rest of us might be well advised to follow their example, I!I
Page 3 and 4: DECKS AWASH-1
Page 5 and 6: history Peterview ohn Peyton's hous
Page 10: 8-DECKS AWASH while three searchlig
Page 15 and 16: otwood Willing to go out on a limb
Page 17: town , ex iled by the lack of local
Page 24: 22-0ECKS AWASH went over to Point L
Page 27: DECKS AWASH·25 farming,fishing,saw
Page 31: The Leading Tick les plant has also
Page 42: 4O-DECKS AWASH back section home ga
Page 45: they have been fully paid off, and
Page 48: 46-DECKS AWASH Building a better dr

vol. 10, no.5, october 1981 - Memorial University of Newfoundland

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