14
Neena, Hughena, Lucy and Llewelyn Whalen; Audrey Currie, Vina Curnew and Verna Martin."We were six families, we were for a time one family caring for one another, coming together in times of trouble, helping in anyway possible even with quiet understanding. Quarrelling and bickering when hositilities overflowed, yet all living and sharing on one common ground, believing in better things and bright tomorrows. That's what kept them going, especially the women, they had much to bear but they had the faith and hope to sustain them and they passed this onto their children."
The reading is an exerpt taken from the work of Audrey Currie Newton.
15
French Block kids and friends, early 1940's.1942
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
16
Children who lived and played in French Block."Oh Audrey will you talk
Oh Audrey will you walk
Oh Audrey will you marry me?
I love to play but I got to go home. You always got to go home. Why? Because every Saturday I polish the dining room furniture with lemon oil. And every day after school I have to dust it."
17
The children of the Whalen family1934
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
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Sadie (mother), James Leon Junior (baby), Neena, Mary Lou and Velma Whalen.19
James Leon Jr., Joseph and Henry (Hank) Whalen.1939
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
20
James Leon Junior, Joseph and Henry (Hank) Whalen."We heard the chicken and we also heard the voices of Jimmy, Donny and Leroy. They were living up to their reputation of being the most notorious of the French Block kids. This time they were burying Mrs. Gregory's chicken alive, or trying to. We watched from inside the coal barn through one of the wider cracks. The chicken was hysterical and although all three layed hands on it, try as they may they could not bury the chicken or even manage to keep a handful of dirt on it. We ran to tell Pa Martin, after all the foul deed was taking place behind his coal barn. The chicken was saved, although Mrs. Gregory said it never did lay another egg. And the boys, well they went on to other things. They stole a gallon of Ideal Ice Cream, sat in the field and ate until they became sick, and peed into the rest of it. Their next caper was to steal a box from the back of a supply truck. This time their heist consisted of a case of Bromo Seltzer, and a case of Ex-Lax. Needless to say the kids enjoyed the chocolate but not the results."
The reading is an exerpt taken from the works of Audrey Currie Newton.
21
Hughena Whalen and Brian Wadden.1948
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
22
Hughena Whalen and Brian Wadden on the steps of The French Block."Brian is Velma's son. Hughena's my sister and Hughena was very, very good with little children."
Neena Whalen Fowler reminisces.
23
Mary Lou Whalen.1937
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
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Mary Lou Whalen in a field."This is Mary Lou Whalen standing in the field with a small child that she was probably babysitting. She was wonderful with children."
25
Ursula, Neena, Velma and Mary Lou Whalen, Confirmation picture.1938
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
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Confirmation picture of Ursula, Neena, Velma and Mary Lou Whalen."Okay, the reason the four of us are making our confirmation at the same time...the bishop only came every four years. So there was Velma, Ursula, Mary Lou and he came the year I was going to make it so sisters at the convent of St. Anne's supplied us with all those clothes and we had to return them later and that's why we were all confirmed that day. It was a beautiful day. I was upset...I know I was upset because I had my socks rolled down to my knees and my sister, Mary Lou, did too because the socks were too small for us and I cried going up the hill. My mother kept telling me I was going to make the blessed virgin cry. So I had to stop because this was such a precious day for us. Finally, I told my mother why I was crying... 'cause of them socks."
Neena Whalen Fowler reminisces.
27
Llewelyn and Rannie Whalen.1944
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
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