Uncategorized

Toy Time Around Clarenville

Growing up back home in eastern Newfoundland, There were no huge malls or big box stores, instead we had locally owned stores.  The names will ring bells for some, Western Tire, Stanley’s, Duffit’s, Junes, and a bit later The Chain Store, Ayres, but the granddaddy of them all for me was Cholock’s.

This was a huge department store or seemed huge to a kid anyway, located near the railway tracks in downtown Clarenville.  (The building later became home to the department of wildlife offices for those who may be trying to locate) I don’t recall a lot about the store per se, but what was the huge draw was ….. upstairs! …..

Image from http://clarenville.newfoundland.ws
Image from http://clarenville.newfoundland.ws

My memory may be foggy, as its been closed for many a year, but if I recall correctly, upstairs only opened a few weeks before Christmas, and it was full of toys, toys and more toys.  It was a magical place for me, and I’m sure many other local kids.

A little later on Ayre’s opened in Clarenville too, Riff’s was in that location after, followed by other places, but Ayre’s remains as a big memory. Their toy section seemed huge at Christmas time, I can’t recall if it was there all year round or not, and I’m sure it would seem small compared to today’s stores, but it was also a great place as a kid.  Another one that was less well known maybe was, I believe, called Martin’s.  Near Hyne’s Jewelry they sold musical instruments and I can’t remember what else.  I was and am musically inept, but I was always fascinated by the things in there.

We didn’t see toys all year round in stores then, or if we did, not locally.  To go these stores was to start Christmas, and I look back on it fondly, and wish that some of that magic passes on to you and yours this season.

December 20, 2012 by Uncategorized 7

Church in Small Towns

While I’m no avid church goer, the church of years ago was more than about the service.  Each small town had its own church, with unbelievable amounts of local work and wealth (or lack of wealth) invested in it.

I remember the pulpit and pews in our old church probably cost more than the town made in a year, tho I really have no idea where they came from. Perhaps they were made my locals, it was all before my time.

I remember each week a family had a “turn”.  If it was your turn, you had to light and maintain the fire in the old old wood stove, as well as provide wood, and ring the bell.  Yes it had a bell, attached to an old rope pull, and as a kid, it was actually a treat to be the one to go ring it a half hour or so before service.

After the service was over, people would hang out outside and socialize for quite sometime, and traditionally most would invite the minister home for lunch/dinner. Of course when he accepted your invite the parents tried to have the kids be on their best behaviour.  Not really sure that part ever worked with me!

December 19, 2012 by Uncategorized 0

Bus Rides

When I first started school, we were bussed to a school called Balbo Elementary in Shoal Harbour, named after an Italian General who landed and departed from there in the 1930’s.  I can’t say I remember much about school there, nothing memorable right now anyway, but I do remember this one huge bump on the ride home that made us all come out of our seats, more so I bet because it was only a few people on a mostly empty bus, so less weight.  Anyway, I remember it well, I swear I once hit my head on the roof, tho my memory may be faulty (perhaps from the bump?)

December 18, 2012 by Uncategorized 0

Outlet….

I’ve created many blogs over the years, and always felt like I abandoned them.  I think its mainly because I felt I had to write for others, and while my interests are varied, it never felt like everything belonged together. I felt noone else had any interest in what I was writing.

But I think what I really need is somewhere to just write a few words here and there, so lets try this again.

The blog is titles Random Island Memories, and a lot of my posts will be about growing up back home on Random Island, but be forewarned, I may veer off on tangents and be prone to rant occasionally.

December 18, 2012 by Uncategorized 1

Random Posts

  • Randall’s Garden
    Down at the bottom of the hill, just below where you see the beach start is, or was, Randall’s garden.  Watching NFL football playoffs today reminds...
  • Hunters and GatherersHunters and Gatherers
    Growing up back home, meat and vegetables often came from your own provisions, getting to a grocery store became more and more prominent as I grew...
  • Rovin to the DunrovinRovin to the Dunrovin
    A few years before I moved away from Newfoundland, I took what for me was a memorable trip on ATV.  I’m sure for many it wasn’t...

RSS The Granite Grid

  • Small Steps August 5, 2026
    It’s been a while since I sat down to write an update. Summer has hit full force now, and to be honest, even if I were home on the Rock right now, it’s almost too hot out to get much work done on the land. But even with the heat and being away, things have […]
    Peter Smith
  • First Watts July 15, 2026
    Weighing the choices for off-grid power on the land. Here is why I am leaning toward the Anker SOLIX battery setup, and how a quiet backup generator fits into our plan.
    Peter Smith
  • A Turn Around the Rock July 12, 2026
    My cousin, Bernie, recently took a walk across the land and sent over a video of the tour. Watching it here from my room in Nova Scotia, it felt like I was right there pushing through the branches. The land is thick and stubborn, filled with young birch and aspen, heavy fir, and spruce growing […]
    Peter Smith
  • Four Suits and a Cabin July 12, 2026
    When you are planning an off-grid shelter, it is easy to get caught up in the big builds. We spend hours researching solar panels, charge controllers, and waterless toilets. But when the rain starts lashing against the cabin window and the Atlantic fog rolls in thick off the sound, you realize that the most valuable […]
    Peter Smith
  • Fish Bacon on the Beach July 10, 2026
    Every year, right around late June or early July, the damp, foggy weather rolls in off Trinity Bay. Around home, we call it caplin weather. It’s the time when millions of small, silver fish teem close to the shore, rolling onto the gravel beaches to spawn. As a boy growing up on Random Island, the […]
    Peter Smith