Mirrored image of the Centennial Bridge

Mirrored image of the Centennial Bridge
One frosty and very still morning in November, 2010, Centennial Bridge, Miramichi, NB, Canada

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Miramichi, NB, Canada
Spiritual,fun loving,hard working

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Hay Island, Neguac, New Brunswick, Canada

Hay Island, Neguac, New Brunswick, Canada
Reflections in the water

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Dr. Louise Manny's Legacy

I chose this picture taken from the Facebook site "Old Pictures of Miramichi City and River", it belongs to Daniel Matchett's collection.  It is a gathering of people, although not around a table.  Instead of paper, there is a tape recorder.  The lady with the white hat and flowery dress is Dr. Louise Manny from the Newcastle/Miramichi area.  This would have been in the early '50's.  She is visiting a native family, Chief John Augustine in Redbank, NB.

Dr. Manny went around recording songs of the area from mostly lumbermen, who sang them accapella. The tape recorder seen here was donated by her very dear friend Lord Beaverbrook who was also from the Newcastle part of Miramichi before he went on to England and became a cronie of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

What Dr. Manny did was preserve these songs of our heritage.  Many songs told of the life in the bush and on the river.  She went on to start the Miramichi Folksong Festival which is still running after 53 years.  There has been a couple of directors of the festival, Maize Mitchell and the present one, who has been director for a good many years, Susan Butler, whom I am proud to volunteer every year, the first week of August, at this wonderful function.  Susan Butler has been awarded the Order of New Brunswick and the Order of Canada, we are very proud of her.  She started her singing career on the very stage of the festival that Dr. Manny started.  Dr. Louise Manny's dying words were."Don't let the festival die".  She would be proud to know it is still going on long after she departed.

Don't forget to join other Sepians to see marvelous photos at   http;//sepiasaturday.blogspot.com  Happy Sepia Saturday everyone!!!!

9 comments:

  1. I wonder if those recordings that she made have been archived, and whether any are available online. So much has been done by Library and Archives of Canada to put image and data archives online, but I don't know if the same goes for sound.

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  2. I have exactly the same query as Brett. If anyone can come up with a way for us to listen to them it would be a treat.

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  3. I'm glad you chose this image Rosie - very different out of the ordinary. What foresight Dr Manny had and I hope the recordings ahave been preserved.

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  4. There was a similar project to record old folk songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dr. Manny did a wonderful thing and I'm glad there is a festival to keep that spirit alive. Great post, Rosie!

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  5. I found some recordings from the 1959 folk festival online here:
    http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoitLo.do;jsessionid=270ECAE6D64B5877C9FD8C96D25C7444?method=preview&lang=EN&id=371

    I was reminded that I have some recordings of Irish folk songs that I like to listen to on St. Patrick's Day.

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  6. I just enjoy old folk songs, well any kind of song really, mostly! A most wonderful selection you posted for us today!

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  7. A great picture. I have learnt so much about the Miramichi region from reading your posts over the years Rosie, one day I will see it for real.

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  8. Those tape recorders! I've almost forgotten they have once existed. How wonderful that Dr Manny got to preserve the songs for new generations to learn of.

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  9. @Alan, you surely must come see the Miramichi. It is a cozy type of area, people are kind and will help you unwind. We are having "The Gathering" June 14, 15,16 for present and former Miramichiers, instigated by the site "Our Miramichi Heritage Photos".

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