BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE

Ron Slaunwhite

 

Born in 1941 in Terence Bay, Ron Slaunwhite is the son of Fred and Annie. One Grandfather was Robert S. Slaunwhite. Ron's father, Fred, was a fisherman. There were four children in the family, two boys and two girls. Ron went to the Crossroads School where there were twenty-two in his class taught by Sister Joseph Bernadette at one time and by Muriel Bartlett. His friends were Joe Slaunwhite and Sam Ryan. They hung out together.

His grandfather kept a notebook and recorded many of the local events and momentous happenings in the world and his mother continued to record events in the same book. Contributions from it are included throughout this website.

Since Ron was two years old, his family travelled to Halifax in the winter to work, living around Market and Brunswick Streets. His grandfather worked as a stevedore on the docks of the city.

He recalls his school days, "We'd work when the boats would come in. We'd go down and help the guys load their trucks and they'd pay maybe two dollars or two fifty....we'd help load the trucks and then they'd transport them to Halifax....Mr. Jollimore and Mr. Little ......used to buy the fishermen's fish and take them to town." He also remembers big Portuguese freighters coming into the Bay to buy salted fish from the fish plant.

Graduating in 1958 from high school, he recalls using an ice rink at Sandy Cove where they played hockey and skated. He remembers dances at the Star of the Sea Hall when the boys from the area competed with guys from Prospect for girls. He says, "There always used to be a little rivalry, the same with White's Lake........" Spryfield guys were not welcome at Terence Bay dances, and Ron and his friends were not welcome at Spryfield's dances. At the age of seventeen Ron joined the Army where he served for three years.

For at least twenty years Ron has enjoyed his Valley getaway in the summer. It started as a tent and is now a travel trailer. Ron is a professional painter and drywall installer, working locally and in Halifax.

BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE