Tom Hickey moved to Merasheen from Toslow in the early fifties, a move which was made in consultation with a representative of the provincial government who thought it was an excellent choice for a man who wanted to make a living at the fishery. He was also informed that funds were available to assist with the moving expenses but he never did receive any. Tom came to Merasheen with his wife Mrs. Mag and Mike Young. Tom and Mike pursued the fishery in Merasheen until resettlement again uprooted them in 1967 and they moved to Placentia. Mike still returns to Merasheen annually and earns his living from the fishery there.

In these times when the feats performed by handicapped people are publicized and highlighted, one appreciates more fully the calibre of character of Mrs. Mag Hickey. Mrs. Hickey was handicapped, when through an unfortunate accident, she lost one of her arms. However, this handicap did not deter her from living a full and extremely active life. No one had a fuller garden of cabbage, turnips and other vegetables than Mrs. Mag Hickey, no one could shear a sheep more quickly and we all remember her drawing a bucket of water out of the “big well” and carrying it across the Jaw Bones. Furthermore, when we visited her in late May, 1980 to talk with her and get a picture of Tom, she was preparing her garden for this year.  

Freddy Leonard and his wife moved to Merasheen from St. Leonard's in the early fifties. For most of his time in
Merasheen Freddy made a living by working in the fish plant. His son. Aloysius, also moved to Merasheen with his family where Mrs. Margaret Leonard made a substantial contribution to our education system as a teacher. Neither Freddy nor his wife were alive at the time of the resettlement program but for their few last years in Merasheen they were truly a part of our community, known and respected by all.

The Eastern Light

(Billy Wilson sang this song)

Most sad was my misfortune in the year of '63
When l shipped on board a fishing boat caught on a drunken spree
I shipped on board the Eastern Light, as you might understand
For to go out on the salty sea to the Banks of Newfoundland.

Mike Cloure being our skipper's name, a hero stout and bold
He had twelve other souls on board besides myself, all told
We hoist up all our canvas when we left Gloucester port
And the girls they waved their handkerchiefs as we sailed out of port.

We brought a jar of rum on board which mustered all our crew
We drank a health to Gloucester girls in bidding them adieu
T’was east-be-South we steered, me b'ys, the Grand Banks for to find
We being employed with our fishing gear some halibut to destroy.

We ranged around those foggy banks for the space of eighteen days
We boarded a couple of Frenchmen but no brandy could we raise
My curse on rum, and brandy, too, as l oftimes said before
Sure l'd have lived the sober life, I might be still on shore.

It's early every morning, our cook all up and bawls
"Get up and eat your breakfast boys, and then go haul your trawls”
We scarce have time to light our pipes when over our dories go
We've got to make three sets a day, let the wind blow high or low.

And if you lose a mooring, a buoy-line or a knife
Indeed you will be charged with it and you might bet your life
And if you come to stand night watch, be sure and stand a bet
And if anything is missin' there, you'll find it on your cheque.

On the 18th of October, I heard our Captain shout
“Come hoist aboard your dories b'ys, and break your anchors out
Our provisions are getting kind of scarce, we can no longer stay
So give her great big Mainsail b'ys, and get her underway".

And now our anchors on our bow, our ship is homeward bound
And when we next reach Gloucester port, we'll hand the glasses round
We'll go down to Johnny Lowers and tis there we’ll spend one night
And we'll drink a health to the Gloucester girls, likewise to the Eastern Light.