JOE HOULIHAN:

Joe was always known as "cook" because of his many years as a cook on the fishing schooners out of Placentia Bay. In his later years, he became a “land lubber" and regular worker in the fish plant in Merasheen. Joe will always be remembered by those of us who were youngsters during the years he worked in the cook house up at Wareham's and in the fish plant. When in the cook house, he could always be counted on for a slice of bread and jam or molasses, and always had change in his pockets to give us five or ten cents when we met him on a Sunday afternoon, and under Joe's supervision, we were allowed to light fires on a Sunday afternoon, with no fear of a reprimand from mom or dad.

The Black Water Side

(This song was sung by Agg Hann)  

You friends and relations of high and low station
I pray pay attention and listen to me
It's of a young couple l overheard talking
As l went out walking, some friends for to see.

It happened to be on a fair summer‘s morning
A viewing the fields as l gently did glide
Where the forms of fair Venus, the fields were adoring
Surrounding the plains of the Black Water Side.

He says “my pretty jewel, we are long enough courting
We are both made for marriage, l solemnly vow
And if you agree and come along with me
Come answer me now, say yes or say no."

“My clothing is bare, l have nothing to wear
And l work very hard since my father he died
But in one year or two, I’ll go along with you
And leave all my friends on the Black Water Side."

He said “if you do, it will have to be soon
There's another in view who wants to be dined
She's a gr] of nineteen, both handsome and clean
So l am not bent on coaxing as you may rely.

So come without waiting, without hesitating 
I am ready and willing to make you my bride
You‘re the one l admire, grant me my desire
No one but you l require on the Black Water Side."

This fair one arose, to her mother she goes
And this is the story she told unto her
That she was inclined in wedlock to join
And this couple got married in sweet unity.

May their fortune increase, may they never grow less
In the sweet bond of wedlock may they always be loyal
So the truth I am telling, you will there find them dwelling
On the lovely sweet banks of the Black Water Side.