Page 37 - Working on the Sydney Coal Piers

ISSUE : Issue 44

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1987/1/1

so it meant a lot to get that boat out on Saturday night. And if you didn't get her out, there'd be some questions asked. And you were a foreman. You were responsible for getting that ship out on schedule, or as close to schedule as you could. And you know, it was a responsibility too, you know. It meant a lot--if that boat was tied up 24 hours, it kept you over Sunday-- so it meant a lot to get that boat out on Saturday night. And if you didn't get her out, there'd be some questions asked. And you were a foreman. You were responsible for getting that ship out on schedule, or as close to schedule as you could. (Is it safe to assume then that your fa? ther was happy to have you do the work?) Pause. I guess--I had left school then--I guess he'd have been happier if I'd have stayed in school. He retired in 1947, and he died in 1960--13 years. He was born in 1874--he was 73 when he retired. He got a pension, I think about $47 a month. After 50 years or more. We lived right up there, but he never went inside the gate after he left. No. No, at the last going off, I guess you could say he was tired. He really didn't care. I've seen him on Sundays, they'd call him up, say, "Get your men for Monday's shift." He'd go--not much telephones then, you know--he'd go from house to house. And then he'd be that tired, he'd have to stay home himself, couldn't go to work. So he kind of was played out. When the pension came, as small as it was, I think it was welcome. That was his last year or two--his last year especially. He wouldn't miss a shift. But at the end, he just gave up. There was no compulsory re? tirement then at 65. No, no.. It was rarely anyone retired in those years, under 70. (When Abbie Neville told me, "Oh, they loved their work, they were proud," I was suspicious.) Oh, they loved their work. Yeah, you can say it. Same with me. It seems, in one sense, the last thing you thought of was yourselves. It seems to me now, looking back. Abbie Neville: (There'd be times of the year when you wouldn't expect to ship here at all, right?) In wintertime. But at that time, you know, a lot of the collieries weren't working regular. They never worked every day. They'd blow a whistle that there was no work. Some collieries only worked two days a week, some would work 4 days a week. It didn't really pick up till around 1935, 1936. That's when the coal started coming back. It was kind of very dead before that. That was the Depression years. (But the shippers and trimmers....) They'd go to work every day. They wouldn't know if there was a boat in. And they (often) never got paid, because they were on ton? nage. They'd just report down in the morn? ing, and no boat in. They'd just hang a- round, talking, the trimmers and shippers. They'd come out every day. And if there was no boat in, they got no pay. But they were loyal. They were one of the loyalest people, I think, the company ever had. Then they'd go home and wait. (It wasn't a matter of calling and finding out if a ship was in?) A lot of them then. MacLEAN BROS. Plumbing & Heating Co. 564-8287 (office) FREE ESTIMATES 539-7834 (night) 373 George St • , Sydney, N. S. "Good Wishes to the Canada Winter Gaines" - 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CAPE BRETON - QHje Cl|tl&?n*0 Atii 'octctg af (Kapc Breton SLf9 "A UNITEQ. WAY SERVICE AGENCY" THESE ARE SOME COMMUNITY SERVICES: INTAKE information, problem identification, & appropriate referral for service HOME STUDIES custody reports, social histories for other agencies, private adoption reports SINGLE MOTHERS information, counselling, support, & assistance in decision-making during pregnancy FOSTER HOMES selection & support of temporary & long-term homes for children in care of the agency PROTECTION home visits, support services, & crisis intervention to maintain adequate child care ADOPTION placement of children of all ages in permanent homes CHILDREN IN CARE individual counselling & support services for children in care of the agency Suite 7, Provincial Building 360 Prince Street Sydney, Nova Scotia BIP 5L1 THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN President: Mrs. Marlene Lovett Executive Director: Mr. Sandy Bowes (37)

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