I am wondering if there are any people out there, who remember back into the forties or before, when Newfoundlanders living in the states, sent barrels filled with clothes, to their families down "home".It was a ritual in Lynn, Mass, when I was growing up, that my Aunts and Uncles, Cousins etc would save all their used clothes throughout the year and send it all down "home" in a barrel. They would sew the clothes up, make sure it was clean and sometimes intermingle non-perishable food into these barrels. I think it was my Father who supplied the two or three barrels that would be shipped full to Nfld. He bought them from the G.E. in Lynn where he worked and they cost him about a quarter each. Sometime in early November, my folks and others, would gather at one of the homes in Lynn and pack the barrel for shipping. Whoever was "hosting" this event would feed the crew while the women ironed and folded the clothes and packed it neatly.The men would seal up the barrels, put them in a small truck, and take them to the railroad station to ship. This shipment was distributed to all those in need, whether they were family or not. It's funny, after all these years in between, around the first of November, I remember not only the good time the family had packing the barrels but the thank you notes that came from all those who benefited from these barrels.Usually those barrels arrived at their destination a few days before Christmas so it was a real treat to many. Didn't mean to be so long winded with this, but I am hoping some of you out there remember anything about the "barrels" and if so please write me. I'm saving this kind of thing to pass on to my kids etc. You can write me directly or via the list, whatever. Frank Strugnell, Derry, N.H. USA.

Frank, Yes I do remember those barrels. In the 40's, I was growing up in an outport (Northern Bay) and money was not very plentiful - unless you were a merchant or, in some cases, a member of the clergy. Consequently, new clothes were a luxury in most families, including mine. Homemade and/or hand-me-down was the rule. And indeed, those families with kin in the states (or on mainland Canada) looked forward to receiving those goodies from their "wealthy" relatives. In retrospect, I guess it was similar to giving used clothing to the Salvation Army or Neighborhood Services today. In addition to clothing, toys, games, comic books, etc. were sometimes included. That was a real bonus for us kids. Clothing size could be a problem. Obviously, receiving clothing this way didn't present much fitting choice. Mothers did what alterations they could but when this was impractical, you wore what you were given by Mom. "Like it or lump it" as we used to say. By the way, I also remember that those items in the barrel, which were not usable by the recipient family, were distributed to other people in the community who could use them. Nothing was wasted. After Confederation, government goodies and a generally rising standard of living eventually eliminated the custom. However Frank, if the urge to give strikes you, my address is.............................. <big grin> Regards from a Canadian cousin. Matt > I am wondering if there are any people out there, who remember back into the > forties or before, when Newfoundlanders living in the states, sent barrels > filled with clothes, to their families down "home".It was a ritual in Lynn, > Mass, when I was growing up, that my Aunts and Uncles, Cousins etc would save all > their used clothes throughout the year and send it all down "home" in a > barrel. They would sew the clothes up, make sure it was clean and sometimes > intermingle non-perishable food into these barrels. I think it was my Father who > supplied the two or three barrels that would be shipped full to Nfld. He bought > them from the G.E. in Lynn where he worked and they cost him about a quarter > each. Sometime in early November, my folks and others, would gather at one of > the homes in Lynn and pack the barrel for shipping. Whoever was "hosting" this > event would feed the crew while the women ironed and folded the clothes and > packed it neatly.The men would seal up the barrels, put them in a small truck, > and take them to the railroad station to ship. This shipment was distributed to > all those in need, whether they were family or not. It's funny, after all > these years in between, around the first of November, I remember not only the > good time the family had packing the barrels but the thank you notes that came > from all those who benefited from these barrels.Usually those barrels arrived > at their destination a few days before Christmas so it was a real treat to > many. Didn't mean to be so long winded with this, but I am hoping some of you out > there remember anything about the "barrels" and if so please write me. I'm > saving this kind of thing to pass on to my kids etc. You can write me directly or > via the list, whatever. > Frank Strugnell, Derry, N.H. USA. > > > ==== NFLD-LAB Mailing List ==== > Roll Call Page for Nfld-Lab Mail List > http://amoose4.tripod.com/ >