a Port Hope Simpson historical trail
Now then, as one thing has led on to the next, for those of you who
enjoy delving into the past whilst enjoying present moments, why not for
example, try and discover the truth behind Port Hope Simpson’s history of
development?
Here are some facts and questions to maybe get you started.
I hope you will find them interesting.
But be warned!
It is a difficult trail to follow and hot in places!
It will test you to the limits of your endurance and
there will be no turning back!
It is not the place for the faint hearted!
Now is the time to back out if you have any doubts because I believe
once you are bitten that’s it for life!
OK, are you still up for it? Right, let’s get going!
1.
First of all,
look out for the incongruous looking tombstone near the brow of the hill
adjacent to
Arthur Eric and Erica were the eldest son and granddaughter of Mr. John
Osborne Williams who was the owner of the Labrador Development Company Limited.
It was his industrial operation that led to the first permanent settlement of,
Port Hope Simpson-the first Company Town in
2.
Find out who
was married to Miss Olga Marie Agnes D’Anitoff, a White Russian and daughter of
Count Vladimir D’Anitoff of Independent Means. What part did she play in the
story? Whereabouts was her house situated in the town?
3.
What became of
her?
4.
Why do you
think Erica’s age of 18 months as engraved on her tombstone is incorrect?
According to her birth certificate she was 43 months and two days when she
died.
5.
What type of
person would make such a mistake about what was written on his eldest son and
his own grand-daughter’s grave? Don’t forget to keep detailed notes as you walk
around! You never know what may be important.
6.
What happened
to Mr. Keith Yonge, who originally came from
7.
What part did
he play in the story?
8.
What were the
consequences of “The Keith Yonge Contract” drawn up between Arthur Eric
Williams and Keith Yonge in 1939? For example for one thing, it meant that
Keith Yonge was contracted to cut wood for the Company on his own behalf whilst
still employed as the Company’s manager. Do any of the local senior citizens
remember anything? Discover in what other ways the contract was significant?
9.
Why was Mr.
Yonge’s application to enlist in the British Army turned down?
10.
It is believed
he decided to become a Moravian Minister. Did that happen?
11.
What became of
him?
12.
Why did the British
Government decide to classify as secret the Public Enquiry in 1945 into The
Affairs of the Labrador Development Company at Port Hope Simpson until 1996?
13.
Were they
mistaken when they entered into a business relationship with Mr. J.O. Williams?
What other evidence of early industrial development in the town can you find?
When were Bowaters there? What did they leave behind for the good of everybody?
14.
Why was the
permanent residential address of Mr. John Osbourne and Mrs. Ethel Kate
Williams: “14 Dunraven House,
15.
Why were the
words with the “not quite right” feel to them, “Labrador House, Southerndown,
16.
Was somebody
still out to deceive and/or hide something from the local people even after the
deaths?
17.
Why hadn’t the
local people been able to find out what had been going on behind the scenes?
18.
“
19.
Why were the
words “Having saved his wife he died in the flames with his daughter Erica”
engraved on the first simple headstone but left out from the final epitaph? See
the first headstone for yourself. It was still there when I looked in July last
year.
20.
An incorrect
address was entered for Erica’s place of birth on her birth certificate and for
her father’s place of permanent residence when she was born. The house they
should have been living in had not even been built at the time! Was this more
deliberate deception?
21.
If so, why?
22.
Were certain
people trying to hide their real plush addresses?
23.
A building with
the nameplate “
24.
Find out how
and why Sir John Hope Simpson, a 66 year old retired Indian civil servant,
Newfoundland Commissioner of Natural Resources and self-appointed
Acting-Commissioner of Justice from 1934-36 gave the town his name. The
christening as he later described it, left The Dominions Office and the British
Government with egg-all-over-their-faces and wide-open to accusations of
favouritism. He claimed it had been at the Company’s request he had named the
site of its headquarters “Hope Simpson.”[1][1]
Was it right that an English civil servant and the Dominions Office should have
allowed such a thing to happen?
25.
What good did
Mr. J.O. Williams and Sir John Hope Simpson do for the people of Port Hope Simpson?
26.
What lasting
effect did the relationship between Mr. J. O. Williams and the Dominion of
Government have upon economic progress, living conditions and the welfare of
the Port Hope Simpson folk?
27.
How have the
Provincial and the Federal Governments helped economic progress in the area
after Confederation in 1949?
28.
Did Sir John
Hope Simpson purchase timber rights in
29.
Mr. J. O.
Williams borrowed money for the written purpose of building 400 houses at Port
Hope Simpson whilst Sir John Hope Simpson facilitated the release of loans at
British tax-payers expense from the Colonial Fund in
30.
Discover more
for yourself about the reality of life for the early settlers in Port Hope
Simpson. Discover for yourself what wages and living conditions were really
like from 1934 onwards. Find out more about how the Company’s store was
operated and its effect upon the local people. Where was it located in the
Town?
31.
Why did Sir
John Hope Simpson instruct that the Gordon Bradley’s Report into working
conditions in the forests be suppressed?
32.
Find out who
had the family nickname of “Jack the Lad”
33.
Discover why
the civil service and the practioners of private enterprise show up so badly
from 1934 - 49.
34.
Read what Mr.
Thomas Lodge had to say in his book, “Dictatorship in
35.
Look out for
the ruins of the Company’s sawmill and see two preserved Company houses of the
hundreds more that were supposed to be built. Visit the town’s Learning Centre to
see copies of the original correspondence to do with The Public Enquiry that
was held into the Affairs of the Labrador Development Company Limited in 1945.
See many other original historical artefacts from the area.
36.
Why was Sir
John Hope Simpson so obsessive about keeping his Newfoundland Rangers under the
authority of Natural Resources instead of under their more natural home of the
Department of Justice?
37.
Find out why
Mr. Arthur Eric Williams was sent out by his father to Port Hope Simpson in
1939? Personally, I remain convinced Eric died for the sins of his father so to speak
and it's quite likely that Erica died unintentionally.
38.
Was there a
Cover-Up going on and is it still going on today?
39.
What was the
relationship like between the loggers and their families and the Company’s
owners?
40.
Why did the
Dominions Office in
41.
What was the
real thinking behind setting-up The Public Enquiry in
42.
Why was Mr.
Thomas Lodge, formerly Newfoundland Commissioner for Public Utilities who was
effectively removed from office in disgrace, appointed to the Board of the
Labrador Development Company Limited in 1940?
43.
Why was Mr.
Claude Fraser, secretary to the Department of Natural Resources including the
office of Sir John Hope Simpson, ordered to the post of Government Director of
the Company on
44.
My personal
opinion is that I think the real truth is still being covered - up by people who
are still alive today.
45.
Is it an accurate and fair description to describe Mr. J.O.
Williams and his employees as “The Williams Boom or Bust, Smash and Grab Gang”
that hit Town from 1934 – 40 leaving a hoary reputation as their only real
legacy?
Good luck!
Ernie Pritchard
03.01.2004
Source: Pritchard E.R.L. Tombstone-a history of development in Port Hope
Simpson; unpublished manuscript 2003