William Albert Fradsham was born on September 28th 1901 in Coley’s Point Newfoundland which is now a part of Bay Roberts, about an hour from St. Johns. The area was settled in the 1600 hundreds.
At the time Albert was born the area was regarded as a wholesale and distribution centre for Conception Bay and Trinity Bay. The major businesses were cooperage and shipbuilding, and of course fishing. At the age of fourteen Albert went to sea, sailing on Barques and Barquenteens, three masted ships that were used for hauling freight such as salt, molasses and fish. He sailed to such places as Spain, Portugal and South America. As this was during the First World war it was considered to be the Merchant Marine which was finally recognised by the Canadian Government long after the second World War.
After sailing the Atlantic for a few years Albert left the seafaring life and went to Canada. Newfoundland wasn’t to become a Province until 1949. He worked out west on the threshing gangs for a while before heading east arriving at Amesdale and got a job on the section gang on the CNR where he was engaged in track maintenance and patrolling the rail line on a motor car.
While working in Amesdale Albert met a young girl by the name of Margaret Ames who was the daughter of Sam and Annie Ames. She had just returned from Melfort Saskatchewan where she had attended school as there was no school in Amesdale at that time. She stayed with her older sister Olive who was teaching there. While working in her older brother Bert’s pulp wood camp as a cook she met Albert.. In 1930 they were married at the United Church manse in Dryden with her cousin Bertha McKay and Jack Durocher as attendants.
They acquired a homestead just north of the railway about three quarters of a mile east of Amesdale. Albert built a small log cabin on the property where in 1931 their first son Gordon was born and was the first child born in Amesdale. Margaret’s mother Annie was the midwife. Albert walked to Dryden the next day to get the Doctor to make sure everything was all right.. In 1934 Albert acquired a second homestead approximately one mile south-east of Amesale and moved his family into another log cabin he had built. Two years later they built a storey and a half house of squared timbers on this property.
In July1937 a son Ron was born in the Dryden hospital. Albert borrowed a Jersey cow from his brother in law Art Carlson, which he didn’t have use for at the time, so Ron could have fresh milk. Gordon became of school age at this time and as there was no school his Mom tutored him with the aid of government correspondence courses for the first two years, until the school car began coming to Amesdale. The school car made it possible for the students to be instructed by a full time teacher, however the school was only in a community for a week at a time. For most this meant they worked at home on assignments while the school car was visiting other communities.The Fradsham’s made special arrangements such that their son could attend almost continuously. During the 1938-39 school year Gordon went east to Richan for one week, staying with his Mother’s Aunt, Eva McKay, Then spending a week at Amesdale, then traveling west to Morgan where he stayed with his Aunt and Uncle Kate and Art Carlson, then home for a week of assignments.
In the autumn of 1941 the family moved to Halifax where they lived in a suite of rooms at the home of Margaret’s sister Olive Lynch. While there Albert visited his family in Newfoundland for the first time since he had left home. He was going to take Gordon with him but with U boats on the prowl he decided against it, probably a good thing as he had to sleep on deck with his suitcase on top of him as it was so crowded. Albert secured a job in a fertilizer plant (?) But became dissatisfied and moved the family back to Amesdale in the spring of 1942. Shortly after the move back to Amesdale Albert joined the Army along with his Brother-in-law Sam Ames. When Albert and Sam left for the army, Margaret stayed for a short time with Sam’s wife Lorraine. In the summer of 1942 Margaret and Ron went to visit Albert who was stationed in Val Cartier, just north of Quebec City. Gordon had been left in the care of Gordon and Beatrice Ames. On returning home Margaret moved the Family into an apartment in Dryden in time for Gordon to start the fifth grade. In October 1942 Albert and Sam were posted overseas to Scotland with the Forestry Corp. Margaret next moved the family to a house on Machin Avenue , next door to her cousin Bertha Durocher.
Albert returned home from overseas in 1945 and got a job at the Dryden Paper Company, and they bought a home of their own at 55 David Avenue. In 1947 they purchased a home at 58 Machin Avenue from Margaret’s cousin Joe McKay which had been built by Margaret’s brother Bert Ames. A few years later Albert gave up his job at the mill for health reasons and got a job at the Royal Canadian Legion in Dryden as a steward. In 1958 Albert acquired the Rawleigh dealership for Dryden and area from a neighbour John Morton and operated this business until he retired in 1964.
Albert died on October 27,1966 at the age of 65.
At the time Albert was born the area was regarded as a wholesale and distribution centre for Conception Bay and Trinity Bay. The major businesses were cooperage and shipbuilding, and of course fishing. At the age of fourteen Albert went to sea, sailing on Barques and Barquenteens, three masted ships that were used for hauling freight such as salt, molasses and fish. He sailed to such places as Spain, Portugal and South America. As this was during the First World war it was considered to be the Merchant Marine which was finally recognised by the Canadian Government long after the second World War.
After sailing the Atlantic for a few years Albert left the seafaring life and went to Canada. Newfoundland wasn’t to become a Province until 1949. He worked out west on the threshing gangs for a while before heading east arriving at Amesdale and got a job on the section gang on the CNR where he was engaged in track maintenance and patrolling the rail line on a motor car.
While working in Amesdale Albert met a young girl by the name of Margaret Ames who was the daughter of Sam and Annie Ames. She had just returned from Melfort Saskatchewan where she had attended school as there was no school in Amesdale at that time. She stayed with her older sister Olive who was teaching there. While working in her older brother Bert’s pulp wood camp as a cook she met Albert.. In 1930 they were married at the United Church manse in Dryden with her cousin Bertha McKay and Jack Durocher as attendants.
They acquired a homestead just north of the railway about three quarters of a mile east of Amesdale. Albert built a small log cabin on the property where in 1931 their first son Gordon was born and was the first child born in Amesdale. Margaret’s mother Annie was the midwife. Albert walked to Dryden the next day to get the Doctor to make sure everything was all right.. In 1934 Albert acquired a second homestead approximately one mile south-east of Amesale and moved his family into another log cabin he had built. Two years later they built a storey and a half house of squared timbers on this property.
In July1937 a son Ron was born in the Dryden hospital. Albert borrowed a Jersey cow from his brother in law Art Carlson, which he didn’t have use for at the time, so Ron could have fresh milk. Gordon became of school age at this time and as there was no school his Mom tutored him with the aid of government correspondence courses for the first two years, until the school car began coming to Amesdale. The school car made it possible for the students to be instructed by a full time teacher, however the school was only in a community for a week at a time. For most this meant they worked at home on assignments while the school car was visiting other communities.The Fradsham’s made special arrangements such that their son could attend almost continuously. During the 1938-39 school year Gordon went east to Richan for one week, staying with his Mother’s Aunt, Eva McKay, Then spending a week at Amesdale, then traveling west to Morgan where he stayed with his Aunt and Uncle Kate and Art Carlson, then home for a week of assignments.
In the autumn of 1941 the family moved to Halifax where they lived in a suite of rooms at the home of Margaret’s sister Olive Lynch. While there Albert visited his family in Newfoundland for the first time since he had left home. He was going to take Gordon with him but with U boats on the prowl he decided against it, probably a good thing as he had to sleep on deck with his suitcase on top of him as it was so crowded. Albert secured a job in a fertilizer plant (?) But became dissatisfied and moved the family back to Amesdale in the spring of 1942. Shortly after the move back to Amesdale Albert joined the Army along with his Brother-in-law Sam Ames. When Albert and Sam left for the army, Margaret stayed for a short time with Sam’s wife Lorraine. In the summer of 1942 Margaret and Ron went to visit Albert who was stationed in Val Cartier, just north of Quebec City. Gordon had been left in the care of Gordon and Beatrice Ames. On returning home Margaret moved the Family into an apartment in Dryden in time for Gordon to start the fifth grade. In October 1942 Albert and Sam were posted overseas to Scotland with the Forestry Corp. Margaret next moved the family to a house on Machin Avenue , next door to her cousin Bertha Durocher.
Albert returned home from overseas in 1945 and got a job at the Dryden Paper Company, and they bought a home of their own at 55 David Avenue. In 1947 they purchased a home at 58 Machin Avenue from Margaret’s cousin Joe McKay which had been built by Margaret’s brother Bert Ames. A few years later Albert gave up his job at the mill for health reasons and got a job at the Royal Canadian Legion in Dryden as a steward. In 1958 Albert acquired the Rawleigh dealership for Dryden and area from a neighbour John Morton and operated this business until he retired in 1964.
Albert died on October 27,1966 at the age of 65.
.
Biography written and edited by Gordon and Ronald Fradsham.
“ALBERT”
by Marjorie (Pard) McKay
Like an older brother he was to me,
He often held me on his knee.
He would tell me stories and sing his songs
Of sailors and girls and their rights and wrongs.
*****
I thought he was great and so much fun,
Although he kept me on the run.
How he would tease me and I’d be so mad,
And then they’s laugh, both him and Dad.
*****
On his sholders he’d carry me for miles,
To swim at the lake and I’d be all smiles.
We were all together, so happy and gay;
That was before Dad was taken away.
*****
Then came sadder days and it was nice to know,
He was still around with Bill and Joe.
Just one of the family he seemed to be;
Sort of a comfort for Mom and me.
*****
Then the Ames girls came and we all could see,
He would not much longer belong to me.
Jealously came into my life,
I knew he’d take one of them for his wife.
*****
The years rolled by and I became nine.
I gave him up, this boyfriend of mine.
As I grew older, we drifed apart.
But he always kept that warm spot in my heart
*****
When my family and I go home for a trip,
As we have for the last few years
With all our folks and Albert and Marg
We’d go out for a couple of beers.
*****
We’d talk of things as they used to be.
On the homestead years ago.
It bought back so many memories.
I loved those visits so.
*****
Now when we go back Albert won’t be there.
For all good things must end;
But we’ll think of him always just as he was
A DEAR AND LOYAL FRIEND.
Poem written to the Fradsham Family by Pard McKay at the time of Albert's passing.
1 comment:
So much enjoyed the blog, and the entire site. I will print it out for my mother to read...her name is Sarah Fradsham, and is almost 93. Mom is the widow of Harold Fradsham, Albert's brother. Harold passed away in May, 1983. Many thanks for all the hard work this site must entail.
Gary Fradsham
Lindsay, ON. (705) 324-8718
email gfradsham@nexicom.net
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