tales-of-Fogo-Island

A Family BusinessAfter returning from World War II, Mr. Brendon McKenna decided to open astore in Island Harbour. He went to St. John's and purchased the buildingsupplies. When he returned, he built the business from scratch. His storeopened in August 1946.The business began as a grocery store but soon became more of a generalstore. Ships would deliver most of the supplies in the fall of the year. All kindsof goods were sold at the McKenna's store. Some of these supplies, such asflour, hay, and oats arrived on the Lunenburg schooners from Nova Scotia.Dry goods often came from Montreal. One man Captain Timothy Collins ofCarmanville often brought supplies in a schooner called the Radio City.Sometimes, freight would arrive at Lewisporte on the train and Mr. McKennawould go pick it up. He had three boats over the years for this purpose. Theywere named Miss Barbara, the Pay-Off, and the Walter Lynn.On November 24, 1970, Mr. McKenna lost the Pay-Off in the Blind Ticklebetween Port Albert and Change Islands. The engine failed and the boatdrifted onto the rocks. At the time, 'young' Joe Lynch and Will McKenna werewith him. They got in a row boat, went ashore and ran all the way to PortAlbert for help. In those days, the telephone system was not as good as it isnow. In fact, the two young men used the 'old CNT' phones to reach FogoIsland. When the men in Island Harbour heard about the wreck, they got intheir big trap boats and went to help Mr. McKenna and the two boys. Thesinking of the Pay-Off with all of her cargo, was a terrible loss for thebusiness. However, it was not enough to destroy it.The McKennas had the first electric lights in Island Harbour. They alsosupplied electricity to their neighbors. Mrs. McKenna recalls how the men gottogether and 'stuck the poles' and did the wiring themselves.Later, the McKenna family purchased an eight thousand watt generator. Thisgenerator was more powerful than their first, and could run washing machinesand other appliances. This was a blessing for the women in the area becauseit saved them from using the 'wash board'. The generator would be turned onin the morning and would not be turned off until the ladies finished theirwashing. To let the McKennas know when they were finished, the womenwould raise a flag on the hill. When they did this, the McKennas knew theycould turn off the generator!