tales-of-Fogo-Island

Wedding TalesWhen Mr. James Greene of Tilting was married, he and his new bride plannedto ride a horse drawn cart from the church after the ceremony.In those days, people fired guns into the air when new couples came out ofthe church. Just as the new Mr. and Mrs. Greene were about to get into thecart, someone fired a gun. Their Newfoundland Pony was spooked and tookoff down the road with Mr. Greene in the cart. Mrs. Greene was left behindand had to get another ride to the reception!When Mr. and Mrs. Brendon McKenna were married, they had to journey toanother community because there was no priest in Island Harbour. Mrs.McKenna recalls the details of her wedding day:We were married on the 24th of November 1947. In them times, thepeople had to go to the priest to get married. The only priest was inTilting, so we got Mick Butt's boat and went as far as Joe Batt's Arm. Wedid not travel on to Tilting by boat because 'twas in the fall of the yearand it would be rough going around Round Head. We landed in JoeBatt's Arm and left to walk to Tilting on a slide path.While we were on our way, it started to peck rain. Then it came down inbuckets. As it happened, there was someone in Sandy Cove with a horseand cart. They picked us up and carried us to Tilting.We went to the home of Mrs. Christina Broders and changed our clothesbefore going to the church. After we were married, we went back to Mrs.Chris's again and changed our clothes for the trip back home. We alsohad something to eat before we left. When we got to Joe Batt's Arm, Mrs.Francis Penton had a big cooked dinner for us, - you know, with thecorned pork and vegetables and everything! However, it was gettingdark and we could not stay to eat the meal. Mrs. Penton put it all in acontainer and gave it to us to take aboard the boat.When we got back to Island Harbour, the 'tea' was at my mother's houseand the dance was in the school. In them times it was the square dance.Twas daylight before it was over! We had the time of our lives! I believethat those were better times. Everything was enjoyable.