A Beacon at Christmas

A lighthouse is a beacon for ships in the darkness, a safe harbour, a shelter. From 1914 to 1960 Hubert Abbott lived at Cape Bonavista. He began working the fog alarm, then was promoted to assistant Lightkeeper, then finally Lightkeeper.

The lighthouse was more than a place of work for Abbott. It was also home for his family - his wife Sarah and 11 children: Sophie, Fred, Joe, Jack, Meta, Phyllis, Elizabeth, Winnie, Una, Hubert Jr. and Ruby.

And at Christmas time, their home was a beacon not just for ships at sea, but for the lonely and poor. The lighthouse became an open house as the family celebrated the spirit of Christmas.

Back then, sisters Ruby, Una and Elizabeth (Abbott) recall, the weather was much worse than it is today. Usually each year before Christmas there would be heavy snow, keeping folks out of town for sometimes as high as two weeks.

Being so far from Bonavista, there were many things Hubert and Sarah had to compromise on. Drinking water, for instance, was sometimes a task in itself. The nearest well was half a mile up the road and through heavy snow. A dog slide was used to haul the water, pulled by an ever-faithful canine.

Whenever the half-mile was impassable due to the snow, Hubert and Sarah and their children would melt snow for drinking. If freezing rain occured, all the better. The glitter scraped from the rocks provided delicious drinking water after it melted.

"The first hint of Christmas was probably Mother in the kitchen baking Christmas cakes," recalls Una. She remembers being sent outdoors to go sliding until ten o'clock at night, "so Mother could bake without noise and movement. After all, sudden movements can cause the most perfect cake to drop or flatten."

The season didn't really begin until Christmas Eve. Hubert would go up the road a little way, pick out two trees and bring them home. One tree would be good, the other raggedy and bare. He would then begin the process of creating the perfect tree. He would first drill holes in the good tree and insert limbs and boughs from the raggedy tree into it. By the time he was finished, the tree was a masterpiece.

From green and red tin foil they would cut out hearts, diamonds and spades. Sarah would then stitch pieces together to form ornaments. There were no lights, just what Elizabeth and Una refer to as dummy lights or old fashioned ornaments. Sometimes a lantern was placed behind the tree to give it a warm glow. There was a star-shaped treetop and lots of tinsel.

Christmas morning Sarah would get up bright and early to prepare Christmas dinner. There was no turkey, the girls recalls. Usually the dinner consisted of a goat, a sheep, birds or fresh pork, all of which the Abbotts raised themselves. The main course was served with vegetables from their own garden. There would also be salt fat pork, steamed puddings and peas pudding.

The Abbott sisters recall that most times Christmas dinner was a table set for 20 or more. With an American Army Base on the Cape, many young men became like family and shared many meals and Christmases with the Abbotts.

Gifts were not as elaborate as today. One toy, sometimes handmade, was a lot to be thankful for. Other gifts consisted of clothes or things badly needed.

Elizabeth remembers her first doll was made from a nylon stocking with two buttons for eyes and a button for the nose.

For the days of Christmas thereafter there was plenty of celebrating to be done. There was always company. Folks would come by and say, "I've come for me Christmas." There would be carols sung, an accordian playing, square dancing, lots of cake and syrup. The sisters remember how sometimes three or four would pile into the rocking chair in the parlour just to sing carols and watch the tree.

Of course, an old-fashioned Christmas wouldn't be the same without the mummers. People who lived nearby on the Cape would dress in odd clothing to come and dance and sing. Sometimes a few brave souls from Bonavista who challenge the walk to the Cape for a Christmas party at the Lighthouse.

Games were a central part of the fun. One game the sisters remember consisted of tying apples to pieces of string and hanging them from the ceiling. The object of the game was to see who could bite the most pieces from them.

Hubert also hand made games to keep the kids and the company happy. One game in particular was made from wood and resembled a modern day pin ball machine.

It was the generosity of their parents, however, that ensured the true meaning of Christmas was celebrated at the Cape.

For Hubert and Sarah, the season was surely about giving.

The Abbott sisters tell of how much their father would give away to those who needed it. Regardless of the need, Hubert Abbott would try to meet it. Whether it be food, clothing, warmth or shelter, the Abbotts saw to it that needs were met.

The daughters recount the story of how her mother once gave away Hubert's new suit of winter underwear, and how her father once gave away his coat. For the Abbott family, Christmas was a 12-month experience, not just 12 days.

Elizabeth, Ruby and Una say though they didn't have much, these were happy times. It was all about family and friends, a time where it didn't matter who or how many sat around the table, as long as there was joy and laughter.

The lighthouse has long been regarded as a beacon in the darkness for ships passing in the night. During the days of the lightkeepers, the red and white building standing in solitude at the edge of Cape Bonavista was a beacon of generosity and togetherness, especially at Christmas.

Valerie Ploughman, originally from Bonavista, lives in Torbay. This story was originally published in The Packet December, 1996.