Cupids Cove Chatter

The Riddle Fence – Cupids 400 Anniversary Special Ed.

Originally uploaded by John Guy2010

On June 24th at the Cupids Legacy Centre, “The Cupids 400th Anniversary Special Edition” of the Riddle Fence was launched. The Riddle Fence is a Newfoundland-based journal of arts and culture, published three times yearly by Riddle Fence Inc.

During the evening,  a number of presentations were made based on the Special Edition of the Riddle Fence.  William Gilbert, chief archaeologist with the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation, who directed the survey which led to the discovery of the Cupids Cove Plantation Site in 1995, presented his article: “Seventeenth Century Cupids and the Written Record.”  Matthew House is a tenth generation Newfoundlander who has always enjoyed stories his grandparents told. He presented “Dust of Ancestors.”

Members of the editorial board of Riddle Fence made presentations, as well.  Shoshanna Wingate presented “Esssay by Amanda Jernigan.” Mark Callanan, managing editor, presented “Selected Poetry.”  He read several poems by Robert Hayman’s  book of poetry Quodlibets.  Hayman was governor of Bristol’s Hope and his book of poetry which was printed in 1628, was the first book of poetry written in English in the New World.

Photos from Riddle Fence: Cupids 400 Anniversary Special Edition Launch >>

Cupids 400

Welcome to Cupids Cove Chatter. We will be  informing you about the 400th Anniversary celebrations of the Birth of English Canada in Cupids, Newfoundland and Labrador.

In August 1610, John Guy and a group of 39 English settlers started the first official English colony in what is today the country of Canada and one of the first European settlements in North America.  Although the 21st century is far removed from the 17th century in time, there are similarities between our world and the world of John Guy’s colonists.

Colonists Kept Journals, Wrote Letters and Books – We Text, Tweet and Blog

The 17th century colonists kept journals and wrote letters and books.  Today, the mass media is becoming less important and communication has been returned to the individual, who texts. blogs, tweets, comments,  produces Facebook entries, and YouTubes.

As governor, John Guy kept a journal, and  Henry Crout kept what he called “A Weather Journal” which recorded day to day events.  Cupids Cove Chatter, in a similar way, provides description and commentary on the upcoming and ongoing events occurring in the town of Cupids and throughout the Northern Avalon – St. John’s Region.

Will Our Records Last?

The colonists’  journals, letters, documents, and books, which have been preserved mainly by the  University of Nottingham and Lambeth Palace Library, assisted William Gilbert and his archaeological team to pinpoint the exact location of John Guy’s colony. The year 2010 in Cupids will be well recorded.  Will someone be able to see and hear our records in 2410 as we can read the journals and other documents from 1610?