A few years ago Charlotte woke me up one night because she thought there was something up on the house. So a bear goes up on the house on my ladder. When his foot hit the plank, what a rumpus! (6) I looked out through the window and saw the bear down by the dock. Great big old fellow. It was a polar bear. He had been right up over us. It was a wonder he didn't burst on down through. I'm going to tell you the truth and the truth is best to be told. I wouldn't have even known only for the one that was with me. He wouldn't have frightened me if he jumped down along side of me as long as he never bite me. I'm not afraid of anything on four legs!

James Poole & Elijah Strangemore Photo courtesy of Keith Poole

James Poole, the man on the right in this photo, is my grandfather and the other man is my great Uncle Elijah Strangemore. James was married to Elijah's sister, Mary. James was born on March 31, 1891, and he died on June 14, 1965, before I was born. His father's name was Joe and his grandfather's name was James as well. This is the James who is mentioned in the Moss diary of the mid 1830's. He worked in Battle Harbour for several years under Messrs' Slade & Co.. Afterwards he moved to Boat Harbour and began fishing. He married a lady by the name of Providence and started a family. One of his sons was Joe. He was born in Seal Bight and married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Chubbs. In 1853, the only two families in Seal Bight were Chubbs and Poole They raised a family and one of their children was also named James (my grandfather). My grandfather was a great hunter, trapper and fisherman. He lived at Riverhead, St. Lewis' Bay, during winter and moved to Fox Harbour during the summer to fish. He married Mary Strangemore and raised eight children, one of which died at an early age.

He travelled the country for 42 years as a trapper. His brother, Arthur Poole, also travelled the country with him, at times along with Elijah Strangemore. He was my grandfather's brother (Arthur is Brent Poole's great grandfather.) He pulled a country cart(7) behind him attached to a piece of rope or seal skin. He had tilts built at several points along his trap line, usually at about a days hike apart, which extended all the way to the Quebec - Labrador border. Grandfather stood 6'2" tall and I don't believe Elijah was much shorter. There were many people in the area at that time who were named Jim, so to avoid confusion everyone just referred to him as 'Country Jim'. He was a very comical man and dearly loved to tell stories about his adventures in the country. I can only wish I had got to know him on a personal level as a grandparent.

6 Rumpus - loud noise

7 Country cart - komatik