Traditional Lifetime Stories: Gertrude Smith

Gertrude Smith was born in East Preston in 1898. Her parents were also born in East Preston. Of her grandparents she recalled that her information was that they came as slaves, presumably from the United States and that they lived in Maroon Hill before moving to East Preston.

Of her parents, Gertrude said that her mother was literate but that her father had very little education. He relied on his children for any reading or writing.

Her father worked on the farms of white people in Cole Harbor tending livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs and horses) and tilling the gardens. When her father had saved some money, he bought a house and a hay barn from Benson Smithers, a black minister in the community.

Gertrude remembered her school teachers, one Mr. Gemmond from the West Indies and Martha Jones from Truro. Hers was the famous one-room school with classes from grades 1-9.

She recalled the visits to the community by black baptist ministers, like Rev. Dixon who came from Africville. He would come on a Saturday night, stay with friends and conduct the evening service on Sunday. According to Gertrude Smith there was no morning service on Sunday at that time.