Knowlesville’s history alive through its people
- local history night and inter-generational Jamboree Feb 1st 2011
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I walk in the darkness towards the cozily lit-up Church. The shades of warm orange and red alongside a cooling turquoise reflect through the windows.

As the space fills with people, old and young, one gets a glimpse of the makers of Knowlesville history: we are a group varying from the elderly, whose roots in the area stretch generations back, into the back-to-the-landers of the 60’s and 70’s and the more recent newcomers of today.
As the group begins to discuss their memories of times gone past, a wealth of stories pop up. Terry Bromley recalls his grandmother’s house as the one where the telephone was – his grandmother being the operator “24/7”. Every Thursday, a grocery truck would come from Hartland. Terry remembers the shelves of salt, sugar and other staples moving “on wheels” and stopping at each house in his childhood neighborhood. George Wasson, from his part, remembers train lines that were active close by and a train that used to run from McAdam to St John every day.

Time has brought many changes. Donna White, a schoolteacher born in Armond, recalls the changes that have happened in school system. Back when several age groups were in the same classroom, kids had more freedom and could help each other. “Now they all need to be spoonfed. Earlier, they learned a lot more.”

NEWCOMERS’ STORIES

Jean Arnold, a newcomer of the 70’s, shares her and her partner Ernst’s adventurous meetings with a porcupine family living upstairs of their new home, as well as their first chicken coop set up in the upstairs bed room (Don’t try this yourself, Jean advises young homesteaders).

Today, many young people have entered Knowlesville through the doors of Falls Brook Centre, a sustainable living and education centre, a realization of Jean Arnold’s long-lived dream. Pioneers for this younger generation are Leland and Tegan Wong-Daugherty, who even have built several straw bale houses to the community. Tegan remembers being impressed by the practical life style in Falls Brook, after her long and theoretical college studies.
Today, a straw-bale house has even been raised to Alison Shurvell and her partner Dana Kittilsen, who both found Knowlesville through Falls Brook.

Emily Shapiro tells he remembers well how she attended the birth of Triva, a new born baby for Yolande and Lee Clark. “I grew up in Vancouver, BC”, Yolande tells, “and my friends told me I’d hate it here in this isolated place. But I feel so fortunate to be in this spaciousness, to see the stars”.

Our sharing ends in an open jamboree where the old and young are playing and singing together. Many people agree Knowlesville to be a special place, where people still gather and do things together. This evening has proved the common activities can also stretch through generations.

CHERISHING KNOWLESVILLE LOCAL HISTORY

The KAN Centre wishes to have any recollections, pictures, clips and stories you might have in store of the colorful Knowlesville past. Please share your experience with all the rest of us – this way we can gather and present this knowledge and local lore in our beautiful community space!

A more thorough write-up of the stories shared during history night will be posted on the wall in the KAN centre and stored in the KAN computer archives.