AUSTIN AND ALICE BOLGER

One of the more senior couples that we at St. Ann's still call our own is Alice and Austin Bolger. Although they now reside on Spring Park Road in Charlottetown, they always return to Our parish for community ' functions. Their sons, Ronald and Brian, although living elsewhere, still retain the family homestead.

Austin was born on the North Road in 1908. Alice (nee Trainor) was born on the Center Road in 1913. Austin vividly recalls the old brick Church where he says Father Dalton frequently reminded parishioners not to spend too much time standing around for fear they would get a brick on the head. The Church played a very important role in the lives of the people growing up in this era. Mass was at 10 o'clock on Sunday morn- ing and usually it was followed by Benediction; the children would then return to the Church in the afternoon for religion classes. Forty Hours was usually held at the end of the harvest season. This was one of the most important celebrations in the year for the parish. Parishioners kept vigil with the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night, and it was very important that you got to church during this time. People had very strong Faith and their celebration of this Faith was of utmost importance.

Some of the fondest memories of growing up in St. Ann's center around the Annual Tea Party, the Basket Socials and the St. Patrick's Plays. These were all events that gave the community an opportunity to get together and have a lot of fun. There was always an element of com- petition, especially at the Basket Socials, but almost everyone participat- ed in some way.

Austin and Alice were married in Hope River in 1936 and raised their family of four — Ronald, Catherine, Brian and Phyllis, in the community that they would always call home. Today as they look back on those years, they consider them to have been good ones. The community was a close—knit community where people helped each other at the farm work and in the woods. You always knew that you had people around you who really cared; that true feeling of hospitality is still evi- dent today when you return to St. Ann's.

Austin & Alice Bolger

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