Thistle, Betty. Interview about her life in Mount Pearl and St. John's.

Betty Thistle talks about her memories of summers spent in Mount Pearl Park in the 1930's, living in St. John's, and the beginning of World War II00:00 - Betty Thistle talks about Rupert and Roland Morris who owned all of Glendale; Her father bought land from one of the Morris brothers; 03:18 - Places named after the Morris family; 03:50 - Talks about her childhood. Born in 1931 the same year her parents built the cottage in what is now Mount Pearl; Spent every summer there until 1942; What was in the area; 05:22 - Talks about Twin Falls and learning to swim; Other activities; 06:12 - Calls the area a “rustic community”, how many families were there, and where the houses were; 08:06 - Talks about the men forming a country club a the tennis club pavilion and what activities happened there; 09:47 - Being an only child; her grandmother; her family tree; 11:56 - Leisure activities, traveling in her uncle's car, going to Seal Cove for picnics; 13:15 - Talks about the James Pearl estate which was abandoned; Tells story of shining flashlights on people skinny dipping at Twin Falls; Seeing a drunk man at the swimming pool shouting at people; 16:32 - Talks about where her family home was located, bordered by Park Avenue, the railroad, and Valley View Avenue; Describes the home; 19:29 - Tells story about saving money and walking to Ruby Lester’s on Topsail Road to get a hot dog and a drink; American soldiers coming to Mount Pearl with their families for picnics. The first time she had a hamburger; 22:06 - Talks about people living in the area year round; 23:15 - Where most of the homes were at that time, the streets; 26:42 - In the winter they lived at the top of Springdale street in St. John’s; Went to Holloway School and Prince of Wales College; 29:00 - Talks about their uniforms at school; the boys and girls having separate classes; 31:42 - Music lessons; 32:58 - Talks about gardens in Mount Pearl, and tells story about stealing strawberries; 35:57 - Talks about getting mail in St. John’s; 38:12 - Thistle talks about the lack of doctors; home remedies; Tells story about her father injuring his hand and having to go to St. John’s for treatment; 42:15 - Tells story of her uncle taking her for a drive and she remembers tall towers and an area enclosed by wire. There was a person inside, and her uncle told her to stay away because he was “a wasn’t a good man.”; 44:58 - Does not remember any council except the men at the country club; 46:39 - Talks about a family whose cat had kittens and getting to keep a kitten; 51:33 - Changes in Mount Pearl; 56:29 - Remembers when WW2 was declared; Goes back to talking about changes, other people who lived in the area