The family history provided was written by Jim Nugent, my father-in-law's first cousin. The family tree was built by two other cousins: Betty Groenink and Alan Nugent. We've only recently discovered the Nugents, who have warmly welcomed us to the family.
Patrick Bernard Nugent & Bridget (Duke) Nugent
By Jim Nugent, December 2, 2011
Background:
Much of what follows was told to me by my Dad, Tony (Michael Anthony Nugent) and my Mom, Leora (nee Niddrie) Nugent, with other historical details from cousins Allan Nugent, Betty Groenick, and Aiden Nugent, uncles Terry Nugent and Al Nugent, and brother Bob Nugent. A letter written from my grandfather Bernard in 1938 to his brother Leo Nugent in Newfoundland has proven extremely helpful. Other helpful recorded information is available from aunt May Russell (nee Nugent), who I suspect also wrote Bernard's obituary. As this is a work in progress that has no end date, its likely that further sources of information will be added as time goes on. For the sake of creating this narrative I have tried to blend these together, with apologies to Allan Nugent for taking liberties with the organization of his much appreciated historical background. The purpose of this biography is to begin a narrative of our Nugent history for our generation and our descendents. Stories of the children of Bernard and Bridget are minimal in this narrative, as they hopefully will be the subject of individual biographies by their families at some future time.
Much of what follows was told to me by my Dad, Tony (Michael Anthony Nugent) and my Mom, Leora (nee Niddrie) Nugent, with other historical details from cousins Allan Nugent, Betty Groenick, and Aiden Nugent, uncles Terry Nugent and Al Nugent, and brother Bob Nugent. A letter written from my grandfather Bernard in 1938 to his brother Leo Nugent in Newfoundland has proven extremely helpful. Other helpful recorded information is available from aunt May Russell (nee Nugent), who I suspect also wrote Bernard's obituary. As this is a work in progress that has no end date, its likely that further sources of information will be added as time goes on. For the sake of creating this narrative I have tried to blend these together, with apologies to Allan Nugent for taking liberties with the organization of his much appreciated historical background. The purpose of this biography is to begin a narrative of our Nugent history for our generation and our descendents. Stories of the children of Bernard and Bridget are minimal in this narrative, as they hopefully will be the subject of individual biographies by their families at some future time.
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The Bernard Nugent Family History
My grandfather, who went by his middle name of Bernard, was born July 7, 1884 in Kelligrews, Newfoundland, about 50 km. west of St. John's. His father, ie. my great grandfather, was William James Nugent (1840 – Dec. 1, 1895), who in turn was one of five sons of Edward (Irish Ned) Nugent, my great, great grandfather and the first Nugent to settle in Kelligrews. William died from TB when Bernard was eleven years old, and is buried in the Kelligrews cemetery. I do not have any other information about William's life.
Bernard's mother, Elizabeth L. Mahoney (October, 1845 – Jan.24, 1929), left Kelligrews some time later, but was listed in a 1921 census as living close to Kelligrews in the community of Lower Gullies (later called Riverdale) with her son Leo and his wife Rachel. Her burial site is unknown, and I have no information about the Mahoney family. William and Elizabeth had ten children - three girls and seven boys - with Bernard being the third youngest of the ten. This presumably would make it a little easier for him to leave home later when he was only about age 18 as his mother would have the care and attention of several older siblings.
There is no information to indicate how close he was to his mother or siblings. Bernard described himself to his family in later years as having been a quiet, wellbehaved youth. However, his son Bernie (Bernard Leo) was told by relatives in Kelligrews that his father Bernard was quite the "scrapper. Both views may have had Some truth. He was physically strong, though only about 5' 9" tall. Despite an overall quiet, soft-spoken nature, Bernard voiced his opinions when they mattered to him. He left home in 1902, returned for a visit in 1906 and then apparently did not return until 1951, when a story in the Grand Falls newspaper related the story of him meeting his brother Michael Joseph Nugent for the first time in 49 years. When he returned to the family home in 1951 Bernard remembered that he had left home rather abruptly many years before, apparently sent out to fetch some firewood but just never coming back to the house. Accordingly, when he got to the house in 1951 he picked up some wood and carried it into the house. His brother Leo looked up, saw him and said “That took you long enough Bernard'. This certainly suggests that his initial departure may not have been a happy one. This trip home was only of brief duration, as apparently Bernard and Bridget got upset with each other and curtailed their trip.
From Newfoundland he went to Nova Scotia (likely in 1902), and did not leave it permanently until 1909. However, he and his brother James Joseph apparently worked on a railway at one time in an effort to go West, according to family stories, and he was known to be in Brandon in 1906. He certainly returned to Nova Scotia, as he married my grandmother Bridget (sometimes called Bride) Duke in a catholic church in New Aberdeen, Nova Scotia on October 16, 1907. The church later burned down.
Bridget had been born in Fox Harbour, Newfoundland on December 7, 1884, daughter of Issac Duke (1851 - 1911) and his wife Mary Josephine Dreadly (1853-1929). I have no information on Bridget's early life or family, except that my Dad told me that he visited his mother's brother in Boston when his (Dad's) Canadian naval corvette docked there during World War 2. Fox Harbour is a village of about 400 people situated about 90 minutes south-west of St.John's by car. The village cemetery is on the elevated plateau over-looking the village and contains the graves of Bridget's parents (my great grandparents).
Bernard was involved with coal mining in Nova Scotia and appalled by the working conditions for the miners, with the result that he became active in mine reform and unionism. He was awoken one night to find armed men in his bedroom, pointing guns at him and telling him that if he was not out of the province within 24 hours he would be shot. The constabulary may have been local or possibly members of the Dominion Police, an Eastern Canadian police force which was merged with the Royal North West Police to form the RCMP about 1920. Whether these officers were operating under instructions from the mine owners or not is unknown, but seems likely. The date of this event is unknown, but the threat was taken seriously by Bernard. I do not know if this occurred at the time of his rail trip to the west in 1906 or later, leading to the westward move of he and Bridget which occurred in 1909
By August 1910 Bernard and Bridget were in Gateway, Montana, applying for admission to the United States, and shortly after they were in Russell, Idaho, where their first child and only daughter - Elizabeth Mary (May) - was born October 23, 1910. Although May was the first living child, the story in the family was that Bernard and Bridget had lost their first baby, though its unknown if the baby died in infancy, or was stillborn. Bernard's brother Jim (James) lived in Russell with his wife Adelia (they had two children: Ellen - who ended up in Spokane, and Jimmy - in Seattle, both now deceased), and it appears the initial plan was for Bernard and Bridget to stay there. However, Adelia was a divorcee and Bridget a staunch Catholic. It would not be the last time that Bridget would have difficulty getting along with others, and as a result she and Bernard returned to Canada.
He worked in the Crowsnest Pass area (possibly Sparwood), then settled in the small coal mining community of Rock Springs, just outside Taber in Southern Alberta in 1911. Today, there is nothing but uneven rolling grassland to be seen where Rock Springs stood. They remained there for several years, and Bernards interest in politics led to him serving on the town council and district School board. Seven of their last eight children (all boys) were born there, though the official birthplace is listed as Taber:
Some of the boys were similar to Bernard in height, being relatively short (approx. 5'9"). This included Ian, Will, and Bernie. Pat and Tony were the tallest at about 6'1 1/2."
In 1920 Bernard moved to Drumheller as manager of the Midwest Colleries until the mine was worked out in 1927. He must have been commuting intermittently the 130 miles to Rock Springs for a few years, as my own Dad was born in Rock Springs in 1922. The ninth and last child, Lawrence Benedict (Larry) was born in Drumheller December 6, 1924.
By 1927 the family was on the move again, this time to Camrose, Alberta, as Bernard was appointed District Inspector of Mines by the Alberta government that year and remained the resident inspector at Camrose for ten years. They probably lived in a few different places in Camrose, but their main home was a rental house at 4912 – 57" street, close to the local golf course at the northwest edge of town. The home stands there today, well maintained and only slightly altered in its external contours.
The Nugent boys had their share of Scraps while growing up, doing a lot of fighting with each other and likely with others, in Taber, Drumheller and Camrose. This was part of the reason Bernard wanted a house at the outskirts of town. Rough-housing Was frequent. During one fight, one of the boys lifted his shovel above his head in preparation for nailing one of his brothers, but in his haste the shovel slipped from his grasp and Sailed back over his head and Smashed one of the windows in the house. The fight was immediately over as all the boys took off to escape their mother's wrath. Another time, two or three were finally getting an edge in a fight with Will when Bernard arrived home and stopped them, causing one of the boys to lament “Gee Dad, just when I was about to break his back” Will, by the way, went on to become top dog in one of the coal mines, a title held by the man who could out-fight all comers in the mine. His fighting training at home was paying off. Of the Nugent brothers, only Ian was strong enough to hold his own against Will.
My grandfather, who went by his middle name of Bernard, was born July 7, 1884 in Kelligrews, Newfoundland, about 50 km. west of St. John's. His father, ie. my great grandfather, was William James Nugent (1840 – Dec. 1, 1895), who in turn was one of five sons of Edward (Irish Ned) Nugent, my great, great grandfather and the first Nugent to settle in Kelligrews. William died from TB when Bernard was eleven years old, and is buried in the Kelligrews cemetery. I do not have any other information about William's life.
Bernard's mother, Elizabeth L. Mahoney (October, 1845 – Jan.24, 1929), left Kelligrews some time later, but was listed in a 1921 census as living close to Kelligrews in the community of Lower Gullies (later called Riverdale) with her son Leo and his wife Rachel. Her burial site is unknown, and I have no information about the Mahoney family. William and Elizabeth had ten children - three girls and seven boys - with Bernard being the third youngest of the ten. This presumably would make it a little easier for him to leave home later when he was only about age 18 as his mother would have the care and attention of several older siblings.
There is no information to indicate how close he was to his mother or siblings. Bernard described himself to his family in later years as having been a quiet, wellbehaved youth. However, his son Bernie (Bernard Leo) was told by relatives in Kelligrews that his father Bernard was quite the "scrapper. Both views may have had Some truth. He was physically strong, though only about 5' 9" tall. Despite an overall quiet, soft-spoken nature, Bernard voiced his opinions when they mattered to him. He left home in 1902, returned for a visit in 1906 and then apparently did not return until 1951, when a story in the Grand Falls newspaper related the story of him meeting his brother Michael Joseph Nugent for the first time in 49 years. When he returned to the family home in 1951 Bernard remembered that he had left home rather abruptly many years before, apparently sent out to fetch some firewood but just never coming back to the house. Accordingly, when he got to the house in 1951 he picked up some wood and carried it into the house. His brother Leo looked up, saw him and said “That took you long enough Bernard'. This certainly suggests that his initial departure may not have been a happy one. This trip home was only of brief duration, as apparently Bernard and Bridget got upset with each other and curtailed their trip.
From Newfoundland he went to Nova Scotia (likely in 1902), and did not leave it permanently until 1909. However, he and his brother James Joseph apparently worked on a railway at one time in an effort to go West, according to family stories, and he was known to be in Brandon in 1906. He certainly returned to Nova Scotia, as he married my grandmother Bridget (sometimes called Bride) Duke in a catholic church in New Aberdeen, Nova Scotia on October 16, 1907. The church later burned down.
Bridget had been born in Fox Harbour, Newfoundland on December 7, 1884, daughter of Issac Duke (1851 - 1911) and his wife Mary Josephine Dreadly (1853-1929). I have no information on Bridget's early life or family, except that my Dad told me that he visited his mother's brother in Boston when his (Dad's) Canadian naval corvette docked there during World War 2. Fox Harbour is a village of about 400 people situated about 90 minutes south-west of St.John's by car. The village cemetery is on the elevated plateau over-looking the village and contains the graves of Bridget's parents (my great grandparents).
Bernard was involved with coal mining in Nova Scotia and appalled by the working conditions for the miners, with the result that he became active in mine reform and unionism. He was awoken one night to find armed men in his bedroom, pointing guns at him and telling him that if he was not out of the province within 24 hours he would be shot. The constabulary may have been local or possibly members of the Dominion Police, an Eastern Canadian police force which was merged with the Royal North West Police to form the RCMP about 1920. Whether these officers were operating under instructions from the mine owners or not is unknown, but seems likely. The date of this event is unknown, but the threat was taken seriously by Bernard. I do not know if this occurred at the time of his rail trip to the west in 1906 or later, leading to the westward move of he and Bridget which occurred in 1909
By August 1910 Bernard and Bridget were in Gateway, Montana, applying for admission to the United States, and shortly after they were in Russell, Idaho, where their first child and only daughter - Elizabeth Mary (May) - was born October 23, 1910. Although May was the first living child, the story in the family was that Bernard and Bridget had lost their first baby, though its unknown if the baby died in infancy, or was stillborn. Bernard's brother Jim (James) lived in Russell with his wife Adelia (they had two children: Ellen - who ended up in Spokane, and Jimmy - in Seattle, both now deceased), and it appears the initial plan was for Bernard and Bridget to stay there. However, Adelia was a divorcee and Bridget a staunch Catholic. It would not be the last time that Bridget would have difficulty getting along with others, and as a result she and Bernard returned to Canada.
He worked in the Crowsnest Pass area (possibly Sparwood), then settled in the small coal mining community of Rock Springs, just outside Taber in Southern Alberta in 1911. Today, there is nothing but uneven rolling grassland to be seen where Rock Springs stood. They remained there for several years, and Bernards interest in politics led to him serving on the town council and district School board. Seven of their last eight children (all boys) were born there, though the official birthplace is listed as Taber:
- Isaac Alphonse (Ian) - March 2, 1912
- William Bernard (Will or Bill) - November 23, 1913
- Patrick Francis (Pat) - June 14, 1915
- Bernard Leo (Birney or Bernie or Barney) - April 11, 1917
- Cornelius Alonzo Joseph (Al ) - December 2, 1918
- Terence James (Terry) - December 9, 1920
- Michael Anthony (Tony) - February 18, 1922
Some of the boys were similar to Bernard in height, being relatively short (approx. 5'9"). This included Ian, Will, and Bernie. Pat and Tony were the tallest at about 6'1 1/2."
In 1920 Bernard moved to Drumheller as manager of the Midwest Colleries until the mine was worked out in 1927. He must have been commuting intermittently the 130 miles to Rock Springs for a few years, as my own Dad was born in Rock Springs in 1922. The ninth and last child, Lawrence Benedict (Larry) was born in Drumheller December 6, 1924.
By 1927 the family was on the move again, this time to Camrose, Alberta, as Bernard was appointed District Inspector of Mines by the Alberta government that year and remained the resident inspector at Camrose for ten years. They probably lived in a few different places in Camrose, but their main home was a rental house at 4912 – 57" street, close to the local golf course at the northwest edge of town. The home stands there today, well maintained and only slightly altered in its external contours.
The Nugent boys had their share of Scraps while growing up, doing a lot of fighting with each other and likely with others, in Taber, Drumheller and Camrose. This was part of the reason Bernard wanted a house at the outskirts of town. Rough-housing Was frequent. During one fight, one of the boys lifted his shovel above his head in preparation for nailing one of his brothers, but in his haste the shovel slipped from his grasp and Sailed back over his head and Smashed one of the windows in the house. The fight was immediately over as all the boys took off to escape their mother's wrath. Another time, two or three were finally getting an edge in a fight with Will when Bernard arrived home and stopped them, causing one of the boys to lament “Gee Dad, just when I was about to break his back” Will, by the way, went on to become top dog in one of the coal mines, a title held by the man who could out-fight all comers in the mine. His fighting training at home was paying off. Of the Nugent brothers, only Ian was strong enough to hold his own against Will.
Dad mentioned to me a few times how patient his Dad was in dealing with his rambunctious sons. One diversion Bernard tried to use was to re-direct their energy to the near-by golf course. At one time he even held an official position at the course, possibly involved with greenskeeping, and in 1936 he had a hole-in-one. Tony and Terry were the biggest converts to golf, an interest they held for the rest of their lives. They also made Some spending money on the golf course by Wading into the murky water hazards, feeling for golf balls with their feet. These would be cleaned and freshly painted, then sold for 5 cents each. With only 14 months difference in age and similar interests, Dad and Terry spent a lot of time together and seemed to be the only two of the siblings who did pal around to any extent.
The children started to go their individual ways during those years in Camrose. May and Ian went to Normal school to become teachers; May had her first teaching job I believe by age 16, in the town of Strom, and Ian left teaching to go into cattle ranching in Bashaw. Al left home to ride the railway across Canada about age 16, not to return for two years. Bernie also spent some time on the rails, likely in 1931, including a visit to a Nugent cousin in Nova Scotia. He (Bernie) apparently was expelled from high School several times but would go on to an engineering degree after the War. Some of the boys worked for a little while in the coal mines, particularly Will, who stayed with it longer. Pat was starting to develop his skills as a pool player. The younger ones - Terry, Tony and Larry -would still be in the family home when the time came to leave Camrose for Edmonton about 1938. Inspector for the Province of Alberta, and did some writing for the Camrose Canadian newspaper. At one point he had to be quarantined at home after getting sick from the water stored in the water tank in the basement of the house, a problem that Uncle Al told me was explained when they found dead rats in the tank.
For Bridget, life was mainly work, cooking and cleaning for her large family, with Bernard often away inspecting mines. Dad said a few times how he remembered his Mom making three pies in a day, only to see all three eaten that day. No doubt it was not a good situation for May, as being the oldest child and only daughter Would mean more pressure to be helping in the house. Luxuries were rare. On a typical Xmas morning the kids would find a row of unwrapped shirts, one for each of them. The house had coal in the basement to heat the stove and to heat the hot water on the stove. The toilet was the backyard outhouse. Unlike Bernard, Bridget was a devout Catholic and attended church regularly, and expected her kids to attend as well. One Sunday, Bernard caught up to Tony and Terry on the golf course to tell them that their mother was upset that they hadn't gone to church. The boys replied that they felt closer to God on the golf course than they did in church, to which Bernard apparently replied “I think I know what you mean'. He never again asked them to attend Church. Al, being younger, probably had to attend longer but was able to make it pay for a while by substituting two nickels for the two quarters that his mother gave him to put on the church collection plate for the family donation, until his ruse was discovered one day when the priest announced how much each family or individual had donated for the month. As far as I know, May was the only one of the children who continued to go to church in later years. Bridget had a negative view of the non-Catholic world, but the antagonism between Catholics and Protestants in Society was generally stronger at that time than it is now, and she was not alone in this view.
The children started to go their individual ways during those years in Camrose. May and Ian went to Normal school to become teachers; May had her first teaching job I believe by age 16, in the town of Strom, and Ian left teaching to go into cattle ranching in Bashaw. Al left home to ride the railway across Canada about age 16, not to return for two years. Bernie also spent some time on the rails, likely in 1931, including a visit to a Nugent cousin in Nova Scotia. He (Bernie) apparently was expelled from high School several times but would go on to an engineering degree after the War. Some of the boys worked for a little while in the coal mines, particularly Will, who stayed with it longer. Pat was starting to develop his skills as a pool player. The younger ones - Terry, Tony and Larry -would still be in the family home when the time came to leave Camrose for Edmonton about 1938. Inspector for the Province of Alberta, and did some writing for the Camrose Canadian newspaper. At one point he had to be quarantined at home after getting sick from the water stored in the water tank in the basement of the house, a problem that Uncle Al told me was explained when they found dead rats in the tank.
For Bridget, life was mainly work, cooking and cleaning for her large family, with Bernard often away inspecting mines. Dad said a few times how he remembered his Mom making three pies in a day, only to see all three eaten that day. No doubt it was not a good situation for May, as being the oldest child and only daughter Would mean more pressure to be helping in the house. Luxuries were rare. On a typical Xmas morning the kids would find a row of unwrapped shirts, one for each of them. The house had coal in the basement to heat the stove and to heat the hot water on the stove. The toilet was the backyard outhouse. Unlike Bernard, Bridget was a devout Catholic and attended church regularly, and expected her kids to attend as well. One Sunday, Bernard caught up to Tony and Terry on the golf course to tell them that their mother was upset that they hadn't gone to church. The boys replied that they felt closer to God on the golf course than they did in church, to which Bernard apparently replied “I think I know what you mean'. He never again asked them to attend Church. Al, being younger, probably had to attend longer but was able to make it pay for a while by substituting two nickels for the two quarters that his mother gave him to put on the church collection plate for the family donation, until his ruse was discovered one day when the priest announced how much each family or individual had donated for the month. As far as I know, May was the only one of the children who continued to go to church in later years. Bridget had a negative view of the non-Catholic world, but the antagonism between Catholics and Protestants in Society was generally stronger at that time than it is now, and she was not alone in this view.
Bridget also suffered from a jealous streak, which made it very difficult for Bernard to speak to any other woman, no matter how innocently. To some extent this also affected her relationships with her daughters-in-law in later years, as she may have seen them as competition for her sons affection. The relationships may have been better with the daughters-in-law who were Catholic.
Bernard had stopped school after grade six but had a thirst for self-education, often reading until late into the night. He had a great interest in politics and probably history, and showed a grasp of science and mathematics. Dad related the story that Bernie was struggling one day with a university engineering homework problem, when Bernard asked to see it, and went on to solve it. Bernie was astounded that his Dad could do this. Bernard challenged his kids to research their opinions. When they gave an opinion on a topic of interest, he would ask them what facts or references they were using to form that opinion. Bernard's desire to improve himself to some extent created a gulf between himself and Bridget that likely hadn't existed before, and may have contributed to her unreasonable jealousy.
Bernard had considerable interest in socialism and Russia, not unexpected for someone who had lived through the times he had, and witnessed the conflicts between miners and mine owners at a time when the working miners had few rights. He had a social conscience and sympathy for the common working man and was vocal in his views on this and other political subjects, and it ended up costing him his job as a provincial mine inspector, a job he had held for over ten years. At that time the Alberta premier, Bible Bill Aberhart, was promoting his idea of giving each Alberta citizen $25 per month to purchase necessities. Bernard told people that they would never see any of this money, and he was correct, but was fired as a result of expressing his views. Bernard gave his version to this effect in a letter to the Camrose Canadian newspaper shortly after he was fired in 1937.
In 1937 the first grandchild was born - Doris - daughter of Bernie and Val.
In 1938 Bernard and Bridget and the children who were still at home moved to Edmonton, buying a house at 9719-77" Ave. and creating apartments within it. At various times different members of the family lived there including Tony, Terry, Pat, Will and his wife Liline, and Larry and his wife Bernice.
In a letter from Alexo dated December, 1938 to his brother Leo in Newfoundland, Bernard stated that he had three of the boys working in the Alexo mine with him - Will, Pat and Bernie. Ian, he wrote, was employed in Bashaw as town clerk and involved with a cattle/hog business. May was teaching and the three youngest boys were home with Bridget. The other son (Alby exclusion) was in Regina.
Bernard had stopped school after grade six but had a thirst for self-education, often reading until late into the night. He had a great interest in politics and probably history, and showed a grasp of science and mathematics. Dad related the story that Bernie was struggling one day with a university engineering homework problem, when Bernard asked to see it, and went on to solve it. Bernie was astounded that his Dad could do this. Bernard challenged his kids to research their opinions. When they gave an opinion on a topic of interest, he would ask them what facts or references they were using to form that opinion. Bernard's desire to improve himself to some extent created a gulf between himself and Bridget that likely hadn't existed before, and may have contributed to her unreasonable jealousy.
Bernard had considerable interest in socialism and Russia, not unexpected for someone who had lived through the times he had, and witnessed the conflicts between miners and mine owners at a time when the working miners had few rights. He had a social conscience and sympathy for the common working man and was vocal in his views on this and other political subjects, and it ended up costing him his job as a provincial mine inspector, a job he had held for over ten years. At that time the Alberta premier, Bible Bill Aberhart, was promoting his idea of giving each Alberta citizen $25 per month to purchase necessities. Bernard told people that they would never see any of this money, and he was correct, but was fired as a result of expressing his views. Bernard gave his version to this effect in a letter to the Camrose Canadian newspaper shortly after he was fired in 1937.
In 1937 the first grandchild was born - Doris - daughter of Bernie and Val.
In 1938 Bernard and Bridget and the children who were still at home moved to Edmonton, buying a house at 9719-77" Ave. and creating apartments within it. At various times different members of the family lived there including Tony, Terry, Pat, Will and his wife Liline, and Larry and his wife Bernice.
In a letter from Alexo dated December, 1938 to his brother Leo in Newfoundland, Bernard stated that he had three of the boys working in the Alexo mine with him - Will, Pat and Bernie. Ian, he wrote, was employed in Bashaw as town clerk and involved with a cattle/hog business. May was teaching and the three youngest boys were home with Bridget. The other son (Alby exclusion) was in Regina.
Bernard remained active in coal mining during Subsequent years:
1938/39 Alexo - coal mine manager
1939 Fraser and Mackay - coal mine manager
1940 Mine Inspector
1941 Rabbit Hill mine -- owner/manager
1942 White Star Mines
1946 Red Hot Coal Company - manager Date uncertain Luscar Collery
1952 Three Hills - Inland Coal Co.
The Rabbit Hill mine just south of Edmonton was financed by Bernard by using everything he had, and having some of his sons work the mine. Ian and Will and possibly other sons had hand dug the 90 foot mine. By some accounts Pat worked for one or two days before quitting. As Bernard and my Dad Tony (who was not one of the boys working the mine) drove out one Sunday to check on it, Bernard called out “Oh no, oh no even before they had driven onto the mine property. He had spotted the Subtle change in the surface land that indicated a cave-in at the mine. He ordered Tony to wait at the mine entrance, under promise not to enter the mine no matter how long Bernard was inside checking the mine. After what seemed like a long time, Bernard returned, confirming the worst. The mine had to be closed down, a financial blow to the family. Fortunately, no one was in the mine at the time.
Throughout his coal mining life, Bernard showed a concern for the ordinary Working miner, and it earned him the respect and trust of those men. There were several stories to that effect, and I will include three here for illustration:
AS Bernard moved into his sixties, he was no longer physically active, and put on a little extra weight. Though a non-smoker and not having other health problems, he had developed coronary heart disease and suffered two coronary heart attacks, the second proving fatal on August 17, 1952 at age 68. My own recollections of my grandfather are vague, as I was just under six years old when he died. I recall him as a quiet, soft-spoken and gentle man. This is in agreement with the memories of my Mom (Leora Nugent). My brother Bob remembers him as quiet and thoughtful, and generous, giving us coins at times.
With Bernard's passing, the family was quite naturally concerned how Bridget would manage. Some time after his death, the family paid for changes to the home of his daughter May and her husband Al Russell, in order that Bridget could live with them, but this arrangement lasted only a relatively short time as Bridget and May could not get along. Bridget lived another six years, with little in the way of social life or friends, though her family was attentive. She was an insulin-dependent diabetic for the last several years of her life, with her diabetes likely not well controlled. She enjoyed chocolate bars and was known to keep them in her purse and fridge. The diabetes robbed her of most of her vision and produced severe loss of circulation in her legs. Like Bernard, she was not a smoker, and was not known to have other significant health problems. In the end, she was admitted to hospital with gangrene of one leg, scheduled for surgery the next morning. She told her family that she would not allow anyone to cut off her leg, setting up a possible showdown in the morning, but this never occurred as she died that night, October 11, 1958 at the age of 73.
Though at times a difficult person to get along with, Bridget was loved by her family. She was a devoted and hard working woman, trying to raise one daughter and eight sons in difficult times, often with Bernard away from home. My childhood image of her is that of a soft spoken, white-haired lady, moderately overweight, with thick-lens glasses, walking with difficulty but mentally intact. She spoke kindly to me but our conversations were short, I suspect due in part to the fact that her near-blindness meant she could hardly see me.
Bernard and Bridget are buried side by side in the south end of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in south Edmonton with flat in-ground markers. They are in the non-consecrated Catholic section, as Bernard apparently was not deemed devout enough by the Church to be buried in the higher ground. I don't think this would bother him, but I suspect he's been hearing about it from Bridget ever since.
Jim Nugent December 2, 2011
1938/39 Alexo - coal mine manager
1939 Fraser and Mackay - coal mine manager
1940 Mine Inspector
1941 Rabbit Hill mine -- owner/manager
1942 White Star Mines
1946 Red Hot Coal Company - manager Date uncertain Luscar Collery
1952 Three Hills - Inland Coal Co.
The Rabbit Hill mine just south of Edmonton was financed by Bernard by using everything he had, and having some of his sons work the mine. Ian and Will and possibly other sons had hand dug the 90 foot mine. By some accounts Pat worked for one or two days before quitting. As Bernard and my Dad Tony (who was not one of the boys working the mine) drove out one Sunday to check on it, Bernard called out “Oh no, oh no even before they had driven onto the mine property. He had spotted the Subtle change in the surface land that indicated a cave-in at the mine. He ordered Tony to wait at the mine entrance, under promise not to enter the mine no matter how long Bernard was inside checking the mine. After what seemed like a long time, Bernard returned, confirming the worst. The mine had to be closed down, a financial blow to the family. Fortunately, no one was in the mine at the time.
Throughout his coal mining life, Bernard showed a concern for the ordinary Working miner, and it earned him the respect and trust of those men. There were several stories to that effect, and I will include three here for illustration:
- Bernard was working at a mine in Southern Alberta or possibly in Southeast BC in 1935 or 1936 which had the misfortune to suffer a disastrous cave-in or explosion with the loss of approximately 40 lives, according to my Uncle Al Nugent. The owners wanted Bernard to say that the mine was safe, possibly sign a warrant to that effect, either just before or after the disaster (I don't know which). He refused, as he had made it clear to them beforehand that the mine was unsafe. They fired him on the spot. A subsequent court investigation of the disaster was arranged in Edmonton. Bernard travelled from Camrose to testify, only to discover that the hearing was abruptly cancelled just before he arrived. It was re-scheduled and again he went to considerable trouble to attend, only to discover it was again re-scheduled. On his third trip to Edmonton, Bernard was delayed by one or two flat tires, arriving only minutes late to discover that the court had quickly convened and then declared the case closed, with no fault found. Had the court been manipulated by the mine owners and their lawyers? We don't know, but we do know that Bernard was willing to stick up for the miners despite the risk to his own livelihood.
- In 1939 Bernard was managing the Alexo mine, about 20 miles east of Nordegg. The miners under him were unhappy about some of his directives to them. It happened that a highly respected person in the mining community had arrived, so the miners took their complaints to him. After he heard them out, he asked them the name of their mine manager. When they said Bernard Nugent, he replied very vigorously that they had the best man they could ever hope to have giving them orders, and if they didn't obey him, they were crazy. The problem was resolved.
- My Dad (Tony) was in a diner in Drumheller many years after the family had left Drumheller. He was approached by an older man who said he thought that Dad must be a Nugent. Dad told him who he was, and the man said he had worked the mines, and that Bernard Nugent had been the best man he had known in the coal mining industry.
AS Bernard moved into his sixties, he was no longer physically active, and put on a little extra weight. Though a non-smoker and not having other health problems, he had developed coronary heart disease and suffered two coronary heart attacks, the second proving fatal on August 17, 1952 at age 68. My own recollections of my grandfather are vague, as I was just under six years old when he died. I recall him as a quiet, soft-spoken and gentle man. This is in agreement with the memories of my Mom (Leora Nugent). My brother Bob remembers him as quiet and thoughtful, and generous, giving us coins at times.
With Bernard's passing, the family was quite naturally concerned how Bridget would manage. Some time after his death, the family paid for changes to the home of his daughter May and her husband Al Russell, in order that Bridget could live with them, but this arrangement lasted only a relatively short time as Bridget and May could not get along. Bridget lived another six years, with little in the way of social life or friends, though her family was attentive. She was an insulin-dependent diabetic for the last several years of her life, with her diabetes likely not well controlled. She enjoyed chocolate bars and was known to keep them in her purse and fridge. The diabetes robbed her of most of her vision and produced severe loss of circulation in her legs. Like Bernard, she was not a smoker, and was not known to have other significant health problems. In the end, she was admitted to hospital with gangrene of one leg, scheduled for surgery the next morning. She told her family that she would not allow anyone to cut off her leg, setting up a possible showdown in the morning, but this never occurred as she died that night, October 11, 1958 at the age of 73.
Though at times a difficult person to get along with, Bridget was loved by her family. She was a devoted and hard working woman, trying to raise one daughter and eight sons in difficult times, often with Bernard away from home. My childhood image of her is that of a soft spoken, white-haired lady, moderately overweight, with thick-lens glasses, walking with difficulty but mentally intact. She spoke kindly to me but our conversations were short, I suspect due in part to the fact that her near-blindness meant she could hardly see me.
Bernard and Bridget are buried side by side in the south end of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in south Edmonton with flat in-ground markers. They are in the non-consecrated Catholic section, as Bernard apparently was not deemed devout enough by the Church to be buried in the higher ground. I don't think this would bother him, but I suspect he's been hearing about it from Bridget ever since.
Jim Nugent December 2, 2011