May, 2001

DID YOU KNOW?

RABBITS more correctly known as Snowshoe Hares, have made their presence very obvious in Pippy Park this winter. The bark that has been stripped off the younger branches of almost every Dogberry tree on the Three Pond Barrens and other areas because the depth of snow had put alternative food out of reach. This has created a lasting record of the height of the snow. Some trees have rabbit damage three metres or more from the ground! I am told the FOXES have been successfully hunting them and even the roof of the Botanical Garden Field Centre was the site of a kill!

PAT KELLY, who lived all his life at SHAMROCK FARM close to the new Janeway Hospital was nominated to the Newfoundland Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. He was the all time long distance running champion of Newfoundland. He started running competitively in 1932, winning the Telegram 10-mile race for seven consecutive years until it was suspended during the war years 1940-45. In 1946 he again won the race and repeated his victory in 1947. This record has never been equaled. He was selected to run in the British Empire Games in London in 1934. Only the fact that it was run on concrete prevented him from winning!

SIR EDGAR RENNIE BOWRING K.B, K.C.M.G. was bom at Mt. Scio Farm in 1858. He was eventually Chairman of Bowring Bros. In 1911 he announced the donation of funds to establish Bowring Park to celebrate the centennial of Bowriing Bros. In Newfoundland. He was a philanthropist and a member of the Legislative Council from 1898 and High Comniissioner for Newfoundland to the United Kingdom 1918-22 and 1933-34. In 1918 he and Mrs Mary Munn presented the property known as the Shannon Munn Memorial to the Church of England Orphanage. The site of this property is now occupied by the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.

KENT'S POND was named after John Kent a politician who bought a house from Dr. Wm. Carson. Maura Mannion tells me that this house was located where Hoyles Home is now built. In a newspaper advertisement of 1812 Dr. Carson

"proposes to let his cottage and excellent garden, well furnished with fruit trees in full bearing ... The cottage is pleasantly situated up on the Windsor Road a mile and a half from St. John's. It is well calculated for the residence of a genteel family..."