Town of L'Anse au Clair

Labrador, Canada

An Altar Cloth for Capstan Island

The altar cloth
The altar cloth (larger version)

A Community Voices story by Shirley Letto.

It's the first tangible item I have of my mother, Bessie Coles who came to Capstan Island as a young lady in 1932, to start her career in teaching. The one room school doubled for a chapel twice a year when the Clergy came to visit in spring and fall. It had a one step stage with a grey cotton curtain that hung from the ceiling and opened by pulleys. The screen was closed for school and opened only when the Clergy came for church service.