It was about 1928 when my grandfather Napoleon, his wife Eugenie St-Cyr, my father, Maurice, and his adopted sister Jacqueline arrived in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Both lumberjacks they were to work for Mr. Salvas, a French Canadian Entrepreneur, cutting trees for firewood as opposed to lumber as they did in Canada. Speaking only Canadian French they depended on him for everything from the start. I remember being told that they were guaranteed an apartment when they arrived but quickly found out that it was furnished with an icebox, table with four chairs and two beds. Humble beginnings? |
