Allen was born and lived most of his life at Cassidy Lake. In 1954 he retired from farming, closed up the homestead, and moved to Lincoln, N.B., just outside Fredericton. He was the last generation to work the farm. During his years at C assidy Lake he served as a County Councillor, Secretary of the School Board, and Justice of the Peace.
Allen was a very mild and conscientous person in everything he did. He was not outwardly religious, but he had very strong beliefs which he did not talk about, but rather portrayed in his everyday living. He was very kind but very strict, and when he was upset with his two sons, his lecture was short and to the point. He was always a real gentleman. His son Stan does not recall him using profane language. He did not play games or listen to music, although he would play 45's (45 rpm records) for visitors when it was necessary. He would read the paper page by page. He was always very tolerant and he enjoyed people. One could learn a lot by being with him. Stan has said that his ideas, his manners, his way of life, his work style, his trust taught Stan the basics of life which he will never forget and he has used every day.
Allen was given the farm by his father Francis Edward and was to pay each of his brothers and sisters $125 - which he was never able to do.
Stan recalls that his father, though hard-working, had problems with farming. For example, he was not too successful at determining where to plant potatoes or turnips in order to have the correct moisture content for the coming summer season. The other farm crops were hay, oats, some buckwheat (which was ground at a mill in Southfield), and lots of apples from a large orchard. There usually were about 20 head of cattle and some pigs. Up to about 1920, they raised a lot of sheep on the farm. Yarn was spun to knit socks, mittens, and other clothing.
In the winter there was lumbering for the mill by the wharf and also harvesting of wood for the wood stoves of the homestead. In the early 1900s, threshing was done by a machine powered by a team of horses walking on an inclined tread mill. Jim Cassidy would get on the tread mill and walk with the horses to help propel the tread mill. All that was ever available on the farm was horsepower.
Stan recalls woods workers boarding at the homestead. In the evening, the men would sharpen their double-bitted axes, one side was for chopping (thin) and one was for limbing (thicker). They would dry their socks and other wet garments under the Star wood stove. Work in the woods lasted from daylight until dark. You were required to be in the woods and ready to work as soon as it was light enough. Since the barn work had to be done before going to the woods, you had to rise at 4:00 am. Breakfast was typically meat and fried potatoes.
When hauling away the lumber, the sled would be loaded in the evening so that all that had to be done the next day in the morning before daylight was feed and harness the horses. The loads were so heavy that the sled runners had to be released from the frozen ground with a pevie ( a pole with a hook on it) so that the horses could start moving. The lumber would be hauled to Norton, a distance of about 9 miles (15 km), and unloaded into a railroad boxcar. This process was repeated daily until the boxcar was full.
Life was always tough on the homestead. Everyone had to work hard to survive. This was still the situation when Stan was going to school in Sussex (1919 - 1929). He and his brother Gordon had to go home on weekends and holidays to help with the farming. Stan had a paper route in Sussex to help put himself and his brother through school. Room and board was $3.00 per week in Sussex.
The Kings County Record has the following references to R. Allen Cassidy: Nov. 22, 1904: Mr. Allen Cassidy has charge of the cheese factory this fall and winter and will do the skimming here and send the cream to Sussex.
Mar. 26, 1906: Mr. Allen Cassidy has returned from lumberwoods at the Mouse Horn.
A very pretty wedding was celebrated on Wednesday April 18, 1911 at Buctouche at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. S.B. Freeman when their only daughter, Edythe Blanche, was united in marriage to R. Allen Cassidy of Clover Hill, Kings Co. Rev. J.B. Young was the official clergyman. The bride was attended by Miss Frances Cassidy, sister of the groom, while the groom was attended by William Weldon of Buctouche. Mr. & Mrs. Cassidy left on Wednesday by C.P.R. on a wedding trip to Toronto, Walkerton, the bride's former home and other points west, after which they will take up residence in Clover Hill, Kings Co.
Clover Hill: Born March 7, 1912 at Clover Hill to Mr. & Mrs. R. Allen Cassidy a son.
Jan 16, 1914: Mrs. Freeman, who has been visiting her daughter Mrs. A. Cassidy, has returned to her home in Buctouche accompanied by her grandson.
Jun. 19, 1919 Clover Hill: R. Allen Cassidy has purchased a grey car.
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Allen and Edythe on their 50th anniversary 1961 (M45) Type: Photo
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Allen (L Back) (M46) Type: Photo
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Three Generations: (L-R) Peter, Stan, and Allen at Peter's graduation from UNB 1964 (M19) Type: Photo
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Francis Edward, Allen, Edythe, Stan c. 1912 (M20) Type: Photo
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Allen (Standing L) 1952 (M49) Type: Photo
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Four generations: Allen, Stan, Rama (Bruce Jr.), Bruce c. 1964 (M50) Type: Photo
Individuals
39
-19 years
