Sylvester Joseph Benoit,born May 7, 1929, Red Brook, NL.SYLVESTER JOSEPH BENOIT and wife EDNA MAY BENOIT Sylvester Joseph Benoit, son of Mi'kmaq parents -John Alfred Benoit and Millicent Eunice Chaisson. Born in Red Brook on May 7, 1929. He was of a large family. His siblings included:
He Married a Mi'kmaq relative -Edna Benoit, daughter of Adolph Benoit and Ann (Nancy) Jesso. To all who knew him he was known as Sal. Most pronounced his full name as Salavester. It can be said with much certainity that this was a man who worked hard for a living. He was not a man who would hurt anyone else. If he was given trouble by some relative, he would rather "turn the other cheek" than retaliate. He always told me, if you do something in retaliation for a wrong, it will keep on going with no winners. He built his first home in Loretto. Later decided to tear it down and rebuild it in the back of De Grau. He built his second house in De Grau, on land he purchased from wife Edna's grandfather, Joseph (Joe-Mic) Benoit, about ½ mile north of the highway. His children Mary Phyllis, Myra, George and Matthew were born in this house. This house was later destroyed by fire. This house was heated by a wood stove and lighted by oil lamp. There were no telephone or electricity in those days. He built a third home next to the highway on land he purchased from his wife Edna's Aunt Maggie and Uncle John Jim Cornect. This house was renovated witha new porch and living room built on. It looked this in the 80's amd it looks like this now. Stephen was the first child born in this new house. The other children born were: Barbra Benoit, Jasen Benwah, born in Stephenville Crossing, Colin J. Benoit, Bruce S. Benoit and Lory Benoit were born at Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville. He built a barn on the same property on this east part. Here his son stephen can be seen forking hay. He Purchased land on the below side of the road where he operated his sawmill for years, from Abbott and Haliburton. He also built his second barn on this land for his cattle, hens, pigs, sheep and horse. He cut logs, hauled wood. Here his sons Matthew and George haul wood by horse and sled. He moved his sawmill around in many locations, sometimes to be closer to the logs or closer to where a home was to be built: such Big Mish, Big Cove, Ship Cove. His last sawmill still exists today in De Grau and is used by the children. He fished, and was a hunter and gatherer. Drove school bus for Harold Simon for many years. Got the project to be a cement breakwater, slipway, and fishery storage building in De Grau. The area known to all for a great swimming at the beach spot, is no longer used by any commercial fishermen. Trucked fish to fish plant at Piccadilly for many years. His last year trucking fish was the last year National Sea Products operated the Piccadilly plant. Was school bus operator/contractor for several years after. Purchased a bus once from Lee Cremo, Eskasoni, the famous Mi'kmaq fiddler. He told me that when he met Lee Cremo, Lee called him brother. He said: "I know by looking at you that you are Mi'kmaw from Newfoundland". Sylvester was also a fiddle player and so they played music and celebrated for a couple days before returning to Newfoundland with the bus. Several years ago, his family had a reunion in Red Brook. Here is photo 1 and photo 2. Here is a story done on him several years ago. An electrical serge had damaged some apliances. On October 2, 2003 he passed away at Corner Brook hospital. See his obituary here. His granddaughter Sherrie wrote a poem to show hoe she felt about her grandfather. It is called Missing You.
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