About Wilfred Osmond
An extraordinary, ordinary Newfoundlander
There are hundreds of biographies written about generals, kings and prime ministers. But who writes the stories of the “common man”? Here is a tale about one humble but extraordinary, ordinary Newfoundlander.
Wilfred Lewis Jacobs Osmond was born in the waning days of 1899, a poor fisherman’s son, on the rocky barren Gooseberry Islands of Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. He proceeded to live every day of the twentieth century, and into the twenty first. He passed away at the age of 103 years. In fact he lived within three centuries - the 1800s, the 1900s, and into the 2000s.
With no education, in many ways, he lived a difficult early life. But against all odds, he persevered and made a success of himself. His working life began in a fishing boat at age nine years. And for many years he eked out a living on the sea, in the lumber woods, and eventually in the paper mill at Corner Brook.
Unable to read or write, he had few choices in life, and at times he felt as though he was carried along by forces beyond his control. Despite his limitations, he managed to ensure a good life for himself and his family.
During his early 90’s, he lived with his daughter, Daisy Howe, next door to the author, Jerome Jesseau. A friendship developed, from informal conversation to more formal taped interviews. The remarkable thing about Wilfred was his phenomenal memory. He often stated that because he couldn’t read, he had to “keep things in his head”. He was able to recall specific dates and details of people and events that had taken place decades beforehand.
Truly an extraordinary, ordinary man.
A note to the reader: Every event in this tale actually took place, much of it in Wilfred’s own words. However, the author allowed his imagination to take flight, and invented details surrounding each event. This is not a literal record of Wilfred’s life. He supplied the basic facts, the author embellished.
Key Newfoundland locations in Wilfred’s life, also featured prominently in Running Before the Wind
Gooseberry Islands. Note Methodist Church in background, where Wilfred was Baptized
HMS Calypso (British Cruiser, 1883) featured in Chapter 13, Coasting on the West Coast
Wood's Camp horse, used for hauling logs to the river. Note the fitted snow shoes on the horse's hooves.
Typical logging camp bunkhouse, constructed with vertical logs. Dog team and komatik in front. Used for hauling supplies to the camp.
Construction site of Corner Brook Paper Mill, 1923
Corner Brook Paper Mill Construction site, 1924
Log Stacker at Corner Brook Paper Mill.
Drum Barkers, Corner Brook Paper Mill, where a mill worker was killed.
Wilfred and Flora, circa 1965
“What? You wants to interview me? What for? Sure I never done nothing special or important.
Well, I am 95 years of age, so I seen a lot of life. Sailed a lot of vessels, rode a lot of rails, cut timber in the lumberwoods, and I worked for years at the Bowaters paper mill.
But I never did nothing that you might call heroic. Never saved any damsels in distress. But you know, I grew up in the days of sailing ships. I never went to sea in a motorized schooner. Always under sail. Planes weren’t even invented when I was born in 1899. And I lived to see jet planes and space satellites. And a man walking on the moon.”
— Wilfred Osmond
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Running Before The Wind is the story of Wilfred Osmond, an extraordinary ordinary Newfoundlander.
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