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About Newfoundland and Labrador
The "Boston States"From the time of early settlers along the coast of Newfoundland some of them found the harsh lifestyle unbearable and the future bleak. Emigration to the United States became a popular escape if they could find the funds to pay for transportation. They were few in number but by the second half of the 1800s the move became increasingly attractive as the fishery no longer provided a level of employment to support the growing population. Young Nfld males left their homes to find work. The young women were also leaving their home to find employment, sometimes only to work for room and board.
Although the government tried to diversify the economy and generate new jobs with the railway, in the mines, and, later on in the forestry and paper industry, they proved inadequate to replace the workforce displaced by the failing fishery. While the Newfoundland workforce had demonstrated an ability to take on various tasks the circumstances at the time were more favourable to employers so it was difficult to find suitable permanent jobs. As a result many Newfoundlanders of both sexes left home to pursue employment elsewhere; the “Boston States” being the most popular area. It was also a popular area for immigrants from Atlantic Canada. These immigrants nicknamed the entire regional area of Boston as “the Boston States”.
Some of these Newfoundlanders were sojourners seeking work to support their family back home. Many, however, settled down to make a life for themselves and their families in America. By 1885 there were over 2000 Newfoundlanders living in the Boston States and over 4000 by 1895. This increased to 8000 in 1905 and 10000 in 1915. One half of the workers settled into unskilled or semi-skilled jobs with many of the young women going “in Service”. The network of Newfoundlanders in the area encouraged others, especially family members to join them and start a new life there. Boarding houses were common in those days so those Newfoundlanders that had no family in the area could easily find suitable accommodation. Members of the Newfoundland community supported each other quite well and formed various social groups and clubs. The next generation married into the growing Newfoundland family although integration with Americans and other nationalities also grew.
These Newfoundland families clung to memories of their earlier life in Newfoundland and many of them remembered their poorer cousins back home. The “barrels” of clothing and food that these poorer family members received from the Boston States, especially around Christmas time, were very welcomed. In some cases they were essential in order to feed and cloth large families.
The die-hard Newfoundlanders in the community never identified with their home away from home. Only one half of the males sought United States citizenship.
Many of these separated Newfoundland families still visit back and forth but the financial support is no longer needed.
Ref:
W.G. Reeves, Newfoundlanders in the “Boston States”: A Study in Eearly Twentieth-Century Community and Counterpoint, Newfoundland Studies, Vol. 6 No. 1, p34.
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