When Regatta fans partied at the Quidi Vidi farms
Nearing the end of the 19th century, the north bank at pondside was privately owned by farmers who opened their doors to the public on Regatta Day.
The north side, spanning an area from Mount Carmel Cemetery to Pleasantville, was occupied by three large farms, owned by J.L. Ross, Bill Woodley and R. Routledge.
On Regatta Day, these were opened to the public and offered hot dinners at a dollar a plate. People could enjoy meals of turkey, geese, fowl, roast, lamb, fresh vegetable, tea, coffee and aerated water. The farms had dancing galleries, and to the tune of Turkey in the Straw, played by fiddlers accompanied by tin whistle players. Patrons danced throughout the afternoon and into the early hours of the following day.
Brew Available
Those who ran out of their own supply of brew could buy both imported and home brews at Lakeside. Others would visit the Bunch of Grapes Inn on the site now occupied by Regency Towers.
The Regatta ended in 1860 but was revived again in 1871. According to the Times, August 9, 1871, “The whole town population could be seen pouring down toward Quidi Vidi in a continuous stream of carriage, cars and shanderdans which were other means of travel of all makes and sizes.”
Because of the reputation of rowdyism and alcohol abuses at the old-time regattas, the Committee made a few improvements. These included the introduction of temperance drinks to reduce the consumption of the popular malt beers which had strong alcohol content. Temperance Groups pushed non-alcoholic hop-ale and winter stout.
Music and Dancing
During the 1870s, the idea for a Grand Regatta Ball originated and lasted into the 1950s. After British troops left Newfoundland in 1871, Professor David Bennett’s Band took over the tradition of supplying Regatta Day music.
In 1877, the Grand Ball was held at the Victoria Rink with Professor Bennett’s Band in attendance. The next day, Bennett’s Band was given help at Lakeside by a visiting British Naval Band.
The brass band of Professor David Bennett was the first non-military big band to play at the Regatta and they dominated the Regatta scene throughout the 1870s, 1880s and
1890s.
When Bennett retired, Professor Power took over. Power had played with Bennett’s Band for more than a decade before leading his own band during the first years of the 20th century.
Power was succeeded by Art Bulley and the Catholic Cadet Corps band and the Mount Cashel Band. Sometimes local bands shared their duties with visiting military bands. Several British and a German band played for Regatta Day and gave there version of Up The Pond. There were many brass bands in St. John’s during the early 19th century and they often competed for the honour of playing at the Regatta. In 1912, among the bands applying for the right to provide Regatta Day music were the City Band, the Total Abstinence Band and a couple of individual-led brass bands. The Committee awarded the honour to the Total Abstinence Band
In the 1940s, with the arrival of the American Forces, American Military Bands became part of the annual Regatta Day. Canadian Military Bands played for at least one of the Regattas of the 1940s and a series of pre-regatta band concerts. In the 1950s, the Americans and Mount Cashel bands provided music at the Regatta.
The Newfoundland Regiment also played in the 1960s and the CLB took over in the mid-1960s and have been a fixture at the Regatta since.