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Arthur "Wongo" Griffiths (1909-1995) - Clipper, Aberdare Extended Colliery. 7 August 1978. Part 1/2
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SummaryTape 105A Arthur Griffiths
Recorded on 7th August 1978.
​Part 1 of 2.
*Tape quality is extremely poor and gets worse as interview progresses.*
Arthur Griffiths recalls the individuals and families who lived in Anstey Street, Cessnock, from the time he first moved there in 1910 to the time of the interview. Jack and Arthur discusses changes to houses and land in the neighborhood over time.
0:40
First came to Cessnock in 1909 (pic shows 1904) at 6 weeks old.
Father’s name Arthur Alonza Griffiths – Mother’s name Alice Moet.
1:26
His father came to William Street, one of three little houses near the mulberry trees.
They moved to Anstey Street when he and his sister were little. 1910.
2:24
He went to Cessnock Public School (Eddie Pickleberry used to take him) and then at Nulkaba for the last two years.
They discuss people who lived in Anstey Street when Arthur was young. Bob Hatton lived next door. Hunter Miller used to come over and play with Arthur. Arthur and Jack Delaney refer to an area of Cessnock and discuss the occupants of the properties in various streets. The Wilkinsons, McBeths and Watsons (Ted, Peggy) lived nearby -
5:36
Billy, Jack, John and Jim Bourke lived across the road before 1936.
6:55
Mrs Scott’s shop in Anstey Street. Wally and Billy Brown. Colin Sharp.
8:00
Humbles, Neills, Harry Dan. Richardson, McFarlane. Rigby, the builder. Barney McDougall. Wilma Yates. Mannering and McGuire.
11:40
Percy Onions –“ the coppers used to march him home” – he was “a scab”.
The Kings - Hector, Dorrie, Archie, Roley.
Paddy O’Keefe – worked at Central with Arthur.
16:00
Pendleburys and Wilkinsons on Anzac Avenue. Tom Pendlebury. Bill Kearsley. The Kearsleys were related to the Pendleburys - Mrs Kearsley was a Pendlebury. [Sic. - Mrs Betsy Kearsley's maiden name was Wilkinson. She was the daughter of Seth Wilkinson.]
The O’Briens – Reg O’Brien. Their house was built before 1924.
18:05
Next door lived the Wilkinsons – Dave and Bob Wilkinson. Their mother married Mr Reeves.
Mrs Scott’s shop – The Allans lived in a two roomed shack. The Jones also lived in a two roomed shack nearby.
22:10
Herbie and (son) Cec Payne had a sawmill. The Hattons came from Kurri.
The Grahams, Bobby and Jimmy, moved into Jones’ house. The Strangs and Matty Carroll lived next door to the Grahams.
26:45
George Street - Anderson, Peter Baus, Shepherds and Sparks. Jimmy McGarvey and Dick Davis. Snowy Kenny – On the Maitland Road there was a hostler called Kenny.
28:55
The Gehrigs. First Catholic Church service was held at Gehrigs homestead (Reference: The book about Cessnock). “Caspar” Jack Gehrig was known to Arthur. Mary Gehrig – Vince and Maggie (who married a Carroll) Mary had been a Carroll.
Mary (Grannie) Carroll lived where the old dentist, Miller had his place.
Lightfoot – Jimmy Lightfoot had a farm where Arthur used to “bandicoot” his potatoes – he was the boss coal carter.
32:20
The Moets. Jack Moet came to mine at Aberdare. Uncle Will Moet came from Minmi. There were 12 or 13 in the family. They all lived into their 70’s. Granny Moet’s name was Alice but her maiden name was Charmers.
Jimmy Jobson. Jack Williams. The Newtons – There were 3, Terry, Allan and…They came after the War. The McCrowans - Louie and Laurie. There was old man Billy McCrowan, Clive & Nutty. Morrie McCrowan – builder.
42:00
The Tracys (Treacy) Celia – Andy Jones, Archie Brown, & Billy Wilkinson came across a bag whilst playing.
42:39
End of Tape 105 Side A, Part 1 of 2.
Aberdare Extended Colliery (N.S.W.)Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- CessnockGriffiths, Alonza Arthur, 1909-1995PersonJack DelaneyCollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Aberdare Extended Colliery, NSW[2] Cessnock, NSWIdentifier105A
Recorded on 7th August 1978.
​Part 1 of 2.
*Tape quality is extremely poor and gets worse as interview progresses.*
Arthur Griffiths recalls the individuals and families who lived in Anstey Street, Cessnock, from the time he first moved there in 1910 to the time of the interview. Jack and Arthur discusses changes to houses and land in the neighborhood over time.
0:40
First came to Cessnock in 1909 (pic shows 1904) at 6 weeks old.
Father’s name Arthur Alonza Griffiths – Mother’s name Alice Moet.
1:26
His father came to William Street, one of three little houses near the mulberry trees.
They moved to Anstey Street when he and his sister were little. 1910.
2:24
He went to Cessnock Public School (Eddie Pickleberry used to take him) and then at Nulkaba for the last two years.
They discuss people who lived in Anstey Street when Arthur was young. Bob Hatton lived next door. Hunter Miller used to come over and play with Arthur. Arthur and Jack Delaney refer to an area of Cessnock and discuss the occupants of the properties in various streets. The Wilkinsons, McBeths and Watsons (Ted, Peggy) lived nearby -
5:36
Billy, Jack, John and Jim Bourke lived across the road before 1936.
6:55
Mrs Scott’s shop in Anstey Street. Wally and Billy Brown. Colin Sharp.
8:00
Humbles, Neills, Harry Dan. Richardson, McFarlane. Rigby, the builder. Barney McDougall. Wilma Yates. Mannering and McGuire.
11:40
Percy Onions –“ the coppers used to march him home” – he was “a scab”.
The Kings - Hector, Dorrie, Archie, Roley.
Paddy O’Keefe – worked at Central with Arthur.
16:00
Pendleburys and Wilkinsons on Anzac Avenue. Tom Pendlebury. Bill Kearsley. The Kearsleys were related to the Pendleburys - Mrs Kearsley was a Pendlebury. [Sic. - Mrs Betsy Kearsley's maiden name was Wilkinson. She was the daughter of Seth Wilkinson.]
The O’Briens – Reg O’Brien. Their house was built before 1924.
18:05
Next door lived the Wilkinsons – Dave and Bob Wilkinson. Their mother married Mr Reeves.
Mrs Scott’s shop – The Allans lived in a two roomed shack. The Jones also lived in a two roomed shack nearby.
22:10
Herbie and (son) Cec Payne had a sawmill. The Hattons came from Kurri.
The Grahams, Bobby and Jimmy, moved into Jones’ house. The Strangs and Matty Carroll lived next door to the Grahams.
26:45
George Street - Anderson, Peter Baus, Shepherds and Sparks. Jimmy McGarvey and Dick Davis. Snowy Kenny – On the Maitland Road there was a hostler called Kenny.
28:55
The Gehrigs. First Catholic Church service was held at Gehrigs homestead (Reference: The book about Cessnock). “Caspar” Jack Gehrig was known to Arthur. Mary Gehrig – Vince and Maggie (who married a Carroll) Mary had been a Carroll.
Mary (Grannie) Carroll lived where the old dentist, Miller had his place.
Lightfoot – Jimmy Lightfoot had a farm where Arthur used to “bandicoot” his potatoes – he was the boss coal carter.
32:20
The Moets. Jack Moet came to mine at Aberdare. Uncle Will Moet came from Minmi. There were 12 or 13 in the family. They all lived into their 70’s. Granny Moet’s name was Alice but her maiden name was Charmers.
Jimmy Jobson. Jack Williams. The Newtons – There were 3, Terry, Allan and…They came after the War. The McCrowans - Louie and Laurie. There was old man Billy McCrowan, Clive & Nutty. Morrie McCrowan – builder.
42:00
The Tracys (Treacy) Celia – Andy Jones, Archie Brown, & Billy Wilkinson came across a bag whilst playing.
42:39
End of Tape 105 Side A, Part 1 of 2.
Aberdare Extended Colliery (N.S.W.)Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- CessnockGriffiths, Alonza Arthur, 1909-1995PersonJack DelaneyCollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Aberdare Extended Colliery, NSW[2] Cessnock, NSWIdentifier105Aloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Arthur "Wongo" Griffiths (1909-1995) - Clipper, Aberdare Extended Colliery. 7 August 1978. Part 1/2, [105A]. Living Histories, accessed 02/12/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/55677