We are interested in exploring how Stephenville and its surrounding areas on the west coast of Newfoundland were culturally affected by the establishment of the Earnest Harmon American Air Force Base. Historically, the infusion of American culture that occurred with the introduction of the base occurred at a time of cultural, political, and socio economic shift for the Dominion of Newfoundland. By 1949, the island would become a part of Canada, and in the years that followed, resettlement created an irreversible shift in identity and livelihood.
We want to speak to as many people as possible who have stories to share about those who left as young women and later returned, as well as those who remember life in the base's heyday, Anyone who can share their own experiences or the experiences of the family and friends is encouraged to reach out to us, so that we may accurately illuminate the stories of these women, their families and of Stephenville itself.
In 2018/2019 the Stephenville Theatre Festival (STF), will embark upon this exciting new project with the support of ACOA and The Canada Council for the Arts. We have a strong desire to create a work of theatre that will represent this region and it's unique cultural heritage. We understand that our audience of local residents have a strong desire to feel their voices and experiences reflected in the theatre that they attend.
STF's Artistic Director, Heather Braaten and award winning NL playwright, Meghan Greeley will be conducting research and holding interviews with anyone who is interested in sharing their stories about this time in our history. Specifically, many local young women who lived in the area during the operational years of the base, met and married American soldiers who were stationed at the base. When the base closed in 1966, many of these women left Stephenville, moving to the United States with their husbands and young children. We are interested in exploring the story of Stephenville's Americanization and the outmigration of these war brides in parallel context with resettlement, as well as its struggle to reinvent itself under Canadian jurisdiction.